Download 2007-8 Astronomy Outline

2016-2017 Astronomy Outline
**Night Sky Journal Entry 1 Example**
Date:
Time: (try to go out around the same time each night)
Light Conditions: (here is where you state how dark it is; cloud cover; how much light is
coming in from other houses aka light pollution)
Location: where you are and the direction you are facing
Observation: (verbally describe what you see with the naked eye; make sketch(s))
*first night sky journal will be due on __Friday, August 19th__*
Chapter 1
I.
Astronomy
 Study of the universe
 Universe is the totality of all space, time, matter, and energy
 Measurements
i. Light year
ii. Astronomical units
iii. Use scientific notation
 Compare images on page 5
II.
Constellations
http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html
III.
Patterns of stars
 What is the significance of constellations?
 Ancient astronomers named after ___________
 There are more than 80 constellations… 88 to be exact.
►►Constellation Project: Select one of the constellations and
research the following information:
►►Due on or before August 31, 2016____
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1.
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5.
No one can duplicate another’s constellation!!!
This project may be presented as a poster or model.
All information must be paraphrased and cited properly according to MLA format.
No cut and paste from any source. This is plagiarism. Refer to student code of conduct.
Wiki websites will not be accepted. Listed below is the criterion.
Be creative and colorful.
In-class research will be on, August 22 or 23, 2016 and Friday, August 26, 2016.
Main stars and their location relative to the overall outline of the constellation 25 points
Location of constellation 20 point
Brief summary of the mythological story behind this constellation 25 points
Name the season and month in which your selected constellation can be seen 20 points
Must give and site at least 2 sources. One must be a book. The others can be from
creditable websites and online journals. 10points
6. Student will present project. (this will be a separate grade)
►Homework: Due on Thursday, August 25, 2016
 13 zodiac constellations (Which one is your sign?) for homework –
1. look up your sign;
2. write down basic characteristics of your sign;
3. how accurate are the characteristics of your sign to who you
really are
4. write out our source of information
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Different groups of stars appear at different times of the year (make a Star
Finder)
Celestial Sphere (p.9)
o Constellations appear to move from east to west
o Canopy of stars resembling an astronomical painting on a heavenly
ceiling
o All stars appear to move in circle around Polaris
o Celestial poles
o Celestial equator
o (Zodiac constellations lie along the ecliptic)
o Zenith – point directly overhead
o Declination: _______________:: Ascension: _______________ (Read
pg 14)
Circumpolar constellations and the North Star, Polaris
o List and
Draw
o
What significance is there to study these constellations?
IV.
Astrology vs. Astronomy
►Class Work: Research, compare and contrast astronomy and astrology. Make sure to include
their purposes of each.
V.
Earth’s Orbital Motion
 Solar day - our basic unit of social time based on the sun
 Rotation – spin on own axis
 Revolution – around another object
 Earth’s revolution around the sun is not perfectly circular
 Diurnal motion – daily progress of the sun and other stars across the sky
 Sidereal day - day measured by the stars
Class Work: Questions to Ponder:
How does Earth’s rotation relate to a solar day?
How does a sidereal day compare to a solar day?9
What is the difference between a solar day and a sidereal day? (p. 9&10)
Why?
What can you infer about our time we keep on a clock? Calendar?
CW/HW: More Precisely p.11
 Arc minute
 Arc second
 Angular size depends on ________________ and ________________
 When do astronomers use arc minutes and arc seconds?
_____________________________
Common Sky Measurements
VI.
Seasonal Changes
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VII.
Regular seasonal changes occur because of Earth’s
________________________________________
 Ecliptic – apparent motion of the sun on the sky traced out a path on the celestial
sphere; the plane of the ecliptic is the plane of earth’s orbit around the sun.
 Tilt 23.5 degrees – How does this tilt affect Earth?
 Summer solstice – June 21st; sun is at its northernmost point above celestial
equator; our planet’s north pole points closes to the sun; longest day of the year
 Winter solstice
 Vernal Equinox
 Autumnal Equinox
Moon
A. Phases of the Moon
 New moon
 Waxing Crescent
 First quarter
 Waxing Gibbous
 Full moon
 Waning Gibbous
 3rd quarter moon
 Waning crescent
B. Synodic month vs. Sidereal month
► In-Class Lab/Quiz on phases of moon.
►Month of Moons Project
VII
Eclipses
A. Lunar – define and illustrate
B. Solar – define and illustrate
C. How does the umbra and penumbra play a part in an eclipse?
D. Eclipse, ellipse and ecliptic all sound and spelled nearly the same. So how can we
keep them well defined in our heads and not mixed up?
VIII. Precession
 What is precession? http://astro.wsu.edu/worthey/astro/html/lec-precession.html
 How long is one precession period?
 Will affect our seasons?
 Will our North Star always be the star Polaris?
IX.
Parallax
 Read Discovery Sizing up the Earth on page 27. How did Eratosthenes the
Greek philosopher calculate the actual size of Earth?
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/philosophyscience/p/Eratosthenes.htm
http://www.windows2universe.org/citizen_science/myw/w2u_eratosthenes_calc_eart
h_size.html
 Small parallax vs. Large parallax
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What is parallax? What is it used for?