Astronomer (Scout)

Badge Requirements

• Demonstrate, with diagrams, drawings or models, a general knowledge of the nature of the stars and planets, and their apparent and actual movements. Understand the causes of the seasons, eclipses, and occultation.
  
  

• Know the meanings of elementary astronomical terms, e.g. sidereal period, axial rotation, synodic period, opposition, conjunction.
  
  

• Give a general account of the bodies in the Solar System: sun, moon (with an explanation of its phases) planets, satellites, comets, meteoroids and minor planets.
  
  

• Give a general account of the stellar system; the stars, double and binary stars, variables, spectra and some general ideas about stellar evolution and energy sources.
  
  

• Recognize the main constellations, i.e. Ursa Major, Bootes, Virgo, Leo, Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Gemini, Taurus, Cygnus, Aquila, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Pegasus, Andromeda, Aries, Pisces, Austrinus, Perseus, and Cassiopeia.
  
  

• Discuss the outer galaxies, and explain why they are thought to be receding.
  
  

• Understand the principles of telescopes and spectroscopes. Discuss the work carried on at a major observatory. Know something about the world's leading observatories.
  
  

• Keep an observer's diary for a period of not less than 2 months, with a planned program included, such as estimating the magnitude of a variable star (e.g. Delta Cephei) or plotting the radiant of a meteor shower.