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Astronomy For Teachers. What Where When How Why Who. Finding Events, Phenomena, Objects. Methods of viewing. Science behind it all. You and your students. What is happening up there?. Resources for information Magazines (and their websites) Almanacs On-line Space Weather (.com) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Astronomy For Teachers
• What• Where• When• How• Why• Who
Finding Events, Phenomena, Objects
Methods of viewing
Science behind it all
You and your students
What is happening up there?
• Resources for information–Magazines (and their websites)– Almanacs – On-line• Space Weather (.com)• Heaven’s Above (.com)• Sky Maps (.com)
– Astronomy Clubs– TV (Jack Horkheimer)
Where do I look to see these things?
• Positions in the sky – two systems– Equatorial System (Right Ascension and
Declination)– Alt-Az System (Altitude and Azimuth)
• To convert from one to the other…..COMPLICATED!!!!!Best to use a computer
RA and Dec
• Analogous to latitude (dec) and longitude (RA)
• Declination range-90º to +90º90º S to 90º N1º = 60′, 1′ = 60′′
• RA – increases eastward0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, … 22h, 23h, 0h
1h = 60m, 1m = 60s
Alt-Az System
• Altitude – angular height of object above horizon (how high up is it)0º = horizon90º = zenith
• Azimuth – angle away from due northNorth = 0º East = 90º South = 180º West = 270º
9 PM 10 PM
When will it be visible?
• What is your latitude/longitude/time zone?• When is Daylight Savings Time in effect?• Universal Time (UT)
5 hours ahead during DST6 hours ahead the rest of the year
How do I observe these things?
• Naked Eye Observing – Large Scale– Constellations– Asterisms– Milky Way– Aurora*– Meteor showers†
– Refraction events*– Satellite fly-overs †
* Unannounced† Predictable
Measurements
• PositionsUse the “Rule of Thumb” (and fist and hand)One thumb ≈ 2º One fist ≈ 10º One “hang-ten” ≈ 20º • Brightness – use surrounding stars/objects
Star Charts
• Printed Charts / Computer programs
Planispheres
Binoculars
• Good– Higher magnification– Gathers more light
• Nebula• Bright clusters• Bright comets• Milky Way
– Orientation– Other uses
• Bad– Stability– Two eye focus– Two arms
Evaluating Binoculars
Two numbers7 x 35, 8 x 50, etcFirst Number = magnificationSecond Number = aperture (mm)
AssessmentMultiply = quick estimateDivide = exit pupil (mm)
Which is the best?
Magnification Light Gathering Exit Pupil Cost
20 x 50 8 x 25 10 x 50
You get what you paid for….
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