Does Your Child Love Astronomy?
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After seeing Saturn for the first time in a telescope, do they dream of growing up to be an Astronomer?
Do you want to help them live the dream?
Well, that is what we are looking to offer here at Apache-Sitgreaves Research Center in Arizona.
We are first and foremost an educational resource!
And we are completing the last few needed items to offer the opportunity for young and old alike to Be An Astronomer.
For personal enjoyment, or as part of our public, private, or homeschooling programs, you will learn about space and stars and what it is to be an Astronomer as you control the telescope and camera.
Using an internet connection from your home you will log into a telescope's computer at the research center, point the telescope at an object in the night sky, and, take pictures.... These pictures can be used for real science or to hang on your wall!!
I understand contributors fund ideas they can be passionate about.
This is something I am very passionate about, having built these facilities myself, and together maybe we can make this work. Here are some things about me and this project that I think would appeal to you and get you passionate about it too, that with your help will open the entire Universe to you, your family, and your students.
My name is Steven Aggas and I am the Director of Operations here at Apache-Sitgreaves Research Center. I am also a telescope designer and builder, and, by night a Telescope Operator. Because I built the telescopes, and the buildings too, I get to be an Astronomer all year round.
Our
systems are set up to give an 'experience' you, your kids, or your students will not soon forget.
You, your child, your student can be an Astronomer, just like the Professionals.
Professional Astronomers are generally not at the telescope when gathering data but instead hundreds if not thousands of miles away at their home or University laying out the Observing Plan and then checking in with the Observatory.
At the telescope far away - is where you will find a Telescope Operator on-site that
coordinates the Observing Plan, can take phone calls for updates, monitor the telescope systems for
proper operation and correct problems, and, monitor the local weather
conditions for potential rain.
I would really appreciate it if you could read on about this campaign and the last few remaining milestones to allow you to log into a telescope as part of your own personal astronomy studies.
- We need to install the satellite dish for the internet connection to the computer-controlled telescopes.
- There is a need for a small building, to house one of the telescope systems with its very wide-angle
imaging lens.
- There is a Custom Spectrograph project that would be funded to
advance the scientific capability of our facility and be a valuable
asset in astronomy studies we offer. We are very excited with the
educational potential the Custom Spectrograph would have for public,
private and homeschooled students that they could acquire a spectrum
showing the Hydrogen, Silicon and Helium absorption lines and further
their understanding the chemistry and physics of astronomy!!!
With a spectrum anyone can then study the chemistry of stars!
What is a Spectrograph?
Here are some details about what a Spectrograph is, and, how much of the Spectrograph project is already completed!
Below is a color graphic showing the major star spectral types; O, B, A, F, G, K, and M, and you can see the relative strengths of chemicals showing up as dark lines. Special circumstances in the stars' atmosphere cause the dark, absorption lines.
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The Custom Spectrograph for the 36-inch telescope is a medium resolution Spectrograph, R=8000, specifically designed for the f4.5 Newtonian
optical configuration and some parts are already built and working, like the Argon and Neon lamp calibration system. But
there is a list of critical, costly items like the 1800 lines per millimeter grating that separates the light that must still be purchased. This is a fun and
challenging project to build and of scientific value.
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Custom Spectrograph Design for 36-inch f4.5 Newtonian Optical Configuration
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Computer-controlled Argon and Neon Calibration Lamps.
If you look at the various lamp/element spectra below you may see why Argon and Neon are chosen for calibrating a Spectrograph. With these two elements there are enough emission lines that cover the entire visible spectrum from violet to red.
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Imagine the conversations you will have with your child or students after they have taken computer control of a very large, distant telescope and produced an image they can be proud of.
Since I have built the telescopes myself, built the observatories myself, I
am the Telescope Operator to assist you through the
evening as you gather images (data). The location of our observatories is at a world-class observing site in northern Arizona at nearly 7000 feet elevation with some of the darkest skies in the northern hemisphere.
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A 36-inch telescope has over 20 times the aperture (surface area) of an 8-inch telescope!! The 36-inch collects so much light images are 30 seconds or less each. Because of Field Rotation we cap all exposures at 30 seconds but they can be easily stacked to combine them.
If this campaign has sparked your curiosity.
If it has caused you to become passionate about it as I am, these are the details:
What I Need.
The internet connection is needed which would support not only the
36-inch telescope but other, smaller telescope systems that will also
generate images (data) and sometimes those systems are better suited to a
particular astronomy field of study for your students. There is a need for a small building, to house one of the telescope systems with its very wide-angle
imaging lens. Plus, allow the completion of the Spectrograph
device with this campaign.
What We Offer For Your Support (The Perks).
1. Indiegogo will not allow me to put a Zero-Dollar Perk to help any parent
choose the right telescope for their child. Contact me and I will use my
30+ years in astronomy helping you find the right telescope.
