OLD Research Tools

What is a mosaic and why should I care?

Typically objects or regions in space we want to look at are too large for the telescope to capture in a single image or frame, so the telescope has to take many frames which are later combine using software into a single image or what is commonly called a mosaic. Click "mosaic" above for more details.

How do I download data from Spitzer?

Spitzer has its own archive for downloading and viewing data. Go here for more information.

How do I download data from WISE?

WISE has its own archive for downloading and viewing both images and catalogs. Go here for more information.

How do I download data from IRSA, NED, or the NASA Exoplanet Archive?

This is a very open-ended question! IRSA, NED, and the NASA Exoplanet Archive all serve a lot of different data from a lot of different missions, surveys, and investigations. There's no one answer that will work for everything. Please see What other kinds of archival data are part of NITARP? for a general introduction. Each archive has a search page to start from, and most datasets have lots of online help.

How can I get data from other wavelengths to compare with infrared data from Spitzer?

This link describes getting images and catalogs from other wavelengths. Don't forget the "Questions to think about and things to try" at the bottom of that page.

How can I make a color composite image using Spitzer and/or other data?

Have you ever wondered how scientists create those beautiful images of objects in space? After all when you look at deep space objects through an optical telescope they appear pretty much grey. Well, here's your chance to explore a bit of astronomy art. Not only can you make "pretty pictures" but these composite images can reveal important scientific data. Click on this link and explore how to make 3-color (or more!) composite images with publicly-available tools. Start doing science with the images you create by trying the "Questions to think about and things to try" at the bottom of the linked page.

How can I find out what scientists already know about a particular astronomy topic or object?

Literature searching is an essential part of doing scientific research! Click this link to find out how.

I'm ready to move on to more "advanced" research tools.

Click here after you've worked through the "basic" research tools section, and would like to move on to some more advanced applications.

All the NITARP videos in one place

Just for reference!