Citizen Sky Workshops

Fall 2010 Citizen Sky Workshop

The second Citizen Sky Project Workshop will be held Friday-Sunday, September 3-5, 2010 at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.  We will kick-off the 3-day workshop with an opening reception and tour on the evening of September 2.  The focus of this workshop will be data analysis and scientific paper writing. We will have sessions updating us on the science of epsilon Aurigae, how to use VStar for basic data analysis, how to write papers for peer review, how to choose good research questions, doing literature reviews and much more. We also will have a free showing of the new Citizen Sky planetarium trailer on the California Academy of Science's brand-new planetarium dome.

Maps/Info for Participants

Citizen Sky Workshop Schedule

Thursday 9/2
Evening (6:30-10pm)
Welcome Reception (6:30 – 8:30) and
NightLife event (includes an optional, free planetarium show at 8:30)
 
Friday 9/3
8:30-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-noon AM session

• Welcome, Arne Henden and Ryan Wyatt (10)
• Project Update, Rebecca Turner (20)
• Update on the status of the epsilon Aurigae eclipse, Dr. Bob (30)
• Coffee break (30)
• Evolutionary status of the binary based on recent measurements, Brian Kloppenborg (30)
• What more can we learn from the SED, Steve Howell (15)
• Disks in Astrophysical Objects, Steve Howell (15)
• Poster introductions

Noon-2pm LUNCH
2-4:30pm PM session

• VStar Workshop, David Benn (60)
• Coffee break (30)
• Team Reports: David Benn, Chris Stephan, Joan Chamberlin, Brian Kloppenborg (30)
• What’s a Light Curve?  Unexpected Reasoning Difficulties When Interpreting Graphs, Tim Slater (30)

Saturday 9/4
8:30-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-noon AM session

• The AAVSO International Database, Aaron Price (30)
• Precision, Accuracy and Uncertainty in Data, Mike Koppelman (30)
• Coffee Break (30)
• Introduction to Variable Stars Through Their Light Curves, Arne Henden (60)
• Poster introductions

Noon-2pm LUNCH
2-4:30pm PM session

• Basic Time Series Analysis, Grant Foster (60)
• Coffee break (30)
• Concurrent sessions (60)
  • Intermediate Time Series Analysis, Grant Foster
  • Using Variable Star Data in Education/Science Olympiad, Donna Young & Douglas Lombardi

4:45pm Group Tour of California Academy of Sciences
6:00pm World premiere of planetarium trailer and Q/A with Director Ryan Wyatt

Sunday 9/5
8:30-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-noon AM session

• Picking Topics for Scientific Investigation, Doug Welch (45)
• Coffee break (30)
• An Introduction to Writing Science Papers, Doug Welch (45)
• Team Planning Session (30)

Noon-2pm LUNCH
2-3:15pm PM session

• Analysis of spectrum monitoring by San Mateo College observing team, Sally Seebode (20)
• NVO Inside: How to Access Rich Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Data Through the "Invisible Observatory," Jordan Raddick (20)
• Using ADS and SIMBAD for Astronomical Research, Brian Kloppenborg (20)
• Closing, Aaron (15)

Summer 2009 Workshop Information and Schedule:

Dates: August 4-7, 2009
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Description: A workshop focused on observing, education, and public outreach.  We will kick-off the 3-day workshop with an opening reception the evening of August 4. The “star” of this workshop will be epsilon Aurigae, a bright variable star. We are assembling an impressive group of experts to lead sessions on topics such as: an introduction to the Citizen Sky Project, the science of epsilon Aurigae, observing epsilon Aurigae (visual and photometric), public outreach using the Citizen Sky Project, using the Citizen Sky Project in the classroom, and an introduction to basic data analysis. We are also planning a planetarium show and possible closing star party.

It is very likely that in the coming weeks we will have travel grants available for workshop participants. Travel grants/workshop slots are only available for those who commit to spread the word about this project in their local community.

Housing Information

A block of guest rooms has been reserved at the Silversmith Hotel, 10 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago IL. The guest room rate is $139 plus 15.4% tax.  To make reservations please call (800) 979-0084 and ask for group code "AAV080309" or click here for online reservations. 

We have set-up a "Looking for a roommate?" list to help those interested in cutting costs find a roommate.  If you would like to be added to the list please contact us.

UPDATED Schedule - Citizen Sky Workshop I

Tuesday, 8/4

Evening - 7:00-9:00pm - Opening reception

Wednesday, 8/5
AM session - 9:30-noon
    Welcome, Arne Henden
    Message from the Evaluator, Jennifer Borland
    Project Introduction, Rebecca Turner
    Coffee break
    About epsilon Aurigae, Robert Stencel

LUNCH noon-2pm

PM session - 2:00-4:30
    Tour of/how to use Citizen Sky website, Aaron Price
    Coffee break
    Public Outreach Strategies, Mike Simonsen & Aaron Price
   
Thursday, 8/6
AM session - 9:30-noon
    Variable Stars 101, Arne Henden
    Binary Stars Overview, Steve Howell
    Supergiant Binary Stars, Worth Their Mass in Gold, Doug Welch
    Coffee Break
    Disks in Astrophysics, Brian Kloppenborg
    Initial Results of Photometric Observations of eps Aur with Spitzer, Don Wolfgang Hoard
    Epsilon Aurigae – A Spectral Investigation, Darryl Stanford & Dean Drumheller

LUNCH noon-1:45pm

PM session - 1:45-4:30
    Planetarium Show: Cosmic Collisions
    Coffee break
    Concurrent workshops:
        Bright Star Photometry, Arne Henden
        Visual Observing of epsilon Aurigae: The Art of Variable Star Observing, Chris Stephan

Friday, 8/7
AM session - 9:30-noon
    Intro to VSTAR and basic data analysis, David Benn
    About Citizen Sky Teams
    Coffee break
    Town Hall Discussion

LUNCH noon-2pm

PM session - 2:00-4:30
    Concurrent workshops:
        Spectroscopy workshop, Jeff Hopkins
        Education workshop:
             -Spectra in the Classroom, Sally Seebode
             -How to use Citizen Sky in a science class or lab, Claudine Kavanagh & Aaron Price
    Coffee break
    Concurrent workshops:
        DSLR photometry workshop, Jeff Hopkins
        Update on epsilon Aurigae Visualizations, Ryan Wyatt