Chelen Johnson
Investigtating Moving-group Photometry and Understanding Lightcurve Structures (IMPULS) will be studying rotation rates of stars in the young nearby Beta Pic Moving Group.
The experience has changed my understanding of astronomy and how it is done, but not of astronomers.
Real astronomy is very exciting! I was not expecting to have to solve problems in excel the way we did. We were asked to answer simple questions or develop simple graphs at times but in order to get correct results (as far as we can tell) our team had to parse our skills and play with logic. I remember creating my first SED: I became so excited I could not sit down anymore. Another teacher was so thrilled they raised their hands and yelled in excitement. It was the first time we had results; it was a thrill.
I have already talked to my department about adding an astronomy research class to our class choices next year and they are very enthusiastic.
