John Griffiths Astro Pages

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GCSE Astronomy >  [Lesson Summary Sheets]  > Bexley

· Recording observations – what data to record for every observation – see list below

 

Stellarium  - a free download sky software

 

Work in the week

 

· Firm up List A coursework and look at List B in detail

 

· Research Celestial Coordinates on the web

 

· Review lunar phases

 

Recording Observations – the following data to be listed for every observation:

 

· Observer – name

· Object

· Date – DD.MM.YY

· Time (GMT – NOT BST)

· Instrument used (Naked eye, binoculars, telescope – if an instrument, give as much detail about the specific instrument as possible)

· Location of observation – Latitude, Longitude

· Weather conditions

· Seeing conditions (use the Antoniadi)

· Position of object in sky  (approx Altitude and Azimuth)

· Observing Notes – record here anything else that you think is relevant

 

 

 

Week 4 (15th October 2009)

 

· Coursework discussion

 

 

 

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

 

· Lunar phases – review and rising setting times of Moon

 

· Constellations – what is a constellation and brief history

 

· Celestial Coordinates – Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec)

 

· Exercise of estimating RA and Dec for stars from star map

 

· Circumpolar stars (stars that do not set from same latitude) – how to calculate (more next week)

 

Work in the week

 

· Study circumpolar stars – web site

 

· How can Orion be used as pointers to other stars and constellations – research a suitable star map/diagram

 

 

 

Week 5 (22nd October 2009)

 

· Circumpolar stars – calculations and when would you need to know if a star is circumpolar?

 

· Orion – use to ‘star hop’ to find other stars and constellations

 

· The Earth as a planet – PPt – comparing Earth with the other planets

 

· The Earth’s orbit  - seasons (Days and Seasons PPt)

 

· Obliquity of the planetary orbits