PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A05.10

Calender Wheels

Native American celestial calendar wheels and how to construct them.

8A05.15

Stonehenge

Many models of this famous megalith are available.

8A05.16

Megaliths

Some historical background on megalithic astronomy.

8A05.20a

Constellations

Constellations used to interpret historical legends.

8A05.20b

Constellations

The Big Dipper used to tell time.

8A05.30a

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Eratosthenes determination of the circumference of the Earth updated by doing the experiment from an aircraft.

8A05.30b

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Eratosthenes experiment redone using meter sticks instead of wells.

8A05.30c

Measurement of Earth's radius

The calculation done using feet and miles. Also several other neat problems using Earth's radius as a starting point.

8A05.30d

Measurement of Earth's diameter

A GPS is used to calculate the diameter of the Earth.

8A05.30e

Eratosthenes measurement of Earth's radius

Trying to calculate the radius of the Earth by watching the Sun set twice, once from the bottom and then from the top of a tall building.

8A05.30f

Eratosthenes - scale of Earth/Moon/Sun system

Using Eratosthenes calculation of the diameter of the Earth to calculate the size of the Moon.

8A05.33

Eudoxus: homocentric spheres models

Two homocentric models of Eudoxus: one shows the motion of the Sun, the other shows retrograde motion.

8A05.35

Ptolemaic and Copernican orbits

An analog computer (circuit given) displays orbits and epicycles on an oscilloscope.

8A05.40a

Kepler and planetary orbits

A photographic solution to Kepler's laws.

8A05.40b

Kepler and planetary orbits

An unusual verification of Kepler's first law.

8A05.40c

Kepler and planetary orbits

A graphical representation of Kepler's third law.

8A05.40d

Kepler and planetary orbits

Kepler's third law calculations without a calculator.

8A05.40e

Kepler and planetary orbits

Kepler's third law and the rise time of stars.

8A05.40f

Kepler and planetary orbits

Applying Kepler's third law to elliptical orbits.

8A05.40g

Kepler and planetary orbits

Measuring an asteroids orbit to test Kepler's first and second law.

8A05.50

Sundial

A Plexiglas model of a sundial.

8A05.50

Sundial

Detailed descriptions, pictures, and how to time correct a sundial.

8A05.50

Sundial, solar pocket watch

Picture of a portable sundial (solar pocket watch) dated 1573.

8A05.50

Sundial

Constructing a portable sundial.

8A05.50

Sundial, solar pocket watch

Additional observations on TPT 41(5), 268.

8A05.55

Horizontal sundial

An analytic solution for determining the markings on a sundial and a description of construction.

8A05.60

Cross-staff

Cut a meter stick into 57 1/3 cm and 42 2/3 cm. (At 57 1/3 cm one degree equals one cm.) Some refinements.

8A05.70

Sextant

Pictures of and directions for sextants.

8A05.70

Sextant

An easily constructed mini-sextant and directions for it's use.

8A05.80

Artificial Horizon

A mercury filled dish that is used for an artificial horizon when taking measurements with a sextant during times when the real horizon is obscured.

8A05.85

Chronometer

An accurate ships time piece used in conjunction with the sextant to determine longitude and latitude.

8A05.90

Heliostat

Picture of a heliostat

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A10.05

Origin of the Solar System

Discussion on how the Solar System was formed.

8A10.06

Planetary nebula

On the formation of planetary nebula.

8A10.10a

Orrery model

A motor driven model of the Sun, Moon, Earth system.

8A10.10b

Orrery model

A mechanical model of the inner planets.

8A10.10

planispheric planetarium

Description of a homemade planetarium.

8A10.10

small planetarium

Description of a small homemade planetarium dome.

8A10.11

locating stars

A simple analytical method at the descriptive astronomy level for locating stars.

8A10.14

diurnal motion

Punch holes in a can bottom in the big dipper pattern and place over a point source of light. Rotate the can.

8A10.15

day & night

8A10.16

sundial

A Plexiglas model of a sundial.

8A10.16

horizontal sundial

An analytic solution for determining the markings on a sundial and a description of construction.

8A10.20

local zenith

8A10.21

precession of the equinox graph

A graph that shows the precession of the equinox from 1890 to 2000 and a discussion of its pedagogical value.

8A10.25

phases of the moon

View a ball illuminated by a distant light with a tv camera as the angle between the ball and light varies.

8A10.26

phases models

Illuminated models for showing the phases of Venus and the Moon.

8A10.30

eclipse models

8A10.31

Eudoxus: homocentric spheres models

Two homocentric models of Eudoxus: one shows the motion of the sun, the other shows retrograde motion.

8A10.32

earth/moon system

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A10.40

pinhead earth

8A10.50

horizon astronomy model

8A10.51

Cinhelium

8A10.52

Ptolemaic and Copernian orbits

An analog computer (circuit given) displays orbits and epicycles on an oscilloscope.

8A10.55

retrograde motion model

Two balls connected with a rod fixed through one ball and sliding through the other orbit on common ficus.

8A10.55

retrograde motion model letter

Pointer to AJP 43,693(1975).

8A10.55

retrograde motion model

Two balls driven by independent clock motors are connected with a rod fixed through one ball and sliding through the other.

8A10.60

epicycles

An Orrery caries a small flashlight on a rod between Earth and Jupiter to project epicycloidal motion.

8A10.60

epicycles

A elliptical Lucite dish has two arms attached to one foci. Place some ball bearings between the two arms and rotate the rear arm at constant angular velocity.

8A10.60

epicycles

A diagram of how to make a fairly simple crank device to trace out elliptical through cusped figures with a penlight.

8A10.65

comet orbit

8A10.80

celestial sphere

A simple model celestial sphere is made from a round bottom flask. Pictures.

8A10.80

celestial sphere

A simple model celestial sphere is made from a round bottom flask. Pictures.

8A10.90

cross-staff

Cut a meter stick into 57 1/3 cm and 42 2/3 cm. (At 57 1/3 cm one degree equals one cm.) Some refinements.

8A10.91

heliostat

Picture of a heliostat

8A20.64

[:Earth-Moon-Sun Model]

A 10" globe, a painted tennis ball, and a 100 W bulb are used to represent the Earth-Moon-Sun system

PIRA #

Demonstration Name

Abstract

8A20.10

globes

8A30.10

cratering

8A20.30

cratering

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.21

planetary density model

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.41

make a comet

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

8A20.42

Ed's comet

Add abstract in Handbook.FM

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