Published: September 15, 2008
Mr. DeWolf writes:
Since our trip to SSC last summer, we have added one new "official" member to our research team. Others from my 1st trimester astronomy course are involved as well as we begin our unit on light and telescopes. Also, the summer issue of the Michigan Earth Scientist - the journal of the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association - featured an article about our experiences while in Pasadena.
We are continuing to work on analysis of data from our 2nd dark nebula - L981. Data became available in July. We meet once a week after school and have had interested students pop in from after school practices check out what's going on. Possibly they'll become the start of a continuing after school program in astronomy here in our district.
On October 4th I will be presenting my first workshop on infrared astronomy at the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association Fall Conference in Hudsonville, MI. Plans are in the works through o the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District to start a series of astronomy related workshops for teachers beginning in early November.
Our students are excited about coming to the AAS meeting in January and sharing their results along with the other students and teachers who have been involved in this project. They really liked seeing their names under the author heading for our abstract.