Astrophysics Missions, Grants, and Forum Nuggets for September 2011

2 2 Chandra X-ray Observatory E/PO launched their new partnership with Space Scoop, the astronomy news service for children produced by the European Union’s “Universe Awareness” (EU-UNAWE) program in conjunction with the European Southern Observatory (ESO). EU-UNAWE sponsors programs in 40 countries with a global network of over 500 astronomers, teachers and other educators. Since it began in February 2011, Space Scoop has been translating press releases from ESO into child-appropriate language (~for ages 6-11). The Chandra-UNAWE collaboration complements the ESO releases from ground- based telescopes by introducing children to NASA’s space- based astronomy. Chandra releases are converted into child-appropriate language by UNAWE, reviewed by Chandra E/PO, and released at the same time as the main Chandra release. Space Scoop is disseminated by UNAWE & Chandra distribution networks. The partnership gives Chandra & NASA results access to a world-wide distribution network focused on elementary and middle school aged populations, such as National Geographic-Kids.

3 Kepler Planet Candidate Data Explorer Explorer Table: Filter set for candidates in habitable zone, less than 2 Earth radii… Plot of RA vs Dec, candidates in habitable zone in red New tools for displaying and manipulating Kepler planet candidate data a Kepler and Exoplanet Program E/PO collaboration

4 On July 26-27, 2011, NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) E/PO presented two workshops as part of the Global Hands On Universe conference, which took place near in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Approximately 35 teachers and education professionals from around the United States as well as from countries such as Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Kenya, India and Canada attended the workshops, which showed teachers how to use WISE data to create their own color images as well as educational tours on the free WorldWide Telescope software. On the website, we are now doing science updates and alternating them with featured images. So far we've done updates about Compact Blue Dwarfs, Earth's Trojan Asteroid, and the Tail of Comet Hartley 2. The WISE website now features Science Updates. L to R: Compact Blue Dwarfs, Earth's Trojan Asteroid, and the Tail of Comet Hartley 2.

5 WISE E/PO has created a WorldWide Telescope tour for the public and classrooms that teaches about the mission, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the advantages of seeing astronomical objects in infrared. We’ve also created pdf instructions on how to find and download images from the WISE data archive, as well how to create color pictures from those images. Bryan Mendez gave the Dean Lecture at the California Academy of Sciences to ~150 people on Sep 13. WISE website continues to routinely post featured images: Messier 101, IRDC G , Y-Dwarf (artist’s conception)

6 Music and Astronomy Under the Stars at Tanglewood Summer home of the Boston Symphony & Boston Pops Orchestras "Music and Astronomy Under the Stars" combines a star party with outdoor displays and hands-on activities at outdoor concerts to bring astronomy to the people. On August 2, 2011, a Music and Astronomy Under the Stars event was held at Tanglewood, as part of "Tanglewood on Parade." 5000 people participated in the astronomy program. Activities and displays included: From the Earth to the Universe posters (NASA) Visions of the Universe Posters (NASA) “Sounds of the Sun sonification demonstration with images of the Sun (partially NASA funded) Galileo” lectured about astronomy accompanied by lute music composed by Galileo’s father and brother Transit of Venus lecture by Dr. Jay Pasachoff Telescope observations of the Sun, Moon, stars, & planets Galileo with From the Earth to the Universe Exhibit 8 ’ x 20 ’ From the Earth to the Universe poster

7 A Hubble Gallery A new feature entitled “A Hubble Gallery” has been added to the Amazing Space website. The gallery makes it possible to enjoy some of Hubble’s most popular images in new and creative ways. For example, users can examine images through 3D animations and/or use interactive zoom capabilities. The gallery is a also a new resource that educators can use in their classrooms either as an engagement tool, or as extension activity that challenges students to explore HST images in new ways. Current gallery images include the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the Orion Nebula, the Carina Nebula, and the Interacting Galaxies ARP 273. Additional images will be added to the gallery over time.

8 Amazing Space Recommended by Georgia’s Department of Education – Division of Exceptional Students Over the years, the Amazing Space website has served the needs of many different types of audiences and learners within the K-12 education community. The state of Georgia’s Department of Education –Division of Exceptional Students has recommended it as a resource for its students. It describes Amazing Space as a science education choice with “lots of teaching materials and resources related to space and the planets.” Amazing Space has been incorporated into Georgia’s Department of Education Resource Guide that serves as a resource for educators throughout the state who work with special needs learners.

NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP – 2011) Gordon Squires NITARP pairs NASA scientists with teachers to provide them an authentic research experience using real data and tools. With their mentors, teachers do research, write up results, and present their results at a professional meeting. NITARP is aimed at high school teachers, but middle school, community college, and informal educators may also benefit. The teachers first attend a professional meeting to start. They then visit Caltech/JPL for 3 days. At the end of the program they present their results. Three teams visited Caltech/JPL this summer: Bright Rimmed Clouds which uses Spitzer data to look for new young stars, Period Pontificators which uses Kepler data to investigate the properties of selected stars, and Team Red Shift which uses Spitzer data to search for galaxy clusters around active galactic nuclei teacher applications were due September 23; the program is open to any U.S. educator. The three current teacher- scientist teams will present their results at the 2012 AAS in Austin.

10 "Music and Astronomy Under the Stars" combines a star party with outdoor displays and hands-on activities at outdoor concerts to bring astronomy to the people. On August 5, 2011, a Music and Astronomy Under the Stars event was held at the Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park, IL, in conjunction with a performance by Yo-Yo-Ma and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Adler Planetarium, Chicago Astronomical Society, Naperville Astronomical Association, Northwest Suburban Astronomer, and Skokie Valley Astronomers assisted with this program. Music and Astronomy at Ravina 2011 Summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Visions of the Universe posters Stargazer Astronomy Club Volunteers