Real Research In
The Classroom - Solar Active Longitudes
T. Stagg (Girard College),
M. Gearen (Punahou HS), S.H. Jacoby (NOAO/EO), H.P. Jones
(NASA/GSFC), C.J. Henney, F. Hill (NSO)
We present a high-school level
educational/research module for a project that improves computer
and analytical skills and contributes new scientific results to
the field of solar astronomy and physics. The module has been
developed within the RET (Research Experience for Teachers)
program as a new application of a cooperative project between the
RBSE (Research-Based Science Education) initiative of the NSF and
the NASA Education/Public Outreach program.
The research goal is to improve our knowledge of the
characteristics of solar active longitudes, where sunspots tend
to cluster. In particular, the rotation rate of these regions is
poorly known. It is suspected that the active longitude rotation
rate (ALRR) is different from the rotation rate of the solar
surface. If this is true, the ALRR can be compared with the
internal rotation rate deduced by helioseismology providing an
estimate of the active region depth. A good determination of the
ALRR requires the measurement of the position of thousands of
individual active regions, a step best done by interactive
examination of images, selection of regions, and determination of
heliographic position. These tasks are well-suited for high
school students, who are thus provided with a motivation to
improve their computer and scientific thinking skills. ScionImage
(PC)/NIH Image (Macs) macros for this purpose have been developed
which access a CD-ROM of 23 years of NSO/Kitt Peak magnetogram
data and laboratory exercises developed previously for classroom
use. This web site was created for collecting the data from
classrooms across the US, and for status reports on the results.
Currently, there are [number] contributers working onthis project.
To see a detailed description of the project, including computer requirements and a teacher's manual, click here.
Individuals interested in participating in this project can register online here.
To leave comments or ask for help with this project, click here.
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