Devan produced a lot of images using Poisson Statistics. But he could only see 20% frames with any photon at all. Why, can we not explain this using average number of photons from the sky?
Yes, we can. We get only average of 0.17 photon over all pixels of the detector put together. This gives a probability of ~84% to have zero photons incident on the detector. That is perfectly acceptable! Statistics can be trusted :p
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Astronomy in Goa - IV : General Public
This post is a part of a series on Astronomy Center activities in Goa. I have outlined the aims and target communities for it, read my guide post for details. The current post will outline main activities for general public. The next post will examine the physical and other needs of all such astronomy activities.
It is highly recommended that activities for general public to be carried out while conducting school- and college-level activities. Not only is it easy to do so, but without such activities general public will not be aware about such a center and will not support it at the local level.
Goa is poor on astronomy awareness, as is most of India, even though Goans are quite enterprising and curious people. There are hardly any facilities for astronomy activities, except for Public Astronomy Observatory, a group in Panjim that does lots of good work. So, there is much to do with such a center in Goa.
The aims is to spread awareness about astronomy, physics, and general science related to both, to general public, students, policy makers, alike.
Activities:
In the subsequent parts I will outline physical and other needs to conduct the activities for three types of audiences.
It is highly recommended that activities for general public to be carried out while conducting school- and college-level activities. Not only is it easy to do so, but without such activities general public will not be aware about such a center and will not support it at the local level.
Goa is poor on astronomy awareness, as is most of India, even though Goans are quite enterprising and curious people. There are hardly any facilities for astronomy activities, except for Public Astronomy Observatory, a group in Panjim that does lots of good work. So, there is much to do with such a center in Goa.
The aims is to spread awareness about astronomy, physics, and general science related to both, to general public, students, policy makers, alike.
Activities:
- Astronomy awareness camps (mobile and stationary in Surla): To educate common public about important astronomy events, regular calendar events, etc.
- Regular in-house open-air (naked-eye) astronomy activities: meteor showers, eclipses, and like. This is to maintain public involvement in astronomy center.
- Planetarium-based activities: Much of the Summer and Monsoon season, when skies are not clear, a mobile planetarium would be an ideal instrument of astronomy display. A mobile planetarium has been active in IUCAA, Pune, and has been a successful venture.
- Panel discussions and lectures by experts on topics of interest for general audience
- To question astrology and dubious connections used to sell it using astronomical terminology. This is to clearly identify difference in science of astronomy/astrophysics and what different astrological practices follow. In particular, calendars, astronomical events of planets and terminologies.
- To highlight astronomy education and research issues in front of common public and policy makers. This is to advocate more participation in national and international activities, such as Olympiads, telescopes, collaborations, etc.
In the subsequent parts I will outline physical and other needs to conduct the activities for three types of audiences.
Astronomy in Goa - III : School Activities
This post is a part of a series on Astronomy Center activities in Goa. I have outlined the aims and target communities for it, read my guide post for details. The current post will outline main activities for school children. The next post will examine the physical and other needs of such astronomy activities.
It is highly recommended that activities for general public to be carried out while conducting school- and college-level activities. Not only is it easy to do so, but without such activities, general public will not be aware about such a center and will not support it at the local level. One will have to sell the above activities for general public in some form or another. To think of it, school/college audience is only a part of "general public".
Coming to specific activities for school students:
non-academic:
a) To do simple naked-eye astronomy: get acquainted with stars, planets, comets, and meteors.
b) Seasons and astronomical bodies,
both the above activities are expected to stimulate astronomy discussions and general background.
b) Seasons and astronomical bodies,
both the above activities are expected to stimulate astronomy discussions and general background.
c) To recount history of sky monitoring and astronomy, in India and abroad.
d) Stories of famous Indian astronomers and mathematicians.
f) To study the connection with science/physics through simple examples.
g) To understand role of astronomical observations in calendars
academic
a) To develop graded astronomy curriculum material:
- For 8th to 10th level classes. We need to start from simple concepts of Earth as a rotating, spherical body.
- Learn about the Sun as a star, moon as a satellite, and planets as satellites of the Sun.
- Gradually, we need to introduce higher concepts along with simple physical interpretation (for example, mass of the Sun).
b) Simple naked-eye activities can be used to do geometrical interpretation of events, such as planet motions, Earth's rotation axis, Moon's motion around itself and the Earth, etc.
c) Techniques of detailed observations of planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies using a telescope and CCDs. Understand the difference between eyes and an external 'detector'.
d) Relating measured quantities to class-room physics and mathematics learnt previously by students. In particular: concept of angles, motions of planets using Kepler's laws, radii of and distances to planets assuming some parameters, etc.
e) Conduct astronomy quizzes and competitions.
f) Encourage astro-photography and virtual observatory : internet-based observations using web-cam connected telescopes and astrophotography.
g) Print and digital media interaction to reach wider audience.
