A new project

[alt_sinistra]

First: those students who made it out to see the Leonid meteor showers the last two mornings had a wonderful view. I know how hard it is to get out of a cozy bed to go stand in the cold, but this year's showers were some of the best I've seen this decade, and the clouds weren't too bad.

If you'd still like to earn extra credit for your viewing, tomorrow morning is your last opportunity: I'll have the telescopes set up ninety minutes before dawn. (And I will have some tea ready for when we come back in.)

Second, as a reminder for all students now the weather's getting colder: I do have a box of hats, gloves, and other warm gear available. If you need help with your warming charms, I'm also glad to assist, and I'm sure your house prefects would be as well.

Finally, I'm delighted to announce that we'll be cooperating in a major new research project.

The Ministry is coordinating measurements of particular star movements from various points around the Protectorate, in order to create even more accurate charts and materials that do not rely on non-Protectorate materials. We will be focusing on the four "Royal Stars", which as most of you know are Aldebaran, Antares, Fomalhaut, and Regulus. Our initial work will be with Aldebaran, currently present in the southern sky in the hours before midnight. Our measurements will be compared with those from other locations, to better triangulate movements in space, so it's especially important they be as precise as possible.

Students are not required to help (other than those working on their NEWTs: we'll discuss the schedule in class). However, if you are interested in doing so, please see me for times: I'll appreciate help setting up the telescopes and needed devices, as well as making the actual measurements, and it is an excellent opportunity to gain skill with the tools and methods of astronomy.

This does mean that I will be less available for visits in my office for those with questions. You can expect that I will be up on the Astronomy tower regularly each evening between sunset and the end of the evening's classes. I'll be available for student questions between lectures during the day, or by arrangement. (Or you are welcome to come up to the tower and talk to me: there is plenty of time between the scheduled measurements we need for most questions.)

Comments

[alt_michael]

I'd like to help, Professor. I'll show you the new telescope my parents sent for my birthday. It might be good for the project because it can tell you all sorts of things, like how far away the thing is that you're looking at. And er, I think it may be able to see through walls, so you don't have to go outside to look, even. (At least, we were looking at it last night and we could see Mr Dawlish down on the 4th floor when we were in Ravenclaw Tower.)

[alt_blaise]

Really?

You think Professor Sinistra is interested in seeing some Peeping Pipe your parents sent for your birthday?

[alt_daphne]

Really! I don't like the idea of some gormless boy going round with a telescope that lets him peer through walls. Mr Dawlish ought to confiscate it!

[alt_michael]

It's not for looking through the walls, though. It's so you can look at the sky without going outside. If you don't believe me you can try it yourself. It looks far, far away, so if you tried to just look in the next room or something it would just be all out of focus.

Plus I think it somehow knows not to look in bathrooms or anything like that. Because Rhys-M one of the blokes thought it'd be funny to look in the Prefects' bathroom but it just only showed him corridors and classrooms and the lake and such.

[alt_blaise]

Exactly what I said to Dawlish this morning.

[alt_michael]

Thanks a lot, Zabini.

He wants to see it now. It was brand new!

[alt_sinistra]

Mr Corner -

In general, as you noted, the charms are designed to avoid private areas of the home (and as you may know, various areas of Hogwarts have additional protections as part of the initial design of the castle.)

These telescopes do have some uses - and they are definitely quite enjoyable to work with. However, they do often have some distortion at distance - partly because more of the cost goes into the charm work than into the lens shaping, and partly because of some reactions between competing charms. Which is why for precision measuring, astronomers still end up out in the cold and dark, and using telescopes with only limited and well-tested charms.

On the other hand, as I'm sure you'll discover, there are a great many things that can be done more comfortably with one of the models such as you've gotten.

I have heard good things about the latest models, and the catalogues on my desk are promising that they've solved some of the issues with distortion. Once Mr Dawlish has approved your use, I'd be interested in seeing it in more detail if you're willing.

Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_michael]

Thanks, Professor.

He gave it back! Just like you said.

And thanks for saying it where Zabini would see it.

I was a little worried that - well that Mr Dawlish would decide the telescope's too nice for a halfblood to keep it.

[alt_sinistra]

I'm delighted you're interested, Mr. Corner. The new telescope models really are exciting, aren't they? However, in this case, part of the process is to use models that are standarised with the rest of the project, so we will be using the school telescopes.

[alt_blaise]

That project sounds fascinating, Professor. How long will it continue? A year? Several? Will you be writing a paper on the results, do you think? Only I was thinking that if it's a long-range project, it would be an opportunity for some of us who are going to be here several more years to be involved in something very important.

Will the names of those who contribute be listed by the Ministry when the project has been completed?

[alt_sinistra]

I'm glad you're also interested.

It is, yes, a project expected to last several years, though my participation (and that of students) will necessarily vary somewhat. For example, I can scarcely be making measurements here when handling YPL trips in New London, or Cornwall. At those times, there will be someone else making measurements from Hogsmeade, so you can imagine there's quite a lot of coordination involved.

Those who participate will certainly get credit in the final results. As to whether I write a paper on it: I certainly expect to contribute to portions of the project documentation, but whether I create an independent paper will depend on our findings. Though there certainly may be one in the practicalities of ensuring that students over multiple years take consistent measurements. And, of course, there's always the chance that we'll discover some new excitement in the heavens.

[alt_pansy]

I'd like to help, Professor Sinistra. I know you've got loads of older students that could do more advanced things, but I'm good at taking notes, and I can help with setting up and things, too.

[alt_sinistra]

Miss Parkinson -

I'd be delighted by your help. I was most pleased with your recent chart, by the way: I just finished marking it, and your notes were indeed quite clear and thoughtfully placed to avoid obscuring smaller details.