Introduction
This assignment is designed to
increase your familiarity with and appreciation of the night sky. What is required is a photograph of a
constellation taken by you and a brief write up that explains the conditions
under which you took the photograph. As
well, a short essay (500 words) will be required on a topic somewhat of your
choosing. Read through
all the instructions for the
assignment before starting, and then start it!
Part A: The photograph
To determine the constellation you
will photograph you will need the last digit
of your student number. From the
following list of 10 constellations, select the one that corresponds to the
last digit of your student number.
Please note that selection of the wrong constellation will immediately
invoke a 50% reduction in the marks allocated to the photographs (and the
negatives or original electronic files).
5:
Perseus 0:
Leo
6:
Taurus 1: Ursa Minor
7:
Auriga 2 Ursa Major
8:
Gemini 3: Cassiopeia
9
Andromeda 4:
Cepheus
To locate your constellation you
will have to look it up on a star chart. Such charts
are available in the bookstore or from the Steacie Library. You may also find helpful the star charts in
a current copy of SkyNews, the Canadian magazine of astronomy and
stargazing. You can purchase copies of
SkyNews for a discounted price of $2.50 each from the NATS office (126
Chemistry building).
Constellations span several degrees
of sky. As a consequence, any
photograph of them will not need the
use of telephoto lenses. In fact, the
regular 50mm lens found on most 35mm cameras is well suited for this
exercise. Consult your star charts and
decide when your constellation is conveniently visible at this time of the
year. With the charts, go outside one
clear evening to become familiar with the sky and locate your target
constellation. Do not attempt
photography on this night ‑ just find the constellation and get
acquainted with the stars.
The York University Astronomical
Observatory (northwest corner of Petrie) is open to the public every clear
Wednesday night, and can assist you with learning your way around the night
sky. Take advantage of the help
provided at these times!
Supporting data
Indicate at the beginning of your
write‑up your student number and the corresponding constellation. In your
assignment, you MUST include a
sketch of your constellation as photographed by you (or an appropriate size
photocopy with the area of your photograph clearly indicated), in the correct
orientation compared to the photograph you have taken, with the three brightest
stars in your constellation labelled by name.
In this way, it is apparent to the marker whether you have successfully
photographed the target constellation.
Also, the negative frame number of the photograph you are submitting in
the assignment must be clearly indicated with the photograph itself.
All data associated with the
photograph must be included in your write-up, including: (1) date and time of
the photograph, (2) prevailing weather conditions at the location from which
the photograph was taken, (3) the camera, (4) type of film (or number of Mpix),
(5) camera setting (including f/stop if applicable), (6) exposure time, (7)
altitude and (8) azimuth (direction) of the constellation in the sky and (9)
the (terrestrial) location of your observation. Also, remember that the brightest 3 stars in your constellation
should be identified by name and your accompanying sketch should be labelled
accordingly. Remember that the aim of the assignment is to photograph a
specific constellation and not a specific star. If a group of people used the
same film, all members' names also should be recorded on each members’
assignment, along with any special comments.
All this information is critical in the assessment of the photograph and
in the evaluation of the photographer.
Taking the photograph
You will need a 35mm camera and
film. (For a digital camera option, see next page.) Slide or print films are
both acceptable providing the ASA/ISO rating (speed) of the film exceeds
100. Generally the higher the film
speed, the better. Films that produce
the best results are in the range 400 to 1000 ASA. The film you buy is likely to have 24 (or more) exposures on
it. As you will only need 6 photographs
at most, teaming up with other members of the class is recommended to help cut
costs and provide support for each other during the exercise. If you cannot find a camera, one can
be reserved through me!
Load the film in the camera and then
set the aperture to wide open. That is,
set the f‑stop to f/2.8 or lower if possible. The focus should be set to infinity. The exposure time for 400 ASA film or slower should be up to 20
seconds or thereabouts. This means that
the shutter must STAY open for that length of time. On most cameras this can be done using the B shutter setting and
employing a cable release. Note: To use the B setting, the finger must keep
the shutter release depressed for the entire length of the exposure. For film speeds over 1000 ASA, exposure
times of order 10 seconds are recommended.
While the use of a tripod is not essential some form of `steadying' of
the camera during the exposure is highly recommended. Use a
tripod, a car hood, a convenient collection of rocks or books, etc. As the field of view of the camera is
several degrees, placing the brightest star of the constellation in the centre
of the camera viewfinder should ensure that the entire constellation will be
photographed successfully. For safety, take
several pictures with a range of exposures in the region of your constellation ‑
you do not want to come out again. If a
roll of 24 exposures is bought, a group of four people could use the same
film.
When the film is processed, be sure
to warn the developers that it is a film containing stars ‑ tiny points
of light and not extended objects like people or houses, etc. It is sometimes best to have the negatives
developed without any prints being made.
