Astronomy: The Science A meteor is the visible part of meteoroid moving into the earth’s atmosphere

There are three parts to this assignment. (You can whatever topic you'd like)
Your term assignment for AST 101/117 will be to participate in a citizen science astronomy experiment on zooniverse.org. You'll work with real, cutting edge data from one of the world's leading observatories to study some fascinating astrophysics. This will involve helping the scientists to analyze data by looking for interesting objects and patterns in that data. You'll be expected to keep a good record of your work, and write a report on the science that you're helping with. The final report will be due on May 17th.
For now, first step in the assignment is to choose the experiment that you will participate in. Below are links to suitable projects. Choose areas that you're interested in, and take a look at the projects in those areas. Click on "Learn More" to read about the science, and "Get Started" to analyze some data". I recommend that you try out a few different projects. You're going to be looking at a LOT of data from your chosen project, so make sure you choose one that seems interesting to you.
Once you've explored some projects, including the following
1. The URL of the chosen project (copy-paste the link from "Choosing Your Project")
2. A 1-2 sentence answer to the first question in the "Writing your report" section in the assignment instructions:
What is the big question or questions that the scientists are trying to figure out?
You'll answer this question more fully when you hand in your report. For now, this is just to make sure you have some idea what the project is about. You can figure this out from the "Learn More" section on the Zooniverse project page.
Deadline: email me with your choice and the answer to this question by April 5th.
Zooniverse Astronomy Projects
Discovering asteroids and objects on the edge of our solar system
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/marckuchner/backyard-worlds-planet-9 (50)
Finding planets outside our solar system
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/ianc2/exoplanet-explorers (50)
Studying galaxies
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/zookeeper/galaxy-zoo (50)
Exploring Mars
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/hiro-ono/ai4mars (50)
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/mschwamb/planet-four-terrains (50)
Finding Black Holes in Radio Galaxies
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/chrismrp/radio-galaxy-zoo-lofar (50)
Studying gravitational waves
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/zooniverse/gravity-spy (50)
Finding supernovae
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/rswcit/zwickys-quirky-transients (50)
Variable Stars
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/tharinduj/citizen-asas-sn (50)
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/ajnorton/superwasp-variable-stars (50)
Measuring Dark Energy
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/erinmc/dark-energy-explorers (50)
Nucleosynthesis in Supernovae
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/adamamiller/zwicky-chemical-factory (50)
Fast Radio Bursts
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/mikewalmsley/bursts-from-space
Meteor Hunting
https://www(dot)zooniverse(dot)org/projects/zooniverse/radio-meteor-zoo
The second part is
Now that you've looked through the Zooniverse projects and chosen one to participate in, it's time to get started! Here are the instructions for completing the data analysis part of this project. Instructions for completing your report on the project will follow.
Make an account on Zooniverse if you haven't already. Choose one project to take part in and do the tutorial exercise to make sure you know how to do the project correctly. You'll have to write up this method in your report, so you may as well learn it now!
Start analyzing data. The minimum number of dataset you must analyze is given in parentheses () after the link to that project above. Most require a minimum of 50 datasets, however for some projects the work for each dataset is quicker than average, and so for these you’ll need to do 100 datasets. Of course you can do as many datasets as you like on top of these minimum numbers.
Keep a log of your work. When you analyze your first dataset, create a new collection by clicking on the menu button to the bottom left of the data frame. Make a collection name that includes your real name and the name of the Zooniverse project. For every single dataset that you analyze after that, add it to this collection! You will provide me with the link to that collection when you submit your report. See the screenshots below if you have trouble figuring out how to made a collection.
Take screenshots of some datasets. The saved collection doesn't include all the markings you will make on your data. You should take screenshots of every step in the process of analyzing data for 2-3 your datasets.In addition, you should take a screenshot for any especially interesting datasets that you discover. If a single dataset involves looking at multiple frames (e.g. if you're looking for a moving object) take screenshots of all frames. If the dataset is a movie, take a few screenshots through the movie. Your final report must include screenshots of at least five different datasets that you analyzed, in addition to the screenshots explaining the analysis method.
The third part is
Term Assignment: Writing Your Report
Now that you've analyzed a lot of data from your term assignment, it's time to start writing it up. This write-up will be similar to a lab report. You have .. goals: explain the big-picture overview of the scientific question that this project is trying to answer, explain the data being used to address this question, explain your method in analyzing that data, show your results, and come to a conclusion by telling me what you learned. I've broken down the parts of your report below. Make sure you include all of these parts in your report!
Reports are due Monday, May 17th, 2021
The Science (1-2 pages)
Describe the science behind this project. Make sure you address the following:
What is the big question or questions that the scientists are trying to figure out?
Why is it important or interesting to answer these?
What objects are being looked at?
Anything else you think is important to understand this big picture of this project.
The Data (1/2 - 1 page)
Describe the data being analyzed for this project. Make should you address the following:
What telescope, instrument, or spacecraft took the data?
What type of data is it? Describe the nature of the data - is it a set of images? Spectra? Something more complicated? If the observations detect electromagnetic radiation, what type? Visible light? Radio? Infrared? Other?
Why does this project and this data need citizen scientists?
Method (1-2 pages including screenshots)
Describe the process of analyzing a dataset.
Give a step-by-step description of the process of analyzing a dataset.
Provide screenshots of all the analysis steps for one dataset.
Results (1 page of text plus additional for screenshots)
Provide the URL link to the collection that you made (even if you already emailed it to me)
Provide screenshots for a representative group of datasets to show the range of different features or objects that you saw. Include at least five, but as many as needed to give a good sense of the different types of data you looked at.
What unexpected or unusual objects/data did you find? For any especially cool or weird ones, provide a screenshot if you haven't already.
Conclusion
In a paragraph or two, describe what you learned from the data you analyzed. What did you discover about the things you analyzed that you didn't know previously?