: Locate and analyze two news reports of recent astronomical discoveries. The internet and/or periodicals such as (for example) or The daily news is not just sports and politics. It includes science too! For this simple activity all you need to do is find two articles related to astronomy (either online or in hard copy), summarize and analyze them. The topics can be anything of your choosing so long as they are relevant to the course material. Examples could be a new telescope that has recently come online, the discovery of a new exoplanet, etc.; the idea is for you to find and write up something you are interested in! The writeup should be roughly one page long (double-spaced); the first half should be a summary of what was discovered, and the second should be your analysis of itdid it make sense? Was it well-written? Did it tie into things weve discussed in class? What are some of the ramifications, etc.? Include the complete citation of the original article (hyperlinked if it is from the internet). Make sure your sources are reputable ones, whether online or not; if you have any concerns about whether thats the case or not, please simply contact me and I can give you my opinion. : Use an HR diagram to learn about the differences between the stars in our stellar neighborhood and the brightest stars in the sky. , red & black ink pens. On the HR diagram, plot each star from the Brightest Stars Group in black ink and then plot each star from the Nearest Stars Group in red ink. Data for both groups of stars can be found below. Describe any differences between the two groups of stars such as their location on the diagram, color, mass, and the types of stars in each group. Which of the two groups of stars is most representative of the vast majority stars in the universe? : Radioactive decay is one of the sources of the heat that drive the Earths geologic activity. Radioactive decay also allows us to date rocks and determine the age of the Earth and other solar system bodies. 36 coins, a calculator, pencil & paper. In this activity you will simulate the radioactive decay of 36 atoms of a rare isotope of uranium, U-235. Uranium-235 has a half-life of 700 million years. Gather 36 coins and arrange them in a 6 x 6 grid with all of the coins facing heads up. Flip each coin into the air and then place it back in its original location on the grid. This represents the passage of 1 half-life (700 million years for this example). The coins that came up heads represent atoms that have not yet decayed; the coins that came up tails represent atoms that have decayed. Record the number of heads below. Next flip each one of the remaining heads-up coins once and place it back in its original location. 1.4 billion years have now passed by (2 x 700 million). Record the number of remaining heads below. Repeat this process until all coins are tails up. _______ Original number of U-235 atoms _______ Remaining number of U-235 atoms after 1st flip _______ Remaining number of U-235 atoms after 2nd flip How many half-lives did it take for all of the atoms to decay? How many years does that equate to? Do you think everyone in class will get the same answer? Why? : A pinhole can form an image in much the same way as a lens. Measuring the size of the Suns projected image and the distance between the pinhole and the image, you will be able to calculate the diameter of the Sun. a friend to help you, a broom handle (or mop handle or long straight piece of wood of similar dimensions), a ruler (marked in centimeters), two envelopes (or two 5 x 7 index cards), a pencil, masking tape, one stickpin. 1 near noon on a bright sunny day Use the stickpin to poke a small hole near the center of one of the envelopes. Mark a location near the top of the broom handle with masking tape (this is where your friend will hold the envelope with the pin-hole). Mark another location near the end of the broom handle with masking tape (this is where you will observe and mark the image). Carefully measure the distance between your two marked locations on your broom handle. Make your measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: ___________ cm. Caution: never stare directly at the Sun. Gather your friend, marked broom handle, two envelopes, pencil, and then head outside. With your friend holding the envelope with the pinhole at the upper marked position and you holding the other envelope at the lower marked location, align the broom handle such that a small faint image of the Suns disk is seen on the lower envelope. You may find it convenient to actually sit on the ground for this procedure. With a pencil, carefully mark the location of opposite sides of the Suns disk. Here is a link showing a diagram of the . From your marked envelope, carefully measure the size of the projected image of the Suns disk to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: __________ cm. Next, use the relationship below to calculate the Suns diameter in kilometers. Note that the distance to the Sun is 1.5 x 10 km. Record your calculated value for the diameter of the Sun ______________________ km Setup Diagram : Over a period of at least three consecutive evenings, you will make careful observation of the Moons changes in appearance and position. a notebook to take notes or make a sketch (bring your red flashlight), you may take digital photos if you wish. 3 3 consecutive nights, around (and after) sunset, a few days after the Moon is new. Your instructor will inform you what the approp
