Copyright: Copyright © Crystal Lake Observatory
Citation: (c) Crystal Lake Observatory, All Rights Reserved.


Contents

TS-24 Version 3.2

Demo

IMPORTANT, Read Me First

TS-24 Demo Changes

Welcome to TS-24

TS-24 Demonstration #1

Using TS-24 in the Classroom

TS-24 Lab Exercises

TS-24 Demonstration #2

TS-24 Lab Workbook #1

Developing your own TS-24 Exercises

Non-English Language Versions

TS-24 Kiosk Displays

TS-24 Internet ftp site

Purchasing TS-24

For additional information

(c) 1995 Crystal Lake Observatory, All Rights Reserved.


Welcome to TS-24

TS-24, Version 3 for Windows, is an educational computer program used in the classroom or science lab to teach students how an astronomer uses the telescope to study the universe.

For example, a student will read in an astronomy textbook that the temperature of a star is 6,000 degrees.  The student may wonder, how does the astronomer know that?

By using TS-24 the student becomes the astronomer and uses the telescope to locate the star, measure its brightness and from the data, calculate the temperature of the star.

To see how this is done let's begin by visiting one of the TS-24 observatories:

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TS-24 Demo Changes

The following changes have been made to the release 3.2 program to make this demo version:

1.  The TS-24 utility programs Ajax, Genesis and Ephemeris have not been included in the demo version.

2.  The simulator will only simulate the date March 15, 1995.

3.  You can make changes to the DT-7 database while running the simulator but they will not be saved on disk.

4.  You cannot make any changes to the following files:

TS24.OBS

TS24.TEL

TS24.OBJ

TS24.DT7

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Done

Cancel the Request

Exit the TS-24 Demo


Developing your own Exercises

TS-24 includes the Volume 1 Lab Workbook which contains several different types of lab exercises for student use.

If you would like to create your own lab exercises there are two types you can develop and add to TS-24:  a) Paper exercises, and b) HyperText exercises.

Paper Exercises:

All TS-24 lab exercises must use some form of a HyperText document to interface to the TS-24 simulator.  For paper lab exercises TS-24 includes a special HyperText document called "TS-24 Control Panel" which displays all of the TS-24 command icons on the left side of the screen.

Using this special control panel, you can develop your own written set of lab exercises instructing the student which icon to press at each step.  Because all of the command icons are on a single screen you do not need to make any modifications to the HyperText document.  These written exercises can then be handed out to the students.

HyperText Lab Exercises:

If you would like to make your own HyperText lab exercises, Crystal Lake Observatory offers a free development kit that explains how to make the documents and includes samples for you to start with.  The development kit will also be made available on the internet for easy downloading to your computer.

Making your own HyperText documents means that you can add still images, audio and movie video to your documents.  These documents can take advantage of specific equipment your labs may offer (e.g., video projection equipment, sound systems, etc).

Crystal Lake Observatory can assist you with this project and is available on a fee basis to develop custom student workbooks.  Contact us for more information.

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TS-24 Student Exercises

TS-24 Lab Exercises

TS-24 version 3.2 includes a set of lab exercises that can be performed in the classroom, computer lab/Library or at home.  The exercises feature:

HyperText viewer to assist the student in using the simulator and understanding the concepts being demonstrated/learned

Require no additional setup or preparation time by the instructor.

A wide range of difficulty levels and can be assigned based on the capabilities of the class or individual students.

A wide range of subject material and can be assigned based on the curriculum material being presented or the interest of the student.

A specific exercise can be demonstrated by the instructor to the class, can be performed by the class as part of a science lab or assigned as homework or extra credit study for students with access to computers outside the classroom.

The more difficult exercises can be assigned as independent study projects.  TS-24 simulates actual telescopes and instruments very accurately and is ideal for learning the more advanced concepts of instrumental astronomy.

A sample lab exercise is included with this demonstration program, let's see how it works:

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Whole Earth Telescope

Multiple observatories located around the world.  As the earth rotates, each observatory measures the same object at the same local time, but different UTC times.  All of the data is collected at a central point and combined.  The results represent observations of an object over a longer continuous period of time than available at any single observatory.


TS-24 Site License

TS-24 can be purchased as a site license for schools, astronomy clubs, science centers, etc.

Under the terms of the site license, TS-24 can be installed on any number of computers on the campus of the site license holder.  The license does not permit installation at other campuses or branches of the license holder.

In addition, any faculty member, student or member of the license holder are also permitted to have their own personal copies of the software for use at home.  It is not permitted for these persons to make copies of the software for use by others.


TS-24 in the Classroom

If your classroom features a large screen monitor or video projector:

Show students the difference between using a 3 inch telescope and an 8 inch telescope.

Explain magnification and field of view and how to select eyepieces.

Show what an asteroid looks like when viewed through a telescope.

Explain what a variable star is and how to study one using a telescope.

Demonstrate how a CCD Camera or Photoelectric Photometer is used by astronomers.

If you have an observatory on campus:

Use TS-24 in the classroom to prepare students what to look for before going outside.

If the telescope becomes unavailable due to weather or other reasons, use TS-24 as a substitute.

Demonstrate on the simulator how modifications to the telescope will change or enhance its performance.

If your science classroom is equipped with multiple computers:

Assign one or more students to each computer

Have each team determine the number of stars in an area of the sky and have the teams compare the data and discuss the results.

Assign each observing team to an observatory located at different locations on the earth.  Have them measure the time it takes for an asteroid to pass in front of a star.  Have the students compare the data and discuss the results.

Configure TS-24 with a whole earth telescope and have the students record the brightness of an eclipsing binary star during a primary eclipse.  Combine the data sets and discuss the results.

