ASTRONOMY
- Do the following:
- Sketch the face of the moon, indicating on it the locations of at
least five seas and five craters.
- Within a single week sketch the position of the moon in the sky at
the same hour on three different evenings. Explain the changes observed.
- Tell what factors keep the moon in orbit around the Earth.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Photograph or locate on a map of the sky a planet at approximately
weekly intervals at the same time of night for at least four weeks.
Explain any changes noticed on the photographs or map.
- Find out when each of the five visible planets will be observable
in the evening sky during the next 12 months and compile this
information in the form of a chart or table.
- Do ONE of the following:
- In a sketch show the position of Venus, Mars, or Jupiter in the sky
at approximately weekly intervals at the same time for at least four
weeks.
- Using a compass, record the direction to the sun at sunset at
approximately weekly intervals for at least four weeks in spring or fall
(for six to eight weeks in summer or winter) and relate this information
to the seasons of the Earth.
- With the aid of diagrams explain the relative positions of sun,
Earth, and moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses and at the
times of New, First Quarter, Full, and Last Quarter phases of the moon.
- Using the shadow of a vertical pole in sunshine, lay out a true
north-south line (a meridian). Then, using a line and the pole on another
day, measure the altitude of the noontime sun and determine your latitude.
- Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, four of which are in
the zodiac. Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of
first magnitude. Then do the following:
- Show in a sketch the position of the Big Dipper and its relation to
the North Star and the horizon early some evening and again six hours
later the same night. Record the date and time of making each sketch.
- Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.
- With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available) explain the
difference between reflecting and refracting telescopes. Describe the basic
purpose of a telescope, and list at least three other instruments used with
telescopes.
- Do the following:
- Describe the composition of the sun, its relationship to other
stars, and some effects of its radiation on the Earth's weather. Define
sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on this
radiation.
- Identify at least one star that is red, one that is blue, and one
that is yellow, and explain the meaning of these colors.
- Do ONE of the following:
- Visit a planetarium or observatory and submit a report to your
counselor both on the activities occurring there and on the exhibits of
instruments and other astronomical objects you observed.
- Spend at least three hours observing celestial objects through a
telescope or field glass, and write a report for your counselor on what
you observed.
- Name different career opportunities in astronomy. Explain how to
prepare for one of them. List the high school courses most useful in
beginning such preparation.
BSA Advancement ID#: 22
Source: Boy Scout Requirements, #33215E, revised 2002
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