Observational Astronomy
Astro-25
Professor Meyer-Canales
Saddleback College
Astronomy Courses Offered
at Saddleback College
• Astronomy 20 - General Astronomy
– Survey/Lecture course
• Astronomy 21 - Solar System
– Geology of the solar system
• Astronomy 25 - Observational Astronomy
– Laboratory course in observational astronomy
Observational Astronomy
The Course
• Study methods used to gather data on
Astronomical objects.
– Perform simple labs
– Discuss advanced observational methods
– Maybe some Astrophotography
• Learn to write up Labs use the scientific method
Observational Astronomy Sites
Emphasis is on Observing Objects
• Science/Math Roof Observations
(16 inch & 8 inch with GPS)
• Santa Ana Planetarium
• Sun Lab
saddleback
• Anza Borrego
Light pollution
Field Trip to Anza Borrego
Light Pollution
An Observational Astronomer’s Enemy
back
Equipment Available for Student Use
Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
2X 16” Newtonian Telescopes
10X 8” SCT telescopes
Solar Observatory
• Live images can be
displayed
• 16” computercontrolled telescope
• Used in Astronomy
Classes
• Planets and Moon
Observational Astronomy
Schedule
• 7-9 p.m.
– Lecture Professor Meyer-Canales
• 9-11 p.m.
– Lab Instructor Greg Dickinson
• Schedule is weather-dependent
• We do not always follow the schedule
• Field Trips ~16.6 hours:
– Anza Borrego field trip or
– Sun Lab
– Planetarium Santa Ana
Lab Formats
• Formal write-ups (must be typed, see website for instructions)
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Purpose
Theory
Procedure
Data
Analysis
Conclusion
• Not all labs require write-ups
– Worksheets or exercise
Too Much to Comprehend!
Hubble Telescope orbits Earth every ~97 minutes at altitude of
353 miles
Skywalker
or
http://www.aip.de/groups/galaxies/sw/udf/i
ndex.php
If our Milky Way Galaxy has ~100 to 400
billion stars in it. How many galaxies are
most likely in the Universe? (multi-verse??)
A) A few hundred thousand
B) Several hundred million
C) Several hundred billion
D) Several hundred trillion
Where are stars born?
What color stars are the hottest?