Observing activities

1.  General night sky (one night) -- set aside two hours, after dark (!), that you can continuously observe the sky.  Notice the sky, what is there and where it is located. Notice whether there are changes over the two hour time period.  If so, what changes and how.  If not, note that also.  Do things appear or disappear?  What are they and what happens to them.  Use landmarks, directions and a way to indicate height in the sky (be very clear, e.g. "low in the northwest" or "halfway up from the horizon in the SSE") or the hand and fist method for estimating altitude and azimuth from class. You may identify particular stars or constellations if you wish, but this is not required for this assignment.  Write at least a 1 page paper (but no more than 2 pages) on your observations and what you have learned from them.  

2. Moon phases -- during the course of these observations, notice not only the moon's appearance (how much of the moon's surface is illuminated), but also its position relative to landmarks and the background stars.  You will need to make these observations over the course of one month.  Given our weather, it will be very important to observe any night that you have a clear sky!  Ideally you would be able to make observations about every other or every third night.  As usual, finding a place where you can see the horizon is the best practice.  It would help to have a few low objects on the horizon that you can use for landmark.  For this series of observations, always observe from the same location.  Bring your observing notebook, pen or pencil, flashlight and a ruler.  At each observing session, make a scale drawing of the moon.  (Remember that, at arm's length, the width of your outstretched hand is about 22°, of your fist is 8°, of your 3 middle fingers is about 5° and of your index finger is about 2°.)   A reasonable scale is 5° in the sky is 2 cm on your paper.  Also measure the position of the moon, which means making two measurements -- using either the landmark method or altitude/azimuth, record how far over the moon is from North or from your landmark, and how far above the horizon it is.  Record the positions of a few of the bright stars that are nearby the moon (show them in your sketch, with accompanying measurements).  

When you have finished all of the moon observations for a month, study your observations and answer the following questions.  Q1. How would you describe the night-to-night path of the moon with respect to your landmarks?  Q2. In which direction does the moon move with respect to the background stars from night to night?  Q3.  What is the relationship between the position of the moon, the time it rises and its phase?  You are welcome to attach diagrams if they would help you explain your answers.  Also do the handouts I will give you from Nicastro's Laboratory Astronomy. You might want to answer the 3rd question after doing the worksheets.  Turn all of these in along with the relevant pages from your observing notebook.

3. Sunset location  NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!  As usual, location is crucial.  Find a spot from which you can see most of the western horizon without obstructions.  Pick a spot that is distinctive enough that you can return to exactly that same position for each observation.  Take and print out a picture of the horizon (easiest during the day) or make a sketch of the horizon.  Label the directions shown in your picture, west, north etc.  You will need to bring this to each subsequent observing session.  (If you are a morning person and prefer to do sunrises, then do the same steps for the eastern horizon.)  From the tv, internet etc. you should be able to determine the approximate time the sun is supposed to rise or set in your area.  Be at that position early enough that you can see the exact position on the horizon where the sun disappears.  Mark that point on your picture, labeling it with the date and the exact time the sun was completely below the horizon.  You should observe the sunset at least once a week for 6 weeks.  If you can, make an observation on Sept 22 or 23, that would be very good.  (Why?)

When you have finished all of the sunset observations, study your observations and answer the following questions.  Q1.  Describe what happens to the sunset positions over the course of your 6 weeks of observations.  Q2. What causes this motion?  Q3.  Will the location of the sunset point ever appear to reverse directions?  If so, when and why.  If not, why  not?  Q4.  What happened around Sept. 23?  Q5.  What implications do these observations have for us on Earth -- think about climate, length of day, season, location of the sun at noon etc. Turn in these answers along with the picture on which your recorded observations are drawn.  

4. Constellations and general observing (many nights) --  In addition to the above specified observations, observe the night sky at least once a week throughout the semester.  Again, go to the same location each time (unless we are at the observatory!)  You might try going out at various times during one night.  Start out with one or two objects that you know, and build on that knowledge.  Learn the nearby stars or constellations, look for planets and watch their movements over time.  Here are several web sites that you can help you figure out what should be showing and when.   Record all of your observations in your observing notebook.  Around the 11th week of the semester, look back through your observations, think about what you have seen and learned and write a paper at least 1 page but no more than two pages long about your experience.

Astronomy Today:   http://www.astronomytoday.com/skyguide.html

Sky and Telescope:  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights