The Canadian Astronomy Data Centre operated by the National Research Council of Canada with the support of the Canadian Space Agency.
We thank Dr. Alan Gould and Dr. Andre Chene for their vision, confidence and support.
I am not a science teacher. How can I even understand this? Could I really teach this?
Well watch this short animation and tell me you don't understand it. This is NOT rocket science. Well in fact it is. And it is "rocket science" you can impress your kids with.
It is simple. The light from the star decreases when the planet passes in front (and behind) the star. You now understand "light curves" - once the knowledge of a few NASA scientists - now knowledge for your classroom and your students.
OK. I understand that. But what next?
Well now we can show you and your class how to understand all about a planet from just tracking this effect. Later if you go to the "student" page you can watch a student learn how to calculate what a planet even looks like from simply measuring the light curve cycles.
This simple but "cool" animation/process allows each student to "choose a planet", time its rotation around its star and then calculate enough detail to have a pretty good idea as to how the planet will "look".
Here is my own "try" :
The result was staggering. By simply responding to the "flashing" star I was able to calculate all the key values which would give me a pretty good sense of the planet environment. What student will not be in awe of their own skills by learning how to "do this" ?
So here you are. Perhaps an arts teacher wondering if you are taking on more than you can "chew". I say to you - NO - YOU CAN TEACH THIS. Take a risk and join the myKepler Project. You will find Alan Gould has provided so much material that your students will "go for it" and really master this knowledge. Join the myKepler Project - by Registering on the HOME page. We will be back to you very soon in the early part of 2010.
understand KEPLER Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
understand Project Analysis (Scope, Risks, etc)
explore the Milky Way – Kepler Search Space – Orion Arm
learn about the Kepler Craft and the Silicon (cameras); Field of View (FOV)
become familiar with Kepler's Target Stars
understand star positioning - Position (RA and Dec) ; spectral types and luminosity classes
explore Light Curves (HAT-P-7b )
process data from MAST, the Multi-mission Archive at Space Telescope.
become expert in The Kepler Input Catalog (KIC)
and the Kepler Target Catalog
How will a School Team collaborate internationally?
school teams have 1 prime school from USA, a second school from non-USA English speaking country and a third team from a non-English speaking country
students will learn about the cultural implications of international collaboration
meet fellow students from other countries in their myKEPLER virtual world(s) - on virtual planets
work on projects with new friends in other countries
Why will myKEPLER be a very special experience?
students will be sensitized to the possibilities of life on other planets and even more sensitized to why there is urgent need to care for our own planet
discovering habitable planets will be a momentus time in the history of man (and woman) and will happen in the next 2 years
TEACHERS
