Mapping the Night Sky

by Keith Treschman, RGSQ Member. Keith is a Science Teacher and has taught Science in secondary schools for over 40 years.  He has a passion for Astronomy and has written curriculum materials on this topic for teachers.  His PhD is on “Astronomical Tests of General Relativity”.  He is responsible for the installation of an observatory at Brisbane Girls Grammar School – this is at its outdoor centre near Gympie. In this facility are 4 telescopes, 3 of which are operated by the students robotically from their computers.

Topic Overview:  How is the equivalent of latitude and longitude applied to the position of a star?  Without a Greenwich in the sky, what is a convenient starting point for the equivalent of longitude?  On what basis is the sky divided into areas denoted by constellations?  What is the importance of the zodiac?

Costs:  $2:00 contribution towards morning tea

Coordinator:  Kay Rees