Final Lab, Assignment #1

Here are the details for your brief homework assignment.

Note, this is due in class during our next meeting, scheduled for 25 February from 7:35 to 9:30 in Osmond 216.

For our observing lab, we will be breaking up into 3 groups. Each group is going to observe one object. I want everyone in the class to bring a list of *three* objects to class that are possible observing targets.

Your targets should fit the following criteria:

• No solar system objects (planets, comets, asteroids)
• No single stars
• Your target must be visible from our site within +/- 3 hours of the meridian from 9 to 11pm at some date during the month of April. Try to avoid picking objects low to the horizon. We may need to observe outside of these two hours, but any object visible from 9 to 11 should be visible for a few more hours after 11.
• The magnitude should be no fainter than approximately 10-12. It is possible that we can observe fainter targets, but it will be more difficult if we can't see them in the finder scope.

Some examples:

The globular cluster M15, the ring nebula, the galaxy M81. I don't guarantee that any of these fit all of the above criteria, but some similar objects (i.e., star clusters, galaxies, nebulae) should. Other types of interesting objects will be accepted, just remember rules #1 and #2.

Feel free to collaborate with your classmates, however, each student should submit their own three objects. In the end there may be a lot of overlap among your lists, but if you work together, try to avoid all choosing the same objects. Be prepared to justify your choice of object -- that is, we don't want to find out at the telescope that your object is only visible during June from the southern hemisphere!