________            ______ _   ______  ___       ____    __  _    
/_  __/ /  ___   __ / / __ \ | / / __/ / _ )__ __/ / /__ / /_(_)__ 
 / / / _ \/ -_) / // / /_/ / |/ / _/  / _  / // / / / -_) __/ / _ \
/_/ /_//_/\__/  \___/\____/|___/___/ /____/\_,_/_/_/\__/\__/_/_//_/

               -the newsletter of NASA's Radio JOVE Project
                 "Planetary Radio Astronomy for Schools"

JUNE 1999 ISSUE
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
               Visit our Web Site: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov
               Email Radio JOVE at: james.thieman at nasa.gov
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

 CONTENTS

 1. Radio JOVE Project Leader's Welcome
 2. Editor's Welcome
 3. RJ News 
 4. Feedback - RJ schools in action.
 5. On the Horizon - Upcoming events.
 6. Radio JOVE at a Glance
 7. Acknowledgments	
 8. Subscription Information
 
1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

 RADIO JOVE PROJECT LEADER'S WELCOME
 by Jim Thieman, NASA GSFC

Hello to all present and future Radio JOVE project participants!   My
name is Jim Thieman and I am the person who is listed as the "principal
investigator" for the two grants we have received for Radio JOVE, a
Goddard Space Flight Center Director's Discretionary Fund grant and an
Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy and Space Science
(IDEAS) grant administered by the Space Telescope Science Institute.  I
am a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, a manager of the
National Space Science Data Center information systems, and also a
manager of the NASA Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum.  These tasks
keep me busy, but, aside from the ever-present government paperwork,
most of what I do for NASA is very enjoyable, especially projects like
Radio JOVE.  

The Radio JOVE project team is made up of many dedicated people,
however, and I hope that with time we will be able to introduce you to
all of them.  We are all tied together by an interest in radio
astronomy and education and hope that you too will enjoy sharing in the
excitement of studying the strange and unique radio phenomena of the
solar system.  

We are a very new project since we did not receive our first grant
until last November.  Much of the foundation had already been laid,
however, since a number of our group had been thinking of doing
something like this for years.  Thus, it came together very quickly. 
Dick Flagg of RF Associates in Honolulu, Hawaii had already put
together a design for a radio receiver especially for observing Jupiter
based on his past experience at the University of Florida Radio
Observatory.  

The antenna design and testing have involved many of the team.  We also
appreciate the quick feedback we have been getting from our group of
beta testers.  As mentioned in our literature, the kit is intended for
receiving signals from either Jupiter or the Sun. Jupiter is a
relatively predictable radio source, but it is very difficult to
receive Jupiter radio emissions when it is close to the Sun.  For the
past few months, almost since the inception of the project, Jupiter has
been near the Sun and we have not been able to test Jupiter radio
reception under good observing conditions.  Now Jupiter is moving away
from the Sun and the coming months will bring prime observing
conditions.  We hope our participants will share with us the excitement
of seeing how well the kit works in observing Jupiter.  Our Radio JOVE
website will indicate the best time for observing the coming Jovian
radio storms.  

Solar observations are, of course, also possible but not as
predictable.  Nonetheless, the Sun is approaching the maximum of its
eleven-year activity cycle and the number of solar storms observable
through radio emission should increase as well in the months ahead. 

This summer we will have several teachers and students helping us to
build our Radio JOVE website.  We expect to have radio astronomy
background information, training in what to expect, educational
activities, news items, bulletin boards, and hopefully data
contributions, feedback, and interactions among you, the participants. 
So, don't be shy, let us know how you are doing and share with us what
you and hopefully all of us are discovering about our solar system.  

2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2

 EDITOR'S WELCOME
 by Leonard Garcia, NASA GSFC

Welcome to the first issue of The JOVE Bulletin, the newsletter of
Radio JOVE. We will present here the latest updates to the Radio JOVE
program. Here you may find announcements of updates to our website, new
software that is available, and other web sites to check out. This is
your newsletter; a forum where you, both teachers and students, can
announce your successes. Whether it is letting us know how building your
RJ receiver and antenna proceeded, announcing your first detection of
Solar or Jovian radio bursts or ways that you have incorporated Radio
JOVE in the classroom, we want to hear from you! We also want to hear
about ways we can improve our manuals, websites, software (and
newletters!) We want to know what problems you've encountered in
building and/or operating your Radio JOVE equipment. We also would like
to know if you've come up with novel solutions to problems you may have
faced in operating/building the RJ equipment. Your tips and suggestions
may help some other schools that are facing the same problem. Good luck
and I hope you enjoy being members of Radio JOVE!

