Published: December 15, 2006
Mrs. Hemphill presented a session at the Oregon Science Teacher Association conference, October 11, 2006, in Roseberg, Oregon. The session was entitled "Seeing the World in a Different Light: Exploring in the Infrared." The session included information on the infrared and hands-on activities from the SOFIA Active Astronomy Infrared Kit. Teachers also practiced taking images with an older-model FLIR thermal imaging camera (on loan from FLIR, Wilsonville, Oregon). About 30 teachers attended; they received handouts on Spitzer and SOFIA classroom activities. Each teacher also received the Spitzer Space Telescope DVD with a copy of the short video, "Infrared: More Than Your Eyes Can See."
Mrs. Hemphill used the FLIR thermal imaging camera during Mole Day activities on October 23-24 in four chemistry classes for class portraits and to image reactions in the IR. Her students used the camera to explore a few objects in the IR and to take class portraits for a 4th grade class in both the visible and the IR.
The student working with Mrs. Hemphill completed a proposal for her work with Spitzer data which was approved. Two sets of students from Mrs. Hemphill's Chemistry classes wrote proposals for using a FLIR thermal imaging camera for use in their class projects. Their proposals were approved, and the students have prepared the chemical mixtures to be used for thermal imaging.
During December, two sets of students prepared chemical reactions to monitor using a FLIR thermal imaging camera (borrowed from FLIR in Wilsonville, Oregon). One set compared the visible and thermal shifts of an oscillating reaction; the second set prepared a 'sparkler' chemical mix. The thermal imaging camera will be used to see if it can be used to measure heat of reaction over a short period of time. Both sets of students are working on these projects in January.
One student, who is using Spitzer data in her student project, has worked on the data and images as she has received them. Both the student and Mrs. Hemphill are attending the AAPT/AAS January conference in Seattle to attend sessions and learn more about astronomy. They will meet with Stephen Pompea, and any other Spitzer teachers who may be attending the meeting on Monday.