Abstract
In an effort to bring modem research techniques into the introductory astronomy laboratory, we have been developing a series of modules containing software, student manuals, and teachers' guides. These modules incorporate simulations of actual observations and astronomical phenomena using Mac and PC based software, extensive reliance on digital images and spectra obtained at professional observatories, and realistic tools for the analysis of data. We present here descriptions of our work to date, including exercises on photometry, spectral
classification, the Hubble redshift-distance relation, the large-scale structure of the universe, the mass of Jupiter, the rotation of Mercury, and the transfer of radiation out of the sun. We also discuss current software under development and plans for the future. CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy) has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and from Gettysburg College.
