JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience

Details JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience

Dec 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997aas...191.0417w&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 191st AAS Meeting, #04.17; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 29, p.1213

Statistics

Applications

Scientific paper

A Joint Venture in Research Grant from NASA has enabled a team of undergraduates from Valdosta State University, lead by Dr. Martha Leake, to spectroscopically and photometrically search for aqueously altered minor planets. To carry out the necessary preparations, calculations, and measurements, students are using CCD and Spectroscopy equipment provided by VSU, a .4-m telescope in Valdosta, in addition to a .9-m telescope at Kitt Peak, belonging to the SARA consortium (Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy). Focusing on primitive C-class asteroids, the team is looking for water of hydration, in the form of absorption bands occurring at specific, previously researched wavelengths. The evidence occurring at these wavelengths suggests the extent of alteration in small solar-system bodies. Equipment being utilized includes an ST-6 and Axiom CCD Cameras, and an Optomechanics 10C spectrograph, and several "intermediate-band" filters to target the specified wavelengths essential to detection o f aqueously altered minerals. Test runs on Valdosta's .4-m are currently being conducted to inspect new equipment and develop analogs for more efficient observation runs on SARA's .9-m telescope. Students were originally chosen on a competitive basis, having to submit formal applications. Three were selected for JOVE research: Roy Kilgard, senior astronomy major; Katherine Semmes, junior physics major; and myself, Lisa Watkins, sophomore astronomy major. Roy Kilgard graduated in the Spring of 1997 with his Astronomy degree, and the position was filled by Brent Collier, a junior Geosciences major at VSU. Students' research is monitored and directed by the project mentor and grant recipient, Dr. Martha Leake.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and JOVE/NASA Funded Search for Aqueously Altered Minor Planets Provides Undergraduates with Valuable Research Experience will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1172589