Telescope Viewing Lab Project Requirements

Telescope Viewing Lab Project Requirements

Astronomy, Mr. Kay, Heritage High School,
Littleton Public Schools,
Chamberlin Observatory Telescope Observation Nights
Required Fall Semester 2011

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 December 3rd 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 2011 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, I will be one of them, besure to sign in with me yourself and out with me so I can confirm your presence. 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.

- October 1, 2011 (7pm, Colorado Astronomy Day)*
- November 5, 2011 (It may be cold, wear lots of clothes
and warm shoes)
- December 3, 2011 (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. Reminder: 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 Evening Observation Night Lab Extra Credit for the Fall of 2011

Our evening viewing night will be held ONLY at Writers Vista Park, just southwest of West Mineral Avenue and Windermere Street. The event runs for 1½ hours, from 7:30 - 9pm sATURDAY September 10.

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 25 points for being punctual, remain the full time, and constructively and respectfully participate. 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, at least a jacket this year. 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.