Scientific research conducted by Coley Stillman, BBA class of 2015, Dr. Nicole Preiser, physics teacher at BBA, and the BBA Physics II class, in partnership with Professor Daniel Polsgrove, LtCol USAF, a physics professor at the US Air Force Academy, was featured at the Emerging Researchers in Exoplanet Science Symposium held at Pennsylvania State University on May 28th and 29th, 2015.
In March of this year, Dr. Preiser submitted an astronomy proposal to the US Air Force Academy Falcon Telescope Network STEM first light project; the proposal entailed using one of telescopes in the Falcon Telescope Network to study variable brightness stars that are orbited by exoplanets, which are planets located outside of our solar system. The US Air Force Academy was impressed by the proposal and invited Dr. Preiser and the Physics II class to collaborate on an exoplanet project led by Professor Daniel Polsgrove.
Throughout May and April, the class conducted research on two specific variable stars, or stars that display variable levels of brightness. Dr. Preiser and Coley Stillman learned how to use a special software that allowed them to study 170 images of the two stars and collect data on the “dip” in their brightness that occurs when an exoplanet passes in front of the star during its orbit. The data allows scientists to get information about the size and orbital motion of the exoplanet.
Although the entire class participated in the project, Coley worked with the images and presented his findings at the first annual BBA Science Symposium on May 21st. Professor Daniel Polsgrove,, in his presentation at Penn State on a pilot study for a MEarth-like survey project, included Dr. Preiser, Coley Stillman, and Burr and Burton as contributors to the US Air Force Academy’s study.
“This is a notable distinction for a high school and particularly for a high school student. We are proud of the caliber of work that Dr. Preiser and her Physics II class conducted, and are particularly impressed by Coley’s involvement in high-level scientific research,” says Academic Dean Jen Hyatt. Coley is planning on continuing his study of physics and astronomy at Sienna College next year.
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