Undergraduate usage of the NMSU 1m
The NMSU 1m telescope was used in fall 2000 in the NMSU undergradate
honors class, HON 331, "Using a Telescope: Observation, Technology,
and Analysis in Astronomical Research", taught by Jon Holtzman in
part to support his Cottrell Scholar program funded by the Research
Corporation.
Students used the telescope
in pairs to obtain data to pursue four "research" projects:
- Measuring the Mass of Saturn. Students obtained multiple images of
Saturn and its moon, Titan. From these, they determined the orbital
period of Titan and the size of its semimajor axis, from which they
extimated the mass of Saturn
- Eclipsing Binary Stars. Students obtained light curves of two
eclipsing binaries, AX-CAS and HP-AUR, and experimented with some
modelling software to understand the nature of these light curves
- True Color Galaxies. Students took pictures of a variety of galaxies
and some calibrating stars through 3 different filters (blue, green, red),
and attempted to make some true color pictures of galaxies, while
learning about different types of stellar populations.
- The Great Nebula in Orion and the Helix Nebula. Students observed
the Orion Nebula and the Helix Nebulae through several different
filters and attempted to make some true color pictures, while learning
about different emission mechanisms in nebulae.