Phillips telescope

TITLE:

Observational astronomy with the Phillips telescope

For groups of ideally ~8 students (larger groups can be divided for outdoor observing and planispheres), over 45 minutes' time

GOALS:

• Differentiate between different classes of objects
• Identify and understand major descriptive features of objects (distance, mass, temperature, luminosity)
• Understand distance scales of the universe
• Draw major features of objects

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS:

PREPARATION

Materials

• list of objects visible in night sky at appropriate time of year Object catalogs
• guide to astronomy definitions File:Astronomy definitions.docx
• red flashlights
• blankets and sweatshirts

Setup

• prepare telescope and dome for nighttime operations

INTRODUCTION/ENGAGEMENT:

• Gather students in warm indoor location shortly after sunset.
• Tell students they will have the chance to look at the night sky through a large telescope, and will have the chance to choose what objects to look at.
• Ask students to think of night-sky objects they know, and share a small amount about each
• Ask students to brainstorm important features of night-sky objects that can help distinguish them (type, age, distance, luminosity, mass, color, location)
• Tell students they will get to choose objects in each category to observe, and will get to make drawings of that object.

EXPLORATION

• Divide students into small groups of 3-4
• Let each group flip through an object catalog and choose an object they wish to see. Let them use the definitions handout to understand any confusing terms.
• Ask each group to identify 1-2 facts about their object that answer one or more of the following questions:
  • In what constellation is it located?
  • What is the history / mythology of the object
  • What type of object is it?
  • How far away from Earth is it? Is it in our galaxy?
  • How old is it?
  • Any other fun facts?

APPLICATION

• Move group to telescope dome and show sky map on computer, introduce students to controls
• Distribute warm blankets if needed
• Number students 1-n, which will be the standard order for looking through the telescope to reduce dead time
• For each object (probably two at most), have each group present 1-2 facts about the object, then rotate groups through
• Move the telescope! Let one student control the telescope, another, the dome
• Ask each student to view; all students should then answer a set of questions about the object in their notebook. Use red flashlights if needed.
  • how many objects do you see?
  • what color are they?
  • do they form a shape (ring, line, circle...)?
  • are there satellites present?
  • is there dust present?
  • do the objects have a size or are they points?
• While students are circulating, the lead group can share more facts about the object.

ASSESSMENT

• Turn on dome lights
• Ask one student from each group to share their drawing of each object and recap the major features of the object.

RESOURCES

• History of Astronomy [1]
• Cosmic distance scales [2]
• Introductory astronomy and astrophysics [3]
• SIMBAD database (all objects in sky with photos and details) [4]