Comet Hale-Bopp

Overview

Using this Resource

Connecting to the Curriculum

Marking Student Responses

Working with Students

Further Resources

This task is about reading star maps.

The position of the comet Hale-Bopp is shown relative to background stars.

The observer would be looking in a North-West direction one hour after sunset.

Question 1Change answer

a) Why is the position of the comet Hale-Bopp changing in the night sky?

b) The stars are 'setting' four minutes earlier each night. On June 1, Aldebaran will have 'set' and Bellatrix will be just above the horizon.

Name another star that will remain visible in the night sky.

c) Explain why the comet would not be seen by an observer from this location until May 1997.

Task administration:

This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.

Level:

Curriculum info:

Keywords:

Description of task:

Students are provided with a star map showing the path of comet Haley-Bopp 1997. Students use this map to answer three questions.

Curriculum Links:

Science capabilities

The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.

Capability: Interpret representations

This resource provides opportunities to discuss:

the thinking steps needed to identify relationships in a diagram.
the advantages and disadvantages of using diagrams to communicate science information.

Science capabilities:

Answers/responses:

		Y10 (04/1998)
a)	It (comet) is moving/the Earth is moving/orbiting the Sun.	easy
b)	Betelgeuse/Alhena/Rigel.	moderate
c)	Obscured from view by the Earth/It was below the horizon.	very difficult

Diagnostic and formative information:

	Common error
b)	19% of students gave no answer. 19% of students gave El Nath as answer.