AST 195 PROJECT — Learning the Basics of Telescope Operation (B)

Upon completing Projects #1 and #2 you should be able to put your telescope together, take it apart, and figure out where the various pieces and accessories go; you should know how to calculate magnification; and you should have a basic idea of how light passes through it.

In this project you will learn the basics of telescope operation. The goal is to learn:

1. How to sight your telescope on an object and how to align your telescopes’ finder or sighting device

2. How to quickly find multiple objects on the ground

3. How to take a basic photo with the telescope

These will involve a fair bit of work in learning and practicing how to sight, align, and find. Some people catch on to this more quickly than others, so be patient.

To complete this project, you will demonstrate to the instructor that you can do parts 1-3.

Click here for your professor’s 3-part AST 195 video showing how to align and use the finder of the Meade Polaris 70.

Take your time and learn this stuff well. Time spent learning the telescope now will save you much frustration when you move up to using it to observe the heavens.

To be graded on this project, you will need to be able to align and use the finder of your the telescope, and then make a video showing you (a) aligning the finder, (b) using it to find an object with the low power eyepiece, (c) using it to find an object with the high power eyepiece, and (d) taking a photo through the telescope. You will post that video on YouTube and send the link to your professor. The video must include all of the following, just like your professor’s video:

· The video must start with you facing the camera and saying “This is Jane/Joe in Astronomy 195 lab, and this is my video for the Learning the Basics of Telescope Operation (B) project”.

· The video must show you aligning the finder.

· The video must show you using the finder to find an object with the low power eyepiece.

· The video must show you using the finder to find an object with the high power eyepiece.

· The video must show you taking a photo through the telescope (or shooting video through the telescope).

This will be graded on a simple, “all or nothing” basis. If you can align the finder, use it to find an object with the low power eyepiece, use it to find an object with the high power eyepiece, and take a photo through the telescope—and you show all this in your video—you get a 100%. If not, you play around with it until you do.