3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3

 RADIO JOVE NEWS

*Members of the Radio JOVE Core Team are presenting information on the
Radio JOVE program at two scientific conferences this month. Chuck
Higgins went to Boston, MA, to present a poster at a meeting of the
American Geophysical Union. Leonard Garcia is presenting a Radio JOVE
poster in Chicago, IL, at a meeting of the American Astronomical
Society.

*Francisco Reyes, Core Team member at the University of Florida, gave
a talk to students at the P.K. Yonge school about Radio JOVE.
  
*The Radio JOVE CDs have gone out recently. These CDs contain software
to analyze the Radio JOVE receiver output, the instruction manuals and
photos of the equipment as well as copies of several of our web pages.
Please let us know your thoughts on the CD.

*Radio JOVE Online observatory has officially begun construction
as the University of Florida crew begins software development.
A student-programmer has been hired to assist in the software and webpage
development. The radio link for the observatory will begin as soon as the
contractor is hired.

*Dean Knight of Sonoma Valley High School in Sonoma, CA writes that he
has 9 students (mostly 9th graders) working in teams of two after school
on the Radio JOVE RJ 1.1 receiver and antenna. Thank you for your
findings in building and testing the equipment. Please keep us informed
on your progress. 

*Linden Lundback and Brian Cowan, INSPIRE team members from Watrous, SK,
Canada, provided us with very thorough descriptions of their findings in
building the Radio JOVE receiver. Their suggestions for improvements to
the manual are greatly appreciated.

*Nancy Rocheleau of the Sacred Heart Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii writes us
with news that eight students from her class successfully completed
their RJ 1.1 receiver. Congratulations to Sandy Liang, Elna Oshiro,
Ahreum Kang, Dawoon Kang, Akiko Furutani, Peggy Lau, Tracy Wang and
Carolyn Kawamoto. We are looking forward to more reports from you and
appreciate your thoughtful input on improvements to the receiver and
antenna manuals.

*We will provide more details of the results of the beta testers in
upcoming issues of The JOVE Bulletin. We will also be posting more
information on our website.  

4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4

FEEDBACK - RJ SCHOOLS IN ACTION

-We've had great response from our beta testers. Included in this
section are two letters written by students at Chaffey High School in
Ontario, California.  

Dear Creator(s) of JOVE,

Constructing the JOVE receiver was a thrill. I haven't been involved in
such an innovative area of study since the INSPIRE project, and my
experience working on the JOVE receiver was quite interesting. I endorse
projects such as INSPIRE and JOVE because they elaborate the ever
expanding curiosity of high school students nation wide. Over the
duration of a few weeks, my physics professor, fellow student and I
accepted the challenge of building the JOVE receiver. We were issued a
kit, told that it was a trial kit, and that we should attempt to
assemble the receiver and critique the clarity of the instructions
according to how we perceived them to be. Over all the soldering
procedure was a success reassured by the bright LED. I had never
soldered prior to this my entire life and am now comfortable with my
ability to do so. Our only confusion in this area dwelled in the
interpretation of the resistor color scheme. Double gold bands were
interesting to translate from the provided information on the subject of
multipliers and other resistor specifications. Had our teacher not
resolved our dilemma with his electronic cognizance, we would have been
on our way to Radio Shack's customer service desk for enlightenment.  In
all polite constructive criticism, definite problems occurred when we
reached Testing and Alignment section of the project. We had difficulty
with the oscillator tuning and oscilloscope reading. I am aware that
this section is by far the most difficult to execute and there is
purpose behind the inclusion of four different methods and trouble
shooting procedures. We were not even receiving steady tone through our
speaker/amplifier and were quite bilked by the oscilloscope's opinion of
what was going on.  During the receiver's assembly only minor setbacks
occurred due to slightly vague instructions and ignorance on our part. A
guide book that could anticipate every possible confusion that could
arise with the exclusive JOVE line of receivers written in layman's with
an elaborate glossary from Ampere to Zeta would be ideal. Concluding on
a more practical note, perhaps a hotline-telephone # and/or computer
site- where the fascinated and interested, yet the easily confused and
partially perplexed individuals like my self could seek refuge in a time
of mild frustration.  I want to thank you again for the opportunity to
broaden my horizons - this time all the way to Jupiter's inner moon from
the comfort of my own backyard. My interaction with the project was
indubitably a positive experience.  

