Modern Astronomy In The Classroom: Introduction To CCDs AndImage Processsing

观测天文学和行星科学是麻省理工学院本科生科学课程的重要组成部分。有两门实验室课程(一门一年级，一门高年级)，教授使用8英寸、14英寸、16英寸和24英寸望远镜的天文观测技术。数字成像技术的快速发展使天文实验室的大部分教学内容变得过时，亟需改进。此外，行星科学课程可以通过提供对航天器图像的实际访问而得到实质性改进。通过购买用于现有望远镜的电荷耦合装置(CCD)摄像系统，本科生天文学实验室课程正在全面现代化。用于小型望远镜的高质量和低成本的天文ccd相机仅在去年才投入商业使用。因此，现在可以将最先进的天文仪器技术带入一年级和高级实验室的课堂。CCD摄像系统需要Macintosh II计算机才能运行。由于这些计算机还将用于随后的图像处理，通过向包括新生在内的所有实验室学生介绍和教授图像处理，该课程正在进一步完善。因此，随着图像处理现在渗透到科学、工程和医学的所有领域，对教育学生的整体科学和技术影响将变得巨大。此外，通过在光盘上提供旅行者号和其他行星飞行任务图像，该项目的范围正在从天文实验室扩大到至少两个行星科学课程。白天使用Macintosh电脑，为非常广泛的学生提供了与真实数字图像的实践体验。通过这种方式，该项目除了将最新的科学技术带入课堂外，还在学生数量方面增加了教育影响。

Observational astronomy and planetary science are vital parts of the undergraduate science curriculum at MIT. There are two (one freshman, one upper level) laboratory courses which teach astronomical observing techniques using 8-, 14, 16- and 24-inch telescopes. Rapid advances in digital imaging have rendered most astronomical laboratory teaching out of date and in critical need of improvement. Further, planetary science courses can be substantially improved by providing hands on access to spacecraft imagery. The undergraduate astronomy laboratory curriculum is being fully modernized through the purchase of charge-coupled device (CCD) camera systems to be used on existing telescopes. High quality and low cost astronomical CCD cameras for small telescopes have become commercially available only within the last year. Thus it is now possible to bring the state-of-the art technology in astronomical instrumentation into the classroom for both freshman and upper level laboratories. The CCD camera systems require Macintosh II computers for their operation. As these computers will also be used for the subsequent manipulation of images, the curriculum is being further improved through the introduction and teaching of image processing to all laboratory students, including freshman. The overall science and technology impact for educating students will therefore become enormous as image processing now pervades all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. In addition, the scope of this project is being expanded beyond astronomy laboratories to at least two planetary science courses through the availability of Voyager and other planetary mission images on compact disks. Daytime use of the Macintosh computers gives hands-on experience with real digital images to a very broad cross section of students. In this way the project increases the educational impact in terms of the number of students, in addition to bringing the latest in science and technology into the classroom.