Name ______Date ______
Observing the Night Sky (Fall 2010)
Objectives You will become familiar with the night sky through observations of celestial objects.
Materials
• Astronomer's Flashlight, Telescope or Binoculars • Pencil, Planisphere or Star Map
Procedure Becoming a good observer takes practice. The sketches of what you observe tonight should be of what you see, not what you think you should have seen nor what some book has pictured. This exercise offers just an inkling of what observational astronomy is all about. Fill in the boxes, and answer the questions. If you don’t have a large protractor, you can use the diagram below to get a rough estimate of angular sizes on the sky.
Place of observations: Weather/sky conditions (be as detailed as you can!):
10/28/10 1 Altitude of Polaris Using your protractor, hand-at-arm's-length, or degree scale on your planisphere, estimate the altitude of Polaris above the horizon, in degrees. Compare your value with that determined by a few other classmates. Altitude of Polaris: Comparison with other students:
1. Observations of a Planet
Sketch Jupiter, showing markings and any moons
Date: Time: Altitude Azimuth:
Comments:
2 2. Observations of a Binary Star – Do one or more of the following two observations. Enter the approximate altitude and azimuth (in degrees) of the object you’re observing. Remember: North is at azimuth of 0° , East is at 90° and so on.
Almach : (Gamma Andromedae): Albireo (Beta Cygni) Eta Cassiopeiae 02h 03m.9 +42° 19' 19h 17m +27° 57' 00h 49m.1 +57° 48'
Date: Time: Date: Time: Date: Time: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth:
3 3. Observations of Constellations -- Do all of the following observations, sketching what you observe for the pattern for each of the constellations.
Constellation 1 Constellation 2
Date: Time: Date: Time: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth: Constellation 3 Constellation 4
Date: Time: Date: Time: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth:
4 4. Observations of Deep Sky Objects -- Do two of the following three observations
Sketch, and describe the Sketch, and describe the Sketch, and describe the open cluster M34 Andromeda Galaxy M31 globular cluster M15
Date: Time: Date: Time: Date: Time: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth: Altitude: Azimuth: Description: Description: Description:
Questions (answer those pertaining to your observations)
1. Binary Star: If you observed the double star Albireo, comment on the color and apparent size of these two stars. What astrophysical reason can you give for why these two stars are different colors?
2. Deep Sky Objects: For your observations of the galaxy, clusters, or nebulae, can you resolve any of these objects into stars? Why or why not?
5 3. Limiting Resolution: Locate the second to last star in the handle of the Big Dipper (in the direction away from the ‘cup’ of the dipper). There are two very close together stars here called Mizar (the brighter one) and Alcor (the fainter one). Describe what you see. Are they the same color? Can you resolve them from one another? If so, try to estimate how far apart they are in degrees.
4. Write a short summary of your observing experience. What did you find the most challenging? What do you wish you knew more about? Follow up your observing experience by researching one of the targets you observed and summarizing the information in another paragraph.
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