01 Exam1 Material Part 1

Astronomy 305: 

Astronomy 305 Observational Astronomy

Slide2: 

Astronomy 305 Web Page

Course Syllabus: 

Course Syllabus

Directions to the SFA Observatory: 

Directions to the SFA Observatory The Observatory is 11 miles north of Nacogdoches on highway 259.

Slide5: 

Turn right after the Beef Farm sign.

Slide6: 

Turn left before the cattle guard.

Slide7: 

Turn right at the next fork in the road.

Slide8: 

Next turn right and park on the right…. the observatory is just up the hill.

When will we meet at the observatory?: 

When will we meet at the observatory? The dates that we meet at the observatory will be announced in class later. We will meet in room 334 until then.

When do we meet for AST305L? : 

When do we meet for AST305L? AST305L will be an extension of AST305. On observatory nights we will met at the observatory from 8:00-10:00pm instead of 8:00-9:15pm. There will be 6 to 8 night labs depending on the weather.

What are the exams like? : 

What are the exams like? Exam problems are similar to homework problems. Study guides will be available online.

Astronomy Courses: 

Astronomy Courses Astronomy 105 Classical and Modern Astronomy Astronomy 305 Observational Astronomy Astronomy 335 Astrophysics

Common Astronomy Topics: 

Common Astronomy Topics The Night Sky and Star Charts Telescopes Solar System Light Stars, Nebulae and Clusters Galaxies and the Universe

ASTRONOMY 305: 

ASTRONOMY 305 Teaming Exercise

Teaming Exercise: 

Teaming Exercise ALPHA (a) F - Kris R - Ashley DA - Ray T - Chris G - Nicholas BETA (b) F - Travis R - Josh T - Hilary G - Kim DELTA (d) F - Dawn R - Daniel T - Ross G - John EPSILON (e) F - Dayna R - Jeremy T - Ron G - Ryan W. GAMMA (g) F - Michael R - Ryan B. T - Steve G - Brooks

Why Active/Collaborative Learning?: 

Why Active/Collaborative Learning? Active Countless studies have shown improvement in: short-term retention of material, long-term retention of material, ability to apply material to new situations Collaborative Teams are used in industry and usually make the best use of time

Let’s take notes…: 

Let’s take notes… Astronomy 305 Dr. Bruton TR 8:00 PM

Astronomy 305: 

Astronomy 305 Course Supplies Books Flashlight with red filter Clipboard Calculator Pencil

Astronomy 305 Exam Topics: 

Astronomy 305 Exam Topics Exam I – Star Charts Exam II –Telescopes Exam III – Stars and Deep Sky Objects Exam IV – Planets, Comets, and Asteroids

End of Day One: 

End of Day One

Welcome Back!: 

Welcome Back! You may sit in any seat today.

The Sky Calendar Review: 

The Sky Calendar Review Day the time for one Earth rotation Year the time for one Earth orbit around the Sun Month the approximate time for the Moon to orbit the Earth

What do these object have in common?: 

What do these object have in common? Sun Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Answer: Naked Eye Solar System Objects Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Answer: Days of the Week

Coordinates Systems: 

Coordinates Systems On the Earth and in the Sky

On the Earth...: 

On the Earth... Latitude Longitude Prime Meridian Greenwich England

On the Celestial Sphere...: 

On the Celestial Sphere... North Celestial Pole South Celestial Pole Celestial Equator Right Ascension Declination Ecliptic Vernal Equinox Autumnal Equinox Summer Solstice Winter Solstice

On the Sky Dome...: 

On the Sky Dome... Meridian Cardinal Points (N,S,E,W) North Celestial Pole Celestial Equator Zenith

End of Day Two: 

End of Day Two

In-Class AssignmentContinued…: 

In-Class Assignment Continued…

Slide30: 

We can make a rough estimate of the angular separation of objects in the night sky by holding our hand out at arm’s length: A finger’s width is roughly 1o. 1o

Slide31: 

And a fist’s width is roughly 10o. 10o

SC001 Constellation Chart: 

SC001 Constellation Chart Right Ascension Declination Ecliptic Vernal and Autumnal Equinox Summer and Winter Solstice What is the true shape of the horizon? What do the all the dates mean?

