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As a natural and practical outgrowth of this program’s concentration on scientific communication, students take part in a weekly Journal Club to review the most interesting and relevant primary literature. Unlike what they read in magazines like Discover, Scientific American, and National Geographic (2° sources), or what they hear from broadcast news organizations (3° sources like CNN, PBS, NPR, etc.) or on blogs (4° sources), we focus on how science is disseminated from the source (1° literature). While difficult at first, reading primary literature is a learned skill much like everything else. Science is a language unto itself, so practicing is essential. Upperclass students present once each year as time permits, starting with the most senior members. All members are expected to attend either in-person or online. All paper selections must be approved by the Director at least three weeks in advance of the expected presentation date. Members are given two unexcused absences per semester. The schedule for presentations are posted here, and then the presentations are recorded and posted within that framework.
Science is a social activity by nature. The Academy hosts alumni and other members of the Holy Cross community for informal luncheons with members so that they can share their experiences in the STEM fields as trainees and/or adults. This is a great way to connect students with possible internships in the here-and-now, and with career paths for the future. Upperclass students serve on the invitation committee and as hosts for our guest speakers. All members are expected to attend in-person. All guest selections are approved by the Director at the beginning of the semester and scheduled accordingly. Members are given two unexcused absences per semester. The luncheons are recorded and posted here and on social media (hosted by YouTube).
Similar in rationale and motivation to the Lunch & Learn seminar series, Tea-Times are held online in the evenings to accommodate guest speakers who are unable to attend in-person. This allows the flexibility to invite scientists, engineers, and technologists from outside the Holy Cross community. Like Lunch & Learn, Upper-class students will serve on the invitation committee and as hosts for our guest speakers. All members are expected to attend in person. All guest selections are approved by the Director at the beginning of the semester and scheduled accordingly. Members are given two unexcused absences per semester. The luncheons are recorded and posted here and on social media.
Using Adobe’s Creative Cloud Suite and free programs like SketchUp, Academy members receive training in computer-aided design from experienced faculty and contribute to the Publishing aspect of the program and across disciplines.
In preparation for the launch of Holy Cross' Science Academy, 3D layouts of the Academy and its laboratory were rendered in SketchUp.
DARK|SKY
About
SciAc DARK|SKY is an astro|photography club that meets on select nights under the clear, new moon, Bortle Class 5 skies of Waterbury. AMI members and incoming initiates are welcome to join Holy Cross faculty from multiple departments as they tinker with photographic gear mated to astronomical toys. BYOT (bring your own telescope and Dr. Ciar might fix the broken ones).
@ Holy Cross High School (SciAc)
29 February 2024 | Orion, the Seven Sisters, and the oldest story ever told.
@ Morris Catholic High School (AMI)
3 June 2022 | Astrophotography from the newly opened courtyard. Pizza provided. Super dark. We're going galaxy-hunting.
2 September 2021 | Impromptu meet with about 7 telescopes and a star-studded cast (get it?): Venus, Saturn, Jupiter (and its moons), Andromeda Galaxy (M31).
24 June 2021 | Finally some decent weather!
10 May 2021 | New Worm Moon. See below.
12 April 2021 | New Snow Moon. Bring your own telescopes for the first (hopefully) post-COVID get-together on the Soccer Field at Morris Catholic High School. The event will feature food, Fr. Brian's lavish catadioptric telescope, Dr. Ciar's star-tracker photography rig, and his 10" Dobsonian Telescope. This event is weather-permitting.
Figure 1 | The Great Orion Nebula. Located in the constellation of Orion (in the sheath of his sword—for reference, see Figure 2), this famous nebula was photographed on 1/16/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/5.6, and ISO 40,000. The rig was cropped in-camera at 1.6x for a total raw focal length of 640mm. 27x1s images were integrated within DeepSkyStacker and edited in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1. The imaging rig was not tracked to a sidereal rate (plain-old tripod! See Figure 3!).
Figure 2 | Location of the Orion Nebula (Messier 42; NGC 1976) some 1,344 light years from Earth. Sources: WikiSky; https://www.messier-objects.com/messier-42-orion-nebula/
Figure 3a | The Great Orion Nebula (v. 2.0). Photographed on 3/2/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 500. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 188x30s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 1.6h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software). The imaging rig was tracked to sidereal rate on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro (unlike Figure 1), allowing much longer exposure times.
Figure 3b | The Great Orion Nebula (v. 3.0). Photographed on 3/2/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 500. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 188x30s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 1.6h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software). The imaging rig was tracked to sidereal rate on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro (unlike Figure 1), allowing much longer exposure times.
Figure 4 | The Horsehead (Barnard 33) & Flame (NGC 2024) Nebulae. Photographed on 3/13/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 1600 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 32x88s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 47m of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 5 | The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). Photographed on 4/5/2021 from Middlebury, CT, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 3200 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 109x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 3.6h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 6 | The Pinwheel Galaxy (M101). Photographed on 4/7/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 3200 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 37x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 1.2h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 7 | Cigar Galaxy (M82, left) and Bode's Galaxy (M81, right). Photographed on 4/8/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 3200 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 400mm. 63x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 2.1h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 8 | Quarter Moon. Photographed on 4/20/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a 10" Dobsonian telescope through a 25mm Apertura eyepiece. It was a single full-frame exposure for 1/150s on a bare sensor at ISO 100. The raw focal length of the scope was 1250mm. The image was cleaned up in Adobe Lightroom CC.
