1. Where are we ?

• -In the Universe

• In the Solar System

• 3rd planet from the Sun

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

• Sun, Moon, 5 Planets

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

zenith

nadirNHSH

4. Why do objects beyond the Earth appear to move ? • Because the Earth rotates

5. Define rotation

• To move about an internal axis

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

• Foucault Pendulum

• Not attached to Earth

• Earth must be rotating under the pendulum

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

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

8. What is the celestial sphere ?

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

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

• The celestial sphere appears to rotate around the Earth

10. What are constellations ? What is their purpose ?• Recognized group of stars in patterns• Their purpose:

1. is to section sky to identify the locationof objects.

2. predicting future events3. Entertainment – telling stories

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

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

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)

14. How is altitude measured ?

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

15. Identify the constellations, stars and sky objects for the southern sky

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 α alpha is the brightest, β Beta is next brightest, γ 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

• Flamsteed Name:

Number the stars from West to east again using the latin possessive

Examples 51 Pegasi, and 61 Cygni.

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

18. What is a photometer ?

• Instrument used to measure the brightness of a star

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

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

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

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