 Sincerely, 
 Andre' Ouellette
 Class of 1999 
 Chaffey High School 
 Ontario, California, U.S.A. 

Putting together the JOVE receiver was a great learning experience.  My
partner and I had never done something like this before.  The
instructions were well written.  The only trouble we had was a small
part in the organization; we didn't know where to put in the ends of the
Resistor r28 through r31 and we had trouble installing the volume
control to the right place.  We quickly caught on to that, though, and
the rest was just as the instructions read.  

Our teacher gave us brief instructions in soldering the components.
Being the first time doing this we were amazed that is worked.  We
followed the steps accurately and of course we expected it to work,
but to see it happen was just amazing. This was fun in the making and
we all learned many things and this makes me want to further my
experience in electronics. 

 Daniel
 Chaffey High School 
 Ontario, California, U.S.A. 

5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5

 ON THE HORIZON - UPCOMING EVENTS
 by Chuck Higgins, NASA GSFC

* A Radio JOVE summer student, Albert Davison, a junior in astronomy
from the University of Maryland, begins working at Goddard Space Flight
Center. He will help the JOVE team with hardware and software
checkout, revisions, and testing. He will also assist with the
education development as needed. A second student, Autumn Thayer, a
high school student from Maryland, will be joining us on June 28th
to help with the Radio JOVE summer activities.
 
 June 1999

* Radio JOVE kits are finalized and ready to be shipped to
interested schools and persons. The first 100 kits ordered
by schools (Schools ONLY) will receive a subsidized kit at
approximately one-half of the regular price of the kit. All
kits ordered by schools after the first 100 will be sold at
the regular price (approx. $100.00). Any individual may order
a kit at any time at the regular price (approx. $100.00).
 
* Two summer teacher interns, Bill Pine from Chaffey High School in
Ontario, California and Tom Smith from Briggs-Chaney Middle School in
Maryland, arrive at Goddard Space Flight Center to begin working on
the educational curricula for Radio JOVE. This will include lesson
plan development, lab exercise development, and more.

 Upcoming Predicted Jovian Radio Noise Storms
 
   The position of Jupiter in the sky for northern hemisphere
 observers is not favorable for the months of May, June, and the
 first part of July. Jupiter is visible in the pre-dawn sky at
 low elevation at the end of May through June. It rises earlier
 and earlier (about 2 hours earlier each month) until it rises
 about midnight in the latter half of July. (Source: The Observer's
 Handbook). Due to the unfavorable position of Jupiter the predicted
 storms for May, June and early July will not be detectable by the
 RJ antenna. Please see our website for the list of predicted storms for
 late July, August, and September.
 

6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6

 Radio JOVE at a Glance
 (from the RJ Web Site)

* Teaches planetary and solar radio astronomy, space physics, and the
scientific method

* Target audience - Teachers and students of high school / college
science courses

* Provides teachers and students with a hands-on radio astronomy
experience

* Gain experience in electronics construction and testing

* Interact with other Radio JOVE schools to exchange data, ideas, and
experiences

* Radio JOVE kits available for $100, additional equipment is required,
including antenna supports, a tape recorder, and a PC with a sound card

7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Radio JOVE project is an educational/public outreach program
involving scientists and educators from NASA, Raytheon ITSS, the
University of Florida, the Florida Space Grant Consortium, RF
Associates and The INSPIRE Project, Inc.  

The Radio JOVE project wishes to acknowledge support from the
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Director's Discretionary Fund and the
Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy and Space Science
(IDEAS) grant program administered by the Space Telescope Science
Institute.  

8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

 THE JOVE BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

The JOVE Bulletin is published several times a year. It is a free
service of the Radio JOVE Project.  We hope you will find it of value.  
If any of your friends would like to subscribe, they may do so by sending 
E-mail to Leonard.Garcia@gsfc.nasa.gov.

If you do not want to receive any more issues,
send E-mail to Leonard.Garcia@gsfc.nasa.gov.

Back issues are available on the Radio JOVE Project Web site,

 http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 

For assistance or information send inquiries to:

 Radio JOVE Project
 Code 633
 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
 Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 USA

or

 Email:  thieman@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
 FAX: 1-301-286-1771
===============================================================================