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Determining the Average Diameter of Globular Clusters

CSEF · 2010 Physics & Astronomy

Yasamin Haider · Deer Valley High School, Anioch, Contra Costa County

Overview

Objectives/Goals As I was doing background research on globulars, I came across an article by George O. Abell that claimed, "the avergage linear diameter of globular clusters range from 20 to 100 parsecs or more". I also found a book and method by Ashman and Zepf that supported that claim. I think that the range of the claim should be changed. My instructor, Jeff Adkins, helped me come up with a new method in which I could find the average diameter of globulars. Methods/Materials I found the known distnaces from a list found by william E. Harris. I used Simbad and Aladin Online to obtain the image. Then I used Image J to find the diameter. Then, using the equation I came up with, d=r*tanE, where r is the distance in parsecs. Results I then conducted my own tests and found 18 out of 20 points that demonstarted my hypothesis correct. I think that the range of which the claim was made should be changed. Conclusions/Discussion There are globulars whith average diameters less than 20 parsecs.

Summary statement

Finding the average diameter of globular clusters using a whole new mathematical method I came up with.

Help received

From my instructor

Competition history

  • CSEF 2010 Physics & Astronomy · Entry S1914

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