Introduction & Instruments Sections
Adapted from Kalée Tock and Ryan Caputo
The Introduction and Instruments sections form the foundation of your double star paper. These sections establish the context for your research and detail the equipment used to gather your data. This page will guide you through creating effective versions of these crucial components.
Introduction Section: Telling Your Star's Story
The Introduction serves to orient your reader and establish the significance of your research. A well-crafted introduction answers several key questions:
What to Include in Your Introduction
- Location: Where is your double star system located in the sky? Include constellation and coordinates.
- Selection Criteria: How and why did you choose this system? What selection parameters did you use?
- Star Properties: What type of stars are in your system? What are their estimated masses, temperatures, and spectral classes?
- Previous Research: Has this system been studied before? What have other astronomers discovered?
- Research Context: Why is this system interesting or worth studying?
Star Identification and Referencing
When referring to your double star system: - The first mention should include both the WDS number and Discoverer code (e.g., "WDS 05141+5433 STI 2089") - All subsequent references should use only the Discoverer code (e.g., "STI 2089") - Always use the proper symbol for arcseconds (″) not quotation marks (" or ")
Proper Star Reference
"We present measurements of WDS 07518-1354 BU 101, a double star in Canis Minor. BU 101 was first measured by S.W. Burnham in 1879 with a separation of 0.9″."
Citing References Properly
Your introduction must include references to prior work:
- Mass and Temperature Estimates: Always cite your source for these values
- Gaia HR Diagram Inferences: If using the HR diagram to estimate properties, explicitly state this and acknowledge the uncertainty
- Spectroscopic Data: If you find a paper with spectroscopic determinations of your stars' properties, use and cite these more precise values instead of HR diagram estimates
- Previous Studies: Cite any previous research on your system
Finding References
To find literature on your star system: 1. Search SIMBAD using your star's coordinates 2. Check the historical data file from the US Naval Observatory 3. Look for references in the Washington Double Star Catalog
Sample Introduction Structure
- Opening paragraph: Identify the star system and its location
- Second paragraph: Describe the physical characteristics of the component stars
- Third paragraph: Summarize previous research on the system
- Final paragraph: Explain the purpose of your current study
Instruments Section: Documenting Your Tools
The Instruments section provides technical details about the equipment used to obtain your data. This information is essential for reproducibility and evaluating the quality of your measurements.
What to Include in Your Instruments Section
- Telescope specifications: Aperture, focal length, optical design
- Camera details: Model, pixel scale, field of view
- Filter information: Which filters were used and why
- Observatory location: Geographic coordinates, altitude, typical seeing conditions
- Image acquisition: Exposure times, number of images, date of observation
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network
If using LCOGT telescopes: - Identify which specific telescopes were used (by location) - Include the three-letter site codes from your image filenames - Reference the map of LCOGT telescope locations
Finding LCOGT Site Information
You can identify which telescope took your images by: - Looking for the three-letter site code at the beginning of your image filenames - Checking the FITS headers of your images in AstroImageJ - Cross-referencing with the LCOGT site information page
Measurement Screenshot and Tables
Include: - A clear screenshot of one of your measurements in AstroImageJ - Tables of all your measurements - Aperture size used for measurements - Any anomalies or challenges encountered during measurement
Sample Instruments Section
A typical Instruments section might read:
Instruments Section Example
"Observations were made using the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network's 0.4-meter Planewave CDK20 telescope at the Teide Observatory (TFN) in the Canary Islands. The telescope has an aperture of 0.4 meters and a focal length of 3.251 meters (f/8.1). Images were captured using a SBIG STX-6303 CCD camera with a field of view of 29.2 × 19.5 arcminutes and a pixel scale of 0.571 arcseconds per pixel. Ten 30-second exposures were taken through a Bessell V filter on the night of January 15, 2023."
Writing Tips for Both Sections
- Be concise but thorough: Include all relevant information without unnecessary detail
- Use proper terminology: Double check astronomical terms and units
- Maintain formal tone: Use third person and passive voice when appropriate
- Logical organization: Present information in a logical sequence
- Check citations: Ensure all claims are properly supported
Assignment Checklist
Before submitting your Introduction and Instruments sections, verify that you have:
- [ ] Created a Google Doc with proper sharing settings
- [ ] Written a descriptive title for your paper
- [ ] Completed the Introduction with all required elements
- [ ] Written the Instruments section with telescope details
- [ ] Filled in measurement tables
- [ ] Included a clear measurement screenshot with caption
- [ ] Removed all instructional text from your document
- [ ] Used proper arcseconds symbol (″) throughout
- [ ] Cited references properly in both in-text and reference list format
Next Steps
After completing your Introduction and Instruments sections, you'll move on to presenting your results and analyzing their significance.