Future Research Project Ideas

Astronomical Research using Data Archives

There are vast amounts of scientific data being released to the public on a daily basis, and this includes a great deal of astronoical data. Archival research, as referenced here, means scientific research that can be conducting using data that currently exists. To give you a sample of what is out there in the way of astronomical data archives visit http://www.google.com/Top/Science/Astronomy/Data_Archives/ . In addition to these resources, Spitzer has its own data archives. The possibility for research ideas using data archives is limitless.

Galaxy Classification

Spitzer's cameras have relatively large fields of view (for infrared cameras), and Spitzer is really efficient at covering large areas of sky. Thus, it is often the case that sources are serendipitously imaged -- for example, galaxies caught in the background of an image of someting else. You can do science with these objects!

Other programs

This page collects all the programs we know of that use real astronomy data in the classroom. Several of those programs are considerably simpler than NITARP.

NITARP alumni have spoken highly of:

• programs at NRAO (see that link above)
• ISAC
• LCOGT

Places to Publish

• The Physics Teacher (TPT)
• Science Teacher (NSTA)
• just have the students write an article and post on the Wiki or send it to nitarp-list.