Central Coast Double Stars
Central Coast Double Stars Dr. Russell M. Genet Cal Poly Research Scholar in Residence
Wednesday, May 29, 4:00 p.m. Cal Poly Kennedy Library, Bldg. 35, Room 510B To the unaided eye most stars appear to be single. Viewed through a telescope, many are revealed to be double stars. Some doubles revolve around one another over years or centuries. Observed frequently enough, orbits can be established and masses—the key to stellar evolution—calculated. There are, however, more doubles to keep track of than astronomers. A unique Cuesta College research seminar helps resolve this problem. Arroyo Grande High School students observe double stars through telescopes operated by amateur astronomers from the Central Coast Astronomical Society. Their published results not only contribute to science, but advance educational careers. Because it is unusual for high school students to be co-authors of a published paper, many seminar graduates have launched their college careers with scholarships. This highly successful seminar is being expanded to include observations on large mountaintop telescopes of very close doubles with short periods. Russell Genet, Ph.D., is Research Scholar in Residence at Cal Poly State University, Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at Cuesta College, and the Director of the Orion Observatory. Author of a dozen books and over one hundred scientific papers, he observes eclipsing binary stars and studies cosmic evolution. Russ, who pioneered the world’s first fully robotic observatory (featured in the PBS special “The Perfect Stargazer”), was the 51st President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Presented by the Office of Research and Economic Development
Wednesday, May 29, 4:00 p.m. Cal Poly Kennedy Library, Bldg. 35, Room 510B To the unaided eye most stars appear to be single. Viewed through a telescope, many are revealed to be double stars. Some doubles revolve around one another over years or centuries. Observed frequently enough, orbits can be established and masses—the key to stellar evolution—calculated. There are, however, more doubles to keep track of than astronomers. A unique Cuesta College research seminar helps resolve this problem. Arroyo Grande High School students observe double stars through telescopes operated by amateur astronomers from the Central Coast Astronomical Society. Their published results not only contribute to science, but advance educational careers. Because it is unusual for high school students to be co-authors of a published paper, many seminar graduates have launched their college careers with scholarships. This highly successful seminar is being expanded to include observations on large mountaintop telescopes of very close doubles with short periods. Russell Genet, Ph.D., is Research Scholar in Residence at Cal Poly State University, Adjunct Professor of Astronomy at Cuesta College, and the Director of the Orion Observatory. Author of a dozen books and over one hundred scientific papers, he observes eclipsing binary stars and studies cosmic evolution. Russ, who pioneered the world’s first fully robotic observatory (featured in the PBS special “The Perfect Stargazer”), was the 51st President of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Presented by the Office of Research and Economic Development
