Observing
Observing & Planetarium Sessions

This project is designed to give you a taste of real observational astronomy. You will see demonstrations with our new digitial planetarium, and make observations from the Astronomy Department telescopes at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium at 355 Prospect Street. Important information related to the observing session is given on this page.
 
Assignment: There are 2 parts to this assignment. 1. See a demonstration at the planetarium. 2. Observe several astronomical objects with telescopes, and complete a written assignment based on your observations. The combination is worth 5% of the final grade: attending the planetarium demo is worth 1%, and completing the observing assignment is worth 4%.
 
Pre-Assignment: The assignment you will need to complete BEFORE going to the observatory is given here. You will need to hand in this completed pre-assignment when you arrive at the observatory. This will count as a "lab ticket", which will allow you to complete the rest of the assignment. Section II of the observing assignment will be given to you once you arrive at the telescope. (If you complete the pre-assignment and then your observing night is cancelled due to weather, you will need to revise the answers about the location and phase of the Moon so that they are correct for the night you actually go to the observatory. The rest of the answers in the pre-assignment do not need to be redone.)
 
When: The session at the observatory will take 2-2.5 hours, including both the planetarium demonstration and the observing assignment. The written assignment must be completed and handed in before you leave the observatory. We will hold several sessions, and you need to come to only one of them. You must sign up for a particular night . Sign-ups are on classesV2. If the session is cancelled due to weather (which happens at least half the time!), then you will be need to sign up for another night. Do not go to a session that you have not signed up for! If an observing session must be rescheduled due to bad weather, this web page will be updated by 6:00pm on the day of the observing.
 
Upcoming Observing Sessions:
Date: Time: Status:
Monday March 28 8:00pm ON
Thursday April 21 8:00pm Undetermined

Status Explanation:
ON: The observing night will go on as scheduled.
OFF: The observing night has been cancelled, probably due to weather.
Undetermined: We haven't made the decision if the observing night will go on or not. Completed: We successfully observed on that night.

  Where/Directions: All observing sessions will be held at the student observatory. The observatory is located at 355 Prospect Street, just North of Science Hill, and next to (just South of) the Betts House (formerly Davies Mansion), A map showing the location of the observatory is here. If you are driving, go north on Prospect Street, and take the first right after Edwards Street onto a paved driveway, just beyond a chain link fence. There is a small blue sign. There is parking available next to the observatory.

  Taking the Yale Bus to the Campus Observatory: Take the regular Yale shuttle bus from the gate at Silliman College. This will head up Prospect Street. Tell the driver you want to be dropped off at the new Campus Observatory, 355 Prospect, Farnham Gardens. These busses run every 15 minutes. The best ones to take leave Silliman at 6:45pm, 7:00pm, 7:15pm, 7:30pm, 7:45pm, 8:00pm, 8:15pm, 8:30pm, 8:45pm, 9:00pm, 9:15pm, 9:30pm. The ride should take 5 minutes. You will be dropped off at the street, and will need to walk up the driveway to the observatory. We can call for a return bus.

  What to Bring:

  • 1. Completed Pre-Assignment ("Ticket")!
  • 2. Warm Clothes ! (we will be outside, and it could be cold.)
  • 3. Flashlight (if you have one or can borrow one).
  • 4. Pencil & Solid writing surface (e.g. book) to help you make the sketches.

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    Maintained by Jeff Kenney Last modified: 1/9/11