Welcome! If you want to know how I spent the summer of 2001, you've found the right place!!!
Here is what you'll find on this page
Cataclysmic Variables
I spent most of the summer studying two different Cataclysmic Variables:
RW Ursa Minoris (RW UMi) and RW Sextantis (RW Sex)
If you would like to know more about Cataclysmic Variables, here are a few
web sites that could be of interest:
Cataclysmic Variables - A
Very Basic Introduction
Cataclysmic Variables - Wonderful Pictures and Explanation
What are Variable Stars?
- Written by the AAVSO
Imagine the Universe
- A Great Site for all things Astronomy
To reduce the data for both RW UMi and RW Sex, I used a program called IRAF (Image Reduction and Analysis
Facility). This program is run through
Linux , so I also learned how to use the Linux operating system. It
was a very interesting thing to learn for someone so used to a Windows
based operating system.
A summary of my research for the summer can be found in the following PDF
file:
***PDF File coming soon!***
The Observatories
One of my favorite parts of the summer was spending time at the three
telescopes the University of Wyoming owns (WIRO, Red Buttes, and STAR).
For more information on the telescopes you can visit the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Whenever something goes wrong on top of Jelm Mountain (where WIRO is
located), you can blame it on Jelmy. Antonio Bianchini, Brad Bohlender,
and I decided there has to be some spirit of the mountain that is just
playful. He likes to play jokes on the astronomers on top of Jelm by
doing anything from crashing the computers to hiding the stars in the sky.
He also keeps Mu Boots (the cat at the observatory) company when there are
no astronomers up there. To the left is a picture Antonio drew of Jelmy.
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons
At the beginning of July all of the SURAP students went to the Grand
Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. It was so much fun. Here are some
pictures from the trip:
This was probably one of the most exciting parts of the trip, well at
least for me. A herd of bison crossed the street in front and behind our
car. It was amazing!
This is our group in front of Hidden Falls in the Tetons. First Row (from
left to right): Amee, Stephanie, Sabrina, and Alison; Second Row: Katie,
Justin, Nick, and Jesse
Left: Looking down at Upper Falls in the Grand Canyon. The site was
absolutely breathtaking!
Right: An elk in velvet crossing the path while taking a small hike at Old
Faithful. This creature was so huge and beautiful!
A Little Information About Me
Here's some information about the person behind this site:
At the beginning of the summer of 2001, I had just finished my first year
at The University of Wyoming . Majors:
Astronomy and Mathematics , Minor: Women's Studies . I am
also involved in the
Wyoming Honors Organization .
My interests outside of astronomy include: playing with my cat Ardi
(picture on the right of her with a stuffed animal elk from Yellowstone
and a stuffed animal jackalope from Cody, WY), playing on the computer
(anything from chatting online to playing The Sims), Science Fiction (my
favorite TV show is Star Trek: Voyager, but most other science fiction
movies and TV shows appeal to me), and many, many other things.
If you need to get ahold of me, email me at VoyKat@uwyo.edu .
Cataclysmic Variables
The Observatories
Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons
A Little Information About Me
