Laboratories and Webpage designed by Andrew Nicholson 2004

Educational Goals/Objectives

Based on the section Content Standards, Grades 9-12 from the National Science Education Standard that pertain to physical sciences, review of the two modules shows that the Unifying Concepts and Processes, Science as an Inquiry, and Science and Technology, are completely met considering the close tie between the technology using the 4.6-m radio telescope and remote astronomical observations made with that telescope. In Physical Science, we address structure of atoms, structure and properties of matter (as a gas), conservation of energy and increase in disorder, and interactions of energy and matter. In Earth and Space Science, we address origin and evolution of the Earth system.

The goal of these module is to present proplyds as objects that represent the Solar System early in its formation. This goal satisfies the Origin and Evolution of the Earth Content Standard, Grades 9-12 from the National Science Education Standards.

Laboratory 1: Nebula Lab

Students have probably not experienced an out-of-this-world physical science laboratory like the OMC in two different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Since observing the OMC may not be in their experience, this module will introduce students to the lab, familiarizing them with the large-scale physical and chemical processes occurring 1500 light years from Earth!

Students will explore the environment conducive to star formation via multimedia and real time radio observation. The radio observations will be done using the PARI 4.6-meter radio telescope with the 21cm receiver in spectrum mode. Students will measure the rotation velocities of many different HII regions.

Laboratory 2: Proplyds 

Students will focus on proplyds embedded within the large-scale processes of the OMC. The goal is to teach the nature of proplyds and relate them to the origin and evolution of our Solar System. This module will use primarily HST data.

Since the 4.6-meter radio telescope does not have the spatial resolution for students to make real-time radio observations of proplyds, this module will consist exclusively of HST Fits data and interactive multimedia webpages. Incorporated into the webpage will be access to an online image processor that will allow students to zoom in on proplyds and study their morphologies. The software for image processing must meet three basic requirements. First, it must be economical; schools are often on tight budgets and cannot invest in expensive software. Second, the software must be able to do the analysis. Third, it must be user friendly. The Sky Image Processor (SIP; http://www.phys.vt.edu~jhs/SIP/) is a JAVA based tool that can be used with any net browser, and is not installed on the user's computer. So, students can run this from school, home, the library, or any place they can acquire an Internet connection.

A selection of archived Fits images of the Orion Nebula taken with WFPC2 at different wavelengths will be available on the SGRA webpage. Students will be able to download an image and compare the morphology of different proplyds. The students will calculate the linear size of the proplyds.

[Nebula Lab] [Proplyd Lab]