If your curriculum does not allow for using TS-24 in the classroom, consider offering the program to those students interested in astronomy and have home computers or access to computers in the school's library or computer lab.  The HyperText student exercises are ideal for self study

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Non-English Language Exercises

TS-24 runs as two separate programs: a) the HyperText Viewer, and b) the TS-24 simulator.

Nearly all of the text displayed by the simulator is generated by the instructor (e.g., list of observatory names).  This text can be generated in the language appropriate for the students.

All of the configuration files used by the simulator originate as ascii text files and are included with the program.  These files can be edited by the instructor and reloaded into the simulator.

The HyperText lab books are right now only available in English.  As other language versions become available they will be placed on the internet for easy downloading.

If you would like to translate the existing set of TS-24 Lab Exercises to a different language for others to use contact Crystal Lake Observatory for a free copy of TS-24 and a HyperText Development Kit.

If you have developed your own exercises and would like to make them available to others, please contact us and we will add them to the TS-24 internet ftp site.

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IMPORTANT, read me first

Read This First

-----  Item #1  -----

TS-24 runs as two separate, parallel programs.  The first program is the HyperText Viewer, running on the left side of the display (the program you are using to read this document).  The second program is the TS-24 Simulator, running on the right side of the display (windows 1 and 2).

These two programs run independent of each other.  To exit the demonstration it is important that you click the Done button located directly above on the menu line.  Doing so will confirm that you want to leave the demonstration and will properly close both programs.

If by chance either of the two programs is closed by itself you can close the other program by clicking on the Control-menu box located in the upper left corner of the window.

If you lose visibility to the HyperText viewer (this program) use the ALT-TAB key combination to select the TS-24 Demo program (see your windows manual if you are not sure how to do this).

If you lose visibility to the simulator (the right half of the display) click the Done pushbutton on the menu above and then Cancel the request.  Actually, changing to any Topic instructs the HyperText viewer to bring back the simulator.

-----  Item #2  -----

The demo program features images of an actual observatory, telescope and photometer.  These images require a 256 color SVGA board to display.  If you are using a 16 color display the images will appear false.  The simulator though will work properly in both 16 color and 256 color machines.

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TS-24 License Key

Each TS-24 license will be shipped with an encrypted license key (shipped as a file on your installation disks).

The key is read by the TS-24 programs at startup to verify the license.  If you do not have a valid key, the software will not run.

Also, updates to the programs and HyperText books are going to be made available on the Internet at an ftp site.  This means that you will be able to download the latest software at your convenience, at no additional cost or annual maintenance fees.  Your license key will be needed to run the newer versions.

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TS-24 Internet ftp site

Crystal Lake Observatory will be using an Internet ftp site for sharing/updating TS-24 programs, Hypertext books and news.

When you purchase TS-24 you will receive an encrypted key that will let you download the latest software from the ftp site.  Without the key the software will not run.

We also hope that the users of TS-24 will add to the ftp site their own versions of lab exercises, both english and non-english language, analysis programs and news related to TS-24.

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Lab Workbook #1

The TS-24 Version 3.2 Lab Workbook #1 is included with TS-24.  It will feature a general coverage of topics and range of difficulty levels.  The lab book can be used by students new to astronomy or by those who are interested in exploring instrumental astronomy.  It features color graphics, sample data charts and actual images of the observatories, telescopes and instruments simulated.

TS-24 Lab Workbook #1

Version 1.0

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Scientific Method

Precision and Accuracy

Recording your work

Motions of the Night Sky

Time

The Equatorial Coordinate System

The Magnitude System

The Atmosphere

Extinction

Scintillation

Observing Asteroids

Finding an Asteroid

Asteroid Photometry

The Nature of Stars

How many stars?

Magnitude and Color

Observing Variable Stars

Mira Variables

Observing Binary Stars

Visual Binaries

Eclipsing Binaries

Studying a Star Cluster

Calculating Distance

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Kiosk Displays

Beginning with TS-24 version 3.2, the program can now be run in a completely "hands off" mode.  This feature is ideal for multimedia kiosks at Planetariums, Science Centers, Star Party's, Conferences and Observatory viewing nights.

A multi-media presentation, built around the simulator, can feature still images, sound tracks and motion video.  The display can use the existing left side/right side format or we can develop a completely custom display with overlapping full screen images and transition effects.

If you would like to develop a Kiosk version of TS-24, contact us for a free Development Kit.  If you would like Crystal Lake Observatory to develop a custom multimedia presentation for your planetarium or science center please contact us for details.

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Purchasing TS-24

TS-24 can be purchased as a single license or a site license.  District and regional licenses are also available, call for a special quote.

A single license permits TS-24 to be used on a single machine.  The cost is $75 USD plus shipping from New Zealand

A site license permits TS-24 to be used on multiple machines (see Site License).  The cost is $495 USD plus shipping from New Zealand.  If you are upgrading a single license to a site license you will be credited the full amount you paid for the single license.

Each license includes:

TS-24

Ajax

Genesis

Ephemeris

HyperText Books:

Facilities Manual

Lab Workbook #1

TS-24 License Key

You can order TS-24 by:

Mail

Fax

Internet

You must include:

License Name

Purchase Order Number/Check/Bank Draft

Who to contact if any problems

Shipping address

Billing address.

You will be invoiced at the time of shipping, payment due in 30 days.

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For additional information

You can contact Crystal Lake Observatory at:

Postal Address

Crystal Lake Observatory

P.O. Box 304

Cambridge, New Zealand

Phone Number

64 07 823-0945

Country Code: 64

City Code: 07

Number: 823-0945

Fax Number

64 07 823-0945

Internet Address

sales@clo.midland.co.nz

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