How Digital Technology Enhances Astronomy

Peter LazarusHume U3A

Astronomy

How can students understand both the basics and complexities of Astronomy?

What tools can be used to help explain how the universe works?

How can students get involved?

Astrology

Study of the star signs

Constellations2200 years ago

But the align-ment betweenstar signs anddate has moved

Moved almosta month

Astronomy

Constellations

Same namesas astrologyfor 12 constellations

88 Constellationsnow defined

The Solar System

We all know about our Sun and its planets Do we know the relative sizes and distances?

Source: http://www.lesud.com/lesud-astronomy_pageid81.html

Orrery Internet is a valuable research tool for

information Easy to find many images to illustrate my talks

Internet Resources

Can also find school based exercises

Benefits

Ready access to material to enhance the class experience

Doing something different than just listening Some exercises e.g. capturing meteor dust are

done at home The exercises connect the student directly with

the idea Little prior experience necessary from the

student

Videos and YouTube

Need a well illustrated explanation? Search videos on YouTube Many short video explanations by the experts They have put the effort into creating the visuals

YouTube Problems

Needs access to the internet during class? YouTube videos can be downloaded

no need for an internet (URL for downloading: http://ssyoutube.com/watch...)

Or use http://www.clipconverter.cc/ May need a media player (vlc) to play the video Could embed video in PowerPoint Example: The Solar System to Scale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY_NfuZlFxc

iPads and Tablets

Some students use iPads and Tablets Students bring them to class They point out videos and the material they

downloaded or accessed

Looking at the Night Sky

I want my students to observe the night sky They can use sky maps from e.g. Sydney

Observatory

Astronomy Software

There are interactive star map packages for Windows Starry Night $75 Stellarium $0 Kstars $0

Get students to bring in their memory sticks Copy Stellarium and have them install it at home Run a class to understand how to use the

software

Sky Simulation

Sky Simulation

Now the class can Find a star, planet or constellation in the sky Fast forward the time to see future events Visualise how the sky appears to rotate Decide when a certain object is visible

And this can be done In class At home

USB Memory Sticks

Alternative to printing hand out notes Produce a pdf file of the power point

presentation Copy the presentation pdf and any other non-

copyright material to student's memory sticks They can browse the class material at home They can ask questions at the next lesson

Cameras

Digital cameras can be used to photograph the night sky

The moon is especially suitable – full moon, lunar eclipse

Requires some instruction on the best settings Benefits are that student's work is displayed in

class Encourages others to get out and try Makes the course much more interactive

Smart Phones

Out at night and unsure what you are looking at?

Point your smart phone at the sky Apps: Google Night Sky, Sky Eye

Benefits

The class can view YouTube videos to get a good basic understanding of difficult concepts

They can re-run the videos at home Graphics – pictures, diagrams can be taken

from the Internet to illustrate a talk Someone else does the creation hard work, the

teacher does the hard work by internet searching Students download videos, or refer to TV shows

Provide teacher with great ideas for future topics Can ask the student to talk to the video

Ultimate Enhancement

Benefits

Benefits to night-time viewingA smart phone helps identify night-time objectsAnd once you start looking, you look some more, you become more curiousFor students, self-guided observationsA sense of self-discoveryNo skills necessary