My Solar System

Take a look at questions 1-10.

How can I use this simulation to 'prove' Kepler's third law (oops---you may have to look it up.  :-)

Click to Run

Non-Overlapping Magisterium

Chunk the reading found at http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_noma.html  into pieces...so everyone at your table is reading 4 to 5 paragraphs.  When you get done, use a whiteboard to discuss the following questions:

a) what is science?
b) what is religion?
c) what is the theory of non-overlapping magisterium?
d) what would we call the overlap of science and religion?
e) which of the three ideas (science, pseudoscience, religion) were shown by the first astronomers?
f) can atheism be a religion?




Part 2: Understanding Orbits

Take a look at questions 1-10.


How can I use this simulation to 'prove' Kepler's third law (oops---you may have to look it up.  :-)

Skymaps

Northern edition:  http://www.skymaps.com/skymaps/tesmn1303.pdf 

Equatorial edition:   http://www.skymaps.com/skymaps/tesme1303.pdf

Southern edition: http://www.skymaps.com/skymaps/tesms1303.pdf


Take a look at these three links

Find:  

1. The Ecliptic constellations
2. The Zenith of the Northern Hemisphere
3. Five constellations not visible from the Northern Hemisphere
4. The orientation of the Milky Way from each skymap
5. 3 Southern Stars with a Magnitude of 1 or greater
6. 5 recognizable asterisms
7. A way to remember how to find Bootes
8. How to use the Big Dipper to find Cepheus
9. When I will see Hercules
10. Two comets that were/are visible this month

Cultural Astronomy

You are going to explore the lives of some famous astronomers.   You will have ONE day to do this in class, so think carefully about your goals and how you divide and conquer.  This will be handed in on MONDAY

You must find the following:

• are they heliocentric or geocentric?
• when is the time period in which they lived?
• was politics, religion, or science their realm of work?
• who paid for their work as astronomers?
• did they have access to telescopes?
• why do they matter?

First, check the book and summarize, including the page #. Then, confirm it with a web reference, and find a picture. Finally, create a Linoit or Google presentation that compares the similarities and differences of the astronomers.

You must include all the astronomers marked with a *, plus 2 others in your presentation, for a total of 8.

1. Aristotle
2. Galileo*
3. Hipparchus
4. Eratosthenes
5. Tycho Brahe*
6. Pope Gregory*
7. Copernicus*
8. Kepler*
9. Newton*
10. Ptolemy
11. Einstein
12. Hawking
13. Annie Cannon
14. Van Allen

Two Videos

Today, we'll look at some big concepts in astronomy by taking a look at the two videos below and the published power point.  DO THIS ON YOUR COMPUTER with a partner, NOT AS A CLASS.  Stop and think when you find something that interests you and talk to the partner.  Your goal is not to memorize, but to think.

Big Questions:

a) what is the difference between astronomy and astrology?
b) how has astronomy changed over time?
c) what are the big things we see?

Carl Sagan: Accessible Astronomy

At 2:15, you will have a chance to talk about this material.  Trust me, going through this and really looking at things will take some time.... meaning you should be considering the material.

Take Home Test

You must complete at least one question from each unit.   9/16 total questions must be answered, with most answers taking 1-2 paragraphs.  Each question is worth 15 points.

Submit to me as a shared Google Doc from a Google Drive folder.

UNIT 1

1.  Comment on the evolution of astrology to astronomy over the past 2000 years, using evidence from at least three astronomers.

2.  Explain the significance of the Zodiac, the 88 accepted constellations, and the polar stars to helping us in understanding of Earth's place in the universe.

UNIT 2

3. Why are the phases of the moon a type of time clock?  Give three examples of how this could benefit you in the wilderness if the moon wasn't new and wasn't full.

4. Why bother to study other planets in our solar system and beyond?

5. How does our Sun function and create energy for us to live?  What ramifications does that have for Earth?

UNIT 3

6.  Why is Galileo's telescope and discoveries using it (the moon, the sun, and the moons of Jupiter) such a turning point for science, and what did he find with each discovery?

7.  What have large space telescopes (Chandra, Spitzer, Hubble, SOHO, GOES) told us, and what should be done about such telescopes in the future?

8.  What is the role of ground-based telescopes like SDSS and VLAO in the study of space?

UNIT 4

9.  Tell me about galaxies and their significance in the universe.

10.  What is the role of mass in the life cycles of stars.  Contrast at least two stars in your answer as evidence.

11. When a HR diagram is created of a neighborhood cluster of stars, what is it telling me about that region of space?

UNIT 5

12. How does the concept of spectral lines and red-shifting affectour understanding of planets, galaxies, and the universe as a whole?  Edwin Hubble must be included in your answer.

13. What is the likelihood of discovering alien life, based on our research towards finding new planets, our understanding of the Drake equation, and the interstellar missions we have undertaken?

14. Think of the contributions of Einstein:  E=mc^2, general relativity, special relativity, and the photoelectric effect, and suggest ways each has affect the study of astronomy.

