Download Astronomy lab: Planets

AOD Example
Phys 102 Astronomy
Name ____________________
PLANETARY CONFIGURATIONS
THE CONFIGURATIONS
OF THE
PLANETS:
Orbit of Superior Planet
Orbit of Earth
Eastern
Quadrature
Orbit of Inferior Planet
Greatest Eastern
Elongation
Inferior
Conjunction
Opposition
Greatest
Western
Western
Quadrature
Superior
Conjunction
Conjunction
Planet Configurations AOD Solution.doc
9/22/2006
PLANETARY CONFIGURATIONS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY
Use Starry Night to look at the actual configuration of the solar system at your birth (day and time).
• Set The DATE and Time and Place of your birth
• Set LOCATION to SURFACE OF SUN, ELEVATION ~ 35 AU
• On the FIND tab, click on the boxes to the right of each planet.
• On the VIEWING OPTIONs tab shut off all objects but the planets.
• Select and center the sun, zoom in until Saturn's orbit fills the screen, rotate the image until Earth is
below the sun. Print it out to the printer in rm. 231, 232 or 207.
• Mark the line from the Earth to Sol (use a ruler) and determine the configurations of all the planets.
Most planets will be between configurations. Use Starry Night to find the planetary (ecliptic)
longitudes.
• Staple your print outs to this page to hand in.
Planet
Configuration
Sun
☿
♀
♂
♃
♄
The sun DEFINES configurations!
Almost greatest W elongation
Headed to superior conjunction
Approaching W. quadrature
Between conjunction & E quadrature
Just past E quadrature
Planetary
Longitude
Elongation
164.2°
146.5°
147.3°
55.5°
210.0°
259.3°
0°
17.7° W
16.9° W
108.8° W
45.8° E
95.1° E
YOUR NATAL CHART
Use
Venus and
Mercury
almost at
conjunction
with each
other!
Cosmic!
the Atlas and Time Zone Server (Astrodienst “astrodeenst” at http://www.astro.ch/atlas/) to
calculate your natal chart … the date, time, and location of your birth are all important. Compare the natal
chart with the Starry Night view at your birthplace on your birthdate at your birth time. Note which ones
were “up” at the time of your birth. Staple a print-out of your chart to this page to hand in.
OBJECT
CONSTELLATION
Astronomical (Starry Night)
Astrological (Astrodienst)
UP AT YOUR
BIRTH?

Leo
Virgo
no
.
Taurus
Gemini
yes
☿
Leo
Leo
no
♀
Leo
Leo
no
♂
Taurus
Taurus
yes
♃
Virgo
Scorpius
no
♄
Ophiuchus
Sagittarius
no
♅
Cancer
Leo
no
♆
Virgo
Scorpius
no
Page 2
Planet Configurations AOD Solution.doc
9/22/2006
The Inner Solar System at AOD’s Birth
(2:02 am, 9/7/58, Denver, CO)
v nearly lined up
with y, headed
toward superior
conjunction
y at greatest
western elongation
These planets are visible
in the morning sky
m approaching
western quadrature
Page 3
Planet Configurations AOD Solution.doc
9/22/2006
The Outer Solar System at AOD’s Birth
(2:02 am, 9/7/58, Denver, CO)
j between
conjunction and
eastern quadrature
t just past
eastern quadrature
These planets are visible
in the evening sky
Page 4
Planet Configurations AOD Solution.doc
9/22/2006
AOD’s Natal Chart
(2:02 am, 9/7/58, Denver, CO)
Page 5