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Rules:
You must be a member of the Astronomical League.
Use of setting circles, computer driven telescopes (except for tracking purposes only), or any electronic device used to locate objects is not allowed. Use only star hopping to locate objects.
Everyone must complete Object List I as naked-eye observations. You must complete either Object List II as telescopic/binocular observations or Object List III as naked-eye observations.
You must keep a log of your observations stating the object number or name, date/time and location, seeing conditions, size of instrument and magnifications (or naked-eye observation) and your description of the object.
Upon completion submit the completed log sheets, sketches, observation forms and notes to the appointed person from your club for verification. A letter from that person should be sent to the address below requesting your certificate and pin.
Note: Part II Binocular/Telescope option was selected below. Part III Naked Eye was not attempted.
Object List I: For All Telescope/Binocular Users and All Naked-Eye Observers
A: Fifteen Bright Stars:
Learn the proper names of 15 of the 22 of the brightest stars (see list below) that can be seen from your latitude and the constellation in which they are found. Roughly sketch the stars that make up the constellation boundary and label the Bright Stars. Note any color seen.
Canis Major
Orion
Taurus
Date: 4/5/2012
Time: 9:20 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 4/5/2012
Time: 9:30 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 4/5/2012
Time: 9:45 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Auriga
Gemini
Lyra
Date: 4/5/2012
Time: 9:55 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 4/5/2012
Time: 10:08 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 6/2/2012
Time: 10:15 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Bootes
Virgo
Cygnus
Date: 6/2/2012
Time: 10:25 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 6/2/2012
Time: 10:33 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Date: 6/2/2012
Time: 10:39 PM
Location: Broemmelsiek Park
B. Estimate the angular distance between the following sets of stars:
Aldebaran and Betelgeuse: 22 degrees (2 fists and 1 finger) [actual distance: 21 degrees 21 minutes 26.3 seconds from Stellerium]
Deneb and Vega: 24 degrees (2 fists and 2 fingers) [actual distance: 23 degrees 42 minutes 7 seconds from Stellarium]
C. Estimate the azimuth and altitude (record the date and time for this exercise):
Capella: date: 11/30/2012 time: 7:14 PM CST azimuth: 60o altitude: 35 o [actual azimuth: 53 degrees altitude: 31 degrees] (Stellerium)
Altair: date: 11/30/2012 time: 7:15 PM CST azimuth: 250o altitude: 30 o [actual azimuth: 258 degrees altitude: 28 degrees] (Stellerium)
D. 2 Variable Stars—Choose 2 of the following variable stars and make 4 brightness each:
Beta Persei: 2.1 to 3.4 Rho Persei: 3.3 to 4.0
E. 2 Meteors
Plot the path of two meteors on a star chart.
Date: 12/13/2012 Time: 9:45 PM CST
Observations including color: A Geminid meteor as part of the 2012 shower as seen from Broemmelsiek Park. This meteor moved down towards the south east in a short streak. It was bright, but would have been difficult to pick up if I hadn’t been looking right at it because of the light pollution and short path. I didn’t see any particular color other than white.
Date: 12/13/2012 Time: 9:58 PM CST
Observations including color: A Geminid meteor as part of the 2012 shower as seen from Broemmelsiek Park. I picked this meteor up as it crossed the meridian and continued towards the south west. It left a bit of a scintillation trail. No color seen other than white.
F. Observe the Sun through a pin-hole camera (You may substitute an observation of the sun through a telescope equipped with a filter designated specifically for solar viewing.)
Date: June 5, 2012 Time: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Broemmelsiek Park
Method Observed:
Seymour Solar filter on 30x80 binoculars for Venus Transit viewed from Broemmelsiek Park with 800 of my closest friends. I kept the sun centered in the binoculars as the shadow of Venus moved across the surface for approximately two hours with breaks. Sunspots were visible although most of the attention was on the Venus Transit. I also saw parts of the transit with my SolarScope (left) during breaks that Marv Stewart supervised at the entrance to the viewing area.
Dates: Wednesday-Sunday July 5, 2013 - July 31, 2013 Time: 1 - 4 PM MDT Location: Apgar Village, Glacier National Park
Method Observed:
Solar viewing with an Orion 120mm refractor with Orion solar filter (white light) and Coronado 60mm SolarMax II (Hydrogen Alpha) as part of the AstroVIP program in Glacier National Park. Showed 3,632 park visitors the sun with the two telescopes listed. Explained sun spots, solar flares, and other features.
Object List II: For Telescope/Binoculars Users Only
A. Objects in Which You Have a Choice:
1. Three Planets of your choice -- Observe any three planets other than Earth
Planets Name Date Time Observations/impressions
1 Venus 5/18/2012 8:40 PM Crescent Venus moving towards the 2012 Transit, larger than last week at FNOH— C14
2 Jupiter 11/9/2012 5:00 AM Live feed for KSDK show—C14
3 Saturn 5/18/2012 9:30 PM Impressed the crowd at FNOH—C14
2. Comet of your choice Observe any comet
(a). Comet Name: 1/4/2013--Comet C/2012 K5 LINEAR 7:30 PM CST
Observations: Seen from the observatory at Broemmelsiek Park when the comet was about ½ degree west of Alnath in Auriga. I located the area with the C14 and saw the comet on video taken with my Samsung SDC-435 camera with a Canon 135mm f/3.5mm FD lens mounted piggyback. Seeing was about 4/10 and the comet showed only as a fuzzy patch.
(b). Comet Name: 3/11/2013--Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS 7:38 PM CDT (image on right)
Observations: Seen from the Dog Park and later at the Astronomy Area at Broemmelsiek Park. The comet was approximately 4 degrees west and 1/2 degree above the 20 hour crescent moon. It showed well with 30x80 binoculars with a tail 1/6th the field of view and a bright core. It was less than ten degrees above the western horizon. I watched the comet until forced to move and then until it sank below the horizon. The comet was naked eye at times. The image of Panstarrs on the left was taken from the top of the DOE containment mound on 3/13/2013 at 8:03 PM-- ISO 800, 1 second @f/5.6, 200mm fl and Canon XT camera.
B. Moon Features—Observe the following feature on the moon during the time period specified:
1. Crater Aristoteles – Between new & 1st Quarter:
7/8/2013 10:15 p.m. MDT Apgar Transit Center Parking Lot
2. Apennine Mountains—Between 1st Quarter & Full:
7/15/2013 11:25 p.m. MDT Apgar Transit Center Parking Lot
3. Crater Copernicus—Between full & 3rd Quarter:
7/22/2013 11:14 p.m. MDT Apgar Transit Center Parking Lot
4. Crater Grimaldi—Between 3rd Quarter & New:
7/30/2013 10:39 a.m. MDT Apgar Transit Center Parking Lot
Roughly sketch the outline of the moon and pinpoint the feature that you are observing.
C. Deep Sky Objects--For the Deep Sky Objects record the name, date observed, instrument used, site, time, power, constellation, seeing, transparency, and a description of the object.
Telescope and Binoculars List:
Seeing Scale
1: Chaotic: lowest power stellar images unsteady
2-3: Severely disturbed: low power planetary/nebulae images unsteady
4-5: Poor: medium powers unsteady
6-7: Good: only high powers unsteady
8-9: Excellent: only highest powers soft
10: Superb: all powers steady
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