Post on 18-Jan-2016
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