Start Your Engines...

As the new year rolls around, it's time to start the next phase of the project. Thus far we have focused on data collection, not it's time to focus on the rest of the scientific process...

Citizen Sky is all about involving citizen scientists in all aspects of the scientific method. Most citizen science projects just focus on data collection, but we want to do more. The second year of the project we want to begin projects that involve historical research, data analysis, paper writing and outreach. And, yes, data collection continues to be an important component.

Science is most often done collaboratively, so we've setup an infrastructure and program that allows participants to work in teams. However, you do not have to work in a team. If you prefer to go it alone - no prob.

The goal of each team should be a publication of some sort. A special issue of the Journal of the AAVSO will be dedicated to appropriate publications. This is an astronomical journal that is peer-reviewed by professional astronomers and indexed in the main astronomical journal indices - so what is published there will show up in literature searches by professionals. This is a chance to get your name on a real scientific paper in a real journal that is read by others. And, remember, we will assign you a professional liason to help guide you through the tough questions. You won't be alone.

We just opened up a discussion forum dedicated to brainstorming team topics. Click here to read it. We populated it with a few ideas, but feel free to come up with your own. They don't need to be about epsilon Aurigae itself. And it doesn't need to be rigorous research - it just needs to involve a product that has a place in the scientific method. Feel free to post ideas and such on the forum or to contact us privately with questions or ideas.

And don't forget to check out our presentations and video from the last Citizen Sky workshop at the California Academy of Sciences, which was focused on data analysis and scientific paper writing.

Good luck and let's get this started!