This is a straightforward project to image a number of interacting galaxies in colour, and then to identify different features visible in the images.
Galaxies
Surface Brightness of Galaxies
This basic activity examines the surface brightness of a disc galaxy (lenticular or spiral) to see if it decreases exponentially with distance outside of the central bulge. A specially written spreadsheet enables this to be done easily.
Measuring and Classifying Galaxies
In this project you image a number of galaxies and comment on the features visible in them. You will then make various quantitative measurements of the galaxy, and finally, classify the galaxies according to Hubble's galaxy classification.
Image Analysis Tools
Although not an activity based around a particular area of science or astronomy, this section of the website has a variety of image analysis tools that you can download and use. This section may be of benefit to both students and teachers in developing image analysis skills.
Crashing Galaxies
Programme Leaders: Sarah Roberts (Faulkes Telescope Project, Cardiff University), Paul Roche (Faulkes Telescoe Project, Cardiff University)
Introduction
In this project you will use the Java applet applet, 'Galaxy Crash' (written by Chris Mihos, Case Western University, USA - http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/JavaLab/), to simulate interactions of galaxies. By changing the parameters of each galaxy, you will create tidal tails and elliptical galaxies, and reproduce the types of galaxy interactions which we observe today.
Measuring M87
Programme Leaders: Sarah Roberts (Faulkes Telescope Project, Cardiff University), Paul Roche (Faulkes Telescoe Project, Cardiff University
Introduction
The M87 Jet project consists of making a colour image of the giant elliptical galaxy, M87, and using SalsaJ to measure how far its jet extends in space.
Hubble Tuning Fork Project (HTF)
Programme Leaders: Sarah Roberts (Faulkes Telescope Project, Cardiff University), Paul Roche (Faulkes Telescoe Project, Cardiff University
Introduction
The Hubble Tuning Fork project consists of using FT data to produce colour images of galaxies of different types, and creating an FT version of Hubble's tuning fork diagram.
Galaxies
Project Leader: Sarah Roberts (Faulkes Telescope Project, Cardiff University)
Principle Scientific Advisor: Sarah Roberts (Faulkes Telescope Project, Cardiff University)
Introduction
Welcome to the Galaxies Project home page. On this page you will find links to a variety of galaxies-based projects. Some of the projects involve using the Faulkes Telescopes to obtain your own data, with instructions on how to analyse this data, whereas other projects make use of archive data and other web-based resources. A brief description of each project is given below.
Planning Utilities for Excel
This page contains a number of useful utilities that may be of use in a number of activities, projects and observing programmes. Utilities include observation planners, sidereal clocks and calculators for twilight at different telescope sites.
