Well, I don't actually know whether this is the right place to seek some help from you guys or not.
I am in a huge problem. You people are grown-ups and experienced persons. But I am still a school-going girl. Our science-fair starts on 12th September and I haven't got any idea of a project. I want do a project on Astronomy or Engineering. So any recommendation will be very helpful.
I know the forums is not the appropriate place to seek science-fair project ideas. But I thought it would be great to have your ideas and make something innovative.
- Anuva
The great bird will take its first flight on the back of a great bird, bringing glory to the nest where it was born.......
- Leonardo Da Vinci . 1505
Not sure because I don't know how elaborate your project has to be. How about an alt-az mount with two protractors, one on each axle, to measure position angles? From a fixed direction designated 0°, to 360°, and from horizon up to zenith, 0° through 90°. It does not require a telescope as I remember you don't own one, but it is both engineering and astrometry. The sighting device can be a simple notch at the rear of a ruler and a post at the front (like rifle sights), or two small rings through which you aim.
The need to level the instrument and keep it aimed firmly on target adds a bit of technical challenge. Plus if you can get ahold of a small scope you'll have built a mount for it.
TS 8x40 Wildlife - TS 10x50 Marine - Fujinon 16x70 - TS 80mm f6 triplet & Sky-Watcher EQ-3 mount - TS 2" 99% diagonal - Celestron C5+ on homemade tripod - 5" homemade Bahtinov - Sky-Watcher 6x30 right-reading finders - Baader Hyperion 24,13,10mm 68° - TS Expanse 17mm 70° - Celestron Ultima 2x barlow - Astronomik UHC-E nebula filter - Baader Astro Solar 5" filter - Sky Atlas 2000 - Rükl's Moon atlas - Canon 400D - 5mW green laser
Thanks Antitax. But how do I make this instrument? Yes I do have a small scope which once worked well and then got hit by my youngest cousin somehow. Can I do something with that scope anyway?
I will show your reply to my brother and get some help from him on the matter.
Another important issue in astronomy is light pollution. If you did some research on that, you could include some of the ways astronomers try to overcome light pollution, use of filters, recommended design for city lights, the problem it creates for imaging etc. And this would help to increase awareness of the problem!
Yes, I thought that too TeleNoob!
You could recreate an old Astrolabe or Crosstaff and show how it is used to measure angular altitudes above the horizon for navigation by ships, etc.
---Poppa Chris---
"Second star to the right - Then straight on until morning!" - Peter Pan
Celestron CPC1100GPS (XLT) - 279mm aperature, 2800mm Focal length. (f10) Celestron Ultima LX (70deg AFOV) Eyepieces 32mm thru 5mm, Canon EOS Rebel T2i DSLR, Backyard EOS imaging software, Orion Star Shoot Planetary Imager IV, Celestron Skymaster 15x70 binoculars
How did the science fair go? Did you win?
Oh! No, I didn't win. But it was okay since people liked our project.
What did you do as your project?