John Griffiths Astro Pages

VC2.9

page 1 of 6

GCSE Astronomy >  [Lesson Summary Sheets]  > Bexley

Week 1 (24th September 2009)

 

· Introductions and overview of the course

 

· Overview of my web site – in particular GCSE links

 

· Resources for students – see

 

· Observing session – Jupiter, the Moon, The Plough, Pole Star, Cassiopeia, Summer Triangle….excellent clear night!

 

· Advice on buying a telescope

 

 

 

Week 2 (1st October 2009)

 

· Problems of observing astronomical objects from the Earth

 

· Solutions – where to build observatories – hand out describing why Mauna Kea (Hawaii) is a good site for an observatory – at 4205 m altitude.

 

· The Moon – observing session using 8 inch reflector (also observed Jupiter)

 

· Introduction to the Moon – geology and structure next week

 

· The Apollo missions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCSE Astronomy — Lesson Summary Sheets—Year 2009/10—Bexley

 

Work in the week

 

· Choose two pieces of coursework

 

· Work out lunar phases from first principles - template handed out

 

 

 

Week 3 (8th October 2009)

 

· Phases of the moon

 

· How to find the moon in the sky at all phases

 

· Moonrise and moonset times

 

· Observing session with 70mm refractor – Jupiter and its moons

 

· Identifying Jupiter’s satellites and the motion of the moons in their orbits (first observed by Galileo in 1610)

 

· IYA 2009 moon watch and Jupiter watch web pages

 

· Altitude and azimuth – coordinates used to find objects in the sky

 

· Right Ascension and Declination – celestial coordinates – an introduction

 

· Coursework – discussion about List A projects – in particular numbers A1 and A2.

 

Last updated Mar 26, 2010