Baker Lab # 2- Telescopes (Abigail Goertzen and Trey Riley)

In this lab, we used telescopes at Baker Observatory to observe various astronomical bodies in the night sky. We paired into groups of two, and used telescopes with tracking monitors.

1) First, we set up the telescope. After having done this, we found a prominent body in the sky to observe with the finder-scope. For us, this was Jupiter. In order to view this planet with more clarity, we focused the telescope. This is necessary because without doing this, you are not using the telescope to its full potential. The accuracy of your viewing will not be on point. When you turn the focus knob, you are changing the distance between the objective lens and the viewing lens.

(above) Jupiter as seen through a ground telescope.

2) Next, we watched Jupiter pass our telescope's field of view with the tracking off. It took around 2 minutes and 43 seconds to completely pass from one side of our view to the other. This happens because the Earth is spinning on it's axis, so our field of view of the sky changes.

3) We then located the Plaiedes globular cluster. We observed that the stars in this cluster have varying luminosities, meaning there were stars of varying brightness. There were 7 stars that were visible to the naked eye. Yet with the telescope, many more stars were visible. It is impossible to see the surface of the star because they are far too far from Earth.

(above) The Plaiedes globular cluster

4) When holding someone's hand over part of the telescope, one cannot see the outline of the hand. The field of view only becomes dimmer, because telescopes collect light. With some of their light taken away, it makes sense that what is seen would only appear dimmer.

In conclusion, there is much to be seen through a ground telescope that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Through learning how to set up the telescope and how to focus the lenses, I have become a more informed astronomer.