Physics 146

Observing Resources - Part B

The Peterson Field Guide

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Chapter 1:
1. According to the table in chapter 1, how many stars are brighter than Deneb?
 

2. According to Figure 1-3 in the Field Guide, which is the next bright star to transit after the star Deneb?
 

Chapter 3:
1. In the Northern Hemisphere Sky Maps in Chapter 3, why are there two pairs of maps for each month?
 

2. Look at Map 6 and find the constellation Sagittarius in the southern sky. Part of the constellation is an asterism called the teapot. Sketch (only) the teapot part right here.  Ask if you cannot find the teapot:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Now find Sagittarius on the Edmund Scientific Star and Planet Finder. (Note that only the stars in the "teapot" asterism are shown.) Sketch it:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. Why is the image on the Star and Planet finder so distorted?
 

5. (Still in chapter 3...) To what factor in brightness does a difference in magnitude of 1 correspond?
 

6. To what factor in brightness does a difference in magnitude of 5 correspond?
 

7. How much brighter (estimate) is the star Sirius than the star Deneb? (Go look at the table in chapter 1 for help.)
 
 

Chapter 15 and Chapter 7:
If you don't remember what Right Ascension and Declination are, read the first part of chapter 15, Positions in the Sky: Right Ascension and Declination. Briefly, it explains that right ascension is similar to longitude and declination is similar to latitude. Everything that we will be looking at in the sky can be located by these two coordinates. The units of right ascension are hours, minutes, seconds and the units of declination are degrees, minutes, seconds. To help you understand the concept of right ascension and declination, I will ask you about objects in the Atlas of the Sky. If you haven't already done so, mark pages 224-225, the index to the Atlas, because you will need to return to that page often.

Look on the index page. This is a polar projection of the northern hemisphere. The hours of right ascension are marked on the outer edge of the circle and they radiate inward towards the north celestial pole. The declination lines are circles in this projection.

1. What constellation is near RA 20^h, and DEC 0°?
 

2. What constellation is near RA 12^h, and DEC 60°?
 

3. Which atlas chart would you turn to in order to look at the details near RA 20^h, and DEC 0°?
 

4. Turn to that atlas chart. What bright star is near RA 19^h51^m DEC 8°52'?
 

5. Find the correct chart and then tell what object is near RA 09^h55.6^m DEC 69°04'?
 

6. Find the correct chart and then tell what object is near RA 06^h45^m DEC -16°43'?
 

7. Find the correct chart and then tell what object is near RA 16^h41.7^m DEC 36°28'?
 

Starting on page 213 is the catalogue of "fuzzy objects" discovered by Messier. With a little bit of practice, you could see all of these objects from Durango using the 8" telescopes that we will use later this semester.

Look up M31 in the table.

9. What are the right ascension and declination of M31?
 

10. What is the magnitude of M31?
 

11. Which Atlas chart will you need to look at?
 

12. Go to that atlas chart and sketch the consellation or bright stars around M31 and describe how you would find M31 using those starts as pointers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

13. Is M31 visible at 9:00 P.M. on September 1^st?
 

14 Is M31 visible at 9:00 P.M. on April 1^st?
 

Look up M42 in the table.

15. What are the right ascension and declination of M42?
 

16. What is the magnitude of M42?
 

17. Which Atlas chart will you need to look at?
 

18. Go to that atlas chart and sketch the consellation or bright stars around M42 and describe how you would find M42 using those starts as pointers.
 
 
 
 
 
 

19. Is M42 visible at 9:00 P.M. on September 1^st?
 

20. Is M42 visible at 9:00 P.M. on April 1^st?