You need more protection from cold than when camping. Observing has no sunlight and is inactive. Plan for 20 degrees colder than the actual temperature.

First aid for eye damage:

Protect your eyes.  After they are damaged, there is no first aid other than seeking immediate medical help from an eye doctor.  

Symptoms of eye damage:

• pain
• blurred vision
• flash blindness
• Sunburn to cornea or to retina

Corneal flash burn is a sunburn of the cornea. Recovery varies. For more medical information, see this article.

1. Explain why binoculars and telescopes are important astronomical tools. Demonstrate or explain how these tools are used.
2. Describe the similarities and differences of several types of astronomical telescopes.

   Examples of types of telescopes:

   • Refractor
   • Reflector
   • Schmidt-Cassegrain

   Examples of types of mounts:

   • Altitude-azimuth
   • Equatorial
   • Dobsonion
3. Explain the purposes of at least three instruments used with astronomical telescopes.

   Examples of instruments used with telescopes:

   • Finder
   • 1x sight
   • Planisphere
   • Star charts
   • Camera
   • Spectroscope
   • Reticle
   • Alignment tools
   • Red light

1. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac.

   Prominent constellations of each season

   Season	Prominent Constellations	Zodiacal Constellations
   Spring	Ursa Major Ursa Minor Bootes Hercules Corvus Lyra	Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpius (low, rising)
   Summer	Ursa Major Ursa Minor Bootes Hercules Corvus Lyra Cygnus Aquila Summer Triangle (asterism: Vega, Deneb, Altair)	Virgo (low, setting) Libra Scorpius Sagittarius Capricornus Aquarius
   Fall	Cygnus Aquilla Lyra Pegasus Andromeda Cassiopea Cephus	Libra (low, setting) Scorpius Sagittarius Capricornus Aquarius Pisces
   Winter	Orion Canis Major Pegasus Andromeda Cassiopea Cephus Perseus Cetus Auriga Winter Triangle (asterism: Betelgeuse, Sirius, Procyon)	Aquarius Pisces Aries Taurus Gemini (low, rising)

2. Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of magnitude 1 or brighter.

   Conspicuous stars of each season

   Season	Star	Look in Constellation
   Spring	Dubhe	Ursa Major
   	Merak	Ursa Major
   	pair: Mizar and Alcor	Ursa Major
   	Regulus	Leo
   	Arcturus	Bootes
   	Altair	Aquila
   	Spica	Virgo
   	Vega	Lyra
   	Antares	Scorpius
   	Capella	Auriga
   	Castor	Gemini
   	Pollux	Gemini
   	Deneb (low)	Cygnus
   Summer	Vega	Lyra
   	Antares	Scorpius
   Fall	Altair	Aquilla
   	Formalhaut (low in the south)	Picis Austrinus
   	Deneb	Cygnus
   Winter	Sirius (brightest star in the sky)	Canis Major
   	Capella	Auriga
   	Rigel	Orion
   	Betelgeuse	Orion
   	Procyon	Canis Minor
   	Aldebaran	Taurus

   All the Magnitude 1 stars

   Name	Constellation	Best Season	Color	Size
   Sirius	Canis Major	Winter	White	Dwarf
   Canopus	Carina	Southern hemisphere summer	White to yellowish	Supergiant
   Rigil Kentaurus	Centaurus	Southern hemisphere winter	Yellow	Dwarf
   Acturus	Bootes	Spring	Orange	Giant
   Vega	Lyra	Summer	White	Dwarf
   Capella	Auriga	Winter	Yellow	Giant
   Rigel	Orion	Winter	Blue	Supergiant
   Procyon	Canis Minor	Winter	White	Subgiant
   Achernar	Eriadnus	Always visible in the far southern hemisphere	White	Dwarf
   Betelgeuse	Orion	Winter	Red	Supergiant
   Agena or Hadar	Centaurus	Southern hemisphere winter	Blue	Giant
   Altair	Aquila	Fall	White	Dwarf
   Acrux	Crux	Always visible in the far southern hemisphere	Blue	Subgiant
   Aldebaran	Taurus	Winter	Orange	Giant
   Spica	Virgo	Spring	Blue	Dwarf
   Antares	Scorpius	Summer	Red	Supergiant
   Pollux	Gemini	Spring	Orange (some say yellow)	Giant
   Fomalhaut	Piscis Austrinus	Fall	White	Dwarf
   Mimosa (Beta Crucis)	Crux	Always visible in the far southern hemisphere	Blue	Giant
   Deneb	Cygnus	Fall	White	Supergiant
   Regulus	Leo	Spring	Blue	Dwarf

3. Make two sketches of the Big Dipper. In one sketch, show the Big Dipper's orientation in the early evening sky. In another sketch, show its position several hours later. In both sketches, show the North Star and the horizon. Record the date and time each sketch was made.
4. Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.

