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GLOBE at Night: Using Sky Quality Meters to Measure Sky Brightness
GLOBE at Night: using Sky Quality Meters to measure sky brightness This document includes: • How to observe with the SQM o The SQM, finding latitude and longitude, when to observe, taking and reporting measurements, what do the numbers mean, comparing results • Demonstrating light pollution o Background in light pollution and lighting, materials needed for the shielding demo, doing the shielding demo • Capstone activities (and resources) • Appendix: An excel file for multiple measurements CREDITS This document on citizen-scientists using Sky Quality Meters to monitor light pollution levels in their community was a collaborative effort between Connie Walker at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Chuck Bueter of nightwise.org, Anna Hurst of ASP’s Astronomy from the Ground Up program, Vivian White and Marni Berendsen of ASP’s Night Sky Network and Kim Patten of the International Dark-Sky Association. Observations using the Sky Quality Meter (SQM) The Sky Quality Meters (SQMs) add a new twist to the GLOBE at Night program. They expand the citizen science experience by making it more scientific and more precise. The SQMs allow citizen-scientists to map a city at different locations to identify dark sky oases and even measure changes over time beyond the GLOBE at Night campaign. This document outlines how to make and report SQM observations. Important parts of the SQM ! Push start button here. ! Light enters here. ! Read out numbers here. The SQM Model The SQM-L Model Using the SQM There are two models of Sky Quality Meters. Information on the newer model, the SQM- L, can be found along with the instruction sheet at http://unihedron.com/projects/sqm-l/. -
International Dark Sky Parks Guidelines
INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY ASSOCIATION 3223 N First Ave - Tucson Arizona 85719 USA - +1 520-293-3198 - www.darksky.org TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HERIT- AGE OF DARK SKIES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING International Dark Sky Park Program Guidelines June 2018 IDA International Dark Sky Park Designation Guidelines TABLE OF CONTENTS DEFINITION OF AN IDA DARK SKY PARK .................................................................. 3 GOALS OF DARK SKY PARK CREATION ................................................................... 3 DESIGNATION BENEFITS ............................................................................................ 3 ELIGIBILITY ................................................................................................................... 4 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PARKS ............................................................ 5 LIGHTING MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................................. 8 LIGHTING INVENTORY ............................................................................................... 10 PROVISIONAL STATUS .............................................................................................. 12 IDSP APPLICATION PROCESS .................................................................................. 13 NOMINATION ........................................................................................................... 13 STEPS FOR APPLICANT ........................................................................................ -
Measuring Night Sky Brightness: Methods and Challenges
Measuring night sky brightness: methods and challenges Andreas H¨anel1, Thomas Posch2, Salvador J. Ribas3,4, Martin Aub´e5, Dan Duriscoe6, Andreas Jechow7,13, Zolt´anKollath8, Dorien E. Lolkema9, Chadwick Moore6, Norbert Schmidt10, Henk Spoelstra11, G¨unther Wuchterl12, and Christopher C. M. Kyba13,7 1Planetarium Osnabr¨uck,Klaus-Strick-Weg 10, D-49082 Osnabr¨uck,Germany 2Universit¨atWien, Institut f¨urAstrophysik, T¨urkenschanzstraße 17, 1180 Wien, Austria tel: +43 1 4277 53800, e-mail: [email protected] (corresponding author) 3Parc Astron`omicMontsec, Comarcal de la Noguera, Pg. Angel Guimer`a28-30, 25600 Balaguer, Lleida, Spain 4Institut de Ci`encies del Cosmos (ICCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, C.Mart´ıi Franqu´es 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain 5D´epartement de physique, C´egep de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Qu´ebec, J1E 4K1, Canada 6Formerly with US National Park Service, Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division, 1201 Oakridge Dr, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA 7Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, 12587 Berlin, Germany 8E¨otv¨osLor´andUniversity, Savaria Department of Physics, K´arolyi G´asp´ar t´er4, 9700 Szombathely, Hungary 9National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 Bilthoven, The Netherlands 10DDQ Apps, Webservices, Project Management, Maastricht, The Netherlands 11LightPollutionMonitoring.Net, Urb. Ve¨ınatVerneda 101 (Bustia 49), 17244 Cass`ade la Selva, Girona, Spain 12Kuffner-Sternwarte,Johann-Staud-Straße 10, A-1160 Wien, Austria 13Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany Abstract Measuring the brightness of the night sky has become an increasingly impor- tant topic in recent years, as artificial lights and their scattering by the Earth’s atmosphere continue spreading around the globe. -
