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Amateur Astronomer: Inspiring Interest in Astronomy Through Education

With a passion for stargazing and a background in physics, I have been teaching introductory astronomy for non-science majors since 1975. I offer large lecture courses and a "Back Yard Astro" program, engaging students with hands-on labs and interactive learning. Topics covered include light pollution, telescopes, lunar and constellation photography, meteorites, spectroscopy, and planetarium programs.

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Amateur Astronomer: Inspiring Interest in Astronomy Through Education

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  1. My Background • Born under dark skies in PA! • Fell in love with the stars • ‘Professional’ Amateur Astronomer • Physics Degrees, Biophysics Research • Introductory Astronomy, non-science majors, since 1975: • Large Lecture Courses, no lab, (100 – 250 students) • ‘Back Yard Astro’, 2000-, take home labs, (35 students) IUPUI

  2. Outline • Non Controversial • Controversial

  3. Task One Keep them awake!

  4. NC Topics • Light Pollution Assignment • Telescopes • Lunar Photography • Constellation Photography • Meteorites • Spectroscopy • Planetarium Programs

  5. Light Pollution Assignment (Use your favorite search engine, e.g. www.google.com, to search on topics such as "light pollution" or "light pollution Indiana".) • What organization is doing the most to fight light pollution in Indiana? Print out their Internet Home Page. • What National/International Organization is doing the most to fight light pollution in the US and world wide? Print out their Internet Home Page. (Note: The Sierra Club is not the correct answer to either of these.) • To sell the Public on fighting light pollution we have to find something that appeals to them and their interests. Asking them to turn out their lights so we amateur astronomers can see the sky won't cut it.  Persuading them to enjoy the beautiful night sky is not one of the answers.   List two issues which have the potential of appealing to the general public. Do some reading on the Internet. • Describe the worst example of light pollution near where you live.

  6. Telescopes • For Nite • For Day

  7. 15 lb !$230

  8. Orion 6” 34 lb $260 Orion 8” 41 lb $360

  9. ComputerizedTelescopes ?!

  10. Solar Viewing • Real Cheap • Inexpensive • Moderate • Expensive

  11. Rainbow Symphony, ≈ $1.25

  12. Coronado Instruments, $99; 10x25

  13. Coronado Instruments, $499

  14. Coronado SolarMax- 40, $1,700

  15. ≈ $150

  16. Astrophotography • Lunar, Solar • Constellations

  17. Hand held Point & Shoot Digital Camera

  18. 8” Orion Dob, Cheap 3 MP Hand Held Digital Point & Shoot

  19. Is it the real thing?

  20. Free

  21. Constellation Photography • Film ? (SLR) • Digital ? (Point & Shoot)

  22. SLR’s B&H, $150 new Ebay, $50 - $100, excellent

  23. Film ? • Kodak 800 Max Versatility Plus (for Reds) • Any 800 to 1000 speed

  24. Orion, 20 seconds, 50 mm normal lens. 7 ½ miles to downtown Indy (1999), normal drug- store processing. No digital enhancement.

  25. Taurus, 15 sec; Susan Lopez

  26. Becky Ransdell Andromeda Galaxy 20 seconds, dark sky location.

  27. Becky Ransdell Orion, 20 sec. Dark sky! Digital enhancement by fwk.

  28. Becky Ransdell Orion, 20 sec. Dark sky! Digital enhancement by fwk.

  29. Digital Point & Shoot • e.g. • Sony DSC-W100 • Manual Ctrl • Hi ISO • Low Noise

  30. Excellent: But No Color. e.g. Betelgeuse, Orion Neb.

  31. Meteorites(show and tell)

  32. Irons Sikhote Alin Siberia, 1947 $450/lb Canyon Diablo = Meteor Crater AZ $150/lb

  33. Stones NWA $50/lb

  34. Small Rocks www.amazingmagnets.com 1” x ¼”, 6/$7 Ebay, cheap

  35. Spectroscopy www.Rainbowsympony.com 40¢/each

  36. Planetarium Prgms • Billions of free and pay programs Planetarium $5 √ Planetarium Gold $20 www.Fogwarepublishing.com

  37. Controversial

  38. Introductory Astronomyis the onlyIntroductory Science CourseforMany Students

  39. Teach Science • Don’t Preach Science (Scientific Method)

  40. Teaching Science • Ptolemy • Brahe • Kepler • Newton • Einstein • ???

  41. Never a final answer • Never ending progress • Each builds on predecessor

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