Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Astronomy Award:

After successfully completing Introduction to Astronomy, students may elect to take a semester or a year of Independent Study in Astronomy. Typically, students continue research in an area of interest. To be accepted for Independent Study, students must demonstrate the necessary academic capability and personal responsibility to be able to work successfully on their own. An application and course of study must be completed. These are available through school counselors. Teacher letters of reference may be requested.

Zak studied 3 intermediate galaxy clusters with the Spitzer Space telescope to determine their star formation rates. He presented his paper at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the International Science Fair, where he received a fourth place award in the Physics & Astronomy division. He also published his paper in the RBSE Journal.

Nate wrote an observing proposal to look for extended star clusters in the Triangulum Galaxy. He received two nights of observing on Kitt Peak with the .9m Telescope. Using these data and also Hubble images, he presented the results of his research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the Detroit Science Fair. He also published his paper in the RBSE Journal.

Marie L. studied dust to determine why it is more sticky on the Moon and Mars. She presented her research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, the Detroit Science Fair (where she received a third place award) and the State Science Fair.

Zak S. , Nate S. and Graham K. studied young stellar objects such as T Tauri stars, in order to determine stages of their evolution. To do this they went to Kitt Peak to take spectra and also made optical images of their stars with the New Mexico Skies Observatory telescope. They also published their paper in the RBSE Journal.

Marie L. investigated the properties of a group of radio-intermediate quasars candidates.

Zak S, Nate S. and Graham K. tried to find out what causes the peculiar chemical and physical changes in RV Tauri stars, which are variable dying giants. They compared spectroscopic and photometric data to do this. They published their paper in the RBSE Journal.

Ninth grade Earth Science students imaged a flood channel on Mars using the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. They calculated the amount of erosion and volume of water that had once carved it. This was not an independent study but a pretty darn cool class project!

Julie K. looked for "first stars" of the Galaxy by analyzing spectra took at Kitt Peak National Observatory. She won numerous awards at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and the International Science Fair. Among them were a second place in the Earth and Space Sciences at ISEF and a second place for the Priscilla and Bart Bok Award. She published this paper in the RBSE Journal.

Amelia A. did a project on astronomy imaging using different filters. Her project won a Kodak award at the science fair.

AJ F. and Matt A. designed an electrical, mechanical and computerized pointing and control system for the new school radio telescope.

Julie K. , Margaret W. and Alex H. researched causes for nova formation in the Andromeda Galaxy. They discovered a possible new recurrent nova and patterns in recent novae in M31. They entered their project in the Southeast Michigan Science Fair (Teams Division) and received the Eastman Kodak Award for best photography involving a science fair project. They also published their paper in the RBSE Journal.

Paul B. was the new PI for nova searching for two years and also created an exceptional web page on the topic. He participated in a NOAO leadership institute on Kitt Peak and was acclaimed by astronomer Travis Rector as an expert in the endeavor. He published the nova search paper in the RBSE Journal.

Max B., Tom B. and Isaac I. worked on a project in conjunction with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory to characterize the weather for high frequency observing. They placed third at the Southeast Michigan Science Fair (Teams Division) and also presented the results of their research in a colloquium at the NRAO.

Regan W. researched heavy elements in metal-poor stars. She presented this project at the International Science and Engineering Fair after becoming a Grand Award winner at the Southeast Michigan Fair.

Todd F. and Regan W. identified 17 new lines in the solar spectrum. They presented this research at the ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair). They placed fourth in the Teams division.

Brent H. identified several types of active galaxies by their spectra. Using this information, he compared quasars with elliptical galaxies. He discovered that even though his galaxies were determined to be abnormal in some ways, they followed the general trend of galaxies in the universe, with quasars having higher redshifts than elliptical galaxies. He presented his research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at Wayne State.

Jeff G. began this web page and was the P.I. for the first year of the Nova Search project.

George K. designed a Planetarium program on galaxies and gave his scripted show twice to public audiences through the Community Education program. In addition, George learned the semantics of Planetarium operations and helped present the Innerspace program to North Biology classes.

Adam Z. designed a Planetarium program on black holes and gave his scripted show twice to public audiences through the Community Education program.

Gavin K. studied the effect of seasonal and diurnal changes on light pollution levels. He earned special awards for his research at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Adam K. and Monique R. learned video editing and created student programs for use in the Astronomy classes. Adam's topic was Mars and Monique focused on the Sun.

Greg C. built "The Anarocitor", a specialized spectrum-sweeping back end for the school radio telescope. He won second place in the Engineering Division of the International Science and Engineering Fair as well as a number of special awards and a NASA contract to build custom radio equipment for research.

Steve M. wrote a computer software routine to automate control of the school radio telescope.

Katrina K. invested 3 years in doing research involving the school radio telescope. She tested the internal and external factors that affected the telescope and also did a year long study of mysterious "HEPs" (high energy pulses). As part of that research, she worked with another radio astronomy amateur in Wisconsin and with a scientist on the Gamma Ray Observatory. Katrina participated in two International Science and Engineering Fairs and won special awards from the IAPPP (International Association of Professional Photoelectric Photometry,) She was also an Alternate Grand Award winner at the Southeast Michigan Science & Engineering Fair. As a result of her research, Katrina was awarded observing time on the VLA while a freshman in college.

Bob K. did a study on the nature of various types of radio galaxies. He placed first in the Earth Sciences division at the Southeast Michigan Science & Engineering Fair.

Jamie E. characterized the errors in the dish of the school radio telescope by using 3 different techniques. She placed first in the Physics division at the Southeast Michigan Science & Engineering Fair.