NMSU ASTRO 2 - SSP International

NMSU Astro II: Day 28

SSP@NMSU TAs — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:22:05 +0000

Today, July 23rd, started with a lecture on quantum mechanics. Most students had little exposure to the subject, and we were all introduced to the idea that particles have wave-like properties and can have multiple potential positions and momentums. Following lunch, we had a workshop on LaTeX, the report-oriented coding language we will be using to write up our papers.

After the guest speaker’s lecture on modeling the Sun’s interior using sound waves interpreted through light, we learned that SSP unfortunately has had a single Covid case among its participants. Immediately afterwards, a lot of protocols went into place. We are now required to wear masks, and all the dorms, workspaces, and cafeteria were disinfected. The guest speaker reception and tomorrow’s full day field trip (due to concerns from the bus company) were canceled, and we are encouraged to spread out during meal times instead of clustering into assigned tables.

Of course, a lot of students were disappointed at the cancellation of the field trip, which was planned to last all day and take us caving and potentially stargazing. Fortunately, instead of replacing the trip with a day of lectures, we get to watch movies with snacks requested by the students and get a special dinner. Safety is obviously the primary concern, and the Covid protocols will be in place for the foreseeable future. We will continue moving forward together towards our final reports, as we did today working on finalizing our Method of Gauss code to generate our asteroid’s orbital elements from measured values of right ascension and declination at different times. It’s amazing to be able to implement the math and concepts we covered in lectures from weeks ago in an intricate and functional process.

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NMSU Astro II: Day 7

SSP@NMSU TAs — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:34:53 +0000

SSP Blog 7/1/24 – Felix Zhang

First day of the second week

Today, July 1st 2024, marks the start of the second week at SSP. It’s already felt like a journey despite it only being a week. It was quite a typical day. I woke up and got ready for breakfast, which was mostly just scrambled eggs.

In the morning, we had a lecture on astro images and cameras, which was both interesting and difficult to understand. We learned the difference between CMOS and CCD images and how images had to be compiled with photons similar to rainwater collecting buckets of water.

After lunch, which was some really delicious chicken and mashed potatoes, then we headed off to our second afternoon lecture. The second afternoon lecture was about orbital elements, and in all honesty I was trying my best not to fall asleep because I was really tired. However, once I realized we got a new assignment for the orbital elements we just learned, I knew I had to lock in, so I got it done and continued with the rest of my day.

Orbital Elements lecture in the afternoon

Walking back to lecture hall at 6:50 PM

That was pretty much for my day. Nothing interesting really happened today, but I’m sure our field trip tomorrow to the Tortuga Mountains Observatory will be fun! There’s always something new to discover in SSP everyday, and I look forward to that everyday.

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NMSU Astro II: Day 3

SSP@NMSU TAs — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 04:23:18 +0000

By: Andrew Xue

7:12am: My phone alarm clock goes off with a loudening ring that seems to also awaken my roommate. I jump out of bed to turn it off, then immediately get back in. The last few nights of collaborative 1AM problem set sessions had taken its toll.

8:47am: I finally leave my dorm. Admittedly, this is later than I normally get out, and quite close to the 9AM lecture time that Ms. Quick told us to get to by 8:55. But a new day has started, and that’s all that matters.

9:00am: The first lecture of the day begins, and it’s a continuation of our introduction to Python classes. We go over for loops and while loops before exploring a bit of NumPy and Matplotlib while I strain my neck trying to see over the person in front of me swiveling back and forth in his chair. Professor AB has a pretty hands-on, experimental approach to teaching, which always helps make learning programming more interesting.

12:00pm: We break for lunch.

1:00pm: Our second lecture of the day, this time on matrices, begins. We review the basics of systems of linear equations before going over determinants and solving 2D and 3D rotation with matrices. Mr. R is a very easygoing, fun loving guy, and that helps make the tiring (due to our overall lack of sleep) afternoon sessions more relaxing.

4:30pm: Emergency toilet roll restock. Some participants play card games in an act of desperation and camaraderie.

5:30pm: Dinner starts, and we have new groups. Today’s an interesting mix, with spaghetti, turkey, and asparagus, and my new tablemates chat up on the latest daily problem solution (after the submission time).

7:00pm: We all get back to the classroom, expecting another problem set work session that lasts until we eventually close at 1am. And that’s the conclusion of yet another day at NMSU Astro II. The workload at SSP is a lot to manage, with the constant assignments meaning we need to constantly work ahead, but it’s this challenge that is ultimately rewarding and will prepare us well for college life. So far, teams have been submitting remote LCO reports for their asteroids images, but we’re all looking forward to when we can work with our local TMO telescope to directly track asteroids in a couple days.

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