\documentclass[10pt]{article}% uses letterpaper by default

%---------- Uncomment one of them ------------------------------
\usepackage[includeheadfoot, top=1in, bottom=1in, hmargin=1in]{geometry}

% \usepackage[a5paper, landscape, twocolumn, twoside,
%    left=2cm, hmarginratio=2:1, includemp, marginparwidth=43pt, 
%    bottom=1cm, foot=.7cm, includefoot, textheight=11cm, heightrounded,
%    columnsep=1cm, dvips,  verbose]{geometry}
%---------------------------------------------------------------
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\usepackage{verbatim}
\usepackage{url}
\pagestyle{fancy}
\usepackage{setspace}
%\doublespacing
\singlespacing
%\onehalfspacing
%\newcommand{\exercisename}{}

\rhead{Earth, Moon, and Planets Lab (Tue 7-10pm)}
\chead{}
\lhead{Long-term project}
\renewcommand{\rightmark}{}
\lfoot{Roban Hultman Kramer} \cfoot{\thepage} \rfoot{Spring 2006}

\newcommand{\degrees}{\ensuremath{^\circ}}
\newcommand{\arcmin}{\ensuremath{'}}
\newcommand{\arcsec}{\ensuremath{"}}
\newcommand{\hours}{\ensuremath{^\mathrm{h}}}
\newcommand{\minutes}{\ensuremath{^\mathrm{m}}}
\newcommand{\seconds}{\ensuremath{^\mathrm{s}}}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\huge Long-term project
\end{center}


\section{Long-term project: Tracking the positions of planets}

\subsection*{Instructions}

\textbf{UPDATE 2006-03-07: also measure the distance between Mars and
  Saturn when you take each observation!}

This exercise will be performed outside of lab. You will use the
skills you have learned in lab so far to track the positions of Mars
and Saturn over the rest of the semester.

At least once a week (\textit{this means you need at least eight
  observations by the end}) you should measure the angular separations
between each visible planet and at least three nearby stars. Also
measure the angular separations between the planets. 

The more stars you use, the better your positions will be. Make sure
the stars are ones you can identify on the chart you will use for
plotting. It also helps if the stars you choose ``surround'' the
planet and are not too close to each other, but are not too far from
the planet. Be aware of the weather and take advantage of clear nights
when they occur.

To summarize:

\textbf{At least once a week go outside, find Mars and Saturn, record
  date and time, record the angular separations between each planet
  and several nearby, identifiable stars.  Also measure the angular
  separations between the planets. Later you should plot the
  positions of the planets on your chart to make sure you are getting
  useful data.}

At the end of the semester you will use these observations to
construct a final chart showing the movement of the planets and to
measure the speed of their motion. 

\end{document}