Download GOFER Module: Google Sky Please open Google Earth, then

GOFER Module: Google Sky
Please open Google Earth, then highlight the planet symbol in the top toolbar. This allows you to
change between different Google applications. Please select Google Sky as shown:
Navigating Google Sky is simpler than Google Earth, as there is no tilt feature. You can however zoom in
by double-clicking the LEFT mouse button, and zoom out by double-clicking the RIGHT mouse button.
You can still enable on screen navigation in the upper right of your screen by selecting:
View  Show Navigation  Automatically
 In the Layers section at the bottom left, please ensure that
all of the following are checked.
1. Type “Polaris” in the “Search the Sky” field, and either hit
Enter, or click the magnifying glass. Click on the star once
you arrive at your destination. (It will separate from the
crosshairs after your first click, then click on it again.)
Which of the following is true about Polaris?
A. It is one of the dimmest stars in its constellation.
B. It is found in Canis Minor, the Little Dog.
C. It is currently the northern pole star.
2. While in this part of the sky, zoom out and find the bright patch of light near the star Deneb in the
constellation Cygnus, the Swan. If you have trouble finding either Deneb or Cygnus, type their names
into the search field.
Zoom into this patch either with your mouse wheel, on screen navigation, or by double-clicking the
left mouse button. What is the name of this object?
A. Andromeda Galaxy
B. Albireo
C. Lagoon Nebula
D. North America Nebula
3. Now search for “M57”, which is close by in the constellation Lyra, the Harp. What is the common
name of this object?
A. Ring Nebula
B. Hourglass Nebula
C. Whirlpool Galaxy
D. Vega
4. Click on the red dot bearing the name of this object for a detailed description. What type of star is
found at the center of this expanding gas cloud?
A. main sequence
B. supergiant
C. red giant
D. white dwarf
5. Now search for “M13”, the great globular cluster in the constellation Hercules. Zoom in on it. Which
of the following most resembles M13?
A.
B.
C.
6. With your mouse, zoom out and then scroll directly down (south) on the sky, until you approach the
area of the sky containing the constellations Scorpius, the Scorpion, and Sagittarius, the Archer.
These two constellations lie in the direction of the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
Begin to zoom in. What indirectly indicates we are gazing towards our galaxy’s center?
A. There are many more stars, nebulas, and star clusters here than in other directions.
B. Sagittarius and Scorpius are the largest constellations on the sky.
C. This portion of sky contains the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy.
7. Find the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas above Sagittarius. Click on them, and read the descriptions.
What are the Messier numbers for both?
A. 4 Sgr & 11 Sgr
B. M6 & M21
C. M8 & M20
D. NGC 6449 & NGC 6553
8. Observe the shape of the constellation Sagittarius. This distinct appearance causes stargazers to liken
Sagittarius to which of the following?
A. a cradle
B. a circular snake
C. a Persian emperor
D. a teapot
9. Now type “Pegasus” in the Search field. Upon arriving, note the distinct “Great Square” asterism at
the constellation’s left side. Click on each of the stars that comprise the Square. Which is the only
star NOT technically part of Pegasus?
A. Alpheratz
B. Scheat
C. Gamma Pegasi
D. Markab
10. In the “Layers” window at the lower left, temporarily de-select “Yale Bright Star Catalog”, so that you
can see the stars’ true colors. Which is the only star that is NOT blue, but red in color?
A. Alpheratz
B. Scheat
C. Gamma Pegasi
D. Markab
11. Scroll slightly northwest to the constellation Andromeda. What very famous deep sky object is
found within this constellation?
A. Hercules Globular Cluster
B. Whirlpool Galaxy
C. Andromeda Galaxy
D. Sirius
12. Click on the object. What is the Messier number of this famous location?
A. M13
B. M51
C. M31
D. M42
13. The New General Catalogue (NGC) is a more modern, expansive listing of deep
sky objects than the original Messier Catalogue. Many objects have both M and
NGC numbers. What is the NGC listing for this same object?
A. NGC 106
B. NGC 32
C. NGC 801
D. NGC 224
14. This galaxy is believed to be the largest galaxy in our _____ _____ of galaxies, which includes our
own Milky Way.
A. event horizon
B. Local Group
C. dark matter
D. Globular Supercluster
15. How many stars might this galaxy contain?
A. 104
B. 106
C.
108
D.
1012
16. Although it appears small in our light polluted skies, the full angular diameter is ___x the full moon!
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 9
17. What additional Messier object (NGC 205) is found directly above this object?
A. M110
B. M68
C. M102
D. M4
18. Click on the description. This object is the “brightest satellite” of the object
discussed in questions #11-16. What does “satellite” mean in this context?
