EXTRA CREDIT
Physics 1050 is an introductory course to the solar system. As such it should give an overview to the planets and the other contents of this system gravitationally bound to the sun. I would hope that all students get ample opportunity to observe the sun, moon, planets and their moons and other celestial objects. There will be observing opportunities every Wednesday night to use the Physics Department observatory. The observatory will be open at about 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday night at the start of the summer semester. The time will change as the semester progresses. There will be opportunities to observe the sun and (if it is not cloudy) even a meteor shower. Specifics for these events will be given later. I have given two nights in the class schedule for viewing. On this night there will be no class. Instead of class I would like each of you to attend two sessions at the observatory or viewing nights arranged with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society (details are given on the SLAS handout). ONE viewing night will be required. The night does not have to be the night listed as viewing night - it can be anytime during the semester. You are simply given one night off to replace with some viewing time. For the viewing that you do, write one to two pages describing the experience and turn it in at the final exam. The write up should give as many details as possible: date, time, where, sky conditions, who attended, objects viewed, impressions, whether it was worthwhile, etc. etc. After the mandatory one viewing night, each additional viewing night you complete and submit a written report for, is worth 100 additional homework points.
I would like each of you to obtain a very good grade in this course. For everyone that does well on the homework a grade of at least B is guaranteed. You can all get 100% on the homework by doing additional viewing nights, additional viewing projects, or additional homework problems. Each additional homework problem is worth 10 points, each viewing project is worth 50 points and each additional viewing night is worth 100 points. All completed extra credit is to be turned in at the final exam. The goal is for each of you to go outside and look at the sky and obtain a feeling for what is out there. Each viewing project takes about an hour, while viewing nights will take a minimum of two hours. Problems should only take a few minutes each.
HAPPY VIEWING!!
EXTRA CREDIT
PROBLEMS
(50 points each)
1. Observe the full moon rising. Keep precise time from the first point of moonlight over the east horizon until the moon is precisely totally visible. Document your observations.
2. Observe the position of the moon for a period of three weeks.(Three obsevations per week). Plot the position of the moon on each night with respect to the fixed stars. Record your observations. Keep track of the observation time each night.
3. Observe the phases of the moon on five consecutive nights. Draw pictures of the moon on each of these nights. This problem is nicely completed in conjuction with problem 2.
4. Observe the position of the sun as it sets for a period of six weeks. (Two observations per week necessary). Make the observation as close to the time of sun having precisely set. The observations must be from the same spot each time, and you need to draw the location of the sun on an accurate picture of the west horizon. Note how the sun's position changes, and document your observations.
5. Observe a planet and plot its position relative to the background stars at least two nights per week for at least six weeks. Note how the planet changes its relative position with respect to the fixed stars. Mars is particularly good right now. It is just to the east of Antares in Scorpius and has completed retrograde motion.
6. Find the star Polaris (the North Star) in the evening sky. Identify any separate pattern of stars in the same vicinity of the sky. Wait several hours at least until after midnight, and then locate Polaris again. Has Polaris moved? What has happened to the nearby pattern of stars? Why?
7. Locate the constellation Orion. Its two brightest stars are Betelgeuse and Rigel. Which of these is the hotter star. How can you tell?
8. Observe a galaxy and draw a picture of what the object looked like. Explain the details of the coordinates of the galaxy, what constellation it is in, etc.
9. Through a small telescope (or U of U observatory) you can see the red and tan cloud bands of Jupiter, and you can clearly see some of the moons. Look up the position of the Galilean moons in a current magazine such as Sky and Telescope or Astronomy. Draw a picture of what you see through the telescope and identify each of the moons. Watch Io over a period of an hour. Can you see its motion? Do the same for Europa. Do the moons orbit in the equatorial plane?
10. Look at Saturn through a small telescope. The moons line up with the rings. Draw a picture of what you see. As in problem 9., use the finder charts to identify the moons. Titan is often the farthest out, and it is always the brightest.