Astronomy in-class activity: diurnal motion of circumpolar constellations

Astronomy 210 In-class activity 2 v.13.06.09, fall semester 2013 (spring semester 2014)
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students find their assigned groups of three to four students, and work cooperatively on an in-class activity worksheet to use a starwheel ("planisphere") to determine the clockwise or counterclockwise diurnal motion of circumpolar constellations.

Overheard: all the starwheel questions

2013-01-23_19-39-28_490
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/8409668035/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

(Overheard after students practice all three possible types of starwheel (planisphere) questions in class.)

Instructor: "Hey, uh--do you know what Rage Comics are?" (Beat.) "But of course you do, you're college students." (Draws in Rage Comics' "All of the Things" character next to outline of possible starwheel questions.)

Astronomy quiz question: non-circumpolar and circumpolar constellations

Astronomy 10 Quiz 1, Fall Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Astronomy 10 learning goal Q1.3

[Version 1]

[3.0 points.] According to your starwheel, which one of the following choices is not a circumpolar constellation, as seen by an observer in San Luis Obsipo, CA?
(A) Camelopardalis.
(B) Cassiopeia.
(C) Cepheus.
(D) Lacerta.
(E) Ursa Minor.

Correct answer: (D)

Moving the dial on a starwheel (planisphere) shows that while the other constellations stay above the horizon, Lacerta dips below the horizon, thus making it a non-circumpolar constellation.

Student responses
Section 1073
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 0 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 42 students
(E) : 9 students

[Version 2]

[3.0 points.] According to your starwheel, which one of the following choices is a circumpolar constellation, as seen by an observer in San Luis Obsipo, CA?
(A) Auriga.
(B) Boötes.
(C) Camelopardalis.
(D) Gemini.
(E) Lacerta.

Correct answer: (C)

Moving the dial on a starwheel (planisphere) shows that while the other constellations eventually dip below the horizon, Camelopardalis always stays above the horizon, thus making it a circumpolar constellation.

Student responses
Section 0135
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 30 students
(D) : 8 students
(E) : 0 students

Apparently students have the same rate of success in distinguishing non-circumpolar constellations from circumpolar constellations, and vice versa.