The supplement to Problem Sheet #3 is a whirlwind tour of some astronomy resources on the internet. The assignment is to visit the sites below, answer any of the questions, discover what information or service they provide and describe this in your write up. Where relevant you should show one or more examples of what the site can do; please use your judgement and show enough examples to illustrate the point you're trying to make.

Please write up 4 of the 6 sites plus one more of your choosing.

To be turned in by 5:00 pm Friday 26 November (with Problem Sheet 3).

You should also look around and find and describe at least one other example of a good internet astronomy resource not on the list below.

Here's the list:

1. The SIMBAD astronomical database / name resolver. Use this to find the HD catalog number and coordinates of Capella. What is Capella's "Flamsteed number" (given in each constellation by increasing RA). What is Capella's Bayer catalogue designation (also by constellation with a Greek letter for decreasing brightness)?

2. The Aladin sky atlas. For both SIMBAD and Aladin there are tutorials.

3. The FITS Support Office. What is FITS? Try opening a FITS file with a text editor such as notepad. (Depending on the editor this might show garbage...) Give some examples of the information contained in the FITS file header.

4. Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) including the Nine Planets Solar System Tour (take the "Express Tour") and the Messier Catalog.

5. A light curve generator from the AAVSO. Generate a recent light curve for delta Cephei.

6. Optional: Le site des WebCams Astro, AstroCam (French and English). See how our "cheap CCD" was made.