A. It is artificially created by another civilization.
B. Spectra show that it is metal rich.
C. It orbits the larger object due to its gravitational pull.
19. Zoom out and find the nearby Triangulum Galaxy (SW of your location). Upon your arrival, zoom in.
Which of the following is NOT an NGC satellite object located around it?
A. NGC 604
B. NGC 142
C. NGC 592
D. NGC 588
20. Now scroll NW, until you approach the constellation Perseus. Zoom in until you find the California
Nebula. Note approximately how many light years it is from the Earth. Due to light from the nebula
needing that much time to reach Earth, we are seeing how the nebula looked around what year?
A. Early 1000’s AD
B. Around 2000 BC
C. Approximately 2000 AD
D. 1536 BC
21. Scroll NE until you reach the famous Perseus Double Cluster. Click on both portions. What are the
Right Ascension and Declination coordinates of the h Persei component of the cluster?
A. 2h 22m RA, 57° DEC
B. 2h 19m RA, 57° DEC
C. 4h 3m RA, 36° DEC
22. Zoom back out until you can see the entire Perseus stick figure constellation. Click on some of the
brighter stars. Which of the following is the brightest star in Perseus?
A. Algol
B. ε Per
C. κ Per
D. Mirfak
23. Which of the following is NOT true about that brightest star?
A. It is also known as Algenib.
B. It is a yellow supergiant star.
C. It is invisible to the naked eye.
24. Now type “Pleiades” in the Search field. The color of these stars and their gas cloud cocoons usually
indicate younger stars. What color are the stars of the Pleiades?
A. Red
B. Orange
C. Yellow
D. Blue
25. Zoom in and click on the detailed red dot. What type of star cluster are the Pleiades?
A. open
B. globular
C. dark
D. diffuse
26. Which of the following is NOT another name for the Pleiades?
A. Seven Sisters
B. M45
C. The Kids
D. Maia Nebula
27. SW of the Pleiades, you will find the bright red star Aldebaran. In what constellation are both
Aldebaran and the Pleiades found?
A. Orion
B. Taurus
C. Auriga
D. Cetus
28. Our star, the Sun (Sol) is a main sequence star. Click on Aldebaran, and read the description. Which
of the following is true?
A. Like Sol, Aldebaran is small and yellow.
B. Aldebaran is older and larger than Sol.
C. Aldebaran is red in color, and over 200 light years away from Sol.
29. Type “Crab Nebula” in the Search field. Unlike Aldebaran and the Pleiades, the Crab Nebula (M1) is
invisible to the naked eye. Zoom in until you can see significant detail. Which of the following is M1?
A.
B.
C.
30. Zoom out and scroll due S to the constellation Orion. From left to right, what is the order of his
famous “Belt stars”?
A. Mintaka-Alnilam-Alnitak
B. Alnilam-Mintaka-Alnitak
C. Alnitka-Alnilam-Mintaka
31. Type “M42” in the Search field. Zoom in. What is the common name of this object?
A. Dumbbell Nebula
B. Trifid Nebula
C. North America Nebula
D. Orion Nebula
32. Click on the crosshairs to separate the red dot, then click on it. What are forming in M42?
A. stars and planetary systems
B. black holes and quasars
C. elliptical galaxies
D. nothing- it is a void
33. Leave Orion and scroll SW to the bright star, Sirius. In what location is it found?
A. Canis Minor
B. Canis Major
C. Lepus
D. Hydra
34. Notice that Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, yet its absolute magnitude (measure of brightness)
is -1.47. Therefore, what can we infer about brightness and absolute magnitude?
A. Negative numbers are brighter stars, while high positive numbers are dimmer.
B. Negative numbers are dimmer stars, while high positive numbers are brighter.
C. Negative numbers are only used for red and orange stars.
35. While Sirius’s information window is open, click on the link within it that says “Full Article.” You
should be re-directed to a Wikipedia page. According to this article, how far away is Sirius from Sol?
A. 26,000 AU
B. 5,100,000 km
C. 34.1 ly
D. 8.6 ly
Now click the
button (at the top of the page) to return to Google Sky.
36. Type “M44” in the Search field. This object is known as the Beehive or _____ Cluster.
A. Ursa Major Moving
B. Hyades
C. Pleiades
D. Praesepe
Notice that as you move your cursor on the screen, your Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec)
coordinates change at the bottom of the page. They work exactly like Longitude and Latitude on Earth
maps. Move SW until: RA 12h 30m Dec 12°00’
(Disregard seconds [s and “])
You are now at the heart of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. Match up the galaxy names with their types.
37.
38.
39.
40.
M58
M84
M87
M99/Pinwheel
A.
B.
C.
D.
sprial
barred spiral
giant elliptical
lenticular
Open-Ended (5 points): On the back of your answer key, explore
the night sky and find (1) star or object not covered in the
questions. In your own words, write 5 sentences on what you
learned about it.