Research at Custer

Developing Custer on all fronts also means that we are examining the best ways to fulfill the organization's purpose, which Custer's Constitution states is to “provoke intellectual curiosity, explore the arts, sciences and humanities and stimulate fellowship amongst its members and to provide educational and cultural opportunities to the community.”

For much of its history Custer has primarily served the interests and needs of a small membership. But more recently Custer has opened its doors to becoming a respected center for education and cultural enrichment; it is even now considered one of the North Fork's leading attractions. And while the Institute has always attracted intellectually gifted adults and students (inspiring some to pursue careers in astronomy and related sciences), efforts are underway to formally establish an internship program in conjunction with an advanced research program; that will make Custer a place where knowledge and skills can be enhanced, applied, and possibly lead to significant discoveries reminiscent of those that came out of Custer in its early days (Custer's founders invented the clock drive mechanism which revolutionized astronomy and made astroimaging possible).

So, in addition to funding, personnel are desperately needed in all aspects of the Institute's operation. Until funds are available for employees, Custer must continue to turn to its membership for its volunteer work force and as the organization grows in its programs and complexity, so too does the need for more hands to help support and maintain the services and facilities.

Exoplanet Research

The Custer Institute and Observatory is embarking on a research project involving an extensive search for exoplanets, otherwise known as "extrasolar planets" or planets outside our solar system.

Research Team members, Jeffrey Katz and Steve Orlando, have already obtained some encouraging results from preliminary testing: Steve captured the transit of HD-189733, a Jupiter-sized exoplanet located near M27 ("dumbell" nebula), and achieved millimagnitude light curve accuracy. His data provided Jeff with the information needed to extrapolate noise level, sensitivity and other important variables.

For the success of the project, a substantially greater amount of data is required and we need your help to collect it. Participants will need a good CCD camera, at least an 8" (preferably larger) telescope, and some imaging experience.

The task: to take high-quality images of specified areas of the sky. Participation will involve a series of multiple-hour image collection sessions during which one-minute exposures will be taken. While the equipment will be working the entire time, the participant will only be required to set up and periodically check it. Participants can do as few or as many sessions as is convenient and be located anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Those involved will receive precise information about what to do and some instruction on photometry in general. Clear skies are required, but extremely dark skies are not essential.

To sign up, contact the Project Coordinator, Jeff Katz: 631-696-3333 or katz@scientific-consultants.com

MARIACHI Project


MARIACHI = Mixed Apparatus for Radar Investigation of Atmospheric Cosmic-rays of High Ionization

MARIACHI is a unique research experiment that seeks the detection of extreme energy cosmic rays. It is an exciting project with many aspects:

Research: It investigates an unconventional way of detecting extreme energy cosmic rays based upon a method successfully used to detect meteors entering the upper atmosphere. The method was developed by planetary astronomers listening to radio signals reflected off the ionization trail. MARIACHI seeks to listen to TV signals reflected off the ionization trail of an extreme energy cosmic rays. The unique experiment topology will also permit the study of meteors, exotic forms of lightning, and atmospheric science.

Computing and Technology: It uses radio detection stations, along with mini shower arrays hooked up to GPS clocks. Teachers and students build the arrays.It implements the Internet and the GRID as means of communication, data transfer, data processing, and for hosting a public educational outreach web site.

Outreach and Education: It is an open research project with the active participation of a wide audience working with physicists, including high school and college teachers and students. Teams representing high schools, community colleges and universities all collaborate in the experiment. The excitement of a real experiment motivates science and technology classrooms incorporating various high school physical science topics along with varied experiences in electronics, radio, optics, and others.

For more information on the MARIACHI Project being conducted at Custer Observatory, see Custer's MARIACHI Project site.

Internship

Details forthcoming. In the meantime, feel free to contact either our Research Director, Dr. Jeffrey Owen Katz katz@scientific-consultants.com or Custer's President, Donna L. McCormick: CusterDonna@yahoo.com.