Abstract Details
| Name: Lavanya Nemani Affiliation: RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory, India Conference ID: ASI2017_817 Title : How any BSc/BE can participate in citizen science research in astronomy using GMRT Authors and Co-Authors : Lavanya Nemani (RAD@home), Megha Rajoria (RAD@home), Mitali Damle (RAD@home), Akanksha Tiwary (RAD@home), Kavil Mehta (RAD@home), Geetam Mall (RAD@home), Viswajith Govinda Rajan (RAD@home), Karuna Gamre (RAD@home), Aakash Mantri (RAD@home), Sayali Kulkarni (RAD@home) Pratik Dabhade (RAD@home), Sravani Vaddi (NCRA & RAD@home), Chiranjib Konar (Amity Univ & RAD@home), Ananda Hota (UM DAE CEBS & RAD@home) Abstract Type : Poster Abstract Category : Extragalactic astronomy Abstract : RAD@home ( #RADatHomeIndia #ABCDresearch ), is the first Indian Citizen-Science research project in astronomy. It was launched in Google and Facebook in April 2013. The paradigm shift of the world towards Internet has made it possible, as students can participate in an education cum research activity from any corner of the country. The research project has been giving opportunity to students/citizens (any BSc/BE) to learn, explore and contribute to science endeavours since its inception. A group of 1800 members comprising students, working and non working class meets at this platform to share knowledge and do some scientific research. They are trained by professionals during various discovery camps, (held at various institutions all over India namely Institute of Physics (Bhubneshwar), Harischandra Research Institute (Allahabad), UM-DAE Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (Mumbai), Nehru Planetarium (New Delhi) and Vigyan Prasar (DST, GoI)), online e-classes (3hrs/week). Cosmic sources are discovered during these camps and on-line e-research discussion sessions by analysing data from the TIFR GMRT Sky Survey (TGSS). Members are further trained to use NASA Skyview virtual observatory, NASA Extragalactic Database (NED) which helps them further characterise the newly discovered source for advanced analysis. Thereby these discovered sources are then investigated by professional astronomers with followup observations. GMRT Time Allocation Committee has also awarded time to RAD@home for three cycles so far for these follow up investigations. The discovered sources include several new episodic radio galaxies, Z-and X-shaped radio galaxies, bent-lobe radio galaxies sitting in new galaxy filaments, dead-lobe radio galaxies, relic/halo diffuse radio emission in clusters of galaxies etc. Due to the availability of TGSS ADR1, all sky data, the list of each type of sources has grown up significantly since the last ASI meeting held in Kashmir. There are nearly 70 camp-trained citizen-scientists or e-astronomers today, from various walks of life who work together in discovering new sources and contributing to science. The Pan India program of RAD@home has proved to be unique in its own way and its importance in the future in assisting professionals to increase research output from any telescope is documented in a recent paper. The paper is going to appear in a special issue of the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy titled "Science with the SKA: an Indian perspective" available freely at https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.09798 Interested citizens may connect with us at www.facebook.com/RADatHomeIndia |