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Last name (print): ____________________
First name (print): ___________________
Date of Lab: ____________________
Time of Lab: ____________________
Observations of the Moon and Planets
Pre-Lab Worksheet
Directions:
 Complete this worksheet before you leave for the lab. The pre-lab worksheet is
usually worth 20% of the lab grade.
 Read the entire lab including the items listed under “Preparation”.
Part 1 – The Moon
Using the Moon map in your Mag-5 Atlas, answer some of these questions:
1) Which hemisphere of the Moon contains a larger fraction of “maria” ?
(circle) northern or southern ?,
eastern or western ?
2) Between new moon and full moon, we see a sharp dividing line between the dark and
the illuminated side of the moon. What is this line called ? ____________________.
3) Pick a crater from the list on the lower right of the moon map. Find that crater on the
map. Measure its distance in X and Y from the center of the grid which bisects the
Moon. If 1 inch = 320 miles on the map, how far from the center point is the crater
you selected ?
X (inches) = ______, X (miles) = ______, Y (inches) = ______, Y (miles) = _______
4) If lunar phase cycle, also known as its synodic period, is 29.5 days, how many days
does it take for the moon to go from new to first quarter phase ? ________________.
5) Thought question: Why do you think lunar craters are largely round in appearance ?
Part 2 – The Planets
Using your textbook or a web-based information source, lookup the average distance in
astronomical units of the planets in our solar system.
Planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Distance in AU
1.0
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Which planets are visible with the unaided eye ? ______________________________
Which are not visible without a telescope ? __________________________________