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Star Watching Phys 102 Astronomy Fall 2017 PERSONAL STAR RESEARCH PAPER The purpose of this project is to give you a more immediate interest in the sky and the theoretical material about stars than a purely general presentation would. BACKGROUND: In class you will have the opportunity to pick a star name out of a hat. This is "your star." To complete the project, you will be required to observe this star, learn about its nature, compare it to other stars (particularly the sun), learn about its constellation, learn the history of what was happening on Earth when the light arriving now left the star and speculate on what might be happening on Earth when the light leaving the star today finally arrives. RESEARCH in Science, Mythology, and History: You are to use the field guide, Burnham's Celestial Handbook, Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, A Primer for Star Gazers, 100 Greatest Stars (the required references are on reserve in the Launders library), and other books in the libraries , periodicals (e.g. Astronomy, Sky and Telescope, Mercury, Scientific American, Science News), Starry Night and the web to learn about your star. Using Starry Night, include a star chart of your star's location (example on back). You should certainly learn about the PHYSICAL NATURE (temperature, spectral type, probable size, whether it's a binary star, likelihood of planets with life, etc.), and you should also learn about the LEGENDS AND LORE associated with the star and its constellation. People have vested much in the stars throughout the ages, try to sample a bit of what others have thought of "your star". You must also find out the HISTORY of what was happening on Earth when the light you see now left your star and SPECULATE on what might be happening when the light leaving the star now finally arrives at Earth. Use outlines of history and other references to research this. OBSERVATIONS: By use of the Field Guide, The Observer’s Handbook, classmates, and instructors, make sure you can find your star in the sky. Describe your observation of the star in your report ... when did you see it, where was it in the sky, how bright was it, what color was it .... etc. Think about its temperature, size, and distance, including calculations such as we will do for other stars in class. In your report provide a sketch of what you observed in the sky around your star (with the date, time, sky conditions, companions, moon, etc. … it should look much like the constellation observation diagrams). Also, by use of Starry Night or p. 9 in the Field Guide, find the day on which your star transits at midnight, that is, find its opposition day. THE PAPER: You are to produce one document that 1) summarizes the physical facts about the star, 2) describes your observation of the star (observer, date, time, place, sky conditions, sketch) 3) provides a star map of the star’s constellation and nearby constellations (with caption), 4) provides a star map of Sol’s neighborhood as seen from the star (with caption), 5) describes the lore about the star, its name and its constellation, 6) reviews the history that was occurring when the light you see today left the star, and 7) speculates on what might be happening when the light leaving there today arrives at Earth. The report should be 4 - 6 pages long and must have references cited in the text and a bibliography (use any citation style you prefer). Phys 102 Astronomy Fall 2017 LYRA Vega Eltanin Polaris DRACO URSA MINOR Rasalhague Pherkad Kochab HERCULES Thuban CORONA BOREALIS OPHIUCHUS Alcor & Mizar URSA BOÖTES MAJOR Antares Arcturus Muphrid View of the Muphrid (η Boö) neighborhood from Sol in 2017. The constellation stick figures show the constellations on the far side of Muphrid as seen from Earth. Made with Starry Night Software .
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