Published: December 15, 2008
White Bear Lake Area High School student Bryant Richardson has been working diligently on the NGC 4051 data obtained while attending the analysis session at the Spitzer Science Center in August. He has remained in contact with several of the NGC 4051 team members and has provided valuable assistance and input in the planning and development of our scientific and educational presentations. He has forwarded several pieces for inclusion in the two posters that will be presented at the AAS Annual meeting in Long Beach, CA, in January. Astronomy Teacher Peter Pitman has been re-writing the curricula for all of his courses in preparation for an administrative shift from a four period to six period school day. This shift results in a substantial increase in teaching time and he has incorporated the NGC 4051 Reverberation Study into his Advanced Astronomy course. The study will be presented this spring and will involve the entire class of honors students. White Bear Lake students have shown a tremendous increase in interest thanks to recent publicity regarding the Spitzer Project. As we move into 2009, The International Year of Astronomy, the NGC 4051 project is one of many that will be presented to White Bear Lake Astronomy students, all designed to increase their awareness and interest in the field.