Science background

Studying Young Stars

More information on the study of young stars, not necessarily specifically Spitzer-related.

Working with star-forming regions

Working with L1688 -- A sample analysis thread using Lynds 1688, developed in the context of the Lynds Cloud team (2008). This is n entire chain of analysis for Lynds 1688 (a star-forming region), start to finish. Working with CG4+SA101, an adaptation of "Working with L1688", with specific application to that project in CG4+SA101, from 2010. Working with the BRCs, a further adaptation of those pages, with specific application to that 2011 project. Note that each one of these is more or less 'frozen' after the corresponding class graduates, so for the most current links, explanations, details, please see the most recent one, though there are copious links back in the chain to the earlier versions.

Studying Variable Stars

More information on the study of variable stars, light curves, eclipsing binaries, etc.

Studying AGN

More information on the study of active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Pages on things you can study with Spitzer

Studying Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Many astronomers use the Spitzer Space Telescope to detect or study "polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons," or "PAHs" for short. What are these things? In short, rings of carbon, like the grunge on your grill. But what else are they, and why are they important?

Studying Young Stars: Stars begin their life in a cloud of gas and dust (a nebula). Gravitational forces cause the nebula to start to condense. Because longer wavelengths can more easily pass through the cloud of gas and dust, these objects can be better studied in the infrared than at shorter wavelengths like optical.

Etc.... Many more things can be studied with infrared and Spitzer, but we haven't written those documents yet!