Slide34: 

The following animations might help relate the zodiacal constellations to the way the Earth orbits the Sun each year. Sun Earth zodiacal constellations

Slide35: 

The Sun is “in” Gemini: June 21 - July 20

SC001 Constellation Chart: 

SC001 Constellation Chart Step 1 Face South Step 2 Find Meridian Step 3 Locate Horizons

SC002 Constellation Chart: 

SC002 Constellation Chart Step 1 Face North Step 2 Find Meridian Step 3 Locate North Horizon

End of Day Three: 

End of Day Three

Slide44: 

SC001 Constellations Orion, The Hunter Gemini, The Twins Ophiuchus, The Serpent-Bearer Libra, The Scales Leo, The Lion

Slide45: 

SC002 Constellations Ursae Major, The Big Bear Ursae Minor, The Small Bear Cassiopia, The Queen Cephus, The King Draco, The Dragon

Slide46: 

Astronomy Picture of the Day Your Home The Milky Way Galaxy

Chapter 4 – Constellations: 

Chapter 4 – Constellations 88 Constellations Half of these were know to the ancients (B.C.) Ptolemy, Bayer, Tycho, and others cataloged constellations with drawings (A.D.) The definitive list was compiled by the Astronomical Union in 1930 12 Zodiac Constellations

Chapter 4 – Constellations: 

Chapter 4 – Constellations 12 Zodiac Constellations Part of the 88 Animals, people, and scales Ptolemy’s Catalog Constellations from mythological stories Hercules, Orion, Bootes, Auriga, etc. Constellations Added since 1600 Names reflect the time Microscopium, Sextans, Telescopium ‘Pump’, ‘Compass’, ‘Clock’

Slide49: 

Asterism are recognizable patterns of stars that is not one of the 88 constellations. Examples Big Dipper Little Dipper Summer Triangle

Slide50: 

Star Hopping Pointer Stars Arc to Arcturus Spike to Spica

Precession : 

Precession Gravity from the Sun and Moon cause the axis of the Earth to wobble slowly. What will be the next “pole star”? When?

Time by the Stars : 

Time by the Stars Solar Day time by the Sun Sidereal Day time by the stars Which is longer?

Section 1 - Calendars: 

Section 1 - Calendars 365.2422 days = 1 year. Julian Calendar - 365 days per year except every fourth year which has 366 Gregorian Calendar - used today; reduces errors in the Julian calendar

Universal Time: 

Universal Time The clock time that astronomers use. The time at Greenwich, England. UT = CST + 6 Hours UT = CDT + 5 Hours Radio Station WWV at 5 MHz

Daylight Saving Time: 

Daylight Saving Time January 1, 2000 Sunrise 7:18 AM CST June 1, 2000 Sunrise 6:13AM CDT Sunrise 5:13AM CST So Daylight Saving Time “pushes” the daylight hours to the hours that you are awake. …for some people.

Example Problems: 

Example Problems 1. What is the date and time in Nacogdoches if it is January 21, 2000 at 4:04 in Greenwich, England. 2. Convert 4h15m32s to decimal hours. 3. Convert 92.5984° to degrees, arcminutes and arcseconds.

Example Problems: 

Example Problems 4. What is 1h in degrees? 5. What is 4m in degrees?

Julian Date: 

Julian Date the number of days since noon on January 1, 4713 BC. primarily used by astronomers

Example Problems: 

Example Problems 6. Calculate the Julian Date for October 09, 1995 12:00 UT

Julian Date: 

Julian Date Step 1 y = year m = month d = day Step 2 If m=1 or 2 then y’ = y - 1 and m’ = m + 12 otherwise y’ = y and m’=m.

Slide61: 

Step 3 A = INT(y’/100) B = 2 - A + INT (A/4) Step 4 C = INT(365.25  y’) Step 5 D = INT(30.6001  (m’+1)) Step 6 JD = B + C + D + d + 1,720,994.5 + hour/24 + minute/(24*60) + second/(24*60*60)

Julian Date: 

Julian Date Step 1 y = 1995 m = 10 d = 9 Step 2 y’ = 1995 m’ = 10

Slide63: 

Step 3 A = 19 B = -13 Step 4 C = 728673 Step 5 D = 336 Step 6 JD = -13 + 728673 + 336 + 9 + 1,720,994.5 + 12/24 + 0/(24*60) + 0/(24*60*60) JD = 2450000.0

