Telescope Viewing Lab Project Requirements

Astronomy, Mr. Kay, Heritage High School,
Littleton Public Schools,
Chamberlin Observatory Telescope Observation Nights
Required Fall Semester 2007

Attend ONE Open House Night at the Chamberlain Observatory of DU. They are all Saturday nights, so bring a date. This is a 100 point course requirement. Attending is required and completion of the Question sheet, your answers to the questions below must also be turned in and the notes from your telesope operators interviews, and observatory ticket to earn the rest of your grade. I will post your score online when you complete the work and will activate the grade shortly after the November 17th observation observation night papers are turned in to me.

You will be required to attend at lease ONE open-house ($1) on a Saturday Night at the Chamberlain Observatory of DU or ONE public viewing night at the Chamberlain Observatory, (2390 East Warren Avenue, Denver, 80208). Be sure to take your friends and family and STAY TOGETHER, no one should go by themselves.

Use http://www.randmcnally.com, http://www.mapquest.com, or http://www.du.edu/maps/chamberlain obs.html to plot or get a map. If you choose the public viewing night ($3),which are held on Tuesday or Thursday nights (they limit the number of people), so you will need to make an advanced reservation either by phone, 303-871-9052 or on-line at http://www.thedas.org/Calendar.html. If you make the on-line reservation you will need to receive a confirmation. Oct 1 thru March starting at 7 pm; April 1- Sept. 20 starting at 8:30 pm. If you choose this option, make your reservations early.

These are the dates for the Fall of 2007 for the open-house telescope viewing nights at Chamberlain Observatory. All of these programs start at dusk. When you arrive, be sure to first go into the observatory to get a ticket to tour the observatory's Clarke telescope. You will go inside and up into the telescope viewing area to the tour when they call your number range over the megaphone. Save the ticket, it will be attached to your written report. There will be numerous smaller telescopes on the lawn outside the observatory. Your assignment is to view the sky through each one. Dress warmly, it may get cold quickly after sunset. There are ONLY 4 dates, NO RAIN DATES, if there is any open sky at all you are better to attend and hope that it is a go instead of missing the opportunity.

- September 22, 2007 (7pm, Colorado Astronomy Day)*
- October 20, 2007
- November 17, 2007 (It may be cold, wear lots of clothes
and warm shoes)
- December 15, 2007 (It will be cold, wear lots of clothes
and warm shoes)

You are required to write a hand-written, two-page paper, which is DUE the following Monday immediately after your night at the observatory, be sure to include the date of the observation night. Be sure to include this type of information in your write-up, the names of the telescopes and their diameter you viewed the sky through, what object you viewed with each telescope, what it looked like, what you thought about it. Also include a brief history of the Clarke telescope, what you observed through it, and what you thought about what you saw . Staple the ticket to the top of your write-up and turn it in on Monday. Use the following outline below as a template for your evening observations. On the report, describe each telescope available for your use tonight. Be sure to stop by to see Mr. Kay and include the HHS telescope observations tonight.

Complete the following information and turn it in on Monday, staple your original notes to your answer sheet.

1. How many telescopes were outside and available?:

2.Date of Observation:

3. Summary of the Chamberlain Observatory History

4. Clark Telescope History

5. a). Clark Telescope Diameter
b). Type of telescope

c.) What you have observed with the telescope

6. What you learned about what you have observed tonight
from the experience.

7. What you thought about what you saw about the object.

8. Telescope #1: You need to do this for all the telescopes
there, so don't miss any. The Heritage telescope will
be there, so include it too.
a). Name of telescope:

b). Diameter of the Objective Lens:

c). Type of Telescope:

d). What you observed with the telescope

e). What you learned about what you observed
with that telescope

f). What you thought about what you saw about the
object you observed

Telescope #2, Repeat the above information for each telescope you have viewed.

If you are unable to attend an open house date on a Saturday night, you will need to make it up by attending a public viewing night at the observatory and make your own reservations for a Tuesday or Thursday evening to attend a public viewing night.

Heritage High School Telescope Observation Nights Lab Project for the Fall of 2007

Our telescope viewing nights will be held at either the Southbridge Park just north of West Mineral Avenue off of Windermere Street in Littleton or will be at Writers Vista Park, just southwest of West Mineral Avenue and Windermere Street. You are required to attend a minimum of 1 event, but can earn extra credit for each extra time if you cooperatively attend additional observation nights. Each event runs for 1½ - 2 hours. Family and friends are welcome, but your attention and behavior is expected to be pristine. You are required to sign in at the beginning and to sign out at the end of the program to earn the full attendance. You may not sign for another person. You will earn 50 points for being punctual, remain the full time, and constructively and respectfully participate. You can earn 10 extra credit points for attending one extra evening, 25 for attending two extra and 50 for attending four extra. With astronomy, the more you see, observe, and ask questions, the more things will begin to make sense. Most people aren't aware of the patterns and repetition that may occur over extended observations.

Bring adequate clothing to stay warm since we will be starting at dusk. Early in the year, I would suggest long pants and sleeves so you aren’t bitten by mosquitoes and exposed to West Nile. (Insect repellent with Deet is recommended by county health.) You are encouraged to bring a folding chair, notepad, pen, small flashlight (which you will cover with red cellophane that evening), Planisphere (star wheel). If you bring food of any kind please know it is your responsibility to carry out the trash. Bring friends or family members so you don’t have to walk alone to your cars.

August 28th, Tuesday: emphasizing the constellations & the Full Moon.and planet observation where possible. We will meet at Writers Vista Park, South of Mineral, just south west of Windermere. The parking lot is just south of the flashing crosswalk on the south of Mineral, park in the east parking lot, near the south end and walk into the park along the concrete sidewalk near the pines..

September 6th, Thursday: emphasizing the constellations & the waning crescent Moon. We will meet at Writers Vista Park, South of Mineral, just south west of Windermere. The parking lot is just south of the flashing crosswalk on the south of Mineral, park in the east parking lot, near the south end and walk into the park along the concrete sidewalk near the pines..

September 11th, Tuesday, New Moon, emphasizing constellations , planets & Deep Space Objects. This event will be held at Southbridge Park. You will turn north on Windemere and drive two blocks, then park on your left, near the playground just west of the tennis court. We will be just off of the north concrete walkway in the soccer fields. This location is typically dark to the west and north.

October 3, Wednesday: 3rd quester Moon, emphasizing constellations, planets, and Deep Space objects several This will be held at Southbridge.

November 5th, Monday: waning crescent Moon, emphasizing Taurid Meteor shower, constellations, planets and Deep Space. This will be held at Writer's Vista.

Reminder: You are required to attend 1 from a list of 5. You are encouraged to attend the first clear weather night that you can attend. DO NOT wait until the last night because there will be NO RAIN DATES for these events. For each additional Heritage Telescope Observation Lab you attend, you will earn 15 points.

If a handout is available online (e.g., a newspaper article) I might include the appropriate link to the information students need on this page.