Studying Light Pollution in and Around Tucson, AZ
Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Physics Capstone Project Physics Student Research Summer 2013 Studying Light Pollution in and Around Tucson, AZ Rachel K. Nydegger Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/phys_capstoneproject Part of the Physics Commons Recommended Citation Nydegger, Rachel K., "Studying Light Pollution in and Around Tucson, AZ" (2013). Physics Capstone Project. Paper 3. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/phys_capstoneproject/3 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Physics Student Research at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physics Capstone Project by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Studying Light Pollution in and around Tucson, AZ KPNO REU Summer Report 2013 Rachel K. Nydegger Utah State University, Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatory Advisor: Constance E. Walker National Optical Astronomy Observatory ABSTRACT Eight housed data logging Sky Quality Meters (SQMs) are being used to gather light pollution data in southern Arizona: one at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) in Tucson, four located at cardinal points at the outskirts of the city, and three situated at observatories on surrounding mountain tops. To examine specifically the effect of artificial lights, the data are reduced to exclude three natural contributors to lighting the night sky, namely, the sun, the moon, and the Milky Way. Faulty data (i.e., when certain parameters were met) were also excluded. Data were subsequently analyzed by a recently developed night sky brightness model (Duriscoe (2013)). During the monsoon season in southern Arizona, the SQMs were removed from the field to be tested for sensitivity to a range of wavelengths and temperatures. -
A Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration A Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography National Aeronautics and Space Administration A Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography A Guide to Smartphone Astrophotography Dr. Sten Odenwald NASA Space Science Education Consortium Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland Cover designs and editing by Abbey Interrante Cover illustrations Front: Aurora (Elizabeth Macdonald), moon (Spencer Collins), star trails (Donald Noor), Orion nebula (Christian Harris), solar eclipse (Christopher Jones), Milky Way (Shun-Chia Yang), satellite streaks (Stanislav Kaniansky),sunspot (Michael Seeboerger-Weichselbaum),sun dogs (Billy Heather). Back: Milky Way (Gabriel Clark) Two front cover designs are provided with this book. To conserve toner, begin document printing with the second cover. This product is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement number NNH15ZDA004C. [1] Table of Contents Introduction.................................................................................................................................................... 5 How to use this book ..................................................................................................................................... 9 1.0 Light Pollution ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.0 Cameras ................................................................................................................................................ -
Assisting Glacier National Park in Achieving Full International Dark Sky Park Status
Assisting Glacier National Park in Achieving Full International Dark Sky Park Status Student Authors Project Advisors Evan Buckley Frederick Bianchi, Casey Gosselin [email protected] Sullivan Mulhern Worcester Polytechnic Institute Larson Ost Fred Looft, Bridget Wirtz [email protected] Worcester Polytechnic Institute [email protected] Project Sponsor Tara Carolin, Glacier National Park October 16, 2020 Registration Code: FB-8801 Assisting Glacier National Park in Achieving Full International Dark Sky Park Status October 16, 2020 Authors: Evan Buckley Casey Gosselin Sullivan Mulhern Larson Ost Bridget Wirtz Submitted to: Tara Carolin Glacier National Park Professors Frederick Bianchi and Fred Looft Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA This project report is submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree requirements of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. For further questions or inquiries about this project, contact the project advisors using the listed emails. Abstract The purpose of this project was to assist Glacier National Park with advancing from a provisional International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) status to a full IDSP status. To accomplish this, the park’s lighting inventory, dark sky educational programs, and night sky quality were evaluated. We determined that Glacier National Park’s sky quality has improved since becoming a provisional IDSP and we created resources to facilitate and expand the park’s dark sky educational outreach programs. Our analysis determined that the park is on track to achieve its IDSP goals by March of 2021. -
