Astronomy at Grinnell College Student Projects The greatest strength of Grinnell's astronomy program is the opportunity it provides for students working individually or in small groups to undertake a wide range of interesting astronomical investigations. Whether a project is done in conjunction with a regular physics course, as a separately designed individual independent study course, or as an informal activity, every effort is made to strike the right balance between student independence and student-faculty collaboration. Examples of projects that students have done include: Determination of the age of the universe using galaxy redshift and distance data taken at Grinnell's observatory Studies of the excitation of atoms in planetary nebulae Measurement of the rotation curve of a galaxy showing the presence of "dark matter" Determination of the orbit of a binary star by observation of the shifts in its spectrum Measurement of the optical light curve of the Crab Pulsar Measurement of the age and distance of star clusters Spectroscopic investigations of the reflectivities of planetary surfaces and atmospheres Investigation of the increase in the opacity of the earth's atmosphere as a result of the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption using stellar brightness measurements Astronomy Home Opportunities for students -- Facilities -- Facutly and research programs -- Contact information			Physics Home Astronomy Courses Curricular Development Curriculum 3-2 Engineering Program Events & Seminars Faculty and Staff Links Physics Journals Physics Museum Research The Major (College Catalog) Typical Schedules
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