1. Object Visibility:  Each student selects a celestial object to find and image with the CCD camera system.  Each student will use resources such as The Astronomical Almanac, The Observer's Handbook, The Sky (software), and the web based Digital Sky Survey to determine the visibility of a celestial object and to make finding charts.  The object should be observable in the evening sky during the 1st 3 or 4 weeks of the semester.

2.  Satellite Visibility:  Using the "Heavens Above" web site or other available software, each student will select 5 bright satellites to view from the observatory.  If possible, at least one "Iridium flare" should be selected for viewing.  Extra credit possible for timing the "Iridium flare" and comparing the time of the actual event to the predicted time.

3.  (alternative)  We will observe the possible Leonid meteor storm predicted for 2000/2001.  Extra credit for recording usable meteor counts.

4.  (alternative)  Using the CCD and spectrograph at NGAO, we will attempt to record and process spectra from stars, emission nebulae, normal galaxies and AGN.  Note:  Perhaps use some of this data in number 10 below.

5.  The class will make 3-color off-focus images of the bright stars used in the colors of stars A1020L lab.

6.  (alternative)  CCD images of "Barnard's Star" or some other high proper motion star will be obtained to start an on-going project to measure the proper motion of the star.  (Later Intro. Astrophysics classes will continue the project.)

7.  (alternative)  CCD images of a nearby star will be obtained beginning early in the semester and then re-observed approximately once a month until the end of the semester (perhaps continuing on into the spring semester) in order to measure the parallax of the star.

8.  The class will use previous observations of the young cluster NGC 2362 (t CMa) in U, B, and V and produce an instrumental (or calibrated) CMD. (Optional: Produce a 2-color diagram with the calibrated data.)

9.  (alternative)  The class will observer the SX Phoenicis class pulsating star, BL Camelopardalis. RA=3:47:19, Dec=+63:22:46, Period = 56 min! V = 13.1  (Perhaps in 2 colors, B & V?)

10.  (alternative)  If instrumentation is available (spectrograph), measure the redshift and/or the rotation curve(s) of a relatively bright galaxy or galaxies.  (Optional:  Measure the redshift of a quasar other AGN.)  Note:  Perhaps use data from number 4 above.