Teaching Modules
Teaching Modules
Making a Colour Image
In this project, you will combine three images (taken through red, green and blue filters) to create a colour image.
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 7-12
- Time requirements: 1 x 1-hour classroom session
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of IRIS.
Asteroid Investigation
In this project, you may contribute to the effort to monitor asteroid motions by using the software program Astrometrica to discover and obtain accurate positions for selected asteroids. The positions derived can help refine the orbits of these celestial bodies and add to the growing database of information we have on these objects.
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 9-12
- Time requirements: 3 x 1-hour classroom sessions (more if selecting new asteroids to observe and submitting reports)
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of Astrometrica (preferably with internet access) and IRIS (if you wish to make a colour image of your asteroid).
Image Mosaics
In this project, you will tile four images of parts of a galaxy to form a shiny whole.
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 7-12
- Time requirements: 1 x 1-hour classroom session
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of IRIS.
Interacting Galaxies
In this project, you will examine galaxies that are interacting, determining the sizes of the galaxies and creating a colour image from your observations
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 7-12
- Time requirements: 1 x 1-hour classroom session for each interacting pair studied (more if selecting new galaxies)
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of IRIS.
Star Cluster Photometry and the H-R Diagram
In this project, you will plot an H-R diagram for an open cluster and a globular cluster and identify the relative ages of these clusters from their locations on the H-R diagram.
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 9-12
- Time requirements: 5 x 1-hour classroom sessions
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of Makali'i and Microsoft Excel.
Age of a Planetary Nebula
In this project, you will measure the angular size of a planetary nebula and use this to calculate how long it has been expanding.
- Online Manual
- Printable Manual (PDF file)
- Downloads
- Target Groups: Yr 9-12
- Time requirements: 2 x 1-hour classroom sessions
- Computing and Software: This module requires the use of IRIS.
Basic Modules
WebQuest
Students can explore some background information using these questions and internet links. This concept could be tailored to any age group and may be set as a homework exercise.
Glossaries
Many astronomical terms are defined in COSMOS, an online encyclopedia.
Wikipedia also contains reliable information.
Staralt
If you are ever planning your own observations with the Faulkes Telescopes, this handy tool plots the altitude of your selected target on a specified date from any location. It also plots the moon's position and shows times of sunset, sunrise and astronomical twilight.
Charts in Excel
Basics of making an x-y scatter chart: Excel 2003 (Printable version), Excel 2007 (Printable version).
Obtaining Astronomical Images
If you wish to learn more about how the archive images were obtained using the Faulkes Telescope North, go to the Faulkes Telescope Planning page and follow links on the sidebar menu. Those of most relevance to the Teaching Modules are:
Image File Formats;
Field of View;
Exposure Times; and
Using Filters.