SPACETRC / OPEN LEARNING LAB
From your first question
to a repeatable report.
Three introductory tracks, real research briefs and a portfolio you control. Explore the source, practise the method and make your assumptions visible.
PREPARED RESEARCH CHALLENGE
Measure a known planetary transit
Inspect a dated observation selection; report the dip, method and limitations.
How can I measure the dip in the selected light curve?
- Open the transit selection in Data Studio; record source and time system.
- Choose out-of-transit and in-transit intervals and explain the selection.
- Inspect flux ratio, data gaps and outliers.
- Report method and uncertainty; do not claim a new discovery.
PREPARED RESEARCH CHALLENGE
Investigate a geomagnetic time series
Examine change and sampling intervals in NOAA’s dated Kp product.
How does the Kp product change during the chosen interval?
- Open the Kp selection and record its date and source definition.
- Choose two intervals; report sample counts and missing records.
- Show the observed difference in a table or plot.
- Do not infer a long-term climate conclusion from one event; state limitations.
PREPARED RESEARCH CHALLENGE
From shadow to angle: reconstruct a method
An explicit geometry exercise inspired by historical measurement traditions.
How can I estimate altitude angle from a vertical stick’s shadow?
- Open the vertical-stick model in the instrument lab.
- State the level-ground and vertical-stick assumptions; choose a measurement or labelled model input.
- Record stick height and shadow length in the same unit.
- Calculate altitude and discuss alignment and length-reading errors.
MY FIRST RESEARCH / PORTFOLIO
Make the reasoning visible.
Keep your prediction before measuring. A useful report makes its data and method repeatable, including results that disagree with the prediction.
Report rubric
Explain what you measure and what you expect.
Record source, units, selection and calculations so they can be followed.
Connect the conclusion to a graph or measurement.
State limitations and what another measurement could add.
The structure check only checks that required sections are present. It does not judge whether a scientific explanation is true.
YOUR WORK / YOUR COPY
Keep a portable learning portfolio.
Progress, reflections, assessment answers and project drafts are stored only in this browser. Export a JSON copy before clearing browser data or moving devices. Import replaces the local Academy portfolio after your explicit choice.
Study pack: release 4.0.0 · content dated 24 October 2026 · self-contained lessons, exercises, project templates and source-labelled sample data. Unzip and open index.html. No external API is required.