Observer's Test

PHYS 232

At the telescope:

Large classes (>9 students), the test will be done during the day in pairs:

• One person will follow the CCD opening procedure.

• Their partner will follow the CCD closing procedure.

Small classes (<=9 students), the test will be done at night in groups (of <=3):

• Demonstrate knowledge of the CCD opening procedure

• Acquire a bright star

• Coarse (focus knob) and fine (microfocuser) focus on said star

• Demonstrate knowledge of the CCD closing procedure

Identify in the night sky:

• The Big Dipper and Polaris

• Two other bright stars (in different constellations) by name

• The current sidereal time (+/- 2 hours), i.e., what is the Right Ascension on the prime meridian

• Celestial Equator (roughly)

• Ecliptic Plane (roughly)

• In which direction stars are moving across the sky (including in which direction they move around Polaris)