Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting

Astronomy 210 In-class activity 6 v.19.01.11, spring semester 2019
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 determine where in the sky each naked-eye planet will be observed on a given date (here, February 6, 2019).




Previous posts:

• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2018 (August 28, 2018).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2017 (September 6, 2017).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2017 (February 1, 2017).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2016 (August 31, 2016).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2016 (February 4, 2016).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2015 (September 3, 2015).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2015 (February 4, 2015).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2014 (September 3, 2014).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2014 (February 6, 2014).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2013 (September 5, 2013).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2013 (February 6, 2013).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2012 (September 6, 2012).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2012 (February 2, 2012).
Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
fall semester 2011 (September 1, 2011).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2011 (February 2, 2011).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  fall semester 2010 (September 2, 2010).
• Astronomy in-class activity: planet-hunting
  spring semester 2010 (February 4, 2010).

Astronomy quiz archive: Milky Way, nucleosynthesis, cosmology

Astronomy 210 Quiz 7, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 70158, version 1
Exam code: quiz07S4rA


Section 70158

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 4.0]
8.5-16.0 :	****
16.5-24.0 :	******
24.5-32.0 :	************* [mean = 25.9 +/- 8.6]
32.5-40.0 :	******* [high = 40.0]

Section 70160, version 1
Exam code: quiz07N4Ta


Section 70160

0- 8.0 :
8.5-16.0 :	*** [low = 14.5]
16.5-24.0 :	******* [mean = 22.7 +/- 5.7]
24.5-32.0 :	******
32.5-40.0 :	* [high = 36.0]

Physics quiz archive: temperature, thermal equilibrium, heat transfers

Physics 205A Quiz 7, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sections 70854, 70855, version 1
Exam code: quiz07PeA7



Sections 70854, 70855 results

0- 6 :	** [low = 6]
7-12 :	****
13-18 :	***********
19-24 :	********************** [mean = 20.8 +/- 6.0]
25-30 :	************ [high = 30]

Astronomy midterm question: possible IAU classification of "rounded" 2006 RH120?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 2, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

2006 RH₁₂₀ (previously known as "6R10DB9") is an object that orbits the sun most of the time, but periodically is caught by Earth's gravity to make several loops around Earth, before returning back to its normal orbit around the sun:

Is 2006 RH₁₂₀ a "second moon?" I'd call it a chunk of rock that orbits the sun almost all the time, spending only a few months orbiting Earth in 2006. It will make passes by us in 2028 and 2044 (at safe distances), and every twenty years or so after that. Eventually, it'll get caught for a few orbits around Earth again, and will almost certainly be ejected again, just as happened this time. 2006 RH₁₂₀ quite likely got where it is as a result of being blasted off the surface of the moon by an impact.[*][**]

In the (unlikely) event that 2006 RH₁₂₀ is found to have a rounded shape, discuss how it should be classified when it is in its usual orbit around the sun. Explain using the International Astronomical Union classification scheme.

[*] projectpluto.com/pluto/mpecs/6r1.htm.
[**] Illustration credit: Gregg Dinderman, skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/earths-other-moon/.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Discusses IAU classification scheme to argue that 2006 RH₁₂₀ when in its usual orbit around the sun would pass qualification I (orbits the sun directly), and with a presumably (however unlikely) rounded shape would pass qualification II (rounded shape), but as it is periodically captured by Earth's gravity 2006 RH₁₂₀ does not dominate its orbit, and thus would presumably be classified as a dwarf planet.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Explicitly lists IAU requirements, but does not apply them correctly/consistently.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Discussion only tangentially related to the IAU classification scheme.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion unrelated to the IAU classification scheme.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm02SYnR
p: 29 students
r: 0 students
t: 0 students
v: 4 students
x: 0 students
y: 1 student
z: 1 student

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm02NdI0
p: 6 students
r: 2 students
t: 6 students
v: 3 students
x: 1 student
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 4073):

Physics quiz archive: simple harmonic motion, waves

Physics 205A Quiz 6, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sections 70854, 70855 version 1
Exam code: quiz06POr7



