Viewing the Starry Night

1
Viewing the Starry Night Spring
2
1. Where are we ?

• -In the Universe
• In the Solar System
• 3rd planet from the Sun

3
2. When you stand outside, what objects beyond
the Earth can you see ?

• Sun, Moon, 5 Planets

4
zenith
3. Identify the following using the diagram on the right to identify Zenith point directly above you Nadir point directly below you Northern Horizon Where the sky meets the ground in the north Southern Horizon Where the sky meets the ground in the south


NH
SH
nadir
5
4. Why do objects beyond the Earth appear to
move ?

• Because the Earth rotates

6
5. Define rotation

• To move about an internal axis

7
6. How do we know that the Earth is rotating ?

• Foucault Pendulum
• Not attached to Earth
• Earth must be rotating under the pendulum

8
7. Which way does the Earth Rotate ? How do you
know ?

• Sun shows on Eastern coast of US first. Must be
  going counterclockwise

9
8. What is the celestial sphere ?

• Imaginary ball around the Earth that the stars
  can be found upon.

10
9. What affect does the rotation of the Earth
have on the celestial sphere?

• The celestial sphere appears to rotate around the
  Earth

11
10. What are constellations ? What is their
purpose ?

• Recognized group of stars in patterns
• Their purpose
• is to section sky to identify the location
• of objects.
• predicting future events
• 3. Entertainment telling stories

12
11. What is the difference between an asterism
and a constellation? Give some examples.

• A recognized group of stars that is only part of
  a constellation
• Examples big dipper, little dipper, sickle,
  summer triangle

13
12. Find and name 5 constellations 3 stars found
in your northern sky (these are the circumpolar
constellations)
Constellations Star Star
A. Ursa Major Merak Dubhe
B. Ursa Major North Star (Polaris)
C. Cassiopeia
D. Cepheus
E. Draco
14
13. How can you find the North Star (Polaris) ?
Give 2 ways

• 1. Using the two pointer stars in the Big Dipper
  (Merak Dubhe) create a straight line to the
  North Star
• 2. Face north and count 4 fist and a finger up
  from the horizon (altitude)

15
14. How is altitude measured ?

• Measure the angle from the horizon up to the
  object in the sky

16
15. Identify the constellations, stars and sky
objects for the southern sky
Constellation Star Star Sky Object
A Orion Betelguese Bellatrix Orion Nebula
Rigel
B Taurus Aldebaran Pleiades
C Canis Major Sirius
D Canis Minor Procyon
E Gemini Merak Dubhe
F Lepus
17
16. What names do stars have ? Where do
they come from ? See naming packet

• Common name Name given to star sometime in
  past. This is typically how the star is
  identified. Example Betelgeuse means Arm Pit
  Aldebaran means the follower (it follows the
  Pleiades) Procyon means before the dog it
  comes before the dog star Sirius
• Bayer Name Name given to star going from the
  brightest to the dimmest. Use the Greek alphabet
  a alpha is the brightest, ß Beta is next
  brightest, ? gamma is next etc.. Then use the
  Latin Possessive.
• Example alpha Ursa Minoris ( brightest star in
  Ursa Major) Polaris, alpha Canis Majoris (
  brightest star in Canis Major) Sirius

18

• Flamsteed Name
• Number the stars from West to east again using
  the latin possessive
• Examples 51 Pegasi, and 61 Cygni.

19
17. What is apparent magnitude ? What is the
apparent magnitude of the Polaris ?

• How bright a star appears to us. This can be
  affected by distance.
• Higher the number the dimmer
• Lower the number the brighter
• Polaris is a 2.0

20
18. What is a photometer ?

• Instrument used to measure the brightness of a
  star

21
19. How much brighter is one star than another on
the apparent magnitude scale ?

• A difference of 5 on the apparent magnitude scale
  equal 100 x brighter
• A 1 is 100x brighter than a 6

22
20. How can you tell where you are on the Earth ?

• Latitude Lines that run East and West and
  measure North and South
• Longitude Lines that run North and South measure
  East to West
• Chardon is Latitiude 41 N
• Longitude 81 W

23
21. Identify the following using terrestrial
globe
Latitude Lines Measure north and south North Geographic Pole 90 degrees north latitude
Equator 0 degrees latitude South Geographic Pole 90 degrees south latitude

Longitude Lines (meridians) Measure east and west International Date Line 180 degrees longitude
Prime meridian 0 degrees longitude Local Meridian Your longitude
24
22. Identify the following using the celestial
sphere
Declination Lines running east to west on the Celestial Sphere. They measure north to south Celestial North Pole 90 N declination
Celestial Equator 0 degrees declination Celestial South Pole 90 S declination
Right Ascension Lines running North to South on the Celestial Sphere. They measure east to west Autumnal equinox point at which the ecliptic intersects  the celestial equator. on or about  September 21
Vernal equinox point at which the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator. on or about March 21
25
(No Transcript)