This project builds many skills in astronomy. The size of the images and speed of the motion of the objects are measured. Retrograde motion is shown on some of the images. Students also get the opportunity to explore the creation of digital images of the night sky with CCD cameras. The project also builds computer skills.
Students practice visiting Internet sites by typing in the web addresses.
They learn to download images and convert them from one format to another. Other skills include saving and opening files and digital image processing, animation and aligning, measuring, and enhancing the images. Perhaps the most important benefit is that the work of a scientist is highlighted. Students learn patience-many thousand images may need to be checked before a discovery is made. Students learn to face disappointment when they think they have a discovery and it turns out to be a known object, not a new one.