4.1

Recognise and draw Ursa Major, Orion, Taurus and Cassiopeia.

4.2

State the names and draw the shapes of four other prominent constellations.

4.3

Use pointers to find Polaris, and Orion’s belt to find Sirius.

4.4

Explain the difference between a constellation and a physical grouping of stars.

4.5

Explain that a planet may temporarily alter the appearance of a constellation.

4.6

State that different constellations are visible at different times of night, and of the year.

4.7

Distinguish between optical double stars and binary star systems.

4.8

State the meaning of circumpolar stars, and their connection with Polaris and Earth’s rotation.

4.9

Interpret long exposure photographs of star trails as evidence of apparent motion of the stars.

4.10

Explain the terms right ascension and declination and use a star map and planisphere.

Explain That if a star is circumpolar from latitude L, then the declination of the star is 90⁰ - L.

4.12

Describe the method of heliocentric parallax for determining the distances of nearby stars.

4.13

State how a parsec is defined and show how it is used as a unit of distance in the Universe.

4.14

Identify the light curves of eclipsing binaries, Cepheid variables, novae and supernovae.

4.15

Explain the causes of variability of eclipsing binaries, Cepheid variables, novae and supernovae.

4.16

Explain the apparent magnitude scale, and how it relates to observed brightness of stars, planets.

4.17

Describe the discovery of, and evidence for, planets orbiting other stars.

4.18

Explain the meaning of the term absolute magnitude.

4.19

Perform simple calculations involving apparent magnitude and brightness ratio.

4.20

Perform calculations using m-M=5logd-5 (apparent magnitude, absolute magnitude, distance).

4.21

Explain how Cepheid variables are used as distance indicators.

4.22

Describe how a stellar spectrum is obtained at the telescope.

4.23

Describe the appearance of a stellar spectrum, including emission and absorption lines.

4.24

Classify stars according to their spectral type (colour, surface temperature and composition).

4.25

Describe how the spectrum reveals spectroscopic binaries, and differential rotation of the Sun.

4.26

Describe the evolutionary cycle of a star with solar mass and of stars with greater mass.

4.27

Describe and identify the main components of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

4.28

Describe the observational evidence for black holes, accretion discs, or orbiting companions.

4.29

Describe how the solar system and stars form part of a galaxy, which is part of the Universe.

4.30

Describe the appearance of the Milky Way, naked eye, with binoculars and a small telescope.

4.31

Explain that the observed Milky Way forms the plane of our own Galaxy.

4.32

State the position of the Sun in the Galaxy.

4.33

Describe the physical shape and size of the Milky Way Galaxy and its constituent parts.

4.34

Compare the observational appearances of different types of nebulae, star clusters and galaxies.

4.35

Show understanding of the physical characteristics of different types of nebula and star cluster.

4.36

State that galaxies are clustered in groups.

4.37

Describe the appearance of spiral, elliptical and irregular galaxies.

4.38

State the Hubble classification of galaxies.

4.39

Describe quasars.

4.40

Describe the cosmic background radiation.

4.41

Describe the observational evidence for the expanding Universe.

4.42

State the Doppler principle, and explain red shift and blue shift.

4.43

Explain why the search for dark matter in the Universe is important to cosmologists.

4.44

Describe the main arguments of the evolutionary (‘Big Bang’) theory of the Universe.