riate viewing days are in the term. Choose a location with a good view of the western horizon from which you can clearly observe the Sun at sunset. Since we will be timing our observations a few days after the Moon is new, the Moon should be visible in the sky at (and for a while after) sunset. It is important that you make all of your observations from the same location and at the same time. You may want to mark the location with a piece of tape to insure you are observing from the same location each time. This measurement is important. It will be used as a reference point for all future measurements. Arrive a little early and try to find a suitable reference object in the distance near the horizon. Look for a distinctive tree, building, rock formation, or other object. Pick something you will remember and be able to easily spot each time you come to observe. Mark the location and description of your reference object in your notebook. Make a note in your notebook about appearance of the Moon and its location in the sky. You may make a sketch if you wish. Note any changes from the previous days observation. Be sure to note the location, date, and time of your observations Location of Observations: _______________________________________________ Observation (1) Date ____________________Time __________ pm Observation (2) Date ____________________Time __________ pm Observation (3) Date ____________________Time __________ pm As shown below, you can use your fingers (or hand) to estimate angles. Using your measured angles, it is possible to determine the angular change in the Moons position from day to day. You will need to make two angular measurements for each observation one horizontal angular measurement and one vertical angular measurement. Your horizontal measurements are made from the reference object/point to the Moon. Your vertical measurements are made from the horizon to the Moon. Fully extend your arm and use the finger/hand guidelines to make your angular measurements. Questions: Describe any changes in the Moons appearance from observation to observation. Describe any change in Moons position in the sky from observation to observation. Using the methods laid out above, what is your estimate of the daily amount of angular change in the Moons position? : Determine the number of stars visible to the naked eye by collecting sample star counts over a small area of the sky. a ruler (marked in centimeters), one small cardboard tube (the center tube from a roll of toilet paper is ideal. Note: the length of the tube be greater than its width.), red-light flashlight (or tape a piece of red cellophane or plastic over a white-light flashlight). Using a regular white-light flashlight will interfere with your night vision. 3, each at a different location as detailed below. clear, dark night Carefully measure the length of your cardboard tube. Make your measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: L = _______ cm. Next, carefully measure the diameter of your cardboard tube. Make your measurement to the nearest 0.1 centimeter and record here: D = _______ cm. On a clear, dark, night, allow a few minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark, then hold the tube up to your eye then count and record the number of stars that you can see through the tube. Hold the tube steady, with your eye at the center of the tubes opening, during each star count. Do this ten times, choosing random areas of the sky to measure. Be sure to sample all directions equally. You can estimate the total number of naked-eye stars visible in the night sky by using: the length (L) of the cardboard tube, the diameter (D) of the cardboard tube, and the number of stars in your sample (N ). Use your measurements and the formula below to estimate the number of naked-eye stars visible in the night sky. For anyone interested, a derivation of this formula can be found at the bottom of the page. Your answer is an estimate of the total number of stars in the night sky that are visible to the naked eye at this particular location. Location of Observation (1): ____________________________________________ Date ____________________Time __________ pm Total Number of Sample Stars Observed ___________ Calculated Number of Visible Stars ___________ Location of Observation (2): ____________________________________________ Date ____________________Time __________ pm Total Number of Sample Stars Observed ___________ Calculated Number of Visible Stars ___________ Location of Observation (3): ____________________________________________ Date ____________________Time __________ pm Total Number of Sample Stars Observed ___________ Calculated Number of Visible Stars _________________ If you want to know where the formula comes from . continue reading below : Locate five constellations. Night Sky Planisphere, red-light flashlight (or tape a piece of red cellophane or plastic over a white-light flashlight). Using a regular white-light flashlight will interfere with your night vision. 1 a clear, dark night when the moon is not prominent (ideally) Use your Night Sky Planisphere to identify any five constellations in the night sky. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, also find the Big Dipper and the North Star (Polaris). Submit the names of the five constellations you found, describe how you found Polaris, and comment about how easy (or hard) it was to use the star chart to locate constellations. Do the constellations in the sky look like the ones on the star chart? If not, how do they differ?