Astronomy: star project

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Astronomy: star project

Be sure you cite all your references!

A Suggested resource: http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=HIPPARCOS&page=high_p

 

WRITTEN REPORT – STA

 

your project must clearly include (and identify) the following information about your star:

 

1.      Distance, Location, Names, and Magnitude.

  1. How far away is your star? Compare/contrast this with our Sun.
  2. Where is your star located?
  3. How would you go about finding it in the night sky (state where you are located)?
  4. What other names does your star have?
  5. What are the absolute and apparent magnitudes of your star? Be sure to explain what these two terms mean. Compare/contrast this with our Sun.
  1. Star’s Story. Find out more about your assigned star from a historical perspective. This is

not technical information but rather, myths, history, or cultures that involved your star.

  1. Classification. Discuss the specific spectra of your Be sure to explain what this means. Compare/contrast this with our Sun.

4.      H-R Diagram.

  1. Where does your star fit on the H-R diagram? Compare/contrast this with our
  2. Discuss this in terms of both its size and temperature. Compare/contrast this with our Sun.

5.      Lifetime.

  1. What is the lifespan of your star? Compare/contrast this with our Sun.
  2. How old is your star right now? Compare/contrast this with our Sun.
  1. Possibility of Life. Suppose that there is a planet orbiting your star that has the right conditions to sustain
  2. What would you do to communicate to that planet? Be sure to take into consideration how

far away your star is.

  1. How would you want our civilization to be seen by life on that planet?

 

 

Scoring Rubric

 

Category Excellent (9-10) Marginal (7-8) Unsatisfactory (0-6)
1a. Distance Correct including units; source cited Correct; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
1b. Location Correct including units; source cited Correct; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
1c. Night sky Clear, accurate directions; source cited Accurate but somewhat unclear directions; source cited Inaccurate, or source not cited
1d. Other names 2 or more correct alternate names; source cited 1 correct alternate name; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
1e. Magnitude Absolute & apparent magnitudes correct; source cited Either absolute or apparent magnitude correct; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
  Absolute & apparent magnitudes defined correctly; source cited Either absolute or apparent magnitude defined correctly; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
  Correct comparison to Sun; source cited Comparison 80% correct; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
2. Story Correct history or myth or culture involving this star; source cited Mostly correct history or myth or culture involving this star; source cited Incorrect, or source not cited
3. Classification Spectral classification correct; explained; compared to Sun; source cited Mostly correct spectral classification correct; mostly explained; compared to Sun; source cited Incorrect, left out classification or explanation or Sun comparison; or source not cited

 

4a. H-R Diagram placement Placement correct; correct comparison to Sun; source cited Either placement or comparison to Sun incorrect; source cited Both incorrect, or source not cited
4b. H-R Diagram Size and temperature correct, related to H-R Diagram; correct comparison to Sun; source cited Size or temperature incorrect; or Sun comparison incorrect; source cited All incorrect, or source not cited.
5a. Lifetime Lifespan correct; correct comparison to Sun; source cited Lifespan incorrect, or incorrect comparison to Sun; source not cited All incorrect, or source not cited
5b. Age Age correct; correct comparison to Sun; source cited Age incorrect, or incorrect comparison to Sun; source not cited All incorrect, or source not cited
6a. Life – communication Reasonable communication described; source cited Unreasonable communication described; source cited Source not cited
6b. Perception Well-reasoned and well-written opinion Well-reasoned or well- written opinion  
Mechanics Entire presentation is free of grammar and spelling errors Some minor errors exist Errors interfere with understanding the meaning of the project
    Total (160 pts)  
    Scaled to 50 points

possible