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| Astronomy 101L Observing Project: 2nd assignment | ||||||||||||
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| There are several different tasks that you may do for this project. Each task has a point value assigned to it. Most tasks are worth 50 points each, but some are worth 100. A task worth 100 points will typically require more than one night of observing. In order to complete this project, you must turn in 200 points worth of tasks. You are also allowed to do up to 150 points of extra credit. Observations must be your own! You are not permitted to use images you find online or via the virtual observatory in the lab. NOTE: You are permitted to work with others while observing, but each student must do their own research and turn in a separate and unique project. NO COPYING!! | ||||||||||||
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You should be able to view enough objects on a single night to complete the Observing Project. Take as many Telescope Observing Sheets as you will need with you assuming one object per sheet. At the top of the sheet are spaces for information about the telescope that you are using to view an object, what the observing conditions are like, and what kind of object you are looking at. The people at the campus observatory will be able to supply the information needed for these areas. Be sure to fill these in for every object! Failing to provide all information for an object will result in a lower score. Click on each item below for more details. Telescope Objects Planetary Nebula, 50 pts Emission/Reflection Nebula, 50 pts Orbital Motion of Our Moon, 50 pts You do not have to view all of the objects listed above, only as many as you need to for the points you want. Some objects are not listed on this website because they happen too infrequently (like eclipses and comets). Other tasks are left out because they require equipment that not all students may have access to (like cameras) or take more time than most students are willing to put into their project. If you have an idea for a task that is not listed here, discuss it with your TA. Students are always encouraged to design their own tasks!
| Naked Eye Observing Information For Naked eye observations you can use the Motion of the Sky Observing Sheet or create your own format that best meets your needs. For example a calendar style sheet works well for Phases of the Moon. Naked Eye Tasks Twinkling of Stars, 50 pts Tasks worth 100 points require more than one observation on one night. If you plan on doing any of these allow yourself plenty of time in case the weather interferers. Also check with your instructor to make sure you understand the task.
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| Research The Telescope Observing Sheet has space at the bottom for a research summary. Each project has specific tasks to carry out while many others list several "Guiding Questions" at the bottom. Answering these questions is a good start for the research, but for full credit you should find other information about the objects. Look at the list under the Lab Menu for more details. Remember: Be sure to ask your TA about what is expected for your project so there isn't any confusion. PLEASE GET STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Weather is very unpredictable in New Mexico, so you may not be able to make observations at the last minute. | ||||||||||||
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