Introduction to Stargazing and Image Processing with Automated Observation Stations

Introduction to Stargazing and Image Processing with Automated Observation Stations

Presenter: Olivier Parisot, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology

Collaborators: Pierrick Bruneau, Patrik Hitzelberger (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), Gilles Krebs, Christophe Destruel, Benoît Vandame (Vaonis)

This was a poster presented at the 4th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, http//astro4edu.org).

Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) consists of capturing images with a camera coupled to a telescope and then applying lightweight processing to display views of celestial objects. During the MILAN research project (funded by FNR in Luxembourg), we use automated stations of VAONIS for stargazing sessions, helping greatly to arouse the curiosity around astronomy. Firstly, participants can learn how to localise and then observe objects like galaxies or nebulae. Secondly, playing with settings like exposure time shows how image acquisition works. Thirdly, displayed live views continuously improve as data is accumulated, allowing to discuss the basics of image processing (SNR, alignment, stacking). Finally, participants can use raw data to practice image edition trough dedicated software.

About the 4th Shaw-IAU Workshop:

The topic for this year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education is ‘Leveraging the potential of astronomy in formal education’ and is scheduled to run 15 to 17 November 2022 as a fully virtual event on Hopin as in previous years. This year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop focuses on the role of astronomy in the core regions of formal, primary and secondary, education: How do we teach astronomy as its own subject? What is the role of astronomy in teaching physics or chemistry – or in communicating such a central future topic as climate change? In sessions marked with a * we aim to hear specifically from teachers. We also address the question of how to approach those who set the framework for teaching: How can you get your administration, or at a much higher level: your education ministry, to listen to you? Last but not least we look at how to bridge the divide between the fundamentals that are commonly taught in school and results from cutting-edge research, which tend to be fascinating to students and the general public alike. he workshop was organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (http://astro4edu.org). More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/4th-shaw-iau-workshop/

Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/ Follow the IAU OAE on Twitter and Facebook under @astro4edu