(Photo Courtesy of Regan du Preez) Seniors Emmy Long and Kory Prince examine the images for the asteroid search campaign. Students sit at their desks faced toward the image projected on the screen. These images are pictures of the night sky with unknown and mysterious objects. They stare studiously at the practically microscopic dots, searching for any movement or change.

The astronomy classes are participating in the International Asteroid Search Campaign (IASC) through Dec 2. This campaign is organized to collect research of asteroids that are near Earth or potentially hazardous to Earth.

“There are millions of asteroids,” astronomy teacher Carl Logan said. “Only a small percentage has been discovered. We’re concerned about asteroids that have a possible collision with Earth.”

All over the world, trained teachers and their students volunteer to participate in the search campaign.

“We got into the campaign because I attended the Texas Regional Collaborative Astronomy Institute at the University of California at Berkley,” Logan said.

The campaign is in association with Hardon-Simmons University. The information the classes collect is sent to the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL).

“The JPL keeps track of everything in orbit, from asteroids to nuts and bolts,” Logan said. “JPL doesn’t have the resources to constantly update the orbits. That’s where we come in.”

The images that Bullard astronomy classes receive come from a telescope in Illinois. The operator takes pictures of the sky to track a specific asteroid. The classes receive the images four or five times a week.

“We study the images and compare where the asteroid is to where it’s supposed to be,” Logan said.

These images are unique and sent only to Bullard. Therefore, it is imperative that students look carefully at each set of images.

“We send back our findings and they use it for their research,” senior Sonja Armstrong said. “That’s kind of scary if you think about it.”

Students also search for undiscovered asteroids in each image set they are given.

“There is a good possibility that we could see an undiscovered asteroid,” Logan said. “If we do, we send the data to JPL. They will put it in their database and create an orbit diagram for it.”

If students find an object that is significant or potentially dangerous, they will be permitted to name it. In participating in the IASC, students have a one of a kind experience.

“It’s really interesting,” senior Kory Prince said. “You can see what real scientists use and you can be involved in something not a whole lot of people know about. It provides me with opportunities I won’t ever have again.”

This program allows high school students the opportunity to participate in research that affects the world.

“They get to do real research,” Logan said. “It’s real life science not a simulation, and it goes to a real database. The students will have a good experience if they take it seriously.”

Students will benefit from this unique experience past high school and far into the future. It could even help get them into their choice college.

“This will look great on a college transcript, to have participated in an asteroid search campaign - especially in a competitive college,” Logan said.