Stellar Nurseries

 Astronomy and Cosmologies,  Spring 99 with E.J. Zita

Project description:

 For our project we focused on stars of high mass, particularly those possessing more than 8 solar masses of material.  We studied the death of these stellar heavyweights and researched what is currently understood about supernovae.  Since we were unable to observe actual supernovae, we chose to observe a stellar nursery as an alternative.  Using 10x50 binoculars, the orion telescope and the Stary Nights program, we observed, cataloged and tracked the path of the Orion Nebula through the night sky during the months of March and April.  In addition to these tasks, we also have been studying the possibility of supernovae as standard candles for cosmological, and other related research.

 Team member tasks:

 Each team member participated and split the responsibility.  Science, cosmology, and observation were all split up and tasks were divided accordingly.  Each team member shared the responsibility for the interim report as well as observation.  Each team members specific tasks included: Scientific journal research, cosmological research (difficult with supernovae), and observation responsibility.  This web page was authored, freaked, and arranged by none other than Nick Port and Joey Miller.

 Project goals:

 Our combined goals for this project include:  a better understanding of supernovae and what they mean concerning the expansion of our universe and surveying space time, to understand the thermonuclear processes that take place within the shells of a slowly dying star, the composition of the infinitely dense iron core before it collapses,  and the repercussions of such a large explosion on the immediate environment surrounding a particular star, as well as how this can trigger violent star birth and other stellar phenomenon.