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory's Dark Skies and Energy Education Program Constellation at Your Fingertips: Crux 1
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory’s Dark Skies and Energy Education Program Constellation at Your Fingertips: Crux Grades: 3rd – 8th grade Overview: Constellation at Your Fingertips introduces the novice constellation hunter to a method for spotting the main stars in the constellation Crux, the Cross. Students will make an outline of the constellation used to locate the stars in Crux. This activity will engage children and first-time night sky viewers in observations of the night sky. The lesson links history, literature, and astronomy. The simplicity of Crux makes learning to locate a constellation and observing exciting for young learners. All materials for Globe at Night are available at http://www.globeatnight.org Purpose: Students will look for the faintest stars visible and record that data in order to compare data in Globe at Night across the world. In many cases, multiple night observations will build knowledge of how the “limiting” stellar magnitudes for a location change overtime. Why is this important to astronomers? Why do we see more stars in some locations and not others? How does this change over time? The focus is on light pollution and the options we have as consumers when purchasing outdoor lighting. The impact in our environment is an important issue in a child’s world. Crux is a good constellation to observe with young children. The constellation Crux (also known as the Southern Cross) is easily visible from the southern hemisphere at practically any time of year. For locations south of 34°S, Crux is circumpolar and thus always visible in the night sky. -
Comparing Catelan's Equations to Distances from GAIA Using an RR
Comparing Catelan's equations to distances from GAIA using an RR Lyrae type star, SW Andromedae by Talon Dow A senior thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University - Idaho in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science Department of Physics Brigham Young University - Idaho March 2021 1 Copyright ©2021 Talon Dow All Rights Reserved 2 BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY - IDAHO DEPARTMENT APPROVAL of a senior thesis submitted by Talon Dow This thesis has been reviewed by the research advisor, research coordinator, and department chair and has been found to be satisfactory. Date Stephen McNeil, Advisor Date Stephen Turcotte, Committee Member Date Brian Tonks, Committee Member Date R. Todd Lines, Chair 3 Abstract COMPARING CATELAN'S EQUATIONS TO DISTANCES FROM GAIA USING AN RR LYRAE TYPE STAR, SW ANDROMEDAE Talon Dow Department of Physics and Astronomy Bachelor of Science In this project, we try to establish how accurate Catelans' equations are using a RR Lyrae star, SW Andromedae. Utilizing telescopes from the Las Cumbres Observatory, we took data of the star over two weeks in the V, i, Z and B filters. Using that data and metallicity obtained from several different journal articles, we obtain an average distance to the star of 447 + = − 30 parsecs. That distance is not within the distance recorded by GAIA which is 562 + = − 52 parsecs. Our methodology is explained and can be duplicated to rerun our measurements. 4 Acknowledgements I would like to thank Michael Fitzgerald, the creator of this project and the time he spent creating the videos for us to learn of off. -
Csillagászati Évkönyv Az 1955
302268 CSILLAGÁSZATI ÉVKÖNYV AZ 1955. ÉVRE Tartalomjegyzékből: E. Schatzman: Kritikai megjegyzések Európában és Amerikában elterjedt kozmogóniai elméletekről.7 — Dezső Lóránt: A napfogyatkozások geometriája — Izsák Imre: Hogyan mérték meg a Hold és a Nap távolságát.— Voroncov-Veljaminov: Asztrofizika. »MŰVELT NÉP« TÜDOMÁNYOS ÉS ISMERETTERJESZTŐ KIADÓ CSILLAGASZATI ÉVKÖNYV AZ 1955. ÉVRE SZERKESZTETTE: A TÁRSADALOM ÉS TERMÉSZETTUDOMÁNYI ISMERETTERJESZTŐ TÁRSULAT CSILLAGÁSZATI SZAKOSZTÁLYA »MŰ VÉLT NÉP« ' TUDOMÁNYOS é s ismeretterjesztő k i a d ó BUDAPEST, 1955 A kiadásért felel a Művelt Nép Könyvkiadó igazgatója Felelős szerkesztő: Neu Piroska Műszaki felelős: Löblin Imre t Kézirat beérkezett: 1954. XII. 2. Imprimálva: 1955. II. 15. Terjedelem: 14 (A 5) ív Példányszám: 15oo Ez a könyv a MNOSZ 5601-54 és 5602-50Á szabvány szerint készült Budapesti Szikra Nyomda, V., Honvéd-u. 10. —■ 4667 — Felelős vezető: Lengyel Lajos igazgató CSILLAGÁSZATI ADATOK AZ 1955. ÉVRE » A közép-európai zónaidőben megadott értékekhez a nyári időszámítás tartama alatt 1 órát kell hozzáadni, hogy a Magyarországon használt időadatokat nyerjük. Összeállította: Mersits József tudományos munkaerő a Magyar Tudományos Akadémia Csillagvizsgáló Intézeténél l* I. J A N U Á R Közép-európai zónaidőben Budapesten A NAP A HOLD A A HOLD hete nyug nyug napja fényváltozásai Dátum A hét napjai : Az év hányadik kel Az év Az év hányadik kel delel szik szik h m h m h m h m h m h m 1 Sz 1 i 7 32 11 47 16 03 10 42 _ _ D 21 29 2 v ■ 2 7 32 11 48 16 05 11 07 0 20 3 H 2 3 7 32 11 48 16 06 11 35 1 38 4 K 4 7 32 11 49 16 06 12 10 2 57 5 Sz 5 7 32 11 49 16 07 12 55 4 15 6 Cs 6 7 32 11 50 16 08 13 53 5 28 7 P 7 7 32 11 50 16 09 15 02 6 30 '8 Sz 8 7 31 11 51 16 10 16 19 7 19 © 13 34 9 V 9 7 31 11 51 16 12 17 38 7 57 10 H 3. -
Dissertation
