This week was more or less an introduction to what I will be
doing this summer.
Using the GLIMPSE 3D surveys recently done by the Astronomy
Department here at U. Wisconsin-Madison, I looked for galaxies cloaked
behing the Milky Way. The survey was carried out in the infrared
Wavelength. This feature allowed us to penetrate the dust and observe
behind the Milky Way. I am also focussing on a region called the Great
Attractor Region, which conviniently passes behind the Milky Way.
I joined the Hoofers Sailing Club.
Week Two
I spent this week examing the GLIMPSE 3D images for galaxies and
any other extremely interesting objects. In the end I found
approximately 250 objects.
The weather was terrible so unfortunately I was not able to go
sailing.
Week Three
For the first half of the week I classified all objects I found.
Ultimately, only about half were galaxies (I wonder if they'd allow me
to name them Lamarr I, Lamarr II, Lamarr III etc?).
On all of these galaxies I will be performing extended source
photometry. Then I will be analyzing their distributions. But, the
Great Attractor Region is starting to look like it may be the focus of
my work this summer. I'm really excited about this because very little
research has been done on this region and in particular the portion of
the GA behind the Milky Way.
Friday I will be leaving for St. Thomas, VI.
I sailed for the first time. Within five minutes of leaving the
dock, I managed to capsize the boat and get stuck in the mud!
Week Four
This week I worked on the region files I created of the galaxies.
To make images of the galaxies I have found, we are using a neat
program written by a graduate student here that will make .fits files
of larger .fits files with a specific size indicated by us. I
will have to change this program to meet our needs exactly and have
already written a program that Bob and I will embedd into this larger
program to work correctly.
St. Thomas was absolutely amazing. I could not have asked for
more beautiful weather.
Unfortunately I could not sail this week. The excuse this time -
Not enough
wind.
Week
Five
I spent the week in Tuscon Arizona at the Kitt Peak National
Observatory. In particular, Bob, Eric (another student of his) and I
were observing at the 0.9 meter WIYN telescope, which happens to be the
oldest on the mountain, and it still performs rather well.
In terms of observing we had ~ two really good nights. The
remaining nights were plagued by clouds and thunderstorms.
Most importanly, Bob gave me great direction for week six
of the program.
Highlights of the week - shopping in Tucson!.. Bob's
shiny new iPhone (i.e. the Jesus Phone, which surprisingly can
also be used as sideburns)... A scorpion in the bathroom...A miniture
Coyote running across the street...Lightning shutdown (extremely
exciting)... pulling ~ eight consecutive all-nighters (took me back to
my days at Cornell...)
Week Six
A blurrr
Week Seven
I don't remember what I did this week either, probably
complaining about how much work I have to do.
I flew out to Orlando for my brothers wedding. It was fun but I
still don't understand why people spend so much money on twenty minutes
they'll never remember if it hadn't been for the four hired Video and
Still cameramen they had to pay even more money for. I'm going to City
hall...
Week Eight
I have begun working on my scientific paper. The abstract
and introductions are about finished and have already been put into
Latex (It took me ~ four hours [an underestimate] to figure out how to
make a landscaped long table).
I have made images of my galaxies to go into my website gallery.
Only two more weeks left and still so much to do!
Wait... I'm not spending this weekend in an airport?
My first ever Windsailing lesson on lake Mendota!... and I'm
really good.
I also tried to go sailing but the problem this time had nothing
to do with the perfect wind, there were no boats left... this is
hopeless.
Week Nine
I have been re-doing the images of all of the galaxies I've
found. The first time I did them, the scale settings were not good
enough so my <insert adjective here e.g. 'stupendous'> advisor
advised
my to do them over... all 147 of them.
I am also working on flux calculations for all of my galaxies so
far, in all four bands, i.e. 588 calculations!
Perfecting my snazzy Latex paper, but not my website.
Week Ten
Working on last minute details, i.e. everything!
Panicking about my imminent doom.
Making analyses from my data. See Conclusions.
Working on my Power Point Presentation.
Shopping one last time at Jazzman.
Saying goodbye to a summer well spent with absolutely wonderful
people.