Teaching students about informatics and astronomy using real data for detection of asteroids

TL;DR

This paper presents a teaching method for computer science students that uses real astronomical data and data reduction techniques to enhance understanding of asteroid detection and astronomy.

Contribution

It introduces a practical, data-driven approach to astronomy education for computer science students using real telescope data and data quality control methods.

Findings

Successful implementation with second-year students

Enhanced understanding of data reduction techniques

Practical experience with real astronomical data

Abstract

In this paper we approach the astronomy teaching process for the students in computer sciences through the controlled investigation method on real astronomical data, using data reduction and quality control of the astrometry of near-Earth asteroids. The method used the data collected on the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) located at the ORM observatory on the island of La Palma in the Spanish Canary Islands and was successfully tested on a group of students in the second-year of study.