Dissertation submitted to the Instituto de Astrofísica, Facultad de Física Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile for the degree of Doctor in Astrophysics submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematics of the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences Put forward by M.Sc. Gergely Hajdu Born in Miskolc, Hungary Oral examination: 06 August 2019 Structure of the obscured Galactic disk with pulsating variables Gergely Hajdu Referees: Prof. Dr. Márcio Catelan Prof. Dr. Eva Grebel ABSTRACT Bright pulsating variables, such as Cepheids and RR Lyrae, are prime probes of the structure of both the young and old stellar components of the Milky Way. However, the far side of the Galactic disk has not yet been mapped using such variables as tracers, due to the severe extinction caused by foreground interstellar dust. In this thesis, the near-infrared light curves from the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea survey are utilized to penetrate these regions of high extinction and thus discover thou- sands of previously “hidden” Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables. The analysis of the light curves of RR Lyrae variables, was performed with a newly developed fitting algorithm, and their metallicities determined from their near-infrared light-curve shapes, using a newly developed method. These photometric metal abundances, combined with their positions within the Galactic disk, lend support to theories of an early, inside-out forma- tion of the Galactic disk. The newly discovered Cepheids were classified into the old (Type II) and young (Clas- sical) subtypes. A new near-infrared extinction law was determined using the Type II Cepheids, taking advantage of their concentration around the Galactic center. -
Dark Skies Awareness Through the GLOBE at Night Citizen-Science Campaign
EPSC Abstracts Vol. 6, EPSC-DPS2011-1761, 2011 EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011 c Author(s) 2011 Dark Skies Awareness through the GLOBE at Night Citizen-Science Campaign C. E. Walker (director) and the GLOBE at Night Team National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Tucson Arizona, USA, ([email protected] / Fax: +01-520-3188451) accounted for 85% of all GLOBE at Night Abstract measurements in 2011. Nearly half of all the measurements were from the United States (49 states The emphasis in the international citizen-science, plus the District of Columbia). 10% of all star-hunting campaign, GLOBE at Night, is in measurements (or 1400 measurements) were from bringing awareness to the public on issues of light Arizona. The country with the next largest pollution. Light pollution threatens not only contribution of measurements was Poland (with over observatory sites and our “right to starlight”, but can 1200). India came in third with over 700 affect energy consumption, wildlife and health. measurements. GLOBE at Night has successfully reached a few hundred thousand citizen-scientists during the annual Every 3 out of 5 measurements of limiting magnitude 2-week campaign over the past 6 years. Provided is gave a value of 3 or 4 mag, which is typical of an overview, update and discussion of what steps can measurements contributed by medium to larger sized be taken to improve programs like GLOBE at Night. cities. 82% of the measurements (or slightly more than every 4 out of 5 measurements) were taken in light polluted areas and less than 18% (less than 1. Introduction every 1 out of 5 measurements) from areas where The emphasis in the international star-hunting you could see the Milky Way Galaxy. -
International Dark Sky Sanctuary Program Guidelines
INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY ASSOCIATION 3223 N First Ave - Tucson Arizona 85719 USA - +1 520-293-3198 - www.darksky.org TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HERITAGE OF DARK SKIES THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE OUTDOOR LIGHTING International Dark Sky Sanctuary Program Guidelines June 2018 International Dark Sky Sanctuary Designation Guidelines TABLE OF CONTENTS DEFINITION OF AN IDA INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY SANCTUARY .................................... 3 GOALS FOR INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY SANCTUARY CREATION ................................... 3 DESIGNATION BENEFITS ........................................................................................................ 3 ELIGIBILITY (ALL MUST BE MET) ........................................................................................... 4 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SANCTUARIES .......................................................... 4 LIGHTING MANAGEMENT PLAN GUIDELINES ...................................................................... 6 LIGHTING INVENTORY ............................................................................................................ 8 PROVISIONAL STATUS ............................................................................................................ 9 IDSS APPLICATION PROCESS .............................................................................................. 10 NOMINATION ........................................................................................................................... 10 STEPS FOR