Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Astroalign: A Python Module For Astronomical Image Registration, Martin Beroiz, Juan B. Cabral, Bruno Sanchez

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present an algorithm implemented in the Astroalign Python module for image registration in astronomy. Our module does not rely on WCS information and instead matches three-point asterisms (triangles) on the images to find the most accurate linear transformation between them. It is especially useful in the context of aligning images prior to stacking or performing difference image analysis. Astroalign can match images of different point-spread functions, seeing, and atmospheric conditions.

Investigating The Stability Of Observed Low Semi-Major Axis Exoplanetary Systems With Hypothetical Outer Planets Using The Program Mercury6, Kendall Butler

Honors College

This project investigates the stability of observed planetary systems, and whether this stability remains in the presence of additional outer planets. This made use of the program Mercury6, an n-body integrator that computes the changes in planetary orbits over time. The Systems HD 136352, GJ 9827, and HD 7924 were studied with initial conditions taken from the available observational data. This information was curated using the online NASA Exoplanet archive of confirmed exoplanets. With these initial conditions, Mercury6 computed the changing planetary orbits of each system for 5 million years. For each of these systems, a single outer planet, which …

Design And Construction Of A Computer Controlled Astronomical Spectropolarimeter, Jacob Marchio

Honors College

A theoretical description of a simple optical train, modulated signal based spectropolarimeter is discussed. The design includes, after the telescope optical tube (in this case, a 9.25” Schmidt Cassegrain), a rotating quarter waveplate (compensator), a fixed linear polarizer (analyzer), and transmission grating of 100l/mm, with a ZWO ASI290mm astronomical camera. The practical constraints on implementing such an instrument are discussed, and the construction of the spectropolarimeter is detailed, including the necessary optics, optomechanics, and electromechanics. The rotation and recording of the rotating compensator is facilitated by a motorized connection with proportional feedback control, and the uncertainty in measuring the angle …

Covid-19_Umaine News_Emera Astronomy Center Supports Covid-19 Research Efforts, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of Maine News release regarding the Emera Astronomy Center at the University of Maine contributing to global scientific research efforts to fight COVID-19.

In-Class Activities For Openstax Astronomy, Rosa Williams, Kimberly Shaw

Physics and Astronomy Ancillary Materials

This set of in-class activities in Microsoft Word format are intended to supplement OpenStax Astronomy. Topics include:

• Atmospheric Gas
• Celestial Sphere
• Dwarf Planets
• Earth Size
• Earth Impact
• Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change
• Jovian Planet
• Jovian Moon and Ring
• Mars Atmosphere and Climate
• Solar System Formation and Scale
• Sunspots
• Terrestrial Planet and Lunar Features
• Venus Atmosphere and Climate

A Writing Intensive Upper Division Astrophysics/Planetary Science Course, Laura M. Woodney

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

This poster describes the major writing components of an upper division Astronomy or Planetary Science course. These components are intended to be integrated throughout the semester along with the content of the course. The papers the instructor chooses for the scaffolded assignments should compliment/enhance the content the students are learning in the course. This project used the "Backwards Design" method from Bean (2011, citation in poster): where the instructor first identifies the final project, determines what challenges the students will encounter attempting to do that project, and then builds scaffolded assignments intended to address each of these challenges. This presentation …

Historical Milestones In Astronomy: As Shown Through The Byu Special Collections Archives, Dan Broadbent

Faculty Publications

Science Research: The “Long Conversation”

• Ideas in science can take a long time to develop.
• How do they develop?

• These books document a part of a conversation that began 447 years ago and spanned a 153 year period… documenting:
• how the overall nature of the universe was worked out,
• the establishment of the scientific method, and the boundaries of religious authority,
• and culminated in Isaac Newton’s book that presented his three laws of motion that allow us to explore the universe to this day.

Significance Of Gravitational Nonlinearities On The Dynamics Of Disk Galaxies, Alexandre Deur, Corey Sargent, Balša Terzić

Physics Faculty Publications

The discrepancy between the visible mass in galaxies or galaxy clusters and that inferred from their dynamics is well known. The prevailing solution to this problem is dark matter. Here we show that a different approach, one that conforms to both the current standard model of particle physics and general relativity (GR), explains the recently observed tight correlation between the galactic baryonic mass and the measured accelerations in the galaxy. Using direct calculations based on GR's Lagrangian and parameter-free galactic models, we show that the nonlinear effects of GR make baryonic matter alone sufficient to explain this observation. Our approach …