# Presentation: 013074

## Student Hera:  NASA Spectroscopy Activities, Analysis, and Data in Your Classroom

- Dr. Jim Lochner (USRA)
- Sara Mitchell (SP Systems)
- NASA/GSFC Astrophysics Science Division

**Notes:**
This presentation is a summary of Student Hera, featuring each of the tutorials. 

Originally presented at NSTA- Charlotte, Fall 2008.

## Data in the Classroom

- Astronomy data analysis offers students:
- applications in science and math concepts
- opportunities to improve inquiry and research skills
- engagement in real-world problem solving
- an understanding of relationship between data and theory
- learning of concepts within an exciting context
- a connection with NASA and other institutions
- experience with what “real scientists” do
- Using data in the classroom shows that anyone
- can do “real science” – it’s not scary!

## NASA & Data

-  NASA has petabytes of data from its satellites, manned exploration, and research programs
- 1 petabyte of information = approximately 50 times the size of the entire print collection of the U.S. Library of Congress
- Data is ever-growing with new missions – and with newer technology, data gets bigger
- Specialized data management has been created for NASA’s unique storage needs

**Notes:**
A petabyte is a billion megabytes. (or a million gigabytes)

## HEASARC & Data

- (High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center)
- HEASARC contains 16 terabytes of data from 26 satellite observatories
- The largest collection of X-ray and gamma-ray data on stars, black holes, pulsars, supernova remnants, and galaxies
- Astronomers from around the world download the data via Browse
- Download volume equals size of the archive every 6 months

**Notes:**
The HEASARC data holdings are from a variety of satellite missions, going back to the 1970’s.
Browse is a tool used developed by the HEASARC to access its data archives.

## Welcome to Student Hera!

- Student Hera brings real astronomy into the classroom!
- Students use the same software and methods as scientists to study objects in space such as black holes, pulsars, and binary stars.
- One small download brings the universe to your fingertips.

## What are Hera and Student Hera?

- Hera provides an interface to satellite data and analysis tools which are used by scientists.
- Neither tools or data need to be downloaded to user’s local computer.
- Hera is used by scientists around the world.
- Student Hera is a scaled-down interface which provides selected data sets and tools for teachers and students.
- Web pages provide tutorials of the analysis for students.

## Astronomy Data & Analysis 

- Timing
- Measure how the intensity of X-rays from an object varies with time
- Stars, Binary Star Systems, Black Holes, Pulsars
- Imaging
- See where the X-rays are coming from
- Supernova Remnants, Clusters of Galaxies
- Spectroscopy
- Measure the energy of the X-rays
- Stars, Binary Systems, Black Holes, Supernova Remnants, Galaxies, etc.

**Notes:**
Astronomy data and analysis falls in these three broad categories.  Student Hera provides three tutorials covering these. 
“Timing” data measures how the object’s intensity varies with time.
“Imaging” data allows us to see what the object looks like.  With “false color” techniques, we can view objects in wave bands other than optical
“Spectroscopy” data measures the energy of the X-rays, allowing us to determine the physical mechanisms which give rise to the radiation. 

## Tutorial #1: Timing

- Objective:  determine the period of a binary star system
- System contains a pulsar and a normal star
- Students make predictions for what the orbit looks like
- Students estimate period by plotting the light curve
- Students obtain period using a Chi-squared analysis technique

- Students compare shape of light curve and compare with their predictions

**Notes:**
Each tutorial provides science background and exercises that walk the student through the concepts and using the analysis tools. 

The Timing tutorial is a good place to start. 
A pulsar is a type of neutron star.  This object shines in X-rays when matter from its nearby binary companion flows toward the pulsar.  As the matter circles around the pulsar, the pressure and density rise, causing the temperature to rise.  As the temperature rises, the matter emits X-rays.  
The closer the two stars are to each other, the more X-rays we see.  So if the X-ray intensity varies as the two stars orbit each other, what type of orbit might they be in? (Answer: elliptical).

## Tutorial #1: Timing

- Light Curve

- Folded Light Curve

**Notes:**
The Timing tutorial can be used with either middle school or high school students: 

[Left Figure] In the timing tutorial, students plot the light curve, adjusting the amount of data to plot.  Students identify a pattern in the light curve and visually estimate a period. For middle school students, this is a natural stopping point in the lesson.
[Right Figure]  Using their estimated period, high school students use techniques to better determine the period.  They end with a plot of the “Folded Light Curve”, which depicts the light curve averaged over the period.  Students then compare this with their predictions for the nature of the orbit.

