10D-3 - Introducing Published Astronomy Research in Rural Public Secondary Schools

Abstract: On July 22, 2024, Payson High School, located in Payson, Arizona, will introduce an innovative opportunity for students to participate in astronomy research through a new, two-semester Earth and Space Scientific Research class. This class aims to address four of the Arizona Earth and Space Science Essential Standards, with a focus on astronomy. Student teams will utilize new observations, in addition to historical data from the U.S. Naval Observatory, to derive new apparent binary star orbits using the online graphing calculator Desmos, and new orbital elements utilizing the Speckle Toolbox. Since most students are already familiar with Desmos from their geometry and algebra classes, they will apply their existing analytic skills to real-world problems. The student teams will document their findings in a research paper, which will undergo peer review by members of the astronomical community and will be submitted for publication in the Journal of Double Star Observations. Toward the end of the course, student teams will present their research at a district science symposium. The solutions to various challenges encountered in the development and execution of this new course may be valuable for educators considering proposing a similar class at their institutions.