Please complete the simple assignment below and turn it in on the first day of class. This assignment should take about two hours to complete and needs to be spread across the summer!
Get a pair of binoculars. You don't need anything fancy, but generally speaking, the larger the diameter of the front lenses (objective lenses), the better they'll be for astronomy. If you don't have a pair of your own, see if you can borrow from a relative or a neighbor. Go out one night and spend 15-30 minutes to observe the moon in any phase (it doesn't need to be a full moon). Sketch a detailed diagram of what you see. Be sure to record the date and time of your observation.
Explore the various features of S&T's web site. In particular, try out their Interactive Sky Chart.
At least 2 or 3 times this summer (spread out these dates) you should go to S&T's web site and read their "This Week's Sky at a Glance" page and print it out, then go outside in the evening and find their recommended points of interest (you can make a note of your success and observations on the back of the S&T printout)
Have a 1.5" 3-ring binder with dividing tabs and looseleaf paper ready for the first day of class. The sections you should create are (1) Class Notes & Handouts (2) Homework Assignments and (3) Quizzes
