Westport Teen Studies Astrophysics, Tracks Near-Earth Asteroid

Press release from SSP:

Aug. 11, 2022

Over 39 intense days this summer, Rebecca Schussheim of Westport, a student at Staples High School, operated a research-grade telescope to take images of a near-earth asteroid, then calculated its orbital path, including the chance it will impact Earth in the future. She gained hands-on experience with vector calculus, physics, astronomy, and programming in Python.

Schussheim participated in the Summer Science Program (SSP), joining some of the world’s most promising science students for academic challenge, collaboration, and personal growth. Since 1959, this unique and highly selective program has offered teenagers their first taste of hands-on, authentic experimental research. Years and even decades later, alumni describe it as “the educational experience of a lifetime.” Most go on to earn advanced degrees and leadership roles in their chosen careers.

Schussheim and her colleagues spent over 300 hours collecting and analyzing data in teams of three, overseen by experienced researchers. They also had the opportunity to hear from and interact with prominent guest speakers.

SSP is operated by an independent non-profit, in cooperation with its host campuses: Indiana University Bloomington, New Mexico Tech, Purdue University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and academic affiliates: Caltech, MIT, and Harvey Mudd College. For complete information, visit SummerScience.org.

This press release was produced by SSP. The views expressed here are the author's own.