Updated Regularly.
Telescope Laboratories and Observations
General Information
(A) T-Labs will start In middle September. Sign up sheets will be located on the cork-board in front of room 507 of the Nielson Physics building. You can only sign up for one session at a time. If a TA sees a student's name on multiple sheets, all but the first will be scratched out. If you can not come on the night that you signed up for, scratch out your name and sign up for another night. If observations are canceled on the night that you signed up for, sign up for another night.
(B) When you arrive on the night of your observation, go to room 507, the Astronomy lab room. There are two sessions a night starting at 9:00pm and lasting an hour each. When the preceding session is finished, a TA will come in to check off the attendance sheet and lead everyone to the roof.There is wireless internet on the roof, so students can access the T-Lab Presentation and Instruction Sheet if they need additional help. Many students find it helpful to bring a flashlight, jacket, and printed copies of the T-Lab resources with them to the roof.
Astronomy 161
Students in all sections of Astronomy 161 are required to complete T-Labs 1 and 2. This will require two night-time observation sessions. Completion of T-1 is required before you can do T-2. The cut-off date for T-Labs 1 and 2 will be posted at the beginning of observations. If you are unable to complete the observations you will recieve an Incomplete for the course.
Astronomy 162
Students in all sections of Astronomy 162 are required to complete T-Lab 4. This will require one night-time observation session. The cut-off date for T-4 will be posted at the beginning of observations. If you are unable to complete the observation you will recieve an Incomplete for the course.
Presentations and Instructions
The T-Lab Presentation is the reference for T-labs 1, 2, and 4. The second in-class laboratory of the semester is dedicated to learning the telescope with this presentation. Some TAs may also require students to complete the accompanying T-Lab Worksheet during the presentation. You should view the presentation again BEFORE you leave for your night session as a reminder, and on the roof if the laptops are set up.
T-Lab Presentation
T-Lab Worksheet
Lab Instructor Michelle Neeley has composed a printable instruction sheet for the T-Labs. You are welcome to bring the sheets to observation sessions. Following the link below will let you download the word document.
T-Lab Instruction Sheet
NOTE: The T-Labs are not the same as the extra credit offered by Paul Lewis.
The instructions and sign-up sheets for extra credit are located in front of room 415, the large auditorium of Nielson Physics Building. Read the extra credit instructions carefully, late-comers to the extra credit will be sent off the roof. Visit Paul Lewis's website for more information: TRDC