Physics 55 Spring 2007
Observing Information

Everyone will participate in three evening observing sessions at our site in the Duke Forest over the course of the semester. Unfortunately, the weather in Durham does not always cooperate. You'll be assigned a particular evening per week (say, Tuesday), and you'll need to keep it free in case the weather is good. If the weather is good on that day, we'll go observing. Note that there will three sessions only for each assigned day of the week over the course of the semester, so attendance is not optional. I will post here whether or not observing is on, and will keep you informed about the logistics.

Observing group assignments

If you have a car that you're willing and able to use to help transport people to the observing site, please let me know.

Please dress warmly!! Even when the weather seems warm, you can get cold standing around.

Observation sessions are done for all groups! However, because some of you didn't have very good luck with the weather, I will hold an optional observation session on Tuesday April 17, if the weather is good: observing is indeed on: meet at 8 pm. Another option is to attend a Friday Open House for another chance to see things.

Directions to the Duke Forest site

Raleigh-Durham weather forecast from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather

Yahoo weather for Durham: this one seems more reliable for Durham.

Clear Dark Sky Clock (by A. Danko using data from the Canadian Meteorological Center). Click on the clock for more detail.

Observation Session Worksheets

1. First observation session worksheet
   • Hints for doing the observing writeups
   • Grading guidelines by Ariana
2. Second observation session worksheet
   • Grading guidelines by Ariana
3. Third observation session worksheet: please read the instructions carefully. Activities will be slightly different for this session.
   • Grading guidelines by Ariana
4. Duke form for off-campus trips, to be filled out and given to Professor Scholberg before a night viewing session.

Instructions for the Meade LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope:

• Use this link by Prof. Greenside to access information about how to assemble and use the 10" Meade reflecting telescope. Please read through this information before your first observation session; you will be able to set up the scope more easily and quickly. Another, older link is here.
• The manual for the telescope is available here.

Constellations

• The Constellations, from starryskies.com.
• Constellations (Peoria Astronomical Society).
• The Constellations and Their Stars.
• Graphics of all Constellations.
• Mythology of the Constellations.

Stars

• Arabic star names.
• Bright stars to know, list by John Pratt.
• Less bright stars to know, list by John Pratt.
• Stars, Professor Jim Kaler's "Portraits of Stars and their Constellations".
• Ten Brightest Stars, nice article from space.com.

Other useful sites

1. Current events:
   1. This Week's Sky, from Sky & Telescope magazine.
   2. Abrams Planetarium Skywatcher's Diary.
   3. Inconstant moon, guide of what to see and when of the Moon.
   4. StarDate Online, suggestions of what to see each week.
   5. What's Up Tonight of space.com.
2. Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society
3. John Pratt astronomy links.
4. Messier Catalog Clickable Map
5. NGC/IC Observing List Generator. Give this a constellation, an object type, and a limiting magnitude to produce a list. Check out, say, galaxies in Virgo!