ARCturus

Learning by explorations and illustrations is the most important method in astronomy to get to know celestial phenomena and objects of the universe. In addition to that, it is useful to visit observatories, either public or privately financed, in order to get acquainted with observation methods and circumstances. These visits provide the students with impressions on the real observation environment both today and in the ancient times.

Aim: To get to know observation tools, options and circumstances of today and the past.

 

Explorations: Get acquainted with the devices of the place visited with the help of a guide. Observe and make measurements if possible.

1) Learn to use observation tools with the help of technical guidance.

2) First, get to know the well-known and significant objects in the sky with the naked eye. The visible planets, Moon, the most well-known constellations and their brightest stars as well as Aurora borealis are, inter alia, these kinds of objects.

3) Use a telescope or binoculars to find easy objects, e.g. the planets, Moon and the brightest stars in the constellations.

4) * Use a telescope to find remote objects in the sky, e.g. nebulas, clusters of stars and galaxies. Our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, is a good object if it can be seen at the moment of observation. It is a spiral galaxy, like our own Milky Way. Also the big beautiful nebula in the constellation Orion, just below the belt of Orion, i.e. the three stars in the middle of the constellation, is a magnificent object for observation. Many star clusters can also be found, especially in the area of the constellation Hercules. Star maps and several books on Messier’s explorations are very helpful in finding objects in the deep sky.

5) * If the telescope is equipped with a monitoring device, the objects of the sky can be photographed (see ARCB Astrophotography). When using a mechanical camera, knowing the settings in the camera and the right kind of a film are essential for the quality of the photos. Using a digital camera for taking photos is more complicated. There is a strong need for deeper and more thorough understanding of the parts and settings of the camera. Only then can the results gained be good enough for publication.

6) *If the students are interested in taking photos, it is possible to increase the complexity of the tasks by challenging them to take photos of some special situations and difficult objects. There is a good example of this: the Northern Lights. Constantly in motion and only lasting a moment, they are difficult to catch on film or in a digital form. Circumstances that demand a long-lasting exposure are also challenging. Taking photos of Stella Polaris and its neighbouring areas is a good example of this. Due to the rotation of the Earth and because of the long-lasting exposure, the stars seem to draw a circle round the North Pole. This kind of a picture is an excellent source material for mathematical tasks in astronomy teaching.

Methods: Visiting places where observation is possible. Observation with the naked eye and by using suitable tools. Astrophotography, if possible, and processing of the photos by using apt computer programmes.

Materials: The observation is carried out with the help of star maps, computer programmes and experts. Observations are made with the naked eye or by using binoculars or a telescope. The observations can be saved on a film, stored onto a memory card of a digital camera or even in the computer.

Pondering: Finding a skilled expert is not always easy. The students may sometimes have in-depth questions which need more thorough pondering with no light answers. It is not important to find the answers quickly nor is it a failure if they are not found at all. What is important, instead, is to guide the direction the discussion should take as well as learn to give and be open to fair criticism.

Evaluation of the results: It is worthwhile to discuss the results with the students and ponder the benefits of various methods and tools. It would be the best if the same object could be observed and photographed by using many methods. Only then would there be a basis for wider comparison of the results. If the enthusiasts still have energy left, they can collect their observations and recordings and make a valuable asset of them in the school library.

Hints: In addition to the binoculars, it is worthwhile for the school to acquire an easy-to-use telescope at a reasonable price. There are free computer programmes available for digital observation of stars.

Key words: Star map, constellation, observation, telescope, camera.

 

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