Download Quiz Maker - Geneva 304

Astronomy
Name______________________________
Chapter 6
Period______________________________
Lab
Date_______________________________
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The Earth in Space
Directions: Around the room, you will find the celestial sphere set up with the celestial north pole on the ceiling, the celestial south
pole on the floor, the sun in the middle of the room, and the celestial equator and the ecliptic marked on the room's
perimeter. You will be given a Styrofoam ball representing the Earth, with a blue pin in it marking out the position of
Geneva. You will be asked to walk your model of the Earth around the room, and answer the questions given at
locations in the Earth's orbit. There will be labels on the floor to indicate these various locations.
1. Go to the position in the room labeled 'Position 1', located in the back of the room. Orient your model of
the Earth with an appropriate 23.50 tilt, with the north and south poles lined up with the north and south
celestial poles. (1 point each)
a. Spin your model so Geneva is directly facing the Sun and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
b. Spin your model so Geneva is directly opposite the Sun and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the Sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
2. Go to the position in the room labeled 'Position 2', located on the side of the room by the Astronomy
bulletin board. Orient your model of the Earth with an appropriate 23.50 tilt, with the north and south
poles lined up with the north and south celestial poles. (1 point each)
a. Spin your model so Geneva is directly facing the Sun and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
b. Spin your model so Geneva is directly opposite the Sun and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the Sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
3. Go to the position in the room labeled 'Position 3', located in the front of the room. Orient your model of
the Earth with an appropriate 23.50 tilt, with the north and south poles lined up with the north and south
celestial poles. (1 point each)
a. Spin your model so Geneva is at dusk and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
b. Spin your model so Geneva is at dawn and answer the following questions.
_________ i. What is the right ascension and declination of the Sun at this point and time in Earth's orbit
around the Sun?
_________ ii. What is the approximate solar time in Geneva?
_________ iii. What is the approximate sidereal time in Geneva?
_________ iv. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?
4. _________ The Earth is 'wobbling' as it rotates on its axis. Right now, Polaris is the north star, but in
13,000 years from now Vega will be our north star. What do we call this 'wobble' of the Earth
that slowly changes our view of the stars? (1 point)
Position 1
Position 2
Position 3