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Astronomy For Teachers

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)

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Astronomy For Teachers

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  1. Astronomy For Teachers • What • Where • When • How • Why • Who Finding Events, Phenomena, Objects Methods of viewing Science behind it all You and your students

  2. 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)

  3. 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

  4. RA and Dec • Analogous to latitude (dec) and longitude (RA) • Declination range -90º to +90º 90º S to 90º N 1º = 60′, 1′ = 60′′ • RA – increases eastward 0h, 1h, 2h, 3h, … 22h, 23h, 0h 1h = 60m, 1m = 60s

  5. Alt-Az System • Altitude – angular height of object above horizon (how high up is it) 0º = horizon 90º = zenith • Azimuth – angle away from due north North = 0º East = 90º South = 180º West = 270º

  6. 9 PM 10 PM

  7. 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 DST 6 hours ahead the rest of the year

  8. 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

  9. Measurements • Positions Use the “Rule of Thumb” (and fist and hand) One thumb ≈ 2º One fist ≈ 10º One “hang-ten” ≈ 20º • Brightness – use surrounding stars/objects

  10. Star Charts • Printed Charts / Computer programs

  11. Planispheres

  12. Binoculars • Good • Higher magnification • Gathers more light • Nebula • Bright clusters • Bright comets • Milky Way • Orientation • Other uses • Bad • Stability • Two eye focus • Two arms

  13. Evaluating Binoculars Two numbers 7 x 35, 8 x 50, etc First Number = magnification Second Number = aperture (mm) Assessment Multiply = quick estimate Divide = exit pupil (mm)

  14. 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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