UNIT 6

15. Space is honking big. So is the ability of human beings to understand it.  What critical thinking skills have you gained in this class to help you move forward in your future studies?

16.  Throughout this class, we have experienced the concept of science as a human endeavor, where fallible people do their best to help advance the cause of science, often with surprising benefits.  Skeptics still remain, and a manufactured conflict between some factions in religion and science remains.  What can you do about that as you move into your life as a literate science citizen.

The Expanding Universe--What does it mean?

Read and Discuss

http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/hubble_deep_field/

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/%E2%80%8Chbase/astro/hubble.html

http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr1/en/astro/universe/universe.asp



When you get done, pair with someone and create an INFOGRAPHIC that explains a facet of your understanding of how old the universe it, or how it has evolved, or what will happen in the future.  This means you must find some data and share it.

Examples

Special and General Relativity

SPECIAL RELATIVITY

The background

Tutorial 1
Tutorial 2
Tutorial 3
Tutorial 4
Tutorial 5
Tutorial 6


Each of these tutorials focuses on a specific concept.  When you get done, you should be able to explain
*the twin paradox
*simultaneity
*length dilation
*time dilation
*special relativity

GENERAL RELATIVITY

Link 1
Link 2

So the question becomes:  how is general relativity different from Newton's theory of gravity??  Summarize your ideas about general relativity in 1/2 page

Hand in the paragraphs and the definitions INDIVIDUALLY when you are finished.

Tuesday: Citizen Science

Today you will spend the first half hour working on a citizen science project from yesterday.  When you get done, answer the following questions






Please read slides 33-end of PowerPoint five, located a couple posts below.

At the end of this, summarize how we can find other planets.  Also explain to me why planets are dark matter and what the Goldilocks zone is.

Planets are being found all the time:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/10/121011-diamond-planet-space-solar-system-astronomy-science/

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2120548,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2106061,00.html

are just a few of the planets found.  But we need to ask, what exactly does it mean?  Is their life out there?  Do we know, or care?

The NOVA Origins video, hour 4, explains many of these quandries.   You may either watch the video or read the following/watch the interactives:

1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/drake-equation.html
2. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/alien-life.html
3. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/seti-search-et.html
4. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/liquid-of-life.html
5. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/ever-find-et.html

When you get done, I want a 1 1/2 to 2 page summary telling me your thoughts about distance planets, alien life, and the possibility of us encountering the aliens in our lifetime, based upon the Drake equation and the distance between planets.   This will take the rest of today and you will have 30 minutes tomorrow to explain your ideas.

Friday, Starting Unit 5

Please take the first 45 minutes to read and ask questions today, Friday.

Take a look at Citizen Science, so you can get an idea of what is going on in the arena of volunteer science. (Consider it a video game, and perhaps you will see the appeal)

http://www.galaxyzoo.org/

https://www.zooniverse.org/project/planethunters

https://www.zooniverse.org/project/milkyway

As a lab experience, you will be required to create an account to one of the three projects above.   When you have created the account, please show Mrs. D.



Discuss Questions Regarding Chapter 5

Option 2: Take 2, FITS pictures

Please go to

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/behind_the_pictures/  and explore the movie and the data.


Take 2.

Make a collage of images that lead you through of the two pathways  Download, insert onto a ppt, and then save.

using

http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/

Option 1: Gas nursery-->star-->supernova-->black hole

Option 2:  A star-->in a galaxy that is elliptical-->that has a black hole

ds9 is giving you FITS.... a lab manipulation program

We really can't go onward in the Big Bang until we get the form answered from Tuesday, everyone.  DO THAT FIRST (last blog post)

But we also need to know what type of analysis astronomers were looking for when they got things like COBE and WMAP pictures.


To start with, the pictures look very different in the rough CCD format then when they are finished.

Take a look at this interactive  to see how 32 pictures become one and then answer the questions below.





Go through the ds9 imaging overview.  If you are prompted for a password to install something, Mrs. D. has it and will write on the board.

It' starts like this with the Overview, and then continues onward to Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Save whatever you get done, and then copy to the Documents folder at the end of the day.   Place a piece of tape with your name on the computer, and put away at the end of class.

Focusing in on....Microwaves

The biggest story in astronomy in the last 50 years was uncovered because of


MICROWAVES.


Seriously.  And it wasn't popcorn.


LISTEN TO this summary from NPR

SKIM through this Nobel Prize summary

WATCH the Nova Video (or skim the transcript below it) to find out about the Horn Antenna, COBE, and WMAP.

We are on our way back to the beginning of the universe.   What questions do you have?  Please fill out this form by the end of Monday, to the best of your ability.  I'll be Skyping or using a Google Hangout in our next class.

3/1

Today, please hand in this week's materials.

Then start looking at the Cosmos in different wavelengths

COOL COSMOS ACTIVITY

Consider this a take home assessment, which needs to be done by Tuesday.  Do the activity in pairs, but then write a 1 page summary and hand in.