Student research using the Karle Observatory is conducted during the summers. Undergraduate students work in conjunction with Lewis & Clark professors as well as with high school physics teachers; this partnership enables the research to benefit the entire community. This research has been supported by "Partners in Science" grants received from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Research Corporation and by the endowment of the Rogers Science Program.
Eclipsing binary star systems are pairs of stars that orbit each other around a common center of mass due to gravitational attraction. The magnitude of light output of the star system can be determined through photoelectric photometry, by comparing the intensity of the variable star system with that of a comparison star with a known, constant luminosity. A light curve can be formed via observations of the star system, in which times of minimum light output of the variable system and magnitude differences are graphed.
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During 1996 - 1999, a ten-inch Newtion reflector, a 1P121 Photomultiplier and the computer program Labview were used to observe 44i Bootis, which is a particularly interesting binary star system because its component stars are comparable to the sun, the orbital period of the system is on the order of six and a half hours, and there may be mass exchange between the stars. |
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During 2000, the previous equipment, which had given researchers much trouble, was replaced. Currently the research is done using an eleven-inch Celestron and a CCD camera to observe the binaries and various computers running the program MIRA (through Virtual PC if necessary) for data anaylsis. |
Study of eclipsing binary star systems allows for a greater understanding of stellar types and evolution, as well as further questions and insights to the origin and development of the universe, the sun, the earth, and humankind.
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Created by: MelissaPereira 4/2000
For more information, contact Olsen@lclark.edu
