Using Real Data from the Kepler Mission to Find Potentially Habitable Planets: An Introductory Astronomy Exercise

Abstract

A primary goal of general education introductory astronomy courses often is to provide students with examples of how science is actually done. Low to nonexistent mathematical prerequisites in some courses can make useful exercises difficult to find, and sometimes very difficult for students, especially if the exercises feature quantitative components. What follows describes an attempt to meet this goal through the use of actual exoplanet data, available online, from the NASA Kepler Mission. The exercise described guides the students through an aspect of scientific investigation that they may otherwise not experience, the handling and analysis of a large set of actual scientific data.

Construction of color-magnitude diagrams using real astronomical data for teaching at school

“…Considering current scientific research in the creation of these proposals as a motivating factor for student learning [17]. In this case, frontier astrophysics provides an engaging scientific context to involve students in challenging activities, where the use of real databases and software can promote the development of skills of the 21st century [14,[18][19][20].…”

Simulação da detecção de exoplanetas pelo método do trânsito utilizando o pêndulo cônico e o smartphone

“…Outros artigos apresentaram propostas interessantes que utilizam dados reais para posterior análise como propostas didáticas para o ensino de astrofísica. Como exemplo, imagens de telescópios do WASP2 (WASP -Wide Angle Search for Planets), fornecidas pelo Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network [5,6], o EXOLAB (Laboratory for the study of exoplanets) -desenvolvido pelo Centro de Astrofísica Smithsonian da Universidade de Havard [7] e os dados da missão Kepler [8].…”

Exploring Hubble Constant Data in an Introductory Course

“…Popular accounts of exciting discoveries often draw students to physics and astronomy, but at the introductory level it is challenging to connect with these in a meaningful way. The use of real astronomical data in the classroom can help bridge this gap and build valuable quantitative and scientific reasoning skills [1,2]. This paper presents a strategy for studying Hubble's Law and the accelerating expansion of the universe using actual data.…”