0% found this document useful (0 votes)
39 views3 pages

Sky and Telescopes Observation

Over the course of 3 weeks, the observer recorded nightly observations of the sky from Eusoff Hall. The weather varied from clear to cloudy. On nights with clear skies, constellations like Orion's Belt were visible, along with stars such as Sirius and planets. Over time, the observer noticed changes in the positioning of celestial objects, initially attributing it to precession but learning it was due to Earth's rotation and orbit. Making frequent observations helped understand how objects' positions differ between observer and celestial coordinates frames.

Uploaded by

Charles Lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
39 views3 pages

Sky and Telescopes Observation

Over the course of 3 weeks, the observer recorded nightly observations of the sky from Eusoff Hall. The weather varied from clear to cloudy. On nights with clear skies, constellations like Orion's Belt were visible, along with stars such as Sirius and planets. Over time, the observer noticed changes in the positioning of celestial objects, initially attributing it to precession but learning it was due to Earth's rotation and orbit. Making frequent observations helped understand how objects' positions differ between observer and celestial coordinates frames.

Uploaded by

Charles Lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Date Time Location Weather Remarks

22/1/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall D Cloudy with fast Few stars were visible
Block Level 4. moving clouds
23/1/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Clear skies with A lot of stars visible.
Block Level 4 some clouds Drew pattern of stars
on a piece of paper
and sketched the first
copy of the night sky.
24/1/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Cloudy Very few stars were
Block Level 4 available.
25/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Clear skies Stars were visible,
Block only obstructed by
Level 4 surrounding
buildings, pattern of
stars were observed.
26/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Very cloudy Close to zero stars
Block Level 4 were visible
27/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Very cloudy Very few stars were
Block Level 4 available
28/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Clear formation of No stars were visible
Block Level 4 storm clouds
29/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Cloud filled sky No stars were visible
Block Level 4
30/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall, D Storm clouds were A few stars were
Block Level 4 forming visible
31/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall D Cloud filled sky Some stars were
Block Level 4 available
01/02/2019 2100 NUS Field 2 Partially cloudy Stars such as Capella,
Opposite Science Sirius and the Orion
Constellation were
available. Deep sky
objects such as M41
was observed.
02/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall D Skies were very Few stars were
Block Level 4 Cloudy observed.
03/01/2019 0130 Eusoff Hall D Skies were clear Noticed the different
Block Level 4 position of celestial
bodies prior to the
first observation on
22/01/2019.
04/01/2019 0140 Corridor at Home Minimal clouds Some stars were
in Punggol were present. visible. Particularly,
the Orion
Constellation,
Procyon, Pollux and
Castor. The visibility
of stars was still
affected by the faint
clouds.
05/01/2019 0130 Corridor at Home Partially cloudy Only the Orion Belt
in Punggol could be seen with
Sirius.
06/01/2019 2200 Corridor at Home Cloudy Only a few stars were
in Punggol visible
07/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Skies were clear Orion Constellation,
Block Level 4 Sirius, Capell, Arneb
and Aldebaran were
visible. Stargazed
with Blockmate in
GEH1027 whom
borrowed a Celestron
telescope with a
SPHINX equatorial
mount
08/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Very Cloudy Only one or two stars
Block Level 4 were visible
09/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Clear Noticed the change in
Block Level 4 positioning of the
stars e.g. Orion Belt
since Day 1
10/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Very Clear A lot of stars were
Block Level 4 visible
11/01/2019 2200 NUS Field 1 Very Clear Noticed the
positioning of Mars
close to the moon as
they are in
conjunction with
each other. Despite
good weather
conditions, the lights
at the field was too
bright for stargazing.
12/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Cloudy Few stars were
Block Level 4 available for
stargazing
13/01/2019 2300 Eusoff Hall D Cloudy but became Drew out the night
Block Level 4 clear with fast sky on a piece of
wind paper and noticed
that the Moon has
risen from the other
end.
Having observed the night sky over the span of 3 weeks, there was a significant change in the
position of the night sky, and this has allowed me to observe various celestial objects which were
once, obstructed by the rooftop. Noticeably, the stars and constellations such as Orion’s Belt have
had changes in its position, particularly further from the zenith. Given that I had only just started
observing, I thought this was due to Precession. However, I learnt that this is due to the rotation of
the Earth and the orbit around the sun, hence the celestial sphere moves on a daily and yearly basis.
This meant that the position changes relative to the position of the observer at a fixed time every
day. In a similar observation, I learnt that objects such as the Moon and planets have varying
positions relative to the observer because they orbit Earth and the Sun respectively unlike the Stars
which remain primarily as a “backdrop”. This meant that its change in position is due to other factors
such as its own orbit on top of the Earth’s rotation and orbit. Therefore, observing the stars
frequently made me understand the difference between observer coordinates and celestial
coordinates. Furthermore, with observations made from the field trip on Fridays, I learnt the
importance of observing certain objects at the right time. For example, the Andromeda Galaxy falls
below the Horizon after 11pm. Indeed, I believe that the Night Sky Assignment has taught me to
investigate the reasons for the changing positions of celestial objects and that every category of
object moves differently relative to Earth.

You might also like