Hands-On Astrophysics (HOA)

Hands-On Astrophysics uses the unique variable star database of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). It is a curriculum suitable for high school and college science, math, and computer science classes, and directly involves students in the scientific process.

Students use HOA to learn astronomy.
Hands-On Astrophysics will help students acquire fundamental science skills and develop an understanding of basic astronomy concepts; it will provide interdisciplinary connections, and take students through the whole scientific process while working with real data. This curriculum also will inform students about variable stars and their importance to the professional astronomical community, and give them the necessary information and skills to study variable star behavior or to become amateur variable star observers.

This curriculum supports the National Standards for Science and Math Education by directly involving students in the scientific process.

Each unit contains a paragraph which describes the specific National Science Standards and Benchmarks themes, concepts, and content addressed in its chapters.

Students learn the necessary skills to make observations, analyze their data with graphing and statistical techniques, make predictions, and compare predicted and observational values, as well as learn how to develop sophisticated mathematical models. Students will learn about variable stars by using the activities, software, charts, slide sets, and videos that accompany the teacher and student manual. Students will be able to access the AAVSO database, and share their investigations and observations with other students via the internet web site specially developed for this project.

Star is Bright Star is Faint

Above is a 'star field print' of the variable W Cygni in action.

The study of variable stars is particularly suited to science, math, and computer education. Students can observe variable stars, and analyze the brightness changes in the stars they observe by using the database of 600,000 observations and the computer programs provided. Except for a few exercises in skill development, there are no "right" answers in this curriculum. The data obtained and the results of the analysis of that data by students is the "right" answer. The amount of data and the mathematical refinement techniques will give reasonably accurate results. Students will understand that their observations can be reliable, and that their data can be useful enough to be used by professional astronomers.

Hands-On Astrophysics includes the following materials:

The Hands-On Astrophysics Package is available through the AAVSO.

A Teacher/Student Manual.
Computer software (PC compatible): VSTAR, a data plotting and analysis program; HOAENTER, a data entry program; and HOAFUN, an introduction to variable stars, including a variable star observing game.
45 variable star charts.
14 prints of the Cygnus star field.
31 slides of 5 constellation areas.
1 video cassette in 3 segments: "Backyard Astronomy"; "Variable Stars"; and "How to Observe Variable Stars."

Hands-On Astrophysics Chapter Contents:

The Solar System and Beyond
The Nature of Stars
Familiarizing Yourself with the Night Sky
Our Bearings in the Sky
Introducing the Hands-On Astrophysics Constellations
Measuring Variable Stars Visually
Observing Variable Stars in the Real Sky
The Nature of Light
The Life of a Star
Statistical Concepts
Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
Variable Stars and Phase Diagrams
Variable Stars and O-C Diagrams
Appendices