New Sessions!

We have added 8 new sessions to the schedule for Astro 6 and 11:

The signups will be enabled on the observing calendar in the usual way by sometime tomorrow (Wednesday). Note, THIS IS IT unless weather gives us a hard time! All clear sessions next week had better be filled!!!!

You can also sign up for the Dec 2 field trip to Flower & Cook observatory. If you're intending to go on the trip, and you intend to ride the bus to get out there, make sure you sign up right away--there are only 75 seats!

Note: if you have problems signing up, send email to Deb Goldader or me.

Requirements:

You will be expected to carry out two short nighttime and/or daytime observing sessions using the telescopes located at the observatory on the roof of DRL. (This was changed from the original requirement of two night and one day due to the poor weather this semester, and the larger-than-normal number of students enrolled in the course.) Just be sure to pick two sessions with different observing programs, e.g. 1=Saturn, 2=Venus & Mercury.

Note: we have also scheduled a field trip to our Flower & Cook observatory which is located off-campus in Malvern, PA. The tentative date is the evening of Wednesday, December 2 (with a cloudy-night date of Thursday Dec 3). I will be polling you in class to see how many want to go on this, so we can reserve the bus or vans. If you are interested, you should sign up when the December calendar is posted, or e-mail Deb Goldader. Note that if you attend this session, it will count as one of your required observing sessions (or an extra credit if you have already done two).

Instructions:

First, you must register as a member of this class, then use the observatory sign-up for sessions starting in October. The observing and computer labs count for a total of 20% of your grade, so be sure to do these! They are not that difficult, relatively short, and actually quite fun.

The Student Observatory on the roof of DRL houses two instruments: an 8-inch Clark refractor, and a 10-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector. The Meade is equipped with a CCD camera and computer control, and image processing software is available. The student observatory can be reached from the 4th floor of DRL, via the stairs near room 4W2 in the Math wing (sign marked "exit"). It is outside, so remember to dress accordingly.

Note that the TA running the observation will have all the materials necessary (though it will help if you bring a pen or pencil, and maybe a calculator). A worksheet will be handed out for you to fill in and then hand back in to me later.

Is the Observatory Open?

Be sure to look outside before coming to DRL --- if you see clouds, we will not be open! You should also call 898-5995 to hear the recorded status message before coming, to check whether we are running. Today's observatory status is:

• Observing Status
• Registration
• Observing sign-up
• Penn Observatories