More Telescope Power : All New Activities and Projects for Young Astronomers

by Matloff, Gregory L.

• ISBN13: 9780471409854
• ISBN10: 0471409855
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-29
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Following up Matloff?s popular Telescope Power, this new book is sure to become a much-loved favourite with both experienced and first-time young astronomers. It provides dozens of all-new ideas for observing activities: including using various eyepieces and filters; tracking satellites; observing comets and meteors; sketching details of the moon as seen through a telescope; and much more. More Telescope Power is perfect for science teachers looking for simple telescope projects, science students with a yen for the stars, and kids just learning to use their new telescopes.

Author Biography

GREGORY L. MATLOFF is an adjunct professor of astronomy and physics at City University of New York and New School University. He has taught astronomy to young people in both the classroom and the field, and is the author of several books on practical astronomy, including Telescope Power (Wiley).

Table of Contents

Introduction: Tools of the Astronomer.

Limitations of Early Astronomers.

An Astronomical Revolution.

Telescope Evolution and Accessories.

1 The Many Satellites of Earth.

A Short History of the Early Space Age.

ACTIVITY 1-1. Observing Satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

Orbits and Conic Sections.

Acceleration, Mass, and Force.

Gravity and Orbits.

ACTIVITY 1-2. Estimating the Velocity of a Satellite in LEO.

ACTIVITY 1-3. Can You See Any Detail on a Large Satellite in LEO?

Geosynchronous Orbits.

Other Satellite Observations.

2 Dust Grains from Heaven.

Types of Meteors.

The Origin of Meteors.

Observing Meteors.

ACTIVITY 2-1. Preparing Finder Charts for a Meteor Shower.

ACTIVITY 2-2. Meteor-Observing Party.

ACTIVITY 2-3. Estimating Meteor Track Length.

Meteors, Meteorites, and Life.

3 The Moon.

Physical Characteristics and Motions of the Moon.

ACTIVITY 3-1. Observing the Eccentricity of the MoonÆs Orbit .

The MoonÆs Phases.

ACTIVITY 3-2. Keeping Track of Lunar and Solar Motions.

Moon Features.

ACTIVITY 3-3. Simulating Crater Formation.

ACTIVITY 3-4. The Rays of Copernicus.

ACTIVITY 3-5. The Central Peak of Tycho.

ACTIVITY 3-6. The Mountains near Schickard.

ACTIVITY 3-7. Masking Your TelescopeÆs Aperture.

Eclipses of the Moon and the Sun.

Lunar Occultations.

ACTIVITY 3-8. Observing Lunar Occultations.

The Moon and EarthÆs Tides.

ACTIVITY 3-9. Observing the MoonÆs Effect on the Tides.

The AstronautÆs Moon.

4 Comets.

Comets in Myth and History.

Visual Aspects of Comets.

ACTIVITY 4-1. Sketching a Comet As Viewed through Your Telescope.

ACTIVITY 4-2. Estimating the Size of a CometÆs Coma.

ACTIVITY 4-3. Keeping Track of a CometÆs Progress.

ACTIVITY 4-4. Observing Changes in a CometÆs Tail.

Where Do Comets Come From?

ACTIVITY 4-5. Observing Stellar Occultations by Comets.

Comets and the Solar SystemÆs Evolution.

Comet Exploration.

ACTIVITY 4-6. Comet Viewing with Color Filters.

5 The Sun.

The Visible Sun.

Observing the Sun.

ACTIVITY 5-1. The SunÆs Spectrum.

The Solar Interior.

The Active Sun and the Earth.

ACTIVITY 5-2. Using Sunspot Observations to Determine Solar Rotation.

ACTIVITY 5-3. Monitoring Solar Activity.

Solar Energy.

The SunÆs Future.

6 The Planets.

The Planets in History.

ACTIVITY 6-1. A Scale Model of Solar-System Distances and Planet Sizes.

Types of Planets.

Viewing the Planets.

Mercury.

ACTIVITY 6-2. Observing Mercury.

Venus.

ACTIVITY 6-3. Observing the Atmosphere of Venus.

ACTIVITY 6-4. Observing VenusÆs Phases and Changes in Size.

Mars.

ACTIVITY 6-5. Coordinated Mars Observations.

ACTIVITY 6-6. Atmospheric Variation and MarsÆs Canals.

Jupiter.

ACTIVITY 6-7. Observing the Jovian Moons with a Reticle Eyepiece.

ACTIVITY 6-8. Identifying the Large Moons of Jupiter by Brightness.

ACTIVITY 6-9. Filter and Reticle Observations of JupiterÆs Cloud Bands and the Great Red Spot.

Saturn.

ACTIVITY 6-10. Observing and Estimating the Size of SaturnÆs Rings.

ACTIVITY 6-11. Observing Saturn through Color Filters.

Uranus.

Neptune.

Pluto.

7 The Stars.

The Variety of Stars.

The Significance of Star Colors.

Binary and Multiple Stars.

ACTIVITY 7-1. Observing Some Colorful Binary Stars.

Mizar and Alcor.

Rigel.

Albireo.

Castor.

ACTIVITY 7-2. Reticle Observations of Binary Stars.

ACTIVITY 7-3. Color-Filter Observations of Binary Stars.

Variable Stars.

Deep-Sky Objects.

ACTIVITY 7-4. Observing M42 through Color Filters.

ACTIVITY 7-5. Counting the Pleiades.

ACTIVITY 7-6. The Milky Way Galaxy and M31, the Great Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda.

Appendix A: A Note about Measurement.

Appendix B: How to Use a Reticle Eyepiece.

Appendix C: Lunar and Solar Eclipse Table.

Appendix D: Planet Data Table.

Appendix E: Seasonal Finder Charts.

Reading List: To Dig Deeper.

Glossary.

Index