Using Real Data from the Kepler Mission to Find Potentially Habitable Planets: An Introductory Astronomy Exercise

Abstract

A primary goal of general education introductory astronomy courses often is to provide students with examples of how science is actually done. Low to nonexistent mathematical prerequisites in some courses can make useful exercises difficult to find, and sometimes very difficult for students, especially if the exercises feature quantitative components. What follows describes an attempt to meet this goal through the use of actual exoplanet data, available online, from the NASA Kepler Mission. The exercise described guides the students through an aspect of scientific investigation that they may otherwise not experience, the handling and analysis of a large set of actual scientific data.