The HET602: Own Project unit covered the imaging and analysis of 4 types of asteroidal targets - Short, Average, Long and Very Long period targets.

The targets chosen were: (11131) 1996 VO30 (Short), 12371 Madicampbell (Statistical Average), 105 Artemis (Long) and 2430 Bruce Helin (Very Long). The paper describes the setup used by Hunters Hill observatory in undertaking this type of work and the techniques used to acquire and reduce the data then resolve the periods.

Supervisor:  Dr Paddy McGee
Result: 27/30

The paper is attached here (525kb PDF)

The HET603: Deep Field unit is a project assignment for my Astronomy course through Swinburne Online Astronomy course.  The basic requirement is to image a field for as long as possible either in single or multiple colours then report on the content of the field.  After a few test images I decided I need to find a field with no bright stars (in fact no stars or objects brighter than magnitude 12) to avoid blooming.  This was surprisingly difficult but I did stumble across Abell 1631 which offered a good range of targets.

After some consultation with my supervisor, Dr Pamela Gay, I decided to look at the photometry of the galaxies in the image and see what I could glean.  I was encouraged to look at them as a function of their position as well so after extracting the photometry (after 10 hours worth of BVRI imaging) I plotted the results against known distances (z or redshift) and low and behold, the further the galaxy the more red they became - a poor mans redshift.

Even though I knew the theory I was blown away to actually see it in my own data. 

Supervisor:  Dr Pamela Gay
Result: 29/30.

The paper is attached here (313kb PDF)

Click on the image at left for a full size version of the ABELL 1631 field Tri Colour image contained in the paper (1.1mb PNG).  The objects marked A through E are comparison stars used to determine the magnitude value for each of the galaxies in the image.

The HET604:P37 unit is a self project in which I chose to design an extra galactic supernovae search - Pretty straight forward really.

The paper details the purpose of an SN search, limitations of the chosen equipment, statistical and theoretical details about all Sn discoveries to date then some discussion on other factors that may need to be considered.  The result was a list of some 400 nearby galaxies and one new Sn discovery (but not mine) during the project survey period.

Supervisor:  Dr Paddy McGee
Result: 26/30

The paper is attached here (963kb PDF)

The HET609:P30 unit is an own project topic in which I chose to observe Pluto and calculate it's orbital elements.  Additional requirements were to explain the meaning of the primary orbital elements and the current status of the Kuiper Belt.

Since I have been observing and measuring the Photometry and Astrometry of moving targets for some years the observational element of this project was quite straight forward.  It was interesting however to note the very many elements that made up a satellites orbit.

Supervisor:  Barry Adcock
Result: 28/30

The paper is attached here (1mb PDF)