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Title:
Spitzer Space Telescope Research Program for Teachers and Students: Using Spitzer data in your classroom with (relatively) simple software
Authors:
Roelofsen Moody, Theresa E.; Feldmeier, J. J.; Gorjian, V.; Sepulveda, B.; Sharma, E.; Spuck, T.; Weehler, C.
Affiliation:
AA(New Jersey Astronomy Center for Education), AB(YSU), AC(JPL/Spitzer Science Center), AD(Lincoln High School), AE(Lincoln High School), AF(Oil City Area Senior High School), AG(Luther Burbank High School)
Publication:
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #218.15; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.1202
Publication Date:
12/2006
Origin:
AAS
Bibliographic Code:
2006AAS...20921815R

Abstract

The Spitzer Space Telescope Teacher Program is a collaboration between the Spitzer Science Center and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Through the program, twelve teachers were selected to submit observing proposals for time on the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Intergalactic Star Formation in Tidal Dwarf Galaxies of M81 Project was one of those selected and awarded director's discretionary observing time to study a small region of an M81 tidal tail. This region had previously been observed at optical wavelengths and contained a candidate tidal dwarf galaxy. The four teachers involved in this project met at the Spitzer Science Center in August 2006 to analyze the data, using both IDL software and MaximDL software. The former software is generally too difficult for students to learn and is not easily accessible to most students and teachers. The latter is software that is readily available in public schools (at a cost <$500) and offers a graphical interface that can be easily manipulated by high school students. Using MSExcel, we were able to generate a simple conversion table to convert Maxim DL photometry values into flux and magnitudes. We compared the values obtained by MaximDL to values obtained by IDL astronomical software and found the results comparable. We feel that MaximDL, in combination with simple conversion spreadsheets, can be used to measure flux values with results comparable to those obtained through IDL. Thus, Spitzer data can now be analyzed and used in classrooms with access to both Maxim and Excel, without the need for IDL. In addition, Maxim can be used to produce three-color images. The team is being mentored by Dr. Varoujan Gorjian from the Spitzer Science Center and John Feldmeier from YSU. Please see our companion poster, Hedden et al. for our science results using these data.
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