Figure 9 | The Great Cluster in Hercules (M13). Photographed on 6/28/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/8, and ISO 640 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in cropped-sensor mode for a total raw focal length of 640mm. 38x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 76 minutes of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 10 | North America Nebula (NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) and Pelican Nebula (IC 5070 and IC 5067). Photographed on 6/29/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma EX DG OS 70-200mm f/2.8 lens at f/4, and ISO 800 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 200mm. 74x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 2.5h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 11 | Jupiter & Saturn. Photographed on 8/19/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a 10" Dobsonian telescope through a 2.5x Celestron Luminos 2" Barlow. Multiple crop-sensor exposures (1/60s on a bare sensor at ISO 800) were processed together using PIPP, Autostakkert, and Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1. The raw focal length of the scope was 1250mm.
Figure 12 | Jupiter. Photographed on 8/21/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a 10" Dobsonian telescope through a 2.5x Celestron Luminos 2" Barlow. Multiple crop-sensor exposures (1/60s on a bare sensor at ISO 800) were processed together using PIPP, Autostakkert, and Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1. The raw focal length of the scope was 1250mm.
Figure 13 | Saturn. Photographed on 8/23/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a 10" Dobsonian telescope through a 2.5x Celestron Luminos 2" Barlow. Multiple crop-sensor exposures (1/60s on a bare sensor at ISO 800) were processed together using PIPP, Autostakkert, and Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1. The raw focal length of the scope was 1250mm.
Figure 14 | The Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Photographed on 8/24/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM f/5-6.3 lens at f/6.3, and ISO 400 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in full-frame mode for a total raw focal length of 600mm. 24x120s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of 48 min of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 15 | The Triangulum Galaxy (M33). Photographed on 11/5/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM f/5-6.3 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/13, and ISO 1600 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in cropped-sensor mode for a total raw focal length of 1920mm. 36x120s images were integrated within DeepSkyStacker for a total of 112 min of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software).
Figure 16 | Crescent Moon. Photographed on 1/5/2022 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM f/5-6.3 lens and a 2x Sigma APO Teleconverter at f/13 in cropped-sensor mode for a total raw focal length of 1920mm. It was a single full-frame exposure for 1/6s on a filtered sensor (Kase Neutral Night Light Pollution Clip-In Filter) at ISO 200. The image was cleaned up in Adobe Lightroom CC.
Figure 17 | The Great Orion Nebula (CMC v. 4.0; M42; NGC 1976, bottom); De Mairan's Nebula (M43; NGC 1982, middle); the Running Man Nebula (Sh2-279, top). Photographed on 1/3/2021 from Flanders, NJ, using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM f/5-6.3 lens at 600mm, f/13, and ISO 1600 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in cropped-sensor mode (with a Kase Neutral Night Light Pollution Clip-In Filter) for a total raw focal length of 960mm. 215x30s images were integrated within DeepSkyStacker for a total of 107 min of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software). A metal print of this image is hanging in Dr. Ciar's office.
Figure 18 | The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). Photographed on 6/3/2022 from Denville, NJ, with the help of Albertus Magnus Institute members at Morris Catholic High School using a Canon EOS RP with a Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM f/5-6.3 lens at 600mm, f/13, and ISO 1600 on a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro tracking at sidereal rate. The rig was used in cropped-sensor mode (with a Kase Neutral Night Light Pollution Clip-In Filter) for a total raw focal length of 960mm. 41x90s images were integrated within Sequator for a total of ~1h of data; the output TIFF was then stretched in Adobe Photoshop CC v. 22.1.1 using the Astronomy Tools Action Set (v. 1.6.2 from ProDigital Software) and AstroFlat Pro (v. 1.4.11 from ProDigital Software). The mark in the bottom right is the logo of the Advanced Science Academy, and is a trademark of SynapticPub, LLC. This was the last image Dr. Ciar took with students at Morris Catholic before moving to Holy Cross. A print of the image is hanging in Room #20 and is signed by all the students who helped make it possible.
Publishing
The Capstone course will serve as tangible evidence of the program members’ achievements. Juniors in the Scientific Communication (SciComm) course will hone their editorial and graphic design skills to publish the Seniors’ review manuscripts in an official peer-reviewed Holy Cross research journal. To that end, membership in the Science Academy will include access to Adobe’s Creative Suite and training on key publishing programs like InDesign. Additionally, motivated students will have other publishing opportunities in the field of Dr. Ciar’s research.
Dr. Ciar is the managing member of SynapticPub, LLC—an educational publishing and consulting company—with whom Academy members will collaborate. SynapticPub has already published a number of course-specific workbooks for Holy Cross and Johns Hopkins University.
