The purpose of making up this star war project is to get you to use your ability to think and reason in order to critically analyze how much real astronomy in science fiction. All questions should be answered  after careful thinking of what you have learned in labs this semester. Since it is equivalent to semester observing project, work independently and have fun. Part of the questions ask you about details in the movie, so you may try to find STAR WARS (1977) to refresh your memory. On Nov. 28, 2002 TBS channel is going to present this movie.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
Luke Skywalker leaves his home planet, teams up with other rebels, and tries to save Princess Leia from the evil clutches of Darth Vader.

a) List 5 technological advances in the movie that we have yet to master. Make your answers explicit so there is no doubt for ME to understand the meaning. "Spaceship" is not valid answer, for US astronauts have traveled to the moon in spaceship.
 
 
 
 

b) R2D2 and C-3PO escape from the ship in an escape pod and crash-land somewhere on a strange planet. How could they determine what latitude they landed at?
 
 
 
 
 

c) When attempts to determine whether life is possible in other planetary systems are made, astronomers tend to make an inherent assumption about the planetary system, based largely on our own Solar system. Can you spot a violation of this inherent assumption by Luke's home world Tatooine? (Hint: Look for this after Luke, his uncle and aunt discuss whether or not Luke can leave for the academy before the harvest.)
 
 
 
 
 
 

d)Assuming the two "suns" of Tatooine have approximately the same luminosity, then which of the following classifications for the stars (based on H-R diagram) could be correct:
i. White Dwarf and Red Giant              iv. Both Red Giants
ii. White Dwarf and Main Sequence     v. Red Dwarf and Red Giant
iii. Both Main Sequence                        vi. Main Sequence and Red Supergiant

Hint: What are the approximate temperature/color and luminosity of each type? Remember red giants and red supergiants can be orange and yellow too.
 
 

e) How fast can Han's ship go? (Listen for the line "what a piece of junk" from Luke when he first sees the ship) Is this speed possible? Han claims that he has traveled across the galaxy and back and has never seen evidence of the Force. Assuming the galaxy is similar in size to the Milky Way, is the trip possible using his ship? (The diameter of Milky Way is about 100,000 lightyear). Just answer yes or no.
 
 
 
 
 
 

f) What astronomical object is the Death Star mistaken for?
 
 

g) If light sabers emit light the same ways stars do("blackbody radiation"), then whose saber has a higher temperature, Darth Vader's or Obi Wan's?
 
 

h)What do you notice about the rebel base that is a little unusual?(Hint: What type of astronomical object is it located on?)
 
 

i) On all of the various inhabited celestial bodies in this movie, the sky appears to be blue. This implies that all of their atmosphere are composed of the same types of gases (oxygen, nitrogen...). Do you think most "human-like" creatures would breath the same type of air or is this an example of modeling life in other systems based on our own limited experience?
 
 
 
 
 
 

"Mind what you have learned. Save you it can."