star motion observation project
Order Instructions:
For this project you need to:
• Check Sharjah or Dubai Latitude (also longitude) in Atlas, geography book, or the internet.
• Check the constellations in the star chart in your book on page s-9, or in the internet searching for winter constellations
that would be seen in Emirates sky.
• There are useful interactive programs where you need to insert the Latitude of your area and you will be provided with the
constellations in our sky and the exact timing during which, it can be traced in the sky.
• You can also use some of the useful links at the end of the page.
How to conduct the project:
• On a clear night, away from city light pollution, try to match and identify one of the constellations in the sky with any
one from the chart.
• After locating one constellation in the sky, choose one star (may be the brightest in the constellation) to monitor its
motion.
• A blank paper may be used for recording the position of the selected star, with the directions indicated (East, West,
North, and South) on the paper.
.
• Choose a stationary reference (landmark) to check the position and motion of the star with respect to it (for example; A
tree, building, lamp pole, frame of a window….etc.). The stationary reference must not change and should be there with every
observation taken. Your position should be the same at every time you take the observation.
• Every half an hour a star’s position will be marked on paper (with respect to the stationary reference).
• Five points will be satisfactory for the observation.
• The project should consist of: An introduction, which is the theory about the motion of stars, the chosen constellation,
observation (practical work), conclusion, and references.
• The project shouldn’t exceed 4-5 pages.
• The deadline for submitting the project is Mon 7th of March.
Note that For a Group project; only two students can share their work and submit one report.
Useful links:
1. http://astro.unl.edu/naap/motion2/motion2.html
2. http://www.eyesonthesky.com/StarCharts/AutumnConstellations.aspx
3. http://www.eyesonthesky.com/StarCharts.aspx
4. http://www.skpranch.com/constellations
5. http://prancer.physics.louisville.edu/classes/107/topics/constellations/
6. http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2009/05/the-big-dipper.html
7. http://www.outerspaceuniverse.org/fall-constellations-northern-hemisphere.html
