Ricardo Moreno, Rosa M Ros,

Transcription

1 Preparation of one astronomical observation Ricardo Moreno, Rosa M Ros, Beatriz García, Francis Berthomieu International Astronomical Union Colegio Retamar de Madrid, España Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, España Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Argentina CLEA, Francia

2 Objectives How to choose a suitable time and place What equipment should I bring What kind of astronomical objects can we observe How to plan the departure Learning how to use the program Stellarium

3 Place Sources of interest when observing from cities: Sun, Moon, planets, constellations Problems: environmental darkness, streetlights, cars, contamination.

4 Date Good weather, with no clouds (check the weather, for example: Moon Phase: crescent? (check before the Moon Phase: crescent? (check before the maps of the moon) Arrive early enough to mount all instruments during the daylight

5 Material Celestial Map (Stellarium) Red light flashlight Food, drink, warm clothes Green Laser Pointer Binoculars, telescope Alternative if there are clouds: stories, dvd, google-mars

6 Observation with the naked eye Application for iphone, ipad, Android Recognize constellations (Best with a young moon)

7 Observation with the naked eye What can we observe in the Northern Hemisphere? Constellations : Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Lyra, Hercules, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Leo, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Orion, Canis Major, Taurus, Auriga, Pegasus, Gemini. Stars, Clusters, Galaxies : Polaris, Sirius, Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Arcturus, Antares, Pleiades, Andromeda.

8 Observation with the naked eye What can we observe in the Southern Hemisphere? Constellations : Southern Cross, Carina, Puppis and Vela Stars, Clusters, Galaxies : Alpha Centauri, Omega Centauri, 47 Tucanae, The Magellanic Clouds (there is no "southern pole star", the Celestial Pole position is determined by the Southern Cross)

9 Observation with the naked eye Change of the Moon phases and its motion through the constellations Movement of the planets: Venus, Mars Falling stars, a few hours after the sunset (sometimes every 5-10 minutes). Meteor rains: Perseids, Quadrantids, Leonids, among others, and depending on the hemisphere.

10 Observation with the naked eye It requires sky charts or maps Step artificial satellites, 1-2 hours after sunset: ISS, Iridium, etc. See above.com

11 Sky Map Northern Hemisphere (December)

12 Sky Map Southern Hemisphere (December)

13 Observations with binoculars Low magnification, but collect more light Good: 7x50 (7 magnification and 50mm aperture, i.e. the diameter of the lens)

14 Northern Sky: observation with binoculares Objects: Andromeda Galaxy - M31 (Andromeda), Orion Nebula - M42 (Orion), Globular Cluster - M13 (Hercules), Pleiades Open Cluster - M45 (Taurus), Praesepe - M44 (Cancer), Crab Nebula - M1 (Taurus), Whirlpool Galaxy - M51 (Canes Venatici), etc.

15 Southern Sky: observation with binoculars Objects: Large Magellan Cloud (Dorado), Small Magellan Cloud (Tucana), Eta Carinae - NGC 3372 (Carina), Centaurus A - NGC 5128 (Centaurus), 47 Tucanae Globular Cluster (Tucana), Silver coin Galaxy- NGC 253 (Sculptor), Jewell Box Open Cluster - NGC 4755 (Crux), etc.

16 Observations with telescope Mission: To collect more light Objective and ocular Types: refractor and reflector; Newtonian, Cassegrain and catadioptrics

17 Observations with telescope Inverted image Telescope mount: azimuthal, equatorial, dobsonian. Sky charts are required for proper and easier identification of the observed field

18 The sky s movements The sky's movements that we observe respond to relative motions of rotation and translation of the Earth. The diurnal movement is very fast. The Earth rotates around 360º in 24 hours; this is 15º every hour. The translational motion is 360º every 365 days, which means about one degree every day (just under one degree per day).

19 The sky s movements If we imagine that there were no rotation, we could see in the night sky from one day to the next, the same star at the same time in the same place but run only one grade (i.e. the thickness of a index finger at the extended arm) compared to the previous day (if we take as a reference one antenna)

20 The sky s movements The translation movement is almost negligible if we do not have a reference and therefore not visible to the naked eye, but what we notice is that the sky of one day of the year is completely different after three months or six months. After three months the translation corresponds to 90º, or about ¼ of the sky and in half a year is ½ sky that is the other side of heaven, diametrically opposed.

21 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Objetives Understanding the translation movement and comparing to rotation movement Display the translation movement "without rotation movement Consider some constellations in the corresponding hemisphere north/south umbrella

22 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Draw the umbrella of the Northern Hemisphere North Pole Environment: Outermost area: Ursa Major and Casiopea Leo (Spring), Cygnus (Summer), Pegasus (Autumn) and Orion (Winter)

23 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Draw the umbrella of the Southern Hemisphere South Environment: Southern Crux Outermost area: Aquarius (Spring), Orion (Summer), Leo (Autumn) and Scorpios (Winter)

24 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Draw the constellations projecting the planisphere hemisphere using Stellarium

25 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella We will use a black gentleman umbrella and we will draw the constellations with white paint

26 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella We will use the umbrella over our heads with the stick umbrella directed to the pole (inclined at the latitude of the place)

27 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Using the umbrella in the Northern Hemisphere North Horizont SPRING: in the North Horizonte placed above Polaris the Big Dipper, we see Leo in the South horizon SUMMER: in the North Horizonte placed the Big Dipper right the polar, we se the Swan in the South horizon AUTUMN: in the North Horizonte put down the Big Dipper (respect the polar) and have Pegasus in the South horizon WINTER: in the North Horizonte placed the Big Dipper to the left (polar) we see Orion in the South horizon

28 Activity 1: Celestial Dome Umbrella Southern Hemisphere South Horizont SPRING: in the South Horizonte put the cross on the right of the pole, Aquarius is in the East. SUMMER: in the South Horizonte put under the pole the Cross, Orion is in the East. AUTUMN: in the South Horizonte put the Cross on the left of the pole, Leo is in the East. WINTER: in the South Horizonte if the Cross is above the pole, Scorpio is in the East.

29 Dark sky and light pollution We need a dark sky to be able to see the stars This is possible only if we move away from the cities. Humans forgot how the night sky looks like since we can not see it clearly inside the cities Light pollution is one of the least known forms of pollution: prevents us from seeing the stars, but also affects the nocturnal ecosystem, human health and represents a waste of energy.

30 Forms of light pollution There are three types of light pollution: a) glow: associated with public lighting projected toward the sky. It looks like a bubble of light surrounding the city. b) trespassing: the external light that spreads in all directions and get into the houses, which forces to lock the windows to ensure darkness at night c) glare: related with the illumination of signs or vehicles that affects the eyes directly and by surprise. Becomes more common and evident inside the cities with slopes

31 Activity 1: Light pollution - Glow Objectives Show the polluting effect of unshielded lighting. Recognize the beneficial effect of a well chosen lamp. Recognize the possibility of improving the night sky observations, even with some artificial lights.

32 Activity 1: Light pollution - Glow Procedure Preparing the black box

33 Activity 1: Light pollution - Glow Test the street lights with and without shielding, special for controlling the light pollution

34 Activity 1: Light pollution - Glow Proof: pictures are taken inside the box Appearance of the sky with lanterns unshielded Appearance of the sky with lanterns shielded

35 Program Stellarium

36 Stellarium Resource Guide

37 06/12/03 Stellarium Resource Guide

38 Thank you for your attention!