When the negatives are returned (preferably in an uncut state), you can
choose which frames to have printed. ALWAYS ASK FOR THE NEGATIVES NO MATTER WHAT
THE DEALER SAYS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE RESULTS. Remember too, that the photographs you are taking are a little
different from the normal photograph.
The store clerk may well try to tell you that the photographs you are
about to take will not come out (for a variety of reasons). Be assured, the above information will result in a successful photograph!
Digital camera option: if you choose to use a digital
camera, keep in mind that most digital cameras were not designed for
astrophotography. However, with care,
it should be possible to produce an acceptable digital constellation
photograph. You will need a digital
camera which can expose for at least 10 seconds. You will almost certainly need a tripod or other means of
steadying the camera. You may also need a wide-angle lens. Otherwise, follow the same instructions and
tips provided for film photographs, with the following important
exceptions:
1) In addition to the constellation
photograph, take a photograph of yourself at the same time and location. If there is any
foreground feature in your constellation photograph (such as a tree or roof),
include it in this photograph as well.
2) Within 72 hours of taking the photos, send copies of the photograph
of yourself and as many successful constellation photographs as you like to pdelaney@yorku.ca as attachments, with the
subject “BC1800d winter project (student#)” and including in the body of the
message your name, student number and the date, time and location of the
photographs. You do not need to submit your project within 72 hours of taking digital photographs, but you must submit
electronic copies of the photographs within 72 hours if you choose the digital option.
3) The websites http://www.astunit.com/faq/uksciastrofaq.htm#L
and http://home.dmv.com/~dcmiller/moondark/june03.html
may be helpful.
Tips: Note that a truly dark sky is not necessary for the
picture you take. The further from
Toronto that you are, the more aesthetically pleasing the photograph will be
but your marks for the photograph do not depend on the quality of the picture
submitted. As long as the constellation outline can be identified, the marks
will be awarded. Note that
photographs can be successfully taken from the York University campus, your
backyard, etc. Do NOT go anywhere you feel uncomfortable to take your
photograph. A partner who may or may
not be in the course, is recommended when taking your photograph. An extra set of hands to balance the camera,
help identify the constellation, keep you alert, etc., will always be useful.
PART B: An interesting aspect of your constellation
Excluding
mythological aspects of the constellations (including folklore, folktales,
etc), find an interesting aspect about either the constellation’s importance to
astronomy or an interesting object within the official boundaries of the
constellation. The summary should be of
order 500 words (+/- 100 words) and be appropriately referenced. It should read as an interesting footnote to
someone being introduced to this constellation for the first time.
Part C: Format, deadline and penalties
All photographs must be taken
between January 5 and March 31, 2005.
The assignment is due in BC 205 on Friday
April 1, 2005. There will be NO
late submissions accepted without a significant penalty: 25% loss of marks per
calendar day after the due date.
(Example: You score 12 out of 15 on the exercise but you turned it in
one day late, so your mark is reduced by 25% to 9 out of 15.) Start the
assignment early, both because the number of clear nights in the term is
relatively. The assignment is worth
12.5% of your total grade.
Ensure that your name, student
number appear clearly on the front page of your assignment. Please note that this assignment MUST BE TYPED when submitted for
marking. It also must be securely
stapled or otherwise bound together. Loose or unidentified pieces of the
assignment will not be marked. A
photographic print and its corresponding negative, slide, or pre-submitted
electronic file must accompany the assignment.
Note that only 1 constellation photograph need be submitted. Ensure that
your name and student number are written in ink on the back of each print. Any negative that is submitted must be in a strip of four or five
and must NOT be handed in as a single frame.
The frame number on the negative that corresponds to the print must be identified. A print without a supporting negative,
slide, or original electronic file will receive no marks. Blank negatives (in the original strips)
are worth some marks as they show that effort has been given in the pursuit of
the assignment. Further, if you
photograph the wrong constellation and realise it, up to 50% of the
photographic marks for a correct constellation can still be awarded. In other words, hand in ANY photographic
achievements.
The approximate breakdown of the
marks for the assignment is as follows:
Photograph 3
Negative/slide/original electronic
files 3
Photographic data 3
Star Chart info/sketch 2
Essay 9
Total 20
Please be warned. A random group of stars is not necessarily a
constellation. Planets are certainly
not constellations and neither are streetlights! Be sure you photograph a constellation. Even if the photograph you take is unsuccessful, partial marks
can be given for the effort and full marks for the essay portion of the
assignment can be awarded. Further, any
photographs submitted that have not been taken in the appropriate time frame
will result in an assignment mark of zero.
(Such photographs are obvious by the relationship of the constellation
to its surrounds.) Also, the Presentation
mark is awarded based upon such things as your assignment elements (pages,
photographs, etc.) being well secured (staples, binders, etc). Loose elements will result in the forfeiture
of this mark. Good luck.