OKC Astronomy Club Meeting - Friday, October 11th, 2024
PRESENTER: Ken Mason
7:00 PM - Science Museum of Oklahoma/Main Auditorium
Title: Exoplanet Watch: Citizen Scientists Observing Other Worlds, A project of NASA’s Universe of Learning Program
Bio:
Ken grew up here in Oklahoma City. He attended Oklahoma State University and earned a degree in Biology. He went on to medical school at the University of Oklahoma specializing in anesthesia. Ken currently works as an anesthesiologist at Mercy Hospital. He has been married for 33 years with two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Abstract - Basic introduction to exoplanets and how to participate in observations. There is a website specifically set up to introduce people to exoplanets and allow them to participate in authentic research whether a person has a telescope or not. Anyone from junior high school through retirees can participate. There will be QR codes on his slides at the end that can be scanned for direct links to three different sites associated with Exoplanet Watch. He will also have some stickers to pass out, courtesy of NASA, that have the same QR codes on the back.
Like so many from his generation, he became interested in astronomy as a child watching the first moon landing. His first telescope was a Tasco but he decided to jump in more seriously during COVID. He started with an 8-inch Celestron SCT and was hooked.
The main question for Ken, and most people studying exoplanets, is whether or not there are habitable planets like earth. And more importantly, are there earth-like planets in our neighborhood of the Milky Way galaxy? Ken began his quest doing deep-space observing and photography and ran across an article about Exoplanet Watch. He became involved because it allowed him to do more than just take pictures! He could participate in real data gathering using the same equipment he was using for his deep-space photography. From his backyard in Oklahoma City, he could observe a planet transiting a star light years away. That just blew his mind! He could then take his data and run it through a program called EXOTIC which graphically generates a light curve that shows the transit. This data is then uploaded to a site that serves as a database for real astronomers and NASA scientists to consult for their research. The telescope in the picture is what he uses to make his observations. It’s a Celestron 11-inch EdgeHD. He also uses ZWO equipment to gather the data.
Ken Mason has been a member of the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club for only a few years but it has helped him connect with other people interested in exoplanets and provided opportunities for observing. He didn’t know that CRO existed. Ken hopes to get a few people interested in Exoplanet Watch and help them participate in this exciting new branch of astronomy.