FALL 2000

ASTRONOMY 130

INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATION

Course Description:

• Lectures: The lectures will be given Monday nights from 7 to 9 PM in Clark 140 during the first two months of the semester. They will cover the observable phenomena in the night sky, principles of telescopes, the nature of electromagnetic radiation and methods of its detection, and the basic observational techniques to be used in the laboratory work. It is important to attend all lectures. Lecture material will be covered on both the midterm exam and the final quiz.

• Laboratory Work: The emphasis in the course is on making your own observations of the sky using your eyes, binoculars, telescopes, and other equipment such as cameras. Most lab work for this course takes place at the Student Observatory, which is in the U-shaped building immediately west of the Astronomy Building on McCormick Road (see the "Astronomy at UVa" map). The Observatory Support Office and equipment storage is in room G25.

Pre/Co-Requisite: ASTR 121 (Solar System Astronomy) or ASTR 124 (Stars & Galaxies). If you have not already taken one of these courses, or are not taking one this semester, you must receive the instructor's permission to enroll in ASTR 130.

http://www.astro.virginia.edu -- Astronomy Department Home Page
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr130 -- ASTR 130 Home Page.
The ASTR 130 Home Page contains information on all course policies, assignments, announcements, deadlines, and grading. If you have questions, this is the first place to look. The page also contains links to supporting web sites on current astronomical phenomena, weather, astronomical observations, and so forth.

Texts and Supplies: Texts are available in Newcomb Hall Bookstore.

Astronomy 130 Laboratory Manual (Astronomy Department)
The Night Sky Star Finder - Northern Hemisphere (Chandler)
Norton's 2000.0 Star Atlas (Ridpath)
You will also need to purchase a good flashlight (with a red filter)

Observatory Schedule and Orientation:

• The Student Observatory is open, weather permitting, Monday through Thursday nights 8-11 PM all semester. The Observatory will close promptly at the end of the scheduled period.

• During the first week of class, students are required to be at the Student Observatory for an introduction to the night lab facilities on the night for which they are registered. Once students are acclimated to the Observatory, they may work on any night that it is open, regardless of their formal registration.

Weather Warning and Personal Scheduling

• The Observatory will be closed under adverse weather conditions (clouds, fog, precipitation). TA's usually decide whether the Observatory can open by 5 PM each night and post an Observatory status telephone message at 924-7238 at that time. Call this number for information if the weather conditions are questionable. On occasion, variable conditions will prompt a change in the message during the course of an evening, and you should call again just before 8 PM.

• Although you are allowed to set your own schedule for attending the Observatory, you are also responsible for completing each laboratory by the expected deadline. Deadlines and penalties for missing them are discussed further below . Owing to unreliable weather conditions and because the number of observing stations is limited, you will not be able to complete all required work by attending the Observatory only on the one night of the week for which you registered. Good observing conditions necessary for completion of laboratory work are at a premium. Therefore, to satisfy course requirements, you should be prepared to take advantage of good weather conditions whenever they occur and to work at the Student Observatory on any night from Monday through Thursday.

• To achieve a good grade in this class, you must adjust your personal schedule to the course, not vice-versa. If you think this will be a problem for you, please consider taking another Astronomy course.

Computer & "Day" Laboratories and TA Consultations:

On nights when weather prevents the Student Observatory from opening, a TA will be present in the TA Office/Day Laboratory in Room 267 of the Astronomy Building. Some of the optional labs you can submit for credit in this course do not require observations of the night sky. Materials and computer terminals for these "day" labs are in Room 267. The TA is also available for consultation regarding the course.

Preparation for Observing:

You are expected to be well prepared for lab work in this course. Bring the lab manual, observing sheets, star charts (Norton's Sky Atlas and the Sky Wheel), flashlight, notebook, pencils, and eraser with you to every observing session. Norton's is especially valuable for locating faint objects in the sky. You should be completely familiar with the requirements of each lab before you go to the Student Observatory.

1. During the first week of the semester you should carefully read the Introduction in the Manual concerning safety and general laboratory procedures. Also read the Appendix regarding laboratory write-up standards. The other Appendices will be assigned later.

2. Before attempting any particular lab assignment, you should thoroughly read the corresponding chapter in the manual. The TA's expect that you will arrive at the observatory familiar with the goals, procedures, and technique for each lab. A clear understanding of what is expected in each lab will save valuable time during the limited lab hours with clear skies.

3. You should understand the observing conditions required for each lab and plan your activities well in advance. Some labs can only be done on certain nights during the semester (e.g. the Speed of Light Lab) or during certain phases of the Moon. Others require particularly good observing conditions (e.g. Meteors). The "Time Estimate" section of each lab writeup in the Manual will alert you to these special considerations.

