ASTR 121/124 Lab Information - Astronomy at UVa

ASTR 121/124 Student Lab Information: Spring 2008

FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT teacha@mail.astro.virginia.edu

Information on Undergraduate Classes
Maps showing location of labs
Constellation Quizes
Telescope Observing
McCormick Observatory Public Nights

Constellation Quiz

Location: The Garage Area, located just to the west of the Astronomy Building (away from Alderman Road)

	Nights	Times	Begins	Ends
Constellation Lab	Mon., Tues., Wed., & Thurs.	9:00 & 10:00 PM	01 September	04 December

No labs will be offered 13-14 October (Reading Days) or 26-27 November (Thanksgiving)

Most ASTR 121/124 students are required to complete the Constellation Lab activity. You must sign-up online for this activity in advance. This exercise consists of learning a few basic concepts about the night sky, as well as how to find constellations and stars on the sky using a star chart. The activity consists of three parts: (1) a brief talk/introduction given by the TA, (2) the night sky activity questions, and (3) a short quiz:

Make sure that you bring something to write with, as well as a hard writing surface and a red flashlight if you have one. Only a limited number of clipboards and red flashlights will be provided for you to use during the activity. Please dress appropriately.

The TA will give a brief tour of the night sky and explain basic concepts needed to complete the activity. The TAs will assume that students have little or no prior knowledge of the night sky.
The students will have about 20-30 minutes to complete the activity. The activity questions will emphasize concepts and navigation on the night sky using the constellations.
In the last 10 minutes or so, the TA will administer a brief quiz drawn from a list of objects on the activity sheet.

Remember, if the sky is cloudy, this program will not run even if the sky clears after 8:00 PM. You should call the Night Lab Status Line at 924-7238 after 6:30 PM (and check to see if there is an updated message after 8:00 PM) to find out if the lab will be run that evening.

Arriving on time is important, since the TAs will begin the activities promptly at the start of the scheduled session.

Completing the Constellation Lab as early as possible in the semester is highly recommended. If you procrastinate, bad weather may prevent you from completing your lab before the deadline. Unless your professor tells you otherwise, NO exceptions to the deadline will be made due to bad weather. Deadlines vary by instructor so check your syllabus.

Note: No constellations quizzes will be given at McCormick Observatory.

Note: If you are also required to complete the Telescope Observing Lab, you will not be able to complete both labs in one night, so you need to signup for both labs on separate nights.

Telescope Observing

Location: Sign in front of Astronomy Building (530 McCormick Road)

	Nights	Times	Begins	Ends
Telescope Observing	Mon. & Thurs.	9:00 - 11:00 PM	08 September	04 December

No labs will be offered 13-14 October (Reading Days) or 26-27 November (Thanksgiving)

Some ASTR 121/124 sections include a telescope observing laboratory exercise; check your syllabus or see your professor if you are unsure whether this is assigned for your section.

HOW TO PREPARE: You must sign up for this program in advance via the Astronomy Department web site. Completing your telescope observing exercise as early as possible in the semester is highly recommended. If you procrastinate, bad weather may prevent you from completing it before the deadline. Unless your professor tells you otherwise, NO exceptions to the deadline will be made due to bad weather. Deadlines vary by instructor so check your syllabus.

WHAT TO BRING: Dress warmly; the telescope domes are not heated (The current outside temperature at McCormick Observatory is listed in the image below). Bring a pencil, a writing surface (such as a clipboard), and a flashlight, preferably one with a red filter. Worksheets are available at McCormick Observatory during lab hours. Please note that no smoking is allowed even outside while on observatory grounds.

TRAVEL: You will meet the T.A. on-duty by the Astronomy Department sign in front building on the appropriate night at EXACTLY 9:00 PM. You should bring your car if you have one to help with carpooling to McCormick Observatory. Since parking is extremely limited at the observatory, no car with fewer than 3 occupants will be allowed to park at the observatory; therefore, if you choose to drive, carpooling is essential. Do not park in the driveway of the white house next to the Observatory. This is a private residence. The T.A. will lead students to the Observatory. Students will leave in the car in which they arrived or wait for a ride with the T.A. when the lab is over at, or before, 11:00 PM.

WHAT TO EXPECT: During this laboratory, you will observe and sketch four objects through the 6-inch and 10-inch telescopes (in the Observatory Doghouse) and the 26-inch telescope (in the Observatory Dome). The telescope operators will point the telescopes and binoculars to various objects and provide information about what you are viewing. Once you have finished your sketches and descriptions, obtain the telescope operator's or T.A.'s signature. Then, submit the completed lab sheets to the T.A. at the Observatory.

WEATHER CONSIDERATIONS: If the sky is cloudy, this program will not run even if the sky clears after 8:00 PM. You can call the Night Lab Status Line at 924-7238 after 6:00 PM (or the updated message after 8:00 PM) to find out if the lab will be run that evening. Current Conditions and weather forecast for McCormick Obseravatory.

Astronomy 121/124 Telescope Observing Signup

ASTR 121/124 Telescope Observing Form

Visit our Current Weather Conditions page for information pertaining to whether nighttime laboratories will be open for students. The Sky Calendar at Sky & Telescope lists objects of interest in the current night sky.

Note: No constellation quizzes will be given at McCormick Observatory.

Note: If you are also required to complete the Constellation Lab, you will not be able to complete both labs in one night, so you need to signup for both labs on separate nights.

Computer Labs

Some ASTR 121/124 sections include optional computer laboratories, such as the Contemporary Laboratory Experience in Astronomy (CLEA) computer labs. See your syllabus or instructor if you are unsure which labs, if any, you are required to do.

The CLEA labs for ASTR 121/124 and ASTR 130 are now available online; select the desired lab below and follow the directions. If working on the CLEA labs from an ITC computer, follow the directions for logging onto ITC computers (see ITC Lab Login for more information). Next, select "Start" and then "Arts & Sciences". The CLEA labs should be under the category of "Astronomy".

Note: some labs require an "Answer Sheet" to be filled out and turned in.

ASTR 121/124 specific labs:

ASTR 130 specific labs:

McCormick and Fan Mountain Observatory Public Nights

McCormick Observatory is open to the public on the first and third Friday of every month. Located on the Grounds at the top of Mt. Jefferson (Observatory Hill), McCormick Observatory's 26-inch refracting telescope has been in continuous use since 1885. Weather permitting, visitors can view the planets and other celestial objects through the 26-inch McCormick refractor and the Observatory's other telescopes. Visitors can also view presentations and exhibits. The Observatory is open from 9:00--11:00 PM April through October and from 7:00--9:00 PM November through March. See the Public Night and Schedule Pages for more details.

Each April and October, Public Nights are held at the Fan Mountain Observing Station, 13 miles south of town. Free admission tickets are required to visit Fan Mountain. See the Public Night and Schedule Pages for more details.