PHYS 3154
J. H.
Simonetti |
![[14-inch Telescope]](14inchlink.gif)
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National Weather Service, Blacksburg Click icon for Blacksburg weather forecast, radar, and satellite images |
Current Lunar Phase |
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Current USNO Master Clock (UTC) (Refresh page to update Click inside box to see a running clock) |
- Welcome
- Use the Quick Links at the left to navigate this site.
This home page displays
generally useful information on the weather, sky conditions, time, today's Sun
and Moon rise/set, and current lunar phase --- almost all the images shown are
links to extensive information. The course syllabus, project handouts,
and PDF lectures, are available at the Blackboard site for this course. This course is one
of the required courses for the Astronomy
Minor offered by the Physics Department at Virginia Tech.
- Martin Observatory
- The course centers around use of
the 14-inch Telescope at the Martin Observatory.
- EST, EDT, UTC, LST and All That
- EDT
begins on the second Sunday in March, and EST will resume on the
first Sunday in November (see When Does
Daylight Time Begin and End? at the USNO). Coordinated Universal
Time is UTC = EST + 5 hours. The current UTC and LST (Local Sidereal
Time) at the Martin Observatory are calculated and displayed at the
right, assuming your computer's clock is accurately set. Also shown is
an accurate UTC snapshot from the USNO/NIST master clock (a running
display of the current UTC is available by clicking on the digital clock display).
- Martin Observatory Clear Sky Clock
- Top row shows the predicted cloud cover (white is cloudy, dark blue is clear).
Bottom row shows the predicted transparency (white is opague, dark blue is transparent).
Each square is a one hour interval; the red vertical lines represent upcoming midnights.
The Clear Sky Clock also provides extensive
Sun/Moon/twlight data for 2008
for the Martin Observatory,
originating from the USNO, and other maps and data specific to the Martin Observatory.
Past Student Images and Results
Newspaper Article (Courtesy of the Roanoke Times) Showcasing Student Results, Spring 2001
Image of M51 by Adam Drake, Victor Gehman, Seth Hornstein, and Chad King (using the 0.4m telescope, PHYS 3154, Spring semester 1999).
Image of students Mark Blackmon, (Professor John Simonetti), Richard Fortgang, Katleen Hale, and Natalie Smith (some of the "pioneers" of this course from 1999) by Tatsu Takeuchi.
Current Lunar Phase provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory's Astronomical Applications Department.
USNO Master Clock display provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory's Time Service Department.
Martin Observatory Clear Sky Clock provided by Clear Sky Clock.
Observational Astrophysics Home Page
Virginia Tech Physics Department