Stars and Cells Kathy Cooksey Astronomy Overview

History of Cluster 7 Founded 2001: Stars, Sight, and Science –Astronomy and vision science –Linked by optics and adaptive optics Center for Adaptive Optics –National Science Foundation (NSF) science center –Responsibility to education and outreach Presentation Day 2006

Topics to Cover Overview of the Universe Optics & Telescopes Cameras and CCDs Cosmology Adaptive Optics Astrobiology Color, Light & Spectra Life Cycles of Stars Steward Observatory, Mt. Graham, AZ

Other Events Lick Observatory field trip –Tour and history spiel –Observing with Great Refractor Additional observing –Sky observing (anyone) –Remote observing (projects) College/Grad/Life counseling Reunion picnic Project time! Presentation day 36” Refractor, Laurie Hatch, Lick Observatory

Project Time Small group research time with up-and-coming scientists Astrobiology –What is life? What does it need to live? Where are such places? Galaxy Morphologies –Why are galaxies different shapes, sizes, colors,…? Variable Stars –Mysterious object that regularly varies in brightness

What is this? What do you see? NASA/ESA

Nature of Questions Asking… –For clarification –For appreciation –For your own interest Research Manipulation Investigating –Gathering evidence and interpreting Answering… –Clearly –Succinctly –Or at least gracefully say, ‘I don’t know’

“Scientific Process” Make observation Develop hypothesis Design experiment to test hypothesis Make conclusion based on outcome of experiment Revise hypothesis Constant revision and branching or merging Edwin Hubble at 100” Palomar, 1920

Interesting Observation What is this colorful nebula? –Crab Nebula Chinese and Anasazi astronomers noted flash in sky here in 1054 AD –What made it so bright? How do we find out? –Astronomers only have radiation (light)

Telescopes

Astronomical Imaging Cameras/CCDs Adaptive optics –Image correction for atmospheric blurring

Crab Nebula: Color Red - electrons recombining with protons to form neutral hydrogen Blue - electrons whirling around magnetic field of inner nebula He, O (emission) C, N (other means)

Crab Nebula: Morphology Roughly spherical Not smooth –Lots of sub-structure –Density differences Color distributed Transparency variations

Crab Nebula: Other Radiation X-rays (extremely hot) and radio waves (rapidly rotating) –Visible (red), X-ray (blue) Find that in nebula's very center lies a pulsar Pulsar: neutron star rotating, in this case, 30 times a second Chandra X-ray Observatory/Hubble Space Telescope

Crab Nebula: Central Pulsar Chandra Space Telescope: X-Rays Credits: X-ray: NASA/CXC/ASU/J.Hester et al.; Optical: NASA/HST/ASU/J.Hester et al. Hubble Space Telescope: Optical light

Conclusion What have you learned? –About astronomy? –About scientific method in astronomy? What would you like to learn? –About astronomy? –About science? What would I like you to learn? –Nature of questions –To be a better scientist Eskimo Nebula, Hubble Space Telescope