AST201L
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School
Northern Arizona University *
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Course
201L
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
9
Uploaded by CountCloverCrow12
NAME & USERNAME:
SECTION:
LAB 1
CONNECTING WESTERN AND
INDIGENOUS ASTRONOMY
INTRODUCTION
This first lab will begin with an introduction to the overall lab structure. Each lab is broken up into Steps for you to complete. In Lab 1,
Step 1
introduces you to some digital sky-viewing applications that may come handy in the future outdoor sky-watching exercises. To
help you grasp a better idea about these sky-watching exercises, you will go outside and observe the stars and constellations in
Step 2
.
To finish this lab,
Step 3
asks you to think about how to connect with the Indigenous astronomy through observing the sky.
LEARNING GOALS
The points below are the expected topics to understand by the end of this lab period. Remember to review these points before completing
the lab. If you do not understand one, review the steps that cover it and discuss with your instructor.
Be able to use different sky observing digital applications
Express ways to connect western and Indigenous astronomies
LAB 1-1
NAME & USERNAME:
SECTION:
STEP 1: USEFUL DIGITAL APPLICATIONS
Over the course of the semester, we will be viewing and calculating measurements of different sky objects. There are a few free Android
and iOS applications that can help you on your astronomical journey. The main purpose of this step is to give you an idea of what these
applications can do and which one you want to use this semester. We will begin with getting familiar with the free website called
Stellarium
, since it is required in later labs (
Polynesian Wayfinding
and
Maya and The Wandering Stars
). The website and its
information are provided in this step along with instructor assistance with its use. We will wait until the sky is dark enough for
observations to proceed to
Step 2
.
1.
Stellarium (Online Website): stellarium-web.org
Open the website in your preferred browser and click on the various icons at the bottom of the screen to give you different
information. Your instructor may show you some online tutorials (see footnote
1
). To remove the left side bar, click on the
three lines icon in the upper-left corner. Write down
at least 3 different
celestial objects you found. (Note that Stellarium
also offers paid mobile application.)
[1pt]
Zeta Persei, HD 27971, 55 persei
In
2-3 sentences
, explain some details the website provided and anything interesting about the website or the object.
[1pt]
This website is helpful at showing key details of these celestial objects found in space. It can tell you the description of the star as well as
how long it is away from Earth.
1
How to Use Stellarium Web, by Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa: https://itu.physics.uiowa.edu/part-1-stellarium-web
;
How to use Stellarium-Web, Youtube Tutorial (6:18) by Cernan Earth and Space Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q79pfO1zbbc
LAB 1-2
NAME & USERNAME:
SECTION:
Choose 2
applications out of the listed four (or try all!) and answer the questions below.
[2pt]
2.
SkyView Lite (iOS and Android)
Open the application and point your device up in the air. Try locating any objects you can find and look at the information
provided. You will be able to identify stars, constellations, galaxies, and satellites. Write down
at least 3 different
celestial
objects you found.
Archernar, Acamar. Phe
In
2-3 sentences
, explain some details the app provided and anything interesting about the application or the object.
This app lets you see the stars around us while outside. We can aim our phones up in the air and see what stars are there to look
at.
3.
Star Chart (iOS and Android)
Using an Augmented Reality (AR) device, open the application and point your device up in the air. Try locating any objects
you can find. Write down
at least 3 different
celestial objects you found.
In
2-3 sentences
, explain some details the app provided and anything interesting about the application or the object.
Bonus: t
ry locating a planet, and try the
Time Shift
feature by tapping on the time in the upper-right corner.
LAB 1-3
NAME & USERNAME:
SECTION:
4.
Night Sky (iOS) or Sky Map (Android, on Google Play)
Open the application on your device and point it up in the air. You will be able to explore planets, stars, and
other sky objects using their AR capabilities. Write down
at least 3 different
celestial objects you found.
In
2-3 sentences
, explain some details the app provided and anything interesting about the application or the object.
Bonus:
Try quizzing
yourself using the application to refresh on objects throughout the semester. Also try using the
Planet Internal Structures
capabilities to
learn about the internal structure of planets in our Solar System.
5.
Star Chart (Online Website): in-the-sky.org/skymap2.php
A star chart is a map of the entire sky that is visible at a certain date. This website allows you to set your
location, access any day, month, or year you choose, and limiting magnitudes of stars. You can also choose
to display planets, deep-sky objects or constellations. Try different grids, or coordinate systems, that can be
shown on the star chart. You can then export this to a PNG file. Alternatively, you can also create a hard
copy your own at in-the-sky.org/planisphere/index.php
.
Write down
at least 3 different
celestial objects you found.
Hamal, S- and, O-and
In
2-3 sentences
, explain some details the website provided and anything interesting about the website or the object.
This map is more detailed, you can toggle between different modes on how you want the sky to look like. It will also show different
planes.
LAB 1-4
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