Magnetometer Project
This page is for students at Bishop Heber High School who are working on the magnetometer project. This aim of this is to install and run an AuroraWatch magnetometer at Bishop Heber High School, as part of the national Schools Magnetometer Project, which will monitor the strength of the Earth's magnetic field and feed into a network of such magnetometers, allowing scientists to predict when it might be possible to view the aurora borealis (Northern lights) from the UK.
Since I visited Lancaster University physics departments, and was shown the system in person, Bishop Heber will be the first school to receive and install a magnetometer. Hopefully we shall be able to iron out any difficulties in installation and gathering the data, and help to improve the instructions given to the other schools who are taking part.
Progress
- 2014-07-18: Moved raspi and mounted on roof truss in a higher position
- 2014-07-17: Finished hole digging, buried magnetometer
- 2014-07-16: Moved raspi in lang college roofspace, started hole digging
- 2014-07-02: Attended AuroraWatch schools' conference
- 2013-11-19: Checked RF data connexion; looked into languages college roofspace
- 2013-11-18: Tested L5 data connexion; expanded image to fill SD card
- 2013-11-17: Made raspi SD card backup
- 2013-11-15: Arrival of sensor unit
- 2013-11-14: Base unit / RF link board arrived
To do list
Please see me for further information. I am seeking help with all of the tasks below!
- Personalizing data pages
- Pop-bottle detector datalogging
- Testing network data access
- Making 2nd detector
- Making magnetometer housing
- Siting the magnetometer
- Temperature fluctuation project
- Display for notice board
