Library Telescope Project

An interesting thing about astronomy is that it is a science that people like to do for fun, on their own free time, with their own money.  People learn about astronomy, buy and build their own telescopes and other equipment, and even do research, just for the love of it. You can even check out a telescope from the Louisville Free Public Library. This is because people like astronomy.

Your assignment is to check out a telescope from the Louisville Free Public Library (keep your check-out receipt), and use it to look at some objects on the ground, and to observe the moon.

You are to record video showing the following things:

· The library receipt for the telescope (up close)

· You and the telescope

· You looking through the telescope at an object on Earth some distance away (like a birdfeeder, a mailbox, a street lamp, etc.), including video shot through the eyepiece, showing what you see

· You looking through the telescope at the moon, including video shot through the eyepiece, showing what you see

Post your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or other service, and send a link to me via e-mail. Write up a discussion of what you learned from using the telescope (300 word minimum).

You will turn this project in electronically.

What to turn in (via e-mail):

· Your discussion of what you learned

· A link to your video that shows:
-the library receipt
-you & the telescope
-you looking through the telescope at a ground object (with video through the eyepiece showing what you see)
-you looking through the telescope at the moon (with video through the eyepiece showing what you see)