Course
Advanced Lab - Astronomy
444/544 Advanced Lab
Room E601 (Telescope Control Room), Math and Science Center
This course was added after the construction of our new building and the installation of the 24 inch telescope. The purpose of this class is to give the student a basic understanding of astronomical measurements and contemporary techniques.
Class time requirements: All labs will be in the Telescope Control Room E601 MSC. Students will do their observing in groups of two to save time, and each group will be assigned two stars to study for the semester. Unfortunately, Atlanta weather does not always cooperate so each group will need to be ready within a days notice 4 days a week (Monday through Thursday) to do their observing. In the unlikely event every single night is cloudy, students will do an "Indoor" lab using previously aquired data. Each group will be required to do their observing for at least 3 hours after dark. At the end of the semester each student will write a separate report on one star from their observations. It is not our intention to make the students sleep deprived but you will be responsible for taking your own data.
STUDENT PROJECT
Each group will collect data on an assigned variable star,
plot the intensity as a function of time, identify the type of variable and report the observed times of minima
(or maxima). Finally, each group will prepare a lab report in the form of a scientific paper for publication.
The chalkboard icon to the right here will be used to provide the student with useful
information, equations and explanations for the lab projects.
Other useful information may be found on the Observatory Research Page or by clicking on the following links
- LAB MANUAL
- Lab Report Sheet
- Variable Stars
- We will be using a new period analysis software named PERANSO but the lab will only cover the basics. There are many more attributes to this powerful new tool. You may download the PDF to learn more or consult the PERANSO Manual located on the shelf in the Observatory Control Room.
- The Emory Clearsky Clock will be used to anticipate good observing nights. Its only reasonable up to 3 days in forcast so check it often.
- The Nautical Twilight document is used to determine what time it is dark enough to start taking data. Careful though, the times are based on Universal Time, meaning during EDT or eastern daylight time (daylight savings) you subtract 4 hours and during EST eastern standard time you subtract 5 hours.
Students are not required to have taken a prior Astronomy class. Additionally, students are not required to physically operate the telescope or spend the entire night in the observatory. Just remember astronomy is COOL and our goal is to learn about variable stars and have fun!
Variable Star List
Click on the links below to see details about your assigned target.
An Asterisk indicates previously aquired data for use with indoor labs.
- V0363 Cassiopeiae
- CN Andromedae
- SW Andromedae
- V0445 Cassiopeiae
- V0523 Cassiopeiae *
- CW Cassiopeiae
- RU Piscium
- V0830 Cassiopeiae
- SS Piscium
- SU Cassiopeiae
- HL Aurigae *
- KV Geminorum *
- CQ Bootis *
- CU Bootis *
- BG Lacertae *
- V1815 Cygni
- DH Pegasi
- RZ Cephei
- V0404 Pegasi
- RT Andromedae *
- AB Andromedae *
- V0351 Pegasi
- VZ Pegasi
- V0395 Andromedae