Boy Scout Astronomy Merit Badge

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[edit] Overview

This document outlines one approach to helping Boy Scouts complete the necessary requirements for their Astronomy Merit Badge. While there are several ways to structure such an endeavor, this particular approach combines a presentation at a troop meeting, 'home work' by the boys, followed by a visit to the observatory to complete the requirements.

[edit] Objectives

The objectives of the presentation at a troop meeting include:

  1. Ensure the boys have a thorough understanding of the requirements
  2. Identify for the boys those requirements that will take a certain amount of effort and planning
  3. Provide information regarding upcoming celestial events (lunar phases, for example) that affect the boys' ability to complete certain requirements
  4. Provide information the boys can use to meet certain of the requirements
  5. Provide resources and references for meeting others
  6. Prepare the boys for their upcoming visit to the observatory

The objectives of the 'home work' component are:

  1. Accomplish the requirements that can't be met in a single evening (multi-night observations of planetary movements, for example)
  2. Accomplish the requirements that don't requirement the telescopes and equipment of the observatory, freeing up more time for those that do when at the observatory

The objectives of the observatory visit are:

  1. Meet the specific requirement to visit a planetarium or observatory
  2. Provide information the boys can use to meet certain of the requirements
  3. Use the observatory telescopes and equipment to meet certain of the requirements (sketching lunar features, for example)
  4. Complete any remaining requirements that haven't been addressed previously

[edit] Summary of the merit badge requirements

The Boy Scouts of America's Astronomy Merit Badge is one of the most comprehensive and difficult badges to obtain. Following are its requirements (as the requirements sometimes change, readers should refer to resources in the the "Related resources" section for the most recent information):

  1. Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations at night and in cold weather. Tell how to safely observe the Sun, objects near the Sun, and the Moon. Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses, such as heat and cold reactions, dehydration, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.
  2. Explain what light pollution is and how it and air pollution affect astronomy.
  3. With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available), do each of the following:
    1. Explain why binoculars and telescopes are important astronomical tools. Demonstrate or explain how these tools are used.
    2. Describe the similarities and differences of several types of astronomical telescopes.
    3. Explain the purposes of at least three instruments used with astronomical telescopes.
  4. Do the following:
    1. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac.
    2. Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of magnitude 1 or brighter.
    3. Make two sketches of the Big Dipper. In one sketch, show the Big Dipper's orientation in the early evening sky. In another sketch, show its position several hours later. In both sketches, show the North Star and the horizon. Record the date and time each sketch was made.
    4. Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.
  5. Do the following:
    1. List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear in phases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why.
    2. Find out when each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will be observable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this information in the form of a chart or table. Update your chart monthly to show whether each planet will be visible during the early morning or in the evening sky.
  6. At approximately weekly intervals, sketch the position of Venus, Mars or Jupiter in relation to the stars. Do this for at least four weeks and at the same time of night. On your sketch, record the date and time next to the planet's position. Use your sketch to explain how planets move.
  7. Do the following:
    1. Sketch the face of the moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Label these landmarks.
    2. Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon at the same hour and place, for a week. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, and buildings. Explain the changes you observe.
    3. List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.
    4. With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and the Moon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter, full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon.
  8. Do the following:
    1. Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and some effects of its radiation on Earth's weather. Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.
    2. Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun). Explain the meaning of these colors.
  9. With your counselor's approval and guidance, do ONE of the following:
    1. Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, a scrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes the following information:
      1. Activities occurring there
      2. Exhibits and displays you saw
      3. Telescopes and instruments being used
      4. Celestial objects you observed.
    2. Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes using binoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and find each on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Show your plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making your observations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward.
    3. Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class at school. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group.
    4. Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public.
    5. Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, a planet, an asteroid or meteoroid, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and include the date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your display at school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed.
  10. List at least three different career opportunities in astronomy. Pick the one you in which are most interested and explain how to prepare for such a career. Discuss with your counselor what courses might be useful for such a career.

Remaining sections of this document will refer to the requirements using the assigned numbers -- '9.1.1' refers to the activities observed when visiting a planetarium or observatory, for example.

[edit] Pre-event preparation

  1. Review the most current requirements for the merit badge (refer to #Related resources, below, for the most up-to-date information)
  2. Working with the sponsoring troop to select an evening for the troop presentation. Preferred is an evening prior just prior to the New Moon, so the boys will be well prepared to work on requirement 7.2 (sketching lunar phases).
  3. Work with the sponsoring troop to select an evening and an alternate for visit to the observatory. Preferred is an evening near the first quarter.
  4. Reserve the outreach multimedia projector for the troop meeting night.
  5. Reserve the observatory for the date(s) selected.
  6. Post a notice regarding the observatory visit in the Outreach forum of MAS Discussions, requesting volunteers to assist.
  7. Ask the sponsoring troop to produce sufficient copies of the merit badge worksheet and star charts from SkyMaps.com (see #Related resources, below) for the boys to use.
  8. Familiarize yourself with:
    • Constellations visible during the period the boys will work on the merit badge (including 4 Zodiac constellations)
    • Eight easy-to-find, conspicuous stars (include five 1st magnitude stars)
    • Locations of naked-eye planets, preferably in the evening sky