Community-based activities
a) Students could help spread astronomy awareness at their homes.
b) Elder students could work with junior students to explain science and techniques of astronomy.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Astronomy in Goa-II : College Activities
This post is a part of a series on Astronomy Center activities in Goa. I have outlined the aims and target communities for it, read my guide post for details. The current post will outline only activities for college students. The subsequent posts will discuss school and general public, and examine the physical and other needs of such astronomy activities.
It is highly recommended that activities for general public to be carried out while conducting college-level activities. Not only it is easy, without such activities, general public will not be aware about such a center and will not support it at the local level. One will have to sell the above activities for general public in some form or another. To think of it, college audience is only a part of "general public".
Coming to specific activities for college students:
non-academic:
both the above activities are expected to stimulate astronomy discussions and general background.
c) To recount history of sky monitoring and astronomy, in Indian and abroad.
d) To understand connection between astronomy and religion in India.
e) Stories of famous Indian astronomers and mathematicians.
f) To study the growth of science/physics through stories of astronomy and astronomers.
g) To understand role of astronomical observations in calendars
h) To question and contrast astrology from astronomy/astrophysics.
academic
a) To develop graded astronomy curriculum material:
For 11th, 12th and degree level classes. We need to start from simple concepts of stars, planets, moon/sun, etc. gradually, we need to introduce higher concepts along with simple physical interpretation. An ideal starting point for such material will be Indira Gandhi Open University (see their course PHE 15 for astronomy and astrophysics).
b) Simple naked-eye activities can be used to do quantitative analysis of events, such as meteor showers, variable star brightness, etc.
c) Techniques of Quantitative estimation of brightness of stars, planets, etc. using a telescope and CCDs.
d) To make simple measurements of star/planet spectra using narrow filters.
e) Relating measured quantities to class-room physics and mathematics learnt previously by students. In particular: concept of temperature of stars and planets using above spectral measurements, radii of stars assuming temperatures, distances to planets using Newton's laws, binary parameters based on eclipsing binary stars, etc.
f) Conduct astronomy quizzes and competitions.
g) Encourage astro-photography and virtual observatory : internet-based observations using web-cam connected telescopes and astrophotography.
h) Short and long astronomy projects through collaborations with other astronomy institutions, such as IUCAA.
i) Print and digital media interaction to reach wider audience.
Community-based activities
a) Students could help spread astronomy awareness through school-level camps at various schools
b) Elder students could work with junior students to explain science and techniques of astronomy.
It is highly recommended that activities for general public to be carried out while conducting college-level activities. Not only it is easy, without such activities, general public will not be aware about such a center and will not support it at the local level. One will have to sell the above activities for general public in some form or another. To think of it, college audience is only a part of "general public".
Coming to specific activities for college students:
non-academic:
a) To do simple naked-eye astronomy: get acquainted with stars, and planets.
b) Naked eye observations, particularly of comets, meteors, planets, and other variable objects,
b) Naked eye observations, particularly of comets, meteors, planets, and other variable objects,
both the above activities are expected to stimulate astronomy discussions and general background.
c) To recount history of sky monitoring and astronomy, in Indian and abroad.
d) To understand connection between astronomy and religion in India.
e) Stories of famous Indian astronomers and mathematicians.
f) To study the growth of science/physics through stories of astronomy and astronomers.
g) To understand role of astronomical observations in calendars
h) To question and contrast astrology from astronomy/astrophysics.
academic
a) To develop graded astronomy curriculum material:
For 11th, 12th and degree level classes. We need to start from simple concepts of stars, planets, moon/sun, etc. gradually, we need to introduce higher concepts along with simple physical interpretation. An ideal starting point for such material will be Indira Gandhi Open University (see their course PHE 15 for astronomy and astrophysics).
b) Simple naked-eye activities can be used to do quantitative analysis of events, such as meteor showers, variable star brightness, etc.
c) Techniques of Quantitative estimation of brightness of stars, planets, etc. using a telescope and CCDs.
d) To make simple measurements of star/planet spectra using narrow filters.
e) Relating measured quantities to class-room physics and mathematics learnt previously by students. In particular: concept of temperature of stars and planets using above spectral measurements, radii of stars assuming temperatures, distances to planets using Newton's laws, binary parameters based on eclipsing binary stars, etc.
f) Conduct astronomy quizzes and competitions.
g) Encourage astro-photography and virtual observatory : internet-based observations using web-cam connected telescopes and astrophotography.
h) Short and long astronomy projects through collaborations with other astronomy institutions, such as IUCAA.
i) Print and digital media interaction to reach wider audience.
