The PC Redshift Survey and Other Adventures in Introductory Astronomy

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Session 31 -- Astronomical Education
Display presentation, Wednesday, June 14, 1995, 9:20am - 6:30pm

[31.01] The PC Redshift Survey and Other Adventures in Introductory Astronomy

L.A. Marschall (Gettysburg College), P. Stine (Bloomsburg U.), G.A.Snyder, M.B.Hayden, M.K.Luehrmann, R.F.Good, P.R. Cooper (Gettysburg College)

Project CLEA's latest laboratory exercise in introductory astronomy, "The Large Scale Structure of the Universe" is a simulated red-shift survey, allowing students to investigate the large-scale structure of the universe in a restricted slice of space. Using a simulated telescope with a realistic photon-counting spectrometer, students measure the redshifts of galaxies and construct a wedge diagram showing the 3-d distribution of galaxies. A sample of just over 200 galaxies has been selected from the CfA redshift survey, chosen to outline the major features of the Coma cluster and the Great Wall. Stars down to 12th magnitude from the HST Guide Star Catalog are also included in the telescope field of view, covering a strip 5 degrees wide between 12H and 16H RA at declination +29 degrees. Students can choose from three telescopes of differing aperture to optimize their data-taking efficiency; on-line data recording and spreadsheet access are provided. The exercise can be performed collaboratively at multiple set-ups in a large laboratory, or can be performed by individuals as a long-term project. \\ In addition to the Large Scale Structure exercise, several new and improved versions of the CLEA exercises will be shown. Project CLEA is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and from Gettysburg College.

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