[edit] The plan

As mentioned earlier, there are many different approaches to assisting Scouts with this merit badge. The following table describes some of these options. The options displayed as bold represent the approach from which this document was developed:

REQMT. VENUE
TROOP MEETING HOME WORK OBSERVATORY
1Use supplied PowerPoint and outreach projectorRefer scouts to merit badge pamphletUse supplied PowerPoint and observatory projector
2Use supplied PowerPoint and outreach projectorRefer scouts to www.ida.org or merit badge pamphletUse supplied PowerPoint and outreach projector
3.1
3.2
3.3		Use supplied PowerPoint and outreach projectorRefer scouts to <<web site>> or merit badge pamphletUse observatory telescopes and binoculars supplemented with white board

OR use supplied PowerPoint and observatory projector
4.1
4.2		Use preferred planetarium software and outreach projector, supplemented with star maps; Emphasize the constellations and star identified in the #Pre-event prepartion sectionRefer scouts to <<web site>> and star mapsUse observatory laser pointer and star maps; Emphasize the constellations and star identified in the #Pre-event prepartion section

OR in the case of inclement weather use preferred planetarium software and observatory projector
4.3Ensure the boys understand the importance of indicating the horizon and noting the date/timeRecommendedNot recommended
4.4Use supplied PowerPoint and outreach projectorRefer scouts to the merit badge pamphletUse the on-site model of the Milky Way

OR use the supplied PowerPoint and observatory projector
5.1xxxyyyzzz
5.2xxxyyyzzz
6xxxyyyzzz
7.1xxxyyyzzz
7.2xxxyyyzzz
7.3
7.4		xxxyyyzzz
8.1
8.2		xxxyyyzzz
9.1n/aMake scouts aware of Onan public night schedule, Eisenhower Observatory and viewing opportunities at the UofMAchieve with troop visit to work on merit badge

9.2n/ayyyn/a
9.3n/ayyyn/a
9.4n/ayyyCoordinate with a scheduled public night
9.5xxxyyyzzz
10xxxyyyzzz

[edit] Options

[edit] Requirements 4.1 & 4.2

These requirements are best met out under the sky, providing a tour of the constellations and bright stars using a laser pointer. Following is an example outline of one such tour:


STEPOBJECTREQMT?NOTES
1North Star
(Polaris)		*Demonstrate using the 'pointer stars' of the Big Dipper
2Ursa MinorC(May be difficult in strong moonlight)
3Ursa MajorCMention difference between 'asterism' (the Dipper) and a 'constellation' (UMa)
4Arcturus
Spica		* *Using the memory aid 'Arc to Arcturus, drive a spike to Spica', show these two stars
5CassiopeiaCReturn to Ursa Major, and drawing an imaginary line from the Dipper through Polaris, show Cassiopeia
6Capella* 1Return to Ursa Major, and follow the 'nose of the bear' to locate Capella in the west (May not be possible later in the evening once the star has set)
7Gemini
Castor
Pollux		* C ZUsing the memory aid 'Arc to Arcturus, drive a spike to Spica', show these two stars


While at Gemini, describe the ecliptic and its relationship to the constellations of the Zodiac


Mention the 'C' before 'P' in the alphabet memory aid to differentiate Castor from Pollux

8CancerC ZFollowing the imaginary ecliptic, show Cancer


(May be difficult in moonlight)


Note that Mars is in the vicinity of the ecliptic

9Leo
Regulus		* 1 C ZFollowing the imaginary ecliptic, show Leo


Call out the 'Sickle' asterism


Show Regulus


Note that Saturn is in the vicinity of the ecliptic

10Virgo
Spica		* 1 C ZFollowing the imaginary ecliptic, show Virgo


(May be difficult in moonlight)


Point out Spica (blue-white star)

11LibraC ZFollowing the imaginary ecliptic, show Libra


(May be difficult in moonlight)


12Scorpius
Antares		* 1 C ZFollowing the imaginary ecliptic, show Libra


(May be not be possible early in the evening)

Point out Antares (red star)


13BootesCChallenge someone to find Arcturus, and then show Bootes


Point out Antares (yellow star)

14Corona
Borealis		CMoving eastward, show Corona Borealis
15HerculesCMoving eastward, show Hercules


Point out the 'keystone' asterism

16Lyra
Vega		* 1 CMoving eastward, show Lyra


(May be not be possible early in the evening)


Point out Vega(blue white)

17Cygnus
Deneb		* 1 CMoving eastward, Cygnus (the Swan)


Point out the 'Northern Cross' asterism


Point out Deneb


Point out 'Summer Triangle' asterism


(May be not be possible early in the evening)


ICONMEETS REQUIREMENT
*Conspicuous star
CConstellation
ZZodiac
11st magnitude star

[edit] Related resources

Retrieved from "http://www.mnastro.org/onanwiki/index.php/Boy_Scout_Astronomy_Merit_Badge"
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