Science-Astronomy Projects

Check out the following list of possible astronomy projects. The links are to websites relating to that particular subject that can be used as a starting point for research as they are not comprehensive resources by themselves. Feel free to contact us fo further assistance or scheduling scope-time.

 

Example works

 

Read research projects abstracts, conducted by students, via our remote telescope, using the Astro-EDU-Network:

1. Asteroid photometry, modeling and tracking

2. Binary stars photometry & 3D modeling [PDF]

 

 

 

Astronomy Projects 

 

Observing the night sky

• Develop familiarity with simple observational skills. Keeping a log.
• Learn about rotation of the sky and why it occurs; axis of earth, zenith, meridian; how to measure distances using fist, hand, & fingers to estimate degrees; location of several major constellations. Podcast on the subject of Celestial Navigation.

 

1. The magnitude system, estimating magnitudes, interpolation
2. Lunar feature map/Crater counting/Relative ages of surfaces
3. Right Ascension and Declination
4. Constellations and star names
5. Historical myths and legends of constellations and star names
6. Ancient astronomical observations, observatories, role in society
7. Motion of the earth/sun/moon
8. Motion of the planets
9. Observing Saturn
10. Motion of the stars in the solar neighborhood and local galactic disk
11. Tracking/Counting sunspots
12. Astrophotography - Planetary, Lunar, Solar, Stellar, Deep sky
13. Solar spectroscopy (spectrohelioscope)
14. Stellar Spectroscopy & What we can learn about stars, more links
15. Variable Stars, types/classifications
16. Novae
17. Variable Star observing, O-C curves, light curves, folded phase curves
18. Plot HR Diagrams for star fields, , globular clusters
19. Polarization
20. Atmospheric phenomenon (effects of light in the Earth's atmosphere)
21. Charts, maps, tables, catalogs
22. Celestial Navigation & another link
23. Use of compass, sextant, , gnomon
24. Fundamental measurable properties of remote objects
25. Measuring physical properties of remote objects
26. Observing lunar librations and apparent diameter & YouTube video
27. Proper motion of the planets, computing orbital elements & wikipedia article
28. Tracking the sun: the analemma
29. Distance to moon/planets via parallax
30. Motion of nearby stars relative to back ground stars - computing distance from stellar parallax
31. Star Counts as a function of galactic latitude and longitude
32. Comet hunting
33. Supernova hunting
34. Near-Earth objects, , mapping, discovering
35. Asteroid light curves
36. Occultations (lunar, planetary)
37. Planetary Observations: Monitoring the changing atmospheric conditions on Jupiter and Saturn
38. Planetary Observations: Monitoring climate changes on Mars during oppositions
39. Planetary Observations: Survey the atmosphere of Venus in quest of unusual spots
40. Calculations of time hour-angles, programming calculations
41. Telescope design, construction, principles
42. How to determine true North and why this is important for telescopes: a daytime project.
43. Learn to use Google Sky
44. Using a Map at the Telescope
45. Using a Planisphere
46. Algol, eclipsing variable star with close-by star so close they seem at times to touch.
47. Easily studied variable stars
48. Andromeda galaxy
49. Research a NASA mission, and report
50. Nova Search:  Discover flaring novae in nearby galaxies by “blinking” images of portions of Andromeda taken at different times
51. Open Clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy: Study the properties of various star clusters in our galaxy, like the Pleiades.
52. Spectroscopy of Giant and Supergiant Variable Stars
53. AGN Spectroscopy:  Uncover the mysteries of distant galaxies!
54. Solar Magnetic Fields: Study how magnetic fields create features on the solar surface
55. Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets
56. Hydrodynamical Simulations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start exploring the universe, via:

 

The Astro-EDU-Network

 

 

 

Astro-kids