Small telescope astronomical research has grown in the last few decades, due in large part to the development of low cost, yet high quality, telescopes and instruments, as well as their detectors and remote access over the Internet. Today, many professional, amateur, undergraduate and high school student astronomers are conducting their research in partnerships referred to as "communities of practice."
This handbook describes how these communities are formed and how everyone can contribute to science through published research. Although this book focuses on student-led small telescope research, the same principles apply to professional- and amateur-led research. Two specific examples, double star astrometry and exoplanet transit photometry, are used to illustrate how small telescope science research projects can be completed and submitted for publication within a modest timeframe.
This book is the primary resource that is used in the Astronomy Research Seminar. The book is available in hardcover, softcover, and as an e-book. Click on the appropriate link below to purchase the textbook of choice. If you have any questions or difficulties, please write to InStAR at: research@in4star.org.
STAR Handbook (Softcover)
Preface
I. Student-Centered Research
1. Team Research within Communities of Practice
2. The Astronomy Research Seminar
II. The Student Team Research Process
3. Planning Projects
4. Managing Projects
5. Writing and Editing Papers
6. Giving Talks
7. Presenting PostersIII. Astronomical Research
8. Small Telescope Research
9. Robotic Telescopes
10. Precision and Accuracy
11. Astronomical Cameras
12. Double Star Astrometry
13. Exoplanet Transit PhotometryIV. Selected Published Papers
14. Visual Eyepiece Astrometry
15. CCD Camera Astrometry
16. Speckle Interferometry
17. Technology Advances
18. Astronomy Research SeminarAppendices
A. Speckle Tool Box
B. Displaying Orbital Plots
C. Maui Double Star Conference
D. Publication Formatting Guide
E. Speckle Interferometry Thesis