Normally, we would meet at the Observatory on clear nights, and do in-class lab projects on cloudy nights.
* Lab Projects - estimating variable star brightness and assembling light curves. I've taken photos of the variable star areas in the sky and you will have instructions on how you can click, examine, identify the variable star and comparison stars, and logging your brightness estimates all from the comfort of your bed at home!
* Lab Project - Taking and processing your deep sky astro photography project choice. We'll get you started on our first day (linked below). Unfortunately, we can't have you at the Observatory due to liability, safety etc. So I will have to take your photo's at the Observatory for you. Or, if I already have past images that are suitable for our needs, I'll supply those. You'll be taking those images, stacking them into a single image, and using Photoshop or other image processing software to bring out their best beauty.
* Lab Project - estimating the Spectral Type of stars by using their color. I hope to get this idea in lab form sometime soon, by supplying images to allow you to do this.
* Lab Project - Making the H-R Diagram of a Star Cluster and Estimating the cluster's age. I'll take a nice color photo of at least one Open Star Cluster and you'll use comparison standard stars to put the stars on a version of the HR Diagram (the color/magnitude diagram) and then use your judgement to find the age of the star cluster. This is also a new idea, not yet turned into a Lab.
* In-Class activities: Choices will include...
-- watch an astro video or planetary climate video and then take a mult choice quiz afterwards, using your notes
-- Some basic mathematical labs, examining Kepler's 3 Laws, measuring the size of the sun, charting the HR Diagram for stars, Zooniverse projects on SETI, and variable star classifications, maybe the size of lunar craters, and other ideas I'm working on.
These are all in process and the general idea is that your time will mostly be confined to just the 3 hrs a week that we'd normally meet. I'm always available daily by email for any questions, of course!
Feb 4- Introduction, some basics. Intro to Choosing your Astrophoto Project and demo of our Student Gallery.
Feb 11- Learn your variable stars and constellations at the observatory, get first observations. Get 12" scope into shape for photography
Feb 18- last quarter moon, . Cloudy? Zooniverse project: classifying variable stars.
Feb 25 -new moon; good for photography, all projects
Mar 4
- first quarter moon, good for astrophotography, variable, other deep sky projects. good for some occultation projects
Mar 11- full moon, no photography, but can do binocular variable stars and binary star labs
Mar 18- last quarter moon, night sky projects good, including photography
Mar 25- no moon; good for photography. OK for variable stars still, and binary star telescope project.
Apr 1 - Spring Break - no class
Apr 8
- gibbous moon. some occultations, most projects, but not good for most photography
Apr 15 - waning gibbous moon. Astrophotography with the 12" dome scope
Apr 22 - no moon - good for all projects except occultations
Apr 29 - crescent eve moon. good for all projects
May 6- Gibbous moon, not good for astrophotography projects at the Observatory
May 13- Waning moon won't rise till mid-class, Help with completing your projects at the Observatory. This is our last Observatory night. Photo projects must be completed.
May 20 - Last regular day of class. Help with finishing your projects in the classroom 705, especially the photo projects.
May 27 - 6-9pm. Our "Final Exam" period. Meet again in Room 705. We'll convolve together our light curves (last labs of the course), celebrate winners, answer questions, show our astrophoto projects.