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If you are a student interested in science and how science is done,
this contest is for you.
If you are passionate about astronomy and want to learn first-hand
what professional astronomers really do,
this contest is for you.
If you want to get a first glimpse at black holes or clusters of
galaxies (or any other object of your choice) using the newest NASA
X-ray observatory,
this contest is for you.
We are offering a new and innovative program that will open the doors
of research to a team of highly motivated high-school students. From
December 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005 we will be accepting applications or
proposals to our Observing Competition.
Your proposal should suggest the type of object in space that Astro-E2
should observe (black holes, galaxies, supernova remnants,
stars...). If we select your proposal, your team will work along
side our scientists in their investigations.
The proposed observations will be carried out by Astro-E2, the most
recent of the X-ray observatories to be launched by the Japanese
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) in collaboration
with NASA.The official date for the launch has not been fixed yet but
we anticipate it during the early summer 2005.
Astro-E2 is designed to complement the
Chandra and
XMM-Newton
satellites
which have both made important discoveries. A quick look at those
missions as well as the Astro-E2
web pages can help you decide on an object for the competition.There are
three main instruments on board Astro-E2. Each has a particular role in
studying X-rays. The main instrument, a Microcalorimeter (a small
device that is able to detect very small changes in temperatures)
called the XRS, is the first (and the best!) microcalorimeter ever
flown on a satellite and promises to yield stunning discoveries. The XRS
can distinguish very small differences in the energy of the X-ray
photons. This is used, for example to study the matter near a
black hole. Two other instruments (called the XIS
and the HXD)
are also on-board the satellite. They are described in the instrument
section.
Each proposal entry should describe a research project (what you want
to learn and what you will do with the data). The winning team will
analyze the data with the help of professional astronomers and will
travel to the summer or winter meeting of the American Astronomical
Society to present the results of their analysis.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that any scientist would love
to have! To learn more about what the Astro-E2 satellite is best suited
to study and how the proposal process works, read the rest of the
science contest pages and the entire Astro-E2 Web site. The following
pages describe the contest and how to enter. Teachers, please refer
also to the teacher's section for teaching goals.
Continue to Possible science projects
with Astro-E2.
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