Unit 2 Task A Unaided Observations

You must complete one of the tasks from the list below

Notes:
- This list is for students taking the examination in summer 2011. The list will be reviewed every 2 years and is likely to change.
- The notes for each task are mine, not the exam boards.

A1

Lunar Features
Produce a series of naked-eye drawings of three lunar surface features. Use them to show their changing appearance at different lunar phases.

Notes
A2

Meteor Shower
Observe a meteor shower. Record meteor trails on a drawing of the stellar background from sketches and estimate magnitudes of the meteors. Locate and show the position of the radiant.

Notes
A3

Drawings of Lunar or Solar Eclipse
Using a suitable method of observation (lunar — direct, solar — pinhole projection), produce a series of drawings showing the progress of a lunar or solar eclipse.

WARNING: The Sun must NOT be viewed directly, with or without optical aids.

Notes
A4

Constellation Drawings
Observe and make detailed drawings of three different constellations, recording dates, times, seeing and weather conditions and noting colours (if possible) and magnitudes by comparison with reference stars.

Notes
A5

Drawings of Celestial Event
Produce a series of drawings to record the passage of a suitable celestial event, for example a transit, occultation or comet.

Notes
A6

Shadow Stick
Use a shadow stick to record the direction of the Sun at different times on at least two days and hence determine (a) the time of local noon and (b) the observer’s longitude.

Notes
A7

Levels of Light Pollution
Use repeated observations of the faintest stars observable to quantify the effect of light pollution at two different sites.

Notes
A8

Sunspots
Use a pinhole to project an image of the Sun onto a suitable background and observe and record sunspots over a sufficiently long period of time to determine the Sun’s rotation period.

WARNING: The Sun must NOT be viewed directly, with or without optical aids.

Notes
A9

Light Curve of a Variable Star
Use a series of naked-eye estimates of the magnitude of a suitable variable star over a sufficient period of time to determine the period of the star.

Notes
A10

Estimating Stellar Density
By counting the numbers of visible stars within a certain area of sky, estimate and compare the density of stars in the sky, parallel with and perpendicular to the plane of the Milky Way.

Notes