Matthew Fleenor

Matthew C Fleenor, Daniel E Reichart

Aimed at both in-person and online participants

As undergraduates produce their own high-quality astrophotography images, STEM identity is shown to increase. Can more be obtained? In this workshop, we focus on star-formation regions (stellar birth) as a model for quantification of astrophysical values, where participants follow the steps of undergraduate students. Participants begin with the Skynet Robotic Observatory to process narrow-band, photometric observations, including stacking, aligning, and coloring. Next, within the context of Strömgren sphere theory, participants utilize basic tools such as arc-length conversion (angular size), Wien’s rule (stellar types), ionization (shock conditions), and ideal gas law approximation (temperature measures). Through these theoretical considerations and their related measurements, threshold boundaries are established for the electron number density. By securing an upper- and lower-bound on a common astrophysical quantity, undergraduates better understand how observation and theory work together for practicing scientists. In summary, this session reveals the capacity of astrophotography for introducing quantitative measurements that may further deepen STEM identity and belonging within undergraduates.