Observing Report
Credit:SAO
Observing Report Project MICROOBSERVATORY GUIDE PHYS 183 -WINTER 2022
We will be using the MicroObservatory (https://mo-www.cfa.harvard.edu/OWN/index.html) in order to complete a remote observing session. TheMicroObservatory is a network of remote small telescopes that can be controlled by the public over the Internet. Developed by the Smithsonian Center of Astrophysics, the network is currently in place in the Harvard College Observatory in Cambridge, MA and the Whipple Observatory in Amado, AZ.
You will be required to use this telescope to generate a colour image of an astronomical object of your choice and submit an observing report based on this observation.
You will be marked along four axes. * Whether your image processed correctly * Whether you filled out the technical information in the observing report correctly * The quality and correctness of your response to the first long answer question. * The quality and correctness of your response to the second long answer question.
Please submit the observing report as a PDF on MyCourses under the “Assignments” tab. Please also submit your raw images (.FITS) as well.
A template of the observing report is also provided under the “Content” tab of MyCourses. Any questions can be forwarded to phys183@physics.mcgill.ca
To properly use this telescope, tutorial videos will be added to MyCourses. You will need to perform colour image processing. Software to do this is all provided online via the MicroObservatory.
Plagiarism is completely unacceptable. All work must be cited properly in MLA or another equivalent format. Even things we learned in class should be
properly referenced. Please see the McGill policy here: https://www.mcgill.ca/students/srr/academicrights/integrity/cheating Copying from classmates who selected the same source is also not allowed. This is an individual project. Your image may take 1-3 nights to be processed by the telescope request system. This means that you should submit a request as soon as possible and not leave it to the last minute! Submitting a request should take no longer than 10 minutes. The processing of the image should also take no more than 45 minutes. Your image will arrive in your mailbox around ~1pm in the afternoon. Once you have completed your image your job is not over! You must still fill out an observing report. You will also still need the Stellarium software package to answer 1-2 of the questions. A tutorial for Stellarium is provided on MyCourses under the “Content” tab.
If you find that your computer is unable to use any of the software please contact phys183@physics.mcgill.ca as soon as possible to find a working solution.
Sometimes the telescope takes images that are not able to be properly processed. If you have issues related to this please post them on the MyCourses discussions page! This will help us resolve many people’s issue at the same time.
There are some objects that do not produce good pictures and, if there is a pointing error, are very difficult to debug. If you select one of these sources, the assignment will be more challenging and less rewarding so it is best to avoid them. These are:
➢ Milky Way ➢ Sagittarius A ➢ Cyg X-1 ➢ CQ Cep ➢ Eight-Burst Nebula ➢ SS Cygni ➢ 3c 273 ➢ NGC 2543