Community-based activities
a) Students could help spread astronomy awareness through school-level camps at various schools
b) Elder students could work with junior students to explain science and techniques of astronomy.
Astronomy in Goa - I
One student asked me for some comments about an Astronomy center in Goa. Here are my comments to her in brief. More detailed comments for individual parts (College, schools, etc) are on separate blogs.
I believe much of this material would be useful for similar centers in India, although there will be local variations.
First let us focus on
Goa is poor on astronomy awareness, as is most of India, even though Goans are quite enterprising and curious people. There are hardly any facilities for astronomy activities, except for Public Astronomy Observatory, group in Panjim that does lots of good work. So, there is much to do with such a center in Goa.
Briefly:
1) According to me, aims should be to
2) Communities targeted are:
Awareness levels, requirements and activities of all groups vary, hence our approach to them is going to be different.
3) Activities:
a) general public:
i) astronomy awareness camps (mobile and stationary in Surla)
ii) open-air (naked-eye) astronomy activities: meteor showers, eclipses
iii) planetarium-based activities: a mobile planetarium has been active in IUCAA, Pune, and has been a successful venture.
iv) panel discussions and lectures by experts for general audiances
v) to question astrology and dubious practices used.
b) schools (students and teachers)
i) simple exercises to illustrate relation between mathematics and planetary movements, meteors, eclipses, etc.
ii) physical measurements of planets, moon and the Sun and stars using naked-eye measurements, telescopes, and binoculors.
iii) curriculum course development for students of secondary school, to increase awareness about astronomy and astro-physics.
iv) to specifically question assumptions in astrology, and contrast it with astrophysics.
c) college (students and teachers)
the above practices, however at a higher expertise level. one needs more detail, more sophistication, etc. for example, a college student (esp. an engineer) would appreciate instruments used in astronomy and their detail. they may like to demonstrate radio telescope and understand instrumentation in space-based telescopes.
I believe much of this material would be useful for similar centers in India, although there will be local variations.
First let us focus on
- What are the aims of the project?
- What communities will benefit from the exercise?
- To achieve these, what activities will be conducted? Based on the answers to the first two, one would develop the 3rd answer. Depending upon all the answers, you would know
- What are the physical, electro-mechanical, human and space needs of this project?
Goa is poor on astronomy awareness, as is most of India, even though Goans are quite enterprising and curious people. There are hardly any facilities for astronomy activities, except for Public Astronomy Observatory, group in Panjim that does lots of good work. So, there is much to do with such a center in Goa.
Briefly:
1) According to me, aims should be to
- spread awareness about astronomy, physics and general science (related to both) to general public, students, collegians, and teachers.
- help students acquire astronomy/physics skills using direct experimentation, and appreciate how much astronomy can be a part of their daily activity.
- impart training in astronomy techniques and ignite students' faculty of inquiry.
- train general teachers in schools and colleges to provide general astronomy course in curriculum.
2) Communities targeted are:
- general public
- school and college students
- school and college teachers
Awareness levels, requirements and activities of all groups vary, hence our approach to them is going to be different.
3) Activities:
a) general public:
i) astronomy awareness camps (mobile and stationary in Surla)
ii) open-air (naked-eye) astronomy activities: meteor showers, eclipses
iii) planetarium-based activities: a mobile planetarium has been active in IUCAA, Pune, and has been a successful venture.
iv) panel discussions and lectures by experts for general audiances
v) to question astrology and dubious practices used.
b) schools (students and teachers)
i) simple exercises to illustrate relation between mathematics and planetary movements, meteors, eclipses, etc.
ii) physical measurements of planets, moon and the Sun and stars using naked-eye measurements, telescopes, and binoculors.
iii) curriculum course development for students of secondary school, to increase awareness about astronomy and astro-physics.
iv) to specifically question assumptions in astrology, and contrast it with astrophysics.
c) college (students and teachers)
the above practices, however at a higher expertise level. one needs more detail, more sophistication, etc. for example, a college student (esp. an engineer) would appreciate instruments used in astronomy and their detail. they may like to demonstrate radio telescope and understand instrumentation in space-based telescopes.
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