Dorothy Hill Observatory

Year 7 students start their observational astronomy journey close to home. They first learn about the Moon, with a specific focus on observable surface features, then evaluate and label images of the Moon, taken using the DHO’s Vespera Pro telescope.

Later in the Year, they explore the Sun, concentrating on the Sun’s composition and sunspots. Year 7 teachers take their students outside the classroom for a lesson that uses the 8” Celestron and Vespera Pro to show students what the Sun’s surface looks like.

At the end of the year, girls learn about the composition of the universe, starting with Earth’s location and working outward to understand the celestial objects they will be imaging in Years 8 and 9: nebulas, star clusters, and galaxies.

Year 8 students investigate how the combined functionality of the human eye and a telescope work together to produce magnified images of distant objects. They learn about the electromagnetic spectrum and the ways in which primary colours of light can be combined to make any other colour.

Girls choose a particular nebula, star cluster or galaxy to image using the 356 mm reflecting telescope, using red, green, and blue filters. They then use astrophotography image processing techniques to create a full-colour image from their individual photos.

Year 8 students also learn about asteroids and dwarf planets and use images from the 106 mm refracting telescope to produce a time lapse series of one of these objects moving through the sky.

Year 9 students learn about electron transition between atomic energy levels and connect this idea to the emission of light from nebulas of ionised gas. They link these concepts to atomic spectra and use this information to understand the purpose of narrowband imaging.

Girls choose a particular nebula to image using the 356 mm reflecting telescope, using Hα, OIII and SII narrowband filters. They then stack and combine the images from each filter into one superior full-colour Hubble palette image, which can be analysed to elucidate the presence and location of hydrogen, oxygen, and sulphur within the nebula.

Year 10 students have the opportunity to learn about Type 1a supernovas and their use as a standard astronomical candle. They build on this idea to investigate galactic redshift and the expansion of the universe.

Girls can analyse images of a Type 1a supernova, extracting photometric data and using this to create a light curve. Various Type 1a light curves are used to find distances to the supernovae, which are used in a Hubble plot to calculate the age of the universe.

All students in Years 7-10 with an interest in astronomy are invited to join the BGGS Astronomy Club, which meets fortnightly to learn about various space and astronomy topics.

Students in this club will have the opportunity to:

• Learn more about Astronomy and Space Science, exploring topics beyond the classroom curriculum
• Take part in hands-on activities and experiments
• Spend additional time using the School’s telescopes
• Participate in space-focused competitions

Questions about Astronomy Club can be directed via email to Mr Mathew McAlister.

Open to any students in Years 10 to 12, this group meets fortnightly to engage in astronomy research using the telescopes at the Dorothy Hill Observatory at Marrapatta.

Students in this research group will have the opportunity to:

• develop their knowledge of general astronomy and astrophysics topics
• learn basic astronomy research techniques, including differential photometry
• work in groups with other students on research projects
• contribute to the wider scientific community through data sharing
• learn fundamental scientific research skills, including data analysis, record-keeping, and literature review
• publish papers in astronomy research journals, focusing on topics such as double stars, variable stars, and exoplanet transits

Questions about the Student-Teacher Astronomy Research Symposium can be directed via email to Ms Gerri Bernard.