Astronomy 112 Pulsar Lab Write-Up

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Grossmont College Astronomy 112 Professor Clayton Pulsar Lab Write-up Vocabulary Crab Nebula: The expanding remnant of the supernova observed in 1054 ad, lying in the constellation Taurus at an approximate distance of 6500 light years. Declination: The coordinate on the celestial sphere exactly analogous to latitude on Earth; measured north and south of the celestial equator. Dispersion: The separation of a beam of light into the individual wavelengths of which it is composed by means of refraction or diffraction. Electromagnetic Spectrum: The entire array of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic Radiation: Radiation consisting of oscillating electric and magnetic fields, namely gamma rays, X-rays, visible light, ultraviolet and infrared radiation and radio waves. Interstellar Medium: Interstellar gas and dust. Julian date: A Julian date or day number is the number of elapsed days since the beginning of a cycle of 7,980 years invented by Joseph Scaliger in 1583. Magnetic Field: A region of space near a magnetized body within which magnetic forces can be detected. Neutron Star: A very compact, dense stellar remnant composed almost entirely of neutrons. Universal Time: Greenwich Mean Time: the local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England; it is the same everywhere. Pulsar: A pulsating source associated with a rapidly rotating neutron star with an off-axis magnetic field. Radio Telescope: A telescope designed to detect radio waves. Radio Waves: Long-wavelength electromagnetic radiation. Resolution: The degree to which fine details in an optical image can be distinguished. Right Ascension: The celestial coordinate analogous to longitude on Earth and measured around the celestial equator from the vernal equinox. Frequency: The number of peaks or troughs of a wave that pass a fixed point each second. Also, the number of

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