Download Astronomy Lab

HONORS Earth Science
STARRY NIGHT- SKY MOTIONS
Name _________________
DATE _________ HOUR ___
For this lab we will be using Starry Night Pro 6. To enter the program, click on Icon on the desktop.
You can only access this program through a school
computer.
Cancel updates
It is very important to save your home location as
seen on this screen. (use postal code)
Part I. The View from the Top
You will first leave Earth on a journey straight up and out
of our solar system, so that you can look down on the
planets. Under the FAVORITES menu, choose Solar
system, Inner planets, Inner solar system,
You can zoom in with your mouse wheel.
1. As viewed from above, which direction do planets REVOLVE: clockwise or counterclockwise? Circle one.
2. Write a sentence that relates a planet's distance from the Sun and the time it takes to complete a revolution?
3. Click on the now button. Which inner planet is currently closest to Earth? ________________
Part II. The Night Sky from Earth
Under the FILE menu, click New File. This returns you to Earth. Check that your viewing location is
Detroit. Under LABELS, click on planets- moons and stars. Changes the time flow rate to 3,000X.
4. Let the program run for today only. Turn your view (grab with hand tool) to the direction the stars
and planets rise. What direction does everything in the sky rise? _________ set? ___________
5. What Earth motion is causing this to happen? ________________________
6. Find Mars in the day sky (use the find command (Ctrl +F) if needed). Right click on Mars and choose
Show Info, other data. Mars true rotation= _______________
Mars revolution = ____________
7. Click on the home button on the top. Return to today’s date Find the Moon (use find tab if necessary;
click “best time”) and draw a picture of its phase in the circle at the right. Shade the part you cannot
see, leaving the white paper to show the Moon’s phase. (you may zoom in with your mouse to see a larger
image )
What phase is the moon? _____________
Moon 
8. What time does the moon rise today? _______ when does it set?_________
(hover cursor over the moon)
9. Right click the moon and choose “Go there”.
Find Earth. Zoom in. Shade in the part of Earth that is not lit.
Earth
Return home. Set the time for NOW. (both on top of screen)
Part IV. Eclipse
Under Favourites
Special Events, click on 2017 US Eclipse.
What date is this ? ___________________ time? ________________
Where are you in the US? ___________________________
Draw what the sun will look like:
Draw the position of the earth, sun and moon during this event:
Go to Detroit on this date. Set the time to about 1:20 PM. Draw what the sun will look like.
Explain why there is a difference in what will be seen in Detroit compared to Manhattan, NY.
Part V. Happy Moonday!
13. Change the date to your birth date (use arrow keys)
What is your birth date (include year)? _________________________
Find the moon. What was the moon phase on your birth date?
Draw the position of the sun, moon and Earth on the day you were born.
Part VI. Tonight’s sky
12. Go back to Detroit and NOW. Set the time to 9:00 PM This is what the sky will look like tonight
from Detroit. Find Mars. How does it’s color differ compare to the stars?
What direction do you have to look to see Mars?
13. Click on the EVENTS TAB. Choose an event. (click hide horizon)
Date of event _________ Name of event _____________
Click on the event and describe it: