A new project
Nov. 18th, 2010 10:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sinistraFirst: 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.)
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.)
