Astronomical works with students Irina GUSEVA St Petersburg - Central (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences - St Petersburg State University, Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics, Department of Astronomy

Instrument Double Short Focus Astrograph D = 100 mm F = 712 mm Objective prism UBVRI filters CCD ST-8 (SBIG) 1020 x 1530, 9 x 9 mkm Field Of View - 44' x 67 Scale - 2.6"/pixel

Works with students of St Petersburg State University (astronomers) Short time practice (summer) of CCD-observations: - Short lecture on CCDs - How to work with telescope (coordinates, sidereal time) - How to work with CCDOPS computer program - How to direct telescope to the necessary object on the sky - Taking images a) moving object (asteroid, comet, satellite…) - astrometry a) moving object (asteroid, comet, satellite…) - astrometry b) extensional object (galaxy, nebula,…) – photometry b) extensional object (galaxy, nebula,…) – photometry c) spectrum with objective prism (star, comet…) c) spectrum with objective prism (star, comet…) - Data processing (astrometric reduction, color images of galaxies, etc)

Works with students of St Petersburg State University (astronomers) One semester lectures and practice of astrometrists: - Course of lectures on CCD-astrometry - Practical work on CCD-astrometry a) observations (asteroids, comets, satellites…) a) observations (asteroids, comets, satellites…) b) images processing, astrometric and photometric reduction b) images processing, astrometric and photometric reduction c) programming (language on choice) of different investigations c) programming (language on choice) of different investigations concerning CCDs properties (for example, probability and energy concerning CCDs properties (for example, probability and energy distribution of cosmic rays events, different kind mathematician distribution of cosmic rays events, different kind mathematician filtering of frames, investigation of different sources of noise, etc) filtering of frames, investigation of different sources of noise, etc)

Sample (Pulkovo, Tracker) Results of the frame processing:

Works with students of St Petersburg State University (astronomers) Diploma works of students – astronomers Diploma works of students – astronomers (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) Investigations of open clusters on the base of own Investigations of open clusters on the base of own CCD observations CCD observations - How to resolve very close (overlapping) star images on the CCD frame to obtain the most correct astrometry and photometry - Precise astrometric and photometric investigation (catalogues of clusters) - Determination of proper motions and investigation of open cluster kinematics

Comparison with Tycho-2 catalogue

Comparison with GSC catalogue

Works with students of St Petersburg State University (astronomers) Diploma works of students – astronomers Diploma works of students – astronomers (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) Investigations of comets kinematics and non-gravitational effects Investigations of comets kinematics and non-gravitational effects on the base of own CCD observations on the base of own CCD observations Disturbances in the comet motion may be caused by different reasons: comet lose mass when approaching the Sun, comet is affected by solar wind and its variation because of the huge size of the comet halo, comet motion is affected by irregular ejection (evaporation and explosion) of the nucleus mass. This is very complicated but interesting problem that need extremely precise observations to detect small irregularities in the comet motion. precise observations to detect small irregularities in the comet motion. On the other side it is very difficult to determine the true coordinates of the comet nucleus because of bright halo of the comet. The problem is complicated by phase effect of illumination.

Works with students of St Petersburg State University (astronomers) Diploma works of students – astronomers Diploma works of students – astronomers (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) (Russia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Argentina, Bolivia) Investigations of comets kinematics and non-gravitational effects Investigations of comets kinematics and non-gravitational effects on the base of own CCD observations on the base of own CCD observations - How to detect the true position of the comets nucleus, to obtain the most correct astrometry and photometry the most correct astrometry and photometry - Series of precise astrometric and photometric measurements, detection of deviations from the predicted (or mean) orbit. detection of deviations from the predicted (or mean) orbit. Looking for reasons of these deviations Looking for reasons of these deviations - Photometric investigation of the comet tale density by the background stars observations through the comet tale (task for future students)

Works with high/secondary scholars 14 – 16 years old Works that were awarded in local (St Petersburg) (St Petersburg) and Russian competitions Synthesis of color images of different objects from the CCD observations with BVR filters Looking for variable stars (short periods) in the open clusters χ and h Persei Investigation of PL dependence of Cepheids on the base of Hipparcos data and catalogue of variable stars Statistics of the IRAS stars classification Statistics of galaxies morphological types on the base of Deep fields HST images

Works with high/secondary scholars 14 – 16 years old Works that were awarded in ESO Catch a star! Catch a star! competitions The Moon (2003 – 3d prize) The Pleiades (2004 – special prize)

The idea of Pulkovo HOU center - We would like to create the center and tools that will help young men - to start with real work on astronomy in the high/secondary school, in the high/secondary school, - to continue this work at the University - and become the professional astronomers.

Thanks!