Tasks

Part of the GCSE Astronomy qualification is to complete two tasks. Please see the specification from the examining board for information about completing these.

The tasks are copied from the specification below. A link to the subject page on this website is also provided.

Choose 1 task from each column. Choose a maximum of 1 from each row.

Unaided Tasks	Aided Tasks
A1 - Demonstrate the changing appearance of lunar features Use a series of naked-eye drawings of individual lunar features to demonstrate their changing appearance during the lunar phase cycle Lunar Features Phases of the Moon	B1 - Demonstrate the changing appearance of lunar features Use a series of telescopic drawings or photographs of individual lunar features to demonstrate their changing appearance during the lunar phase cycle Lunar Features Phases of the Moon
A2 - Finding the radiant point of a meteor shower Use naked-eye drawings of the paths of meteors to determine the radiant point of a meteor shower Meteor Shower	B2 - Finding the radiant point of a meteor shower Use photographs of the paths of meteors to determine the radiant point of a meteor shower Meteor Shower
A3 - Assess the accuracy of stellar magnitude estimates Using reference stars, estimate the magnitude of a range of stars from naked-eye observations and thus assess the accuracy of this technique Apparent Magnitude	B3 - Assess the accuracy of stellar magnitude measurements Using reference stars, estimate the magnitude of a range of stars from photographs and thus assess the accuracy of this technique Apparent Magnitude
A4 - Estimate a celestial property using drawings of a suitable event Use naked-eye drawings or measurements of a celestial event such as a comet or eclipse to determine a celestial property such as the relative size of the Earth and Moon Measuring Diameters and Distances	B4 - Measure a celestial property using telescopic drawings or photographs of a suitable event Use telescopic drawings, measurements or photographs of a celestial event such as a comet, transit, eclipse or occultation to determine a celestial property such as the Earth-Sun distance or the orbital period of a Jovian satellite Measuring Diameters and Distances
A5 - Estimating levels of light pollution Use estimates of the magnitude of the faintest stars visible with the naked eye to conduct a survey of the astronomical effects of light pollution in an area Visibility	B5 - Measuring levels of light pollution Use estimates of the magnitude of the faintest stars visible on photographs to conduct a survey of the astronomical effects of light pollution in an area Visibility
A6 - Estimate the solar rotation period using drawings of sunspots Use a series of drawings from pinhole projections of sunspots to estimate the length of the Sun's average rotation period Sun Rotation Sun Spots	B6 - Determine the solar rotation period using photographs of sunspots Use a series of photographs or drawings from telescopic projections of sunspots to estimate the length of the Sun's average rotation period Sun Rotation Sun Spots
A7 - Estimating the period of a variable star Use estimates of stellar magnitude from naked-eye observations to produce a light curve for a variable star and thus estimate its period Variable Star Light Curve	B7 - Measuring the period of a variable star Use estimates of stellar magnitude from telescopic observations or photographs to produce a light curve for a variable star and thus estimate its period Variable Star Light Curve
A8 - Comparing stellar density estimates Use naked-eye estimates of stellar density taken in and outside the plane of the Milky Way to estimate their relative sizes	B8 - Comparing stellar density measurements Use telescopic measurements of stellar density taken in and outside the plane of the Milky Way to estimate their relative sizes
A9 - Finding longitude using a shadow stick Use measurements of shadow length around local noon to estimate the observer's longitude Shadow Stick	N/A
A10 - Assess the accuracy of a sundial Use a log of sundial and clock times to assess the accuracy of a sundial Use a log of sundial and clock times to assess the accuracy of a sundial Sundial	N/A
N/A	B11 - Demonstrate the range of objects in the Messier Catalogue Use detailed drawings or photographs of objects from the Messier Catalogue to demonstrate the range of different objects it contains Messier Catalogue
N/A	B12 - Calculation of the length of the sidereal day Use long-exposure photographs of the area around the celestial pole to produce an accurate measurement of the length of the Earth's sidereal period Day Star Trails