Sections 70854, 70855 results

0- 6 :
7-12 :	**** [low = 9]
13-18 :	********
19-24 :	********************* [mean = 23.3 +/- 5.6]
25-30 :	******************** [high = 30]

Astronomy quiz archive: stellar evolution

Astronomy 210 Quiz 6, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 70158, version 1
Exam code: quiz06SeR3


Section 70158

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 8.0]
8.5-16.0 :	*******
16.5-24.0 :	************ [mean = 22.1 +/- 7.8]
24.5-32.0 :	**********
32.5-40.0 :	**** [high = 40.0]

Section 70160, version 1
Exam code: quiz06SNn5


Section 70160

0- 8.0 :	* [low = 8.0]
8.5-16.0 :	*****
16.5-24.0 :	****** [mean = 20.7 +/- 6.9]
24.5-32.0 :	*****
32.5-40.0 :	* [high = 33.0]

Physics quiz archive: rotations, torque, pressure, buoyancy, fluid flow

Physics 205A Quiz 5, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sections 70854, 70855, version 1
Exam code: quiz05Ro74



Sections 70854, 70855 results

0- 6 :
7-12 :	******** [low = 9]
13-18 :	**************
19-24 :	************************* [mean = 19.6 +/- 5.2]
25-30 :	***** [high = 30]

Astronomy quiz archive: sun/spectra/star properties

Astronomy 210 Quiz 5, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Section 70158, version 1
Exam code: quiz05T3rA


Section 70158

0- 8.0   :	* [low = 8.0]
8.5-16.0 :	**
16.5-24.0 :	*********
24.5-32.0 :	********** [mean = 26.3 +/- 7.6]
32.5-40.0 :	*********** [high = 40.0]

Section 70160, version 1
Exam code: quiz05Oor7


Section 70160

0- 8.0   :	* [low = 8.0]
8.5-16.0 :	****
16.5-24.0 :	******** [mean = 20.1 +/- 6.7]
24.5-32.0 :	***
32.5-40.0 :	* [high = 36.0]

Physics quiz archive: energy conservation, momentum conservation

Physics 205A Quiz 4, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Sections 70854, 70855, version 1
Exam code: quiz04W3rK



Sections 70854, 70855 results

0- 6 :	* [low = 3]
7-12 :	********
13-18 :	**************
19-24 :	****************** [mean = 19.6 +/- 6.4]
25-30 :	********** [high = 30]

Astronomy midterm question: early evening Arcturus and Spica high in the sky at start of a season?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

An astronomy magazine article[*] describes the positions of star and constellations in the sky at a certain time of year:

Arcturus and Spica are the two brightest stars in the constellations Boötes and Virgo. Both are now superbly placed high in the sky in the early evening at the start of this season.

Discuss at the start of which season (spring/summer/fall/winter) would be the most plausible for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA to see Arcturus and Spica high in the sky in the early evening. If there is no such plausible start of a season, then explain why. Defend your answer by clearly explaining how you used your starwheel to do this, along with any assumptions that you may have made. (Ignore daylight saving time.)

[*] "Sky Maps: December 2016-December 2017," Skywatch (2017), p. 20.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Discussion includes the following:
  1. turns starwheel such that Arcturus and Spica are "placed high in the sky" (at or near the meridian);
  2. reads off a plausible date corresponding to a time in the "early evening" (6 PM-9 PM?); and
  3. relates this date to a specific start of a season (in this case, late June, hence the start of summer).
  May argue that this sky in the early evening does not exactly coincide with the exact start of summer (or any season), and thus no start of any season is possible.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. May have interpreted "early evening" to be 5 PM-6 PM, and thus picks mid-August as the "start(?) of fall."
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. Picks October or November in the early evening, but this places Arcturus and Spica low in the western sky, and not "placed high in the sky."
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. At least attempts to use starwheel in a systematic manner.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion not clearly based on using a starwheel in a systematic manner.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01Sa1Y
p: 19 students
r: 6 students
t: 0 students
v: 0 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01n4mR
p: 17 students
r: 4 student
t: 13 students
v: 0 students
x: 2 students
y: 1 student
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 1168)
Another sample "p" response (from student 4747)