The Symposium Project Is The Culmination Of The Lab Portion

The Symposium Project Is The Culmination Of The Lab Portion Of The Cou

The Symposium Project is the culmination of the lab portion of the course. For this assignment, students will prepare a class symposium presentation, akin to scientific conference poster sessions, where they showcase their astronomical imaging projects. The core activity involves using the internet to remotely control a robotic telescope to capture images of a celestial object, process these images into a composite color photo, and create a professional-quality poster that includes the images, descriptive text, and citations. If students are unable to use software downloads due to deployment restrictions, they may skip certain steps but should still compile a comprehensive poster. The final submission will be a visual and textual presentation of their astrophotography, which will be shared and reviewed by classmates and instructors.

Paper For Above instruction

The culmination of the course's practical laboratory component is the Symposium Project, which provides students with an authentic experience reflecting professional astronomical research dissemination. The project emphasizes the integration of observational skills, image processing, scientific communication, and collaborative peer review, thereby enriching students' understanding of astrophotography and the scientific method. It involves several detailed steps that guide students through selecting an astronomical object, capturing multiple images with a robotic telescope, processing those images into a composite color image, and creating an informative poster presentation.

Initially, students select a celestial object from a predefined list of deep-sky objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy or Orion Nebula. They then remotely operate the Harvard-Smithsonian's MicroObservatory robotic telescope to capture images in three different filters—red, green, and blue—to mimic color photography. These images are received via email, downloaded, and processed using free software to adjust brightness and contrast, assign color tables, and align the images. The stacking and merging of images into a single RGB composite is a critical step that replicates professional astrophotography techniques.

Throughout this process, students must maintain thorough records of their observing conditions, such as date, time, exposure settings, and telescope location. Proper labeling and citation of images, especially professional reference images, are essential to uphold scientific integrity and facilitate comparison. After creating their own color images, students then compile a poster that includes their images, a professional reference image, and text describing their chosen object—covering its location, type, and interesting features—tailored for both educational and scientific audiences.

The creation of the poster involves synthesizing technical data, visual materials, and descriptive text into an accessible, engaging presentation. To enhance learning, students are guided to review tutorials on telescope operation and astrophotography, fostering a deeper understanding of the scientific principles involved. When completed, the posters will be shared within the class's symposium forum, enabling peer review, discussion, and constructive feedback, thereby replicating real-world scientific conferences. This comprehensive project develops students' skills in scientific observation, image processing, effective communication, and collaborative critique—core competencies vital for aspiring scientists in astronomy and related fields.

References

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  • Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. (2020). MicroObservatory Robotic Telescopes. Retrieved from https://www.micro-observatory.org
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  • Seitzer, P., & Lorenzi, H. (2019). Create professional astronomical posters: Tips and best practices. Journal of Science Communication, 18(2), 33–41.
  • The National Optical Astronomy Observatory. (2018). Astrophotography tutorials and resources. Retrieved from https://www.noao.edu

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