Summer Stellar Science Symposium

June 25-June 29, 2012 (9 AM – 3:30 PM) 

This 5-day science symposium will bring K-12 educators together with NASA and university scientists and Discovery Center educators in an exploration of stars, covering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A 30 contact-hour certificate will be awarded.

Topics covered will include:

• Star formation and composition
• Main sequence and different types of stars
• Finding stars by name in the night sky
• Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
• Size, color, shape, temperature and luminosity
• Motion of stars
• Spectroscopy – decoding the message from star light
• Telescope basics
• How we observe stars with Earth and space based telescopes
• Double and Variable stars
• Star clusters
• Stellar emissions – stellar wind, space weather, interstellar medium
• Galaxies and the size and scale of our universe
• Death of stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes
• Observing stellar objects though telescopes

Four days will be held at the Discovery Center and one day session will be at UNH. Transportation will be provided, leaving the Discovery Center at 8 AM and returning at 4:30 PM. Weather permitting, one or two evenings ( 6-12 PM) may be substituted for day hours at the Discovery Center to allow for live stellar observing using the observatory. Each teacher will also have the opportunity for Discovery Center educators to present a distance learning lesson to their class in the fall.

Overnight lodging is available at NHTI for $26 per night.
Bring your own linens or sleeping bag.

Cost is $250. Credits are available through Plymouth State University for an additional $165/credit, 3 credit maximum, and a $25 registration form fee.

This symposium is sponsored by NASA and the NH Space Grant Consortium.