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Astronomy labs (Was: More thoughts on Lazy)



Tina, here are some suggetions that you may or may not find helpful:

(1) You may already have some planetarium software without knowing it, since
it's on many of the CD-ROMs packaged with astronomy textbooks. Maybe your
students can find you some free downloads from the Internet. Suggested
Assignment: Find astronomy software & evaluate it, using what you've learned
about astronomy so far. Hand in the software & report. OK, I just did a
ten-second Web search for "Planetarium Software" and got
http://www.seds.org/billa/astrosoftware.html which lists a lot of programs,
some free.

(2) Actually, I haven't used a CCD/telescope system either. I've just seen
them in the ads in Astronomy and Sky and Telescope. A basic system may not
be that expensive if you already have the telescope & computer. (Maybe your
school has an older laptop they'd assign to you for astronomy.) A local
astronomy club, if there is one, might be able to give you some suggestions.
If you teach astronomy regularly and this is something you'd like to get for
your class, you may be able to get the funds through a grant or alumni
donation. Most colleges and universities have a staff person whose job is to
help faculty get funding for things like this. Seek out that person. They
love faculty who think up reasons to get money.

(3) You are NOT a moron, and all these activities are excellent things to
do! There are few things more satisfying than putting your own eyeballs in
front of the telescope, or learning your way around the sky like you did.
Yes, the students should have this experience!

(4) Use positive reinforcement. Students can be motivated to help you set
up, tear down, and lug equipment. You can award extra credit points when
they do. Make an assignment sheet so that each week, three or four students
will be assigned to help you...different students each week. Or make it a
course requirement. After all, the students should share in the complete
experience. <g>

Hope this helps.

Vickie

-----Original Message-----
From: Tina Fanetti [mailto:FanettT@WITCC.COM]
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 2:17 PM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: More thoughts on Lazy


1. We don't have planetarium software. I'm looking for a free versi=
on.
2. I don't have the funding for a CCD/video imaging system.
3. As an undergraduate, I spent a great deal of time at the telescop=
e because
a) I'm a moron.
b) I didn't know what I was doing.
c) I had to figure out where I needed to point the scope and when to =
do it.
d) I did public outreach in which I had to actually plan observing ni=
ghts.

4. It's also another piece of equipment to lug. My students all dis=
appear when I ask them to help me bring the stuff back to the lab.
I have to lug
8" SCT=20
It's tripod
The power source for it
the eyepiece/filters/barlows/diagonals
flashlights
all the cords
and usually a book or two
It takes forever to set up
=20
If it was a permanent set up it would be one thing. The undergrad ob=
servatory I had a computer and planetarium software and we used it so=
metimes. But more often we used star charts because we needed to be =
able to figure out what the field was supposed to look like.

Also, the students just don't get to plan the night, they have to run=
it. They have to point out the constellations and tell me what to p=
oint the scope at. =20

I didn't think it was such a trial. This is supposed to be a lab cla=
ss so I have to do something with them.

Tina

Tina Fanetti
Physics Instructor
Western Iowa Technical Community College
4647 Stone Ave
Sioux City IA 51102
712-274-8733 ext 1429

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