4. Most labs are best done during the darkest skies, i.e. near New Moon. A brief sky calendar is included at the end of this syllabus. For more complete information, you can consult an ephemeris (several different versions on reserve in the Astronomy Library in the Astronomy Building) or some of the links from the ASTR 130 home page.

5. Observations made with the telescopes must be recorded on special supplied forms. As part of lab preparation, you are expected to fill out in advance the first part of each observing form for each object you plan to observe before going to the observatory. The Manual describes how to fill out a form and shows an example. Blank forms are located in the Manual for photocopying or in Astronomy 267 or the Observatory Support Office (Rm. G25). Collect blank copies in advance of each session in order to prepare the first part of the form before the beginning the lab.

6. Reserve materials: You may need background information on the objects you are observing or on observing techniques. Reference materials for this course are on reserve in the Astronomy Library (Astronomy Building Room 268). Many standard astronomy textbooks are available in the TA Office/Day Lab (Rm. 267).
   The Astronomical Almanac, The Observer's Handbook, Edmund's Mag 5 Star Atlas, Sky Gazer's Almanac for 2000, and a copy of Norton's Star Atlas 2000.0. -->

General Observatory Procedures

• The TA's will provide general orientation during the first week of the semester. You must be at the Observatory during the hours for which you are registered for lab that week.

• The TA's will help you in learning to use the 8-in telescopes in the course of doing Lab 2 (Introduction to Small Telescopes). After that, you should require relatively little help with normal observing procedures.

• You must sign in on the Student Log Sheet when you arrive at the Observatory. Any equipment you use must be checked out from the TA's and noted on the Log Sheet.

• You should have already prepared the first part of your observing forms for the night's observing program. The TA's have the right to refuse you a telescope if your observing forms are not filled out.

• The equipment is expensive and in limited supply. Be careful when setting it up and using it. Be patient, think before you act, and never force anything. If there is a problem, do not hesitate to ask the TA for help. Make sure that you make all required entries on observing forms.

• Group work: Because of the limited number of telescopes, you will usually work in groups of 2-3 students. Larger groups require prior approval by the TA. You may work on your own as long as equipment is available. You are allowed to observe together with your group as long as the responsibilities of finding objects are shared equally and each member of the group gets a chance to observe. In a group situation, students may collaborate on setting up the telescope. They should take turns operating the telescope and finding objects. However, once an object is located, everyone in the group must independently observe it and take his or her own data. See below for the policy on pledged work. By the completion of Lab 2, each person is expected to be able to operate the equipment competently and without assistance.

• At the end of each observing session, you should return the telescope equipment to its storage place in the Support Office. Stow it neatly. Sign it back in. You are responsible for any equipment you have used. Please be prepared to complete your work for the evening and have the telescope stored by the end of the scheduled Student Observatory hours.

• Signatures: Each observing form which you fill out in the course of an evening's observing must be signed by the TA. Forms which are not signed or initialled will not be accepted for credit.

Deadlines:

It is important that you work continuously throughout the semester until you have completed all your work. Weather is unreliable, and many nights (perhaps weeks) will be unusable because of clouds or storms. To help you stay on track, there are firm deadlines for submission of work, and penalties will be applied for late work. The penalty for turning in work after a deadline is 15% of the possible credit per week.

Observing Sessions at McCormick Observatory:

We plan to arrange several special opportunities for ASTR 130 students to observe with the McCormick Observatory 26-in, 10-in and 6-in telescopes. These sessions will be limited to smaller groups and will be directed toward the completion of a specific lab from the manual, but will make use of the McCormick facilities rather than the Student Observatory. Write-ups will follow the standard format, and the result will count toward regular course credit. This is an opportunity for interested students to gain experience with more advanced telescope facilities. The McCormick viewing sessions will be announced in class.

Table 1: Schedule & Deadlines

Table 2: Course Credit

• 8/29: New Moon
• 9/13: Full Moon
• 9/22, 13:27 EDT: Autumnal Equinox
• 9/27: New Moon
• 9/28: Mercury 5^o from Venus at sunset
• 10/13: Full Moon
• 10/21: Orionid meteor shower
• 10/27: New Moon
• 10/29: End of Daylight Time
• 11/01: Venus 15^o above horizon at sunset
• 11/11: Full Moon
• 11/17: Leonid meteor shower, possibly strong
• 11/19: Saturn at opposition
• 11/25: New Moon
• 11/28: Jupiter at opposition
• 12/11: Full Moon
• 12/20, 08:37 EST: Winter Solstice
• 12/25, 12:35 PM EST: Partial eclipse of Sun

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