1. List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear in phases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why.
2. Find out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. Update your chart monthly to show whether each planet will be visible during the early morning or in the evening sky.

1. Sketch the face of the moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks.
2. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon at the same hour and place, for a week. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe.
3. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.
4. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon.

1. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earth's weather. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.
2. Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors.

   Colored stars of each season

   Season	Color	Star	Look in Constellation
   Spring	blue	Regulus	Leo
   		Vega	Lyra
   	red	Arcturus *	Bootes
   	yellow	Capella	Auriga
   	yellow	Castor	Gemini
   	yellow	Pollux	Gemini
   		Rho Cassiopeiae	Cassiopea
   Summer	blue	Vega	Lyra
   	red	Antares	Scorpius
   	yellow	Albiero	Cygnus
   Fall
   Winter	blue	Rigel	Orion
   	red	Betelgeuse	Orion
   	Aldebaran	Taurus

   * Some references class Arcturus as red and some as yellow. It appears to the eye as a red star, but it is not very red. In the Secchi classification, Arcturus is in Class II, which are yellow stars. In the Spectral Class classification, Arcturus is in Class K, which are orangish stars slightly cooler than the Class G yellow stars.

1. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information:
   1. Activities occurring there
   2. Exhibits and displays you saw
   3. Telescopes and instruments being used
   4. Celestial objects you observed

   List of planetariums near the Rappahannock Astronomy Club

   Albert Einstein Planetarium

   National Air and Space Museum
   Smithsonian Institution
   Washington, D.C
   http://www.nasm.si.edu/visit/theaters/planetarium/

   Davis Planetarium

   Maryland Science Center
   Baltimore, Maryland
   http://www.mdsci.org/shows/planetarium.html

   Hopkins Planetarium

   Science Museum of Western Virginia
   Roanoke, Virginia
   http://smwv.org/ATM/showtimes.htm#planetarium

   John C. Wells Planetarium

   James Madison University
   Harrisonburg, Virginia
   http://www.jmu.edu/planetarium/
   free shows on Saturdays

   Science Museum of Virginia Planetarium

   Richmond, Virginia
   http://www.smv.org/imaxdome.html#PlanetariumShow

   List of observatories near the Rappahannock Astronomy Club

   Fan Mountain Observatory

   University of Virginia
   14 miles south of Charlottesville, off of US-29
   Each April and October, a public night is held. Tickets, which are free, are required.
   http://www.astro.virginia.edu/research/observatories/

   Green Bank Telescope

   Green Bank, West Virginia
   The Science Center is open some days
   http://www.gb.nrao.edu/GBT/GBT.shtml

   Keeble Observatory

   Randolph Macon College
   Ashland, Virginia
   The Keeble Observatory will be closed for public viewing until September, when the College returns for Fall Semester.
   http://www.rmc.edu/Academics/physics/keeble.aspx

   Leander McCormick Observatory

   University of Virginia
   Mount Jefferson
   Charlottesville, Virginia
   McCormick Observatory is open to the public on the first and third Friday night of each month (except holidays).
   http://www.astro.virginia.edu/research/observatories/

   United States Naval Observatory

   WSashington, D. C.
   The observatory has received an overwhelming number of applications for tour reservations. Due to the backlog it is not accepting any new tour requests until further notice.
   http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO

   University of Maryland Observatory

   College Park, Maryland
   Open house on selected nights
   http://www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse/index.html

2. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward.

   Importance of planning:

   • What’s visible this time of year?
   • Limits of observing site on horizon obstructions, light pollution
   • Effect of moonlight
   • Equipment suitable to types of objects you wish to observe
   • Observe objects in order of their setting
3. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group.
4. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public.
5. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid or meteoroid, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed.

• Science
  • astronomer
  • astrophysicist
• Education
  • teacher
  • ranger
  • museum
  • creator of planetarium shows
• Support
  • equipment operation
  • image processing
  • computer programming
• Hardware
  • optics
  • design
  • construction of instruments