NJAA Astronomical Research
Research Group meets at 6:30 pm on the third Sunday of every month.
The Solar Group meets at 2pm on the second Sunday every month.
Amateur astronomers can and do make a difference in our understanding of the Universe. Today more then ever before, amateurs are filling a valuable niche in the astronomical community.
With limited funds and telescope time, professional astronomers look to amateurs to provide valuable data that may otherwise be lost. Amateur astronomers do not work under the usual constraints facing the professional astronomer. Where a professional can monitor a planet or star once a month, amateurs can pool their data to provide continuous observation. The variety of research that amateurs actively contribute to is stunning. It can range from observing meteor showers with only the naked eyes to hunting dangerous Near Earth Asteroids. Members of the NJAA research group are no exception to this. Many of our members actively produce valuable scientific observations. But this is not all, many of our members are skillful in electronics, telescope building, astrophotography, and many other areas, making for a unique and diverse group.
If you are a member of NJAA and would like to get actively involved, visit one of the NJAA research group meetings held the first Friday of every month. Click here to become part of the New Jersey Astronomical Association
Research Director: Steve Smith
The Radio Meteor Project
An overview on this project, descriptions of its various aspects and where it is expected to go can be explored is available. Read up on the Radio Meteor ProjectAll Sky Camera
Coordinator: Steve SmithIf you've been around the observatory over the last couple of months it’s likely you've seen some stage of the NJAA all-sky camera project. Perhaps rotating night sky images on the monitor of the computer up front, or maybe even displayed on the projector screen. You would recognize them as fish-eye views showing streaks scratched across the night sky. These images are the result of an automated camera positioned outside the observatory. It is computer controlled to recognize the momentary presence of a meteor. The team has been working at hammering out some issues, like making the software smarter to distinguish meteors from airplanes. But great progress has been made on that front and there are big objectives down the road. For instance, adding an additional camera that - unlike the current one - focuses on a smaller section of the sky. All-sky camera II would incorporate an intensifier - giving this camera a more resolved view of the sky than is capable by the human eye. For example, images from a similarly enhanced device have revealed an outstanding image of the sky where comet Holmes is unmistakably bright. The role of this station would be to focus on - and track - a showers radiant, allowing imaging of very faint meteors. Still a third station would be portable. Because the eyes on the sky hunting for meteors can now be electronic, camera activity could be monitored from the warmth of the astronomical center. The practice of meteor observing requiring a thermos of hot coffee, sipped from shivering hands is still necessary, but a far more comfortable option now exists! And finally, with an internet connection your observing station could be the comfort of your own home.
But these are more advanced points in a project that is young though very well developed. Does this sort of effort interest you? The all-sky camera team could use some help. They have used their skills to collect visual data, but to make full use of this people are need to examine data and prepare it for NAMN (the North American Meteor Network) submission. This might be the most compelling research project we've seen in the last few years, and has great potential to only get better.
Meteor Observing
2008 NAMN annual reportCoordinators: Kevin Kilkenny, Wayne Hally
Meteor astronomy is generally neglected by amateurs. This is unfortunate as the field offers an excellent opportunity to contribute observations of scientific value and provides many enjoyable evenings of observing. There are only a few professional astronomers active in meteor research today, therefore the field relies heavily on the amateur for data. With minimal equipment, and knowledge of a few basic concepts, you can begin a lifelong pursuit of meteor observing.
Solar Observing
Coordinator: Steve SmithThe Solar Group usually meets the 2nd Sunday each month at 2:00PM
Members of the solar group study the closest star to Earth. The Observatory owns a number of telescopes dedicated to the study of the Sun. Some of our group has been experimenting with solar disk photography using both the white light and the H-alpha (Ha) filter. A solar telescope has also been modified to accept a piggyback video camera. Remember, never look directly at the Sun. Always use a safe solar filter and common sense!
We have also constructed a Radio Jove receiver to participate in that NASA sponsored program to monitor solar radio outbursts, cosmic background noise and of course, Jupiter. This we plan to parallel the collection of data with our to Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance station. Meanwhile, our SID station continues to collect data for the AAVSO program.