## Tutorial #2: Imaging

- Students search the image of a supernova remnant in different energy bands
- From gamma-ray data, they discover, as astronomers did, a new supernova remnant

**Notes:**
Image in upper right is the Vela Supernova Remnant (SNR) 

In the bottom row of  three images:
Left - The Vela SNR (filling most of the image) and the smaller Puppis A SNR (near the 2 o'clock position at the edge of Vela) in ROSAT Image at X-ray energies 0.1-2.4 KeV; 
Center - ROSAT Image for X-ray energies 1.3-2.4 KeV; 
Right - COMPTEL Image (from the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory) of newly discovered Supernova Remnant

## Tutorial #3: Spectroscopy

- Examine a supernova remnant
- An exploded star and element “factory”
- Determine the elemental composition
- Students model the spectrum with different types of x-ray emission mechanisms and spectral lines

**Notes:**
The image is a composite of Radio (red), Optical (green), and X-ray (blue)

Here’s the APOD description of the image of E0102-72
Not all stars form a big Q after they explode. The shape of supernova remnant E0102-72, however, is giving astronomers a clue about how tremendous explosions disperse elements and interact with surrounded gas. The above image is a composite of three different photographs in three different types of light. Radio waves, shown in red, trace high-energy electrons spiraling around magnetic field lines in the shock wave expanding out from the detonated star. Optical light, shown in green, traces clumps of relatively cool gas that includes oxygen. X-rays, shown in blue, show relatively hot gas that has been heated to millions of degrees. This gas has been heated by an inward moving shock wave that has rebounded from a collision with existing or slower moving gas. This big Q currently measures 40 light-years across and was found in our neighboring SMC galaxy. Perhaps we would know even more if we could buy a vowel.

## Tutorial #3: Spectroscopy

- Students find evidence of oxygen, neon and
- magnesium in a supernova remnant.

**Notes:**
In analyzing a spectrum, students match the data with models which describe types of emission mechanisms.  
In the spectroscopy module, students first choose a model for the overall continuum.  They then insert lines to model the distinct emission lines seen in the data.  They then match the energies of those lines with known energies of emission lines from common elements.  They find the supernova remnant contains oxygen, neon, and magnesium.

## Using Student Hera

- It’s easy to get started with Student Hera in the classroom.  The website leads you through installation and getting started.
- Student Hera requires one 10MB download from the website.  An installation wizard to guide you through set-up.  Just click on the Student Hera icon on your desktop, and you’re ready to go!

## Student Hera Tutorials

**Notes:**
The Student Hera tutorials are available on the Student Hera web pages on the imagine site (full URL is given later). 

## Student Hera Interface

- Student Hera offers a variety of tools and data to explore.

**Notes:**
Using Student Hera is easy!
Just select a Tool (in the left hand menu), a data set (upper right hand menu), and click “Run”.  A dialogue box will appear.  The tutorial guides students in choosing parameter inputs. 

## From Tutorials to Research

- Once students have mastered the analysis techniques, they can expand analysis to other objects
- Group or individual research projects
- Science fair projects
- Tutorials parallel historical research done by scientists – results can be researched and verified in scientific literature

## Classroom uses for Student Hera

- Use software and exercises within lessons on related concepts, such as light curves, X-ray astronomy, or binary stars.  Plotting tools can create useful visual aids!
- Assign students individual or group projects using Student Hera.  Projects can be based on the guided activities on the website -- many variations are possible.
- Integrate into lessons on mission design and technology.  Student Hera offers a look at the real data that comes back from satellites, as well as the specialized analysis and manipulation that scientists perform.
- Use with related lessons and activities from online learning resources such as Imagine the Universe! and mission-related sites like the RXTE Learning Center.

## College Hera Lab

- Timing Tutorial is also available as a 2-hour lab experience for 1st year college astronomy courses.
- Guided web course tracks student progress and tests concept understanding
- http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/hera_college/
- Developed by Dr. Beth Hufnagel, Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland

## New Ideas?

- How would you use Student Hera
- in your classroom?

## Check us out online!

- http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/hera/