[13.10] Advanced Undergraduate Computer Based Astronomy Lab. The 3K Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR).

AAS 200th meeting, Albuquerque, NM, June 2002
Session 13. Astronomy Education
Display, Monday, June 3, 2002, 9:20am-6:30pm, SW Exhibit Hall

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[13.10] Advanced Undergraduate Computer Based Astronomy Lab. The 3K Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMBR).

M. H. Slovak (LSU)

A challenging computer based astronomy lab for advanced astronomy undergraduate students has been developed using satellite (COBE) and ground-based observations of the 3K cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR). Students are provided the observations and background information on the discovery and interpretation of the CMBR. They also review relevant radiation laws such as the Stefan-Boltzmann law and Wein's law. The data are modeled using Microsoft(c) Excel to calculate a Planckian intensity distribution in order to determine the temperature and peak wavelength of the CMBR. This lab is one in a series being designed to provide astronomy majors experience in mathematically modeling astronomical data.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: mslova1@lsu.edu

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