This document outlines the stages of the Milky Way Project, a citizen science project where students will analyze infrared images taken by space telescopes to help classify different astronomical phenomena. In stage 1, each small group will research a topic related to infrared astronomy. In stage 2, each student will post a response to their assigned topic. In stage 3, students will independently classify a minimum of 10 infrared images from the Milky Way Project website, justifying their classifications. Finally, in stage 4 students will post a reflection on the importance of citizen science and how this project relates to their chemistry coursework.

1. Citizen Science Project NorthCarolinaVirtual PublicSchool
Honors Chemistry The MilkyWay Project
In the project,youwill become acitizenscientist. Citizenscience occurswhenindividualslikeyouandI
investourtime tohelpscientistscollectand/or analyze data. By providingthisservice,scientistsare
betterable tocollectandanalyze data. Additionallycitizenscience affordsthe opportunityforthe
publictobe engagedinscience andmakingimportantandcrucial discoveries.
You will serve asa citizenscientistforthe MilkyWayProject. The MilkyWay Projectseekstoreview
countlessimagesof the galaxyandtosort thembasedon variouscriteria. We will specificallylookat
imagestakenbythe SpitzerandHerschel telescopesanddetermine whichpatternsthatwe see. We will
analyze infrareddatacapturedbyeach telescopeandclassifythe picturesasshowingaglowingcloud,
an emptyhole,orsomethinginbetween.
In Module 2, youlearnedaboutthe Electromagnetic(EM) Spectrum. The EMSpectrumshowsvarious
formsof radiationincludingX-Rays,Ultraviolet,RadioWaves,andVisible Light. ItalsoincludesInfrared
(IR) radiation. The imagesthatwere takenbythe telescopesare IRimagesthatare convertedinto
colorsthat humanscan see.
Thisprojectwill be conductedin four(4) stages. Pay careful attentiontoyourinstructor’sdirectionsand
duesdates. Each groupwill consist of three (3) students.
Stage 1 (10 Points) : Selectionoftopic
1. Each group memberpicksone of the varioustopics below toresearch.
 Why are the SpitzerandHerschel Telescopesunique?
 How are stars born? How do stars die?
 Why isIR radiation usedtoanalyze imagesfromspace?
 How wasthe universe formed?
2. Each studentpostsinthe forumwhichquestionthathe/she will researchforthe group. Only
one personmayresearcheach topic.
Stage 2 (20 Points): Research
1. Each group poststheirresearchto the forumfor the othergroupmemberstoread.
2. The post shouldinclude anycitations/ linkstosupportthe research.
3. The post shouldbe writtenwithproperspelling,punctuation,andgrammar.
4. The post shouldadequatelyanswerthe questionthatthe groupmemberchose.
5. Each student’spostshouldbe concise butadequatelyrespondtothe questionchosen.
6. Each studentrespondstoanyquestionsposedbythe groupand/ or instructor.
7. Your submissionwill be subjecttobeing enteredintoSafeAssign,aplagiarismdetectiontool.
RememberthatNCVPSdiscourages plagiarismandyoumaybe subjectto disciplinaryactions.

2. Citizen Science Project NorthCarolinaVirtual PublicSchool
Honors Chemistry The MilkyWay Project
Stage 3 (50 Points): ClassifyingImages
1. Each studentlogsintothe website http://www.milkywayproject.org/.
2. The username forthe site is ncvps_chemistry and the passwordis chemistry.
3. For studentswhoneedhelpwiththe loginprocedures,theymayview the screencast:
http://www.screencast.com/t/3wNGHUTlh9to .
4. Complete the tutorial.
5. Studentsare to classifyaminimumof10 imagesand must take screenshots ofeach image and
paste intoa word document. Once pastedina worddocument,the studentmust explaineach
classification thathe/she chose (bubble,starcluster,ego,etc) andjustifytheirreasoningfor
this classification. Anexampleislistedbelow. If youneedhelptakingscreenshots,visit
http://www.take-a-screenshot.org/. Keepinmindthatsome imageswill have multiple
classificationsandasa result,youwill needtoinclude the ajustificationforeachclassificationin
each image.
Image Classification Justification
Bubble
Star Cluster
EGO
The image shows
a bubble because
….
The image shows
a star cluster
because …
The image shows
a EGO because …
6. The documentincludingthe screenshotsof the images,classification,andexplanationshouldbe
uploadedtothe forum.
Stage 4 (20 points) – Reflection
1. Each studentwill postafinal reflectiononthisproject. Indoingsothe studentwill respondto
the following:
 Why iscitizenscience important?
 How didthisprojectconnectto whatyou learnedinHonorsChemistry?
 How doesyourworkbenefitscience?
2. The reflectionshouldbe conciseandadequatelyaddresseachof the topicsreferencedabove
and include propergrammar,correctspelling,andpunctuation.
3. Your submissionwill be subjectto NCVPSplagiarismdetectiontools. RememberthatNCVPS
discourages plagiarismandyoumaybe subjecttodisciplinaryactions.