End of Day Four: 

End of Day Four

Celestial Coordinate Systems: 

Celestial Coordinate Systems These are coordinate systems with two angular measurements: Horizontal Equatorial Ecliptic Galactic

Horizontal System: 

Horizontal System Altitude (a) the angle of a star above the horizon Azimuth (A) the angle around the horizon from the north point; measured eastward

Slide68: 

north west north east north altitude horizon azimuth

Examples: 

Examples Observing Fact: Stars have their maximum altitude when the cross the meridian. What is the maximum altitude of Sirius? ...of Vega? ...of Kochab?

More Examples: 

More Examples On what day of the year does Vega cross the meridian at 8:00 PM? What is the maximum altitude of the Sun for today in Nacogdoches? At approximately what time does the Sun cross the meridian today? What is the maximum altitude of the Sun over one year? What is the minimum altitude of the Sun over one year?

Julian Date: 

Julian Date Step 1 y = year m = month d = day Step 2 If m=1 or 2 then y’ = y - 1 and m’ = m + 12 otherwise y’ = y and m’=m.

Slide72: 

Step 3 A = INT(y’/100) B = 2 - A + INT (A/4) Step 4 C = INT(365.25  y’) Step 5 D = INT(30.6001  (m’+1)) Step 6 JD = B + C + D + d + 1,720,994.5 + hour/24 + minute/(24*60) + second/(24*60*60)

Finding the day of the Week: 

Finding the day of the Week Calculate A = (JD + 1.5)/7 Calculate n = INT[(A – INT(A))*7 + 0.5] n=0, 1, 2, etc. for Monday, Tuesday, etc. Remember Rainman?

End of Section: 

End of Section

Equatorial System: 

Equatorial System Declination (d) Right Ascension (a) What is the origin of the Equatorial System? Answer: The Vernal Equinox Draw a picture showing how a and d are measured on the sky. Hour Angle (H) the difference between the right ascension of an object and of your meridian Example: What is the hour angle of Sirius at 8:00PM tonight?

Example: 

Example What is the altitude and azimuth of Polaris? What is the approximate right ascension and declination of Polaris?

Greek Letters & Star Brightness: 

Greek Letters & Star Brightness a b g d e z h q i k l m n x o p r s t u f c y w What is another name for Sirius? …for Bellatix? … for Alberio?

Seven Night Labs: 

Seven Night Labs Constellations Telescope Familiarization Locating Celestial Objects Observing Planets CCD Imaging Photometry Asteroid Hunting

Night Labs: 

Night Labs There will be signup sheets in class on Wednesday for night labs on… Wednesdays at 9pm Thursdays at 9pm Fridays at 9pm

More Examples: 

More Examples What are used as starting points for the following measurements? Altitude Answer: Horizon Azimuth Answer: North Horizon Point

More Examples: 

More Examples What are used as starting points for the following measurements? Latitude Answer: Equator Longitude Answer: Greenwich England Declination Answer: Celestial Equator Right Ascension Answer: Vernal Equinox

The plan for this week’s night lab… : 

The plan for this week’s night lab… We will begin at 8:00 PM with a tour of the sky. We will then take a close look at the research telescopes at the site. Then we will begin the “Telescope Familiarization” lab with the 8” telescopes. You may then try to identify 10 star and 10 constellations or you can wait until next week.

Announcements : 

Announcements The SFA Observatory phone number is 569-0102. You may want to wear warm clothes for Night Labs. What else will you need? Pencil, flashlight, book, clipboard, handout

Today’s Constellations: 

Today’s Constellations Ursa Major, The Great Bear Ursa Minor, The Lesser Bear Draco, The Dragon Cepheus, Ethiopian King Cassiopeia, Ethiopian Queen

End of Day Six: 

End of Day Six

Today’s Constellations: 

Today’s Constellations Canis Major, The Greater Dog Canis Minor, The Lesser Dog Lepus, The Hare Taurus, The Bull Auriga, The Charioteer

Greek Letters & Star Brightness: 

Greek Letters & Star Brightness a b g d e z h q i k l m n x o p r s t u f c y w What is another name for Sirius? …for Bellatix? … for Alberio?