Be an Astronomer

Posted by Kelly Whitt Jul 25, 2007

This is your chance to be an astronomer. Of course there is no pay involved, only the knowledge that you are helping add to the astronomical database by classifying galaxies that no human has ever seen before.

Sky surveys are snapping deep image after image of the universe that have never been seen before. They are also compiling so quickly that they are not getting properly sorted or even looked at. These countless images need to be organized, and it turns out that humans are better at seeing the patterns in these distant galaxies than computers. That is where you come in.

You can help identify the objects on these images by going to the Galaxy Zoo and joining up. In order to join, you first get a brief tutorial on the different types of galaxies (spiral that is clockwise or counterclockwise, elliptical, merging, or star/don't know). First look at the pictures, then take the 15 question quiz. If you pass (8 or more correct), you're in!

(I had a 14 out of 15. Still wondering which one I missed! Must have been that tiny blurry spiral. I tried to say it was a certain direction but it probably was edge-on. A clear case of trying too hard.)

Be warned, it can be very addicting! But know that you are helping out the astronomical community and seeing things no one has ever seen before!