Evolution of Stars (or Live Fast, Die Young) – we read a handout on the evolution of stars that could be summed up as “Mass Matters.” Notes on the HR diagram (Smartboard notes 3-8-11) and how stars evolve and then how they will plot in different places on the diagram. Try the interactive parts of this site on the Life Cycle of a Star. Meet in the planetarium tomorrow. BIG Star test on Monday 3-14-11.
In the planetarium today to work on constellations Bootes (Arcturus), Libra, and Scorpio (Antares). We reviewed the previous constellations and a number of HR diagrams were presented. The celestial coordinates should make more sense now! The March Sky Calendar was handed out. The Abrams Planetarium Sky notes are available here.
Introduction to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and a chance to see the diagram in “action” via the HR Diagram Explorer as seen on the left. Students worked on questions (pdf) with the website. Note that the temperature increases as one moves to the LEFT and that luminosity increases as one moves towards the TOP of the diagram. The green “path” represents the Main Sequence. Our Sun would plot at a surface temperature of 5800K and a luminosity of 1 (10^0). Note the color and size of the star on the left and the equation that uses the luminosity and temperature to determine the radius of the star.
Quiz on the circumpolar constellations and the sun angle on the solstices and the equinox. Student worked on (last day) the sky domes and some began the HR Diagram Explorer. Tomorrow we meet in 120 to work on the HR Diagram and how we classify stars.