2. Our unique Perks are beautiful photographs of our
galaxy The Milky Way, or, of the Moon and Planets! That is what we do
and we hope you will want to claim one or all, frame them, and hang them
on your wall!!!
You are not just buying a photo for $50, but rather getting a beautiful
memento in exchange for your support that brings this type of experience
to children, students and those who might never have the means to
experience the wonders of the night sky.
To see samples of the Perk photos click; HERE
3. There are Perks for students, kids of all ages really, to
Be The Astronomer! You
will learn the basics of astro-imaging and experience The Universe in
the process all from the comfort of your own home. Telescope Operators
work throughout the night at the observatory, so as long as it is night
in Arizona we can accommodate your child, student or classroom.
4. For any ASTRONOMY CLUB who wishes to help this campaign, there is a Perk specifically for you.
We can help you offer your younger members a greatly reduced price to operate the 36-inch telescope!!
A 'High-Tech Outreach Program'. Do you think this would encourage more young people to attend more of your meetings?
5. Contribute for a school of your choice. For the Young Astronomer,
do you know a deserving student or school classroom
that you would like to contribute, on
their behalf, towards a Perk for them for an evening using the 36-inch
telescope? This is entirely possible, and your particular student or
school has a unique opportunity to study the Universe. This Perk also includes a 1-hour video chat with the class. Topics for a
student or school using the 36-inch could be; Determine the motion of
an asteroid from several images of its movement among the stars, Reach
out and capture an image of a
Kuiper Belt Object (Pluto is a Kuiper Belt Object!!), or, image a series
of galaxies searching for a new
Supernova that has exploded! These are but a few topics. Contact me if
there is something specific you had in mind.
We do require the remote imaging perks to be claimed within two months after the campaign ends. Booking must be mutually agreed upon and weather could be a factor in start or end times.
What I Hope.
Obviously we hope to reach the goal amount so students (Young
Astronomers) can do more advanced studies in Astrophysics with the
Spectrograph.... The Custom Spectrograph system, when bolted to the
36-inch diameter telescope will, undoubtedly, allow
for some advanced studies of stars and that can
be the core of future
astronomy programs for public, private or homeschooled students. For
instance, Supernovae (plural for Supernova), have several methods that
cause that stars annihilation; Thermal Runaway as part of a binary star
system because of mass transfer from one to the other, or Core Collapse
because a star started with too much mass and as the elements of the
periodic table formed and the pressure pushed against gravity,
gravity ultimately won. By studying the Hydrogen, Silicon and Helium
absorption lines determinations can be made regarding which type of
Supernova it is. These topics then become conversations the students
would be part of.
Imagine the look on a neighbors' face when the
'next-door neighbor kid' is overheard talking about the relative
strength of the Carbon emission lines of the Wolf-Rayet spectral class
WC7 star in Cygnus.
Would you not want to help that kid...? Things to remember should we get this campaign to be a success and what your contribution can mean.
- There will be special, reduced pricing for any public and private schools to operate our telescopes including the 36-inch.
- For homeschoolers there will be excellent lesson plans bundled with operating the 36-inch telescope. The lesson plans would be per semester and it is expected that when a pair of lesson plans were purchased together the 36-inch telescope for minimal additional cost.
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Astronomy clubs will enjoy special, reduced pricing to show their younger members the commitments the clubs have for them to continue the hobby.
There will be a telescope operator helping you, guiding you, on the systems that control the telescope and camera.
If we are fortunate to exceed our goal I imagine great things available to students as a result.
The Impact.
The difference your contribution will make:
- Large-telescope access is a valuable resource to the United States and the world to study astronomical phenomenon, especially with a custom Spectrograph for future spectral analysis of stars!
- Your contributions would support a wide range of scientific and educational discovery (think asteroids, comets, or a spectrum of a new Supernova confirming what type it is...)!
- Your contributions would show your support for science education and how astronomy is done in the 21st century!
Risks & Challenges.
There are risks and obstacles on the way to achieving my goal, but....
So much is already built and ready to go, but, as we know 90% of the effort is spent in getting that last 10% of the project done.
That is why I am asking for help....
Please help this campaign...
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...so our educational resource at Apache-Sitgreaves helps children recognize their potential.
I do hope I have inspired you, your organization, and your astronomy club to contribute.
My gratitude goes out to all those who are considering or have
contributed already to this endeavor. It is with your generosity that
the campaign can be a success.
NOTE TO SELF;
If we are successful, Members of the FaceBook page and Followers on Twitter
will be notified of Flash Sales. When a Flash Sale is posted, to
control any of the telescopes, you can enjoy significant savings with a limited window of opportunity spanning several days/nights. Basically, if I'm working the telescopes and one is unused I will post to FaceBook and Twitter!!
Join and
Follow today!
Check out our
Website.
Join our FaceBook
Blog.
Follow us on Twitter;
@DeepSpaceNow.
(Who does not like getting a message from Deep Space, right?)