Specific IC 2118 information

Brief philosophical note from Luisa

Real science vs. textbook science:

• Science (history) as presented in textbooks may seem a never-ending series of right answers. Real science has a lot of dead ends as we struggle to find out what the ‘right answer’ is.
• Science problems in textbooks have well-defined problems, specific methods you’re supposed to use to solve them, and right (exact) answers (1.2 can be wrong when 1.3 is right). Real science is not quite “made up as you go along” but it may feel that way in the coming days. Different people approach the same problem in different ways, and many answers can be right (1.2 and 1.3 can both be right). The only way you know it’s the right answer is if you believe that everything you did to get there is right.

Why should anyone care about young stars?

• Understanding star formation includes understanding how planets form, including planets like Earth.
• Star formation is the "happening field" right now! TONS of new discoveries happening all the time, many driven by Spitzer.
• A friend who is the author of a popular college textbook told me that the chapter that she revises most frequently (particularly recently) in response to new developments is the star formation chapter.
• By doing this project, you are participating in the revolution!

Young stars in general

Introduction to star formation

(to come)

Finding the cluster members

Spitzer is so sensitive that it easily sees things at the far reaches of the Universe with only a few seconds' integration. When studying clusters of stars, not just with Spitzer, one of the first major goals is to figure out which objects are truly cluster members and which are not. This pdf file has a discussion of how to find members of young clusters in general.

Working specifically with IC 2118

Many of the tools and techniques developed for IC 2118 will work in any other star-forming region observed with Spitzer. Here are some things pertaining specifically to the IC 2118 region. (to come when i have time!)