Night Sky - Revision history

WikiSysop at 19:34, 2 September 2013

2013-09-02T19:34:22Z

WikiSysop at 19:33, 2 September 2013

2013-09-02T19:33:18Z

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 ''11. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?''
 == Bright Stars ==
 Set the time to 7 P.M. on January 15, when the sky is dark and stars are clear and bright. If you are in the northern hemisphere make sure your location is set properly, turn your attention toward the southeast and look for the brightest stars. (If you are in the southern hemisphere, for the following pick a favorite spot a little north of the equator so that you can see stars you are familiar with, as well as the stars of the northern sky.

WikiSysop: /* Planets */

2013-09-02T19:23:33Z

Planets

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	There are always several bright planets in the sky, some visible at sunset, others at sunrise. To see how this works, begin by setting the date and time to tonight at sunset and advance the time until the sky is dark enough to see bright stars and planets. Look for any of the 5 bright planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that may be visible.		There are always several bright planets in the sky, some visible at sunset, others at sunrise. To see how this works, begin by setting the date and time to tonight at sunset and advance the time until the sky is dark enough to see bright stars and planets. Look for any of the 5 bright planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that may be visible.

	''Which planets are in the sky at sunset tonight?''
			''5. Which planets are in the sky at sunset tonight?''


	Now advance the sky slowly and watch stars and planets set in the west, and new ones rise in the east. For each of the bright planets, find where they are, when they set if they are up at sunset, or when they rise if they are not:		Now advance the sky slowly and watch stars and planets set in the west, and new ones rise in the east. For each of the bright planets, find where they are, when they set if they are up at sunset, or when they rise if they are not:

	''5. For each planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), what did you find?''
			''6. For each planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), what did you find?''


	The time that this planet rises will change as the weeks go by. Follow these into next season and find approximately on what day the outer planets, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, will be rising at sunset during the coming year.		The time that this planet rises will change as the weeks go by. Follow these into next season and find approximately on what day the outer planets, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, will be rising at sunset during the coming year.
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	The behavior is similar for Jupiter, but it is moving in its orbit faster than Saturn so the oppositions of Jupiter occur less often.		The behavior is similar for Jupiter, but it is moving in its orbit faster than Saturn so the oppositions of Jupiter occur less often.

	''6. What are the next dates of opposition for Jupiter and Saturn?''
			''7. What are the next dates of opposition for Jupiter and Saturn?''


	If you advance the date only one day at a time you can see how these planets change position in the sky as they appear to drift past the more distant stars. Since Earth and the planet are both moving, this apparent position depends on Earth's orbit too. If it were only the motion of the planet, it would drift past stars from west to east, in what we call "prograde" motion. At opposition, however, Earth overtakes the planet, and its motion is in the opposite or "retrograde" sense.		If you advance the date only one day at a time you can see how these planets change position in the sky as they appear to drift past the more distant stars. Since Earth and the planet are both moving, this apparent position depends on Earth's orbit too. If it were only the motion of the planet, it would drift past stars from west to east, in what we call "prograde" motion. At opposition, however, Earth overtakes the planet, and its motion is in the opposite or "retrograde" sense.
	Such retrograde motion begins before opposition and ends after it, causing the planet to appear to loop in the sky. The effect is most obvious for Mars, so find Mars in the sky now, and let the date go forward until Mars rises at sunset, in opposition to the Sun.		Such retrograde motion begins before opposition and ends after it, causing the planet to appear to loop in the sky. The effect is most obvious for Mars, so find Mars in the sky now, and let the date go forward until Mars rises at sunset, in opposition to the Sun.

	''7. What constellation is Mars in when it is next in opposition?''
			''8. What constellation is Mars in when it is next in opposition?''


	Follow its motion with respect to stars from the months before opposition and notice roughly what day it starts retrograde motion. Retrograde continues for many days and then it the motion returns to the normal "prograde" pattern. Note the dates on which these changes in direction occur.		Follow its motion with respect to stars from the months before opposition and notice roughly what day it starts retrograde motion. Retrograde continues for many days and then it the motion returns to the normal "prograde" pattern. Note the dates on which these changes in direction occur.

	''8. What were the dates on which retrograde motion started and then ended? For how many days was it moving backwards?''
			''9. What were the dates on which retrograde motion started and then ended? For how many days was it moving backwards?''


	While the outer planets may be 180 degrees from the Sun, the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) are always close to the Sun and therefore visible only soon after sunset or before sunrise.		While the outer planets may be 180 degrees from the Sun, the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) are always close to the Sun and therefore visible only soon after sunset or before sunrise.

	''9. When is Venus highest in the sky at sunset this year? In this configuration it is often called the "evening" star.''
			''10. When is Venus highest in the sky at sunset this year? In this configuration it is often called the "evening" star.''


	After you find that date, advance the date and find about when Venus disappears into the glare of the Sun as its orbit takes it overtakes Earth with its faster orbit around the Sun. It will then reappear before dawn as a "morning" star.		After you find that date, advance the date and find about when Venus disappears into the glare of the Sun as its orbit takes it overtakes Earth with its faster orbit around the Sun. It will then reappear before dawn as a "morning" star.

	~~''10. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?~~

			''11. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?''

	== Bright Stars ==		== Bright Stars ==

WikiSysop at 19:21, 2 September 2013

2013-09-02T19:21:51Z

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	== Software and Websites ==		== Software and Websites ==

	Stellarium is available for download for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux operating systems by clicking on this link:		Stellarium is installed on all the lab computers, and is also available for download for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux operating systems by clicking on this link:


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	If you have time and want to look into this further, notice how the point on the horizon where the Moon rises changes during the month, and from month-to-month through the year.		If you have time and want to look into this further, notice how the point on the horizon where the Moon rises changes during the month, and from month-to-month through the year. When the lab classes go to the planetarium will we study this under a simulated sky on the dome.


	== Planets ==		== Planets ==
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	If you advance the date only one day at a time you can see how these planets change position in the sky as they appear to drift past the more distant stars. Since Earth and the planet are both moving, this apparent position depends on Earth's orbit too. If it were only the motion of the planet, it would drift past stars from west to east, in what we call "prograde" motion. At opposition, however, Earth overtakes the planet, and its motion is in the opposite or "retrograde" sense.		If you advance the date only one day at a time you can see how these planets change position in the sky as they appear to drift past the more distant stars. Since Earth and the planet are both moving, this apparent position depends on Earth's orbit too. If it were only the motion of the planet, it would drift past stars from west to east, in what we call "prograde" motion. At opposition, however, Earth overtakes the planet, and its motion is in the opposite or "retrograde" sense.
	~~This~~ retrograde motion begins before opposition and ends after it, causing the planet to appear to loop in the sky. The effect is most obvious for Mars, so find Mars in the sky now, and let the date go forward until Mars rises at sunset, in opposition to the Sun.		Such retrograde motion begins before opposition and ends after it, causing the planet to appear to loop in the sky. The effect is most obvious for Mars, so find Mars in the sky now, and let the date go forward until Mars rises at sunset, in opposition to the Sun.

	''7. What constellation is Mars in when it is next in opposition?''		''7. What constellation is Mars in when it is next in opposition?''

	Follow its motion with respect to stars from the months before opposition and notice ~~when does~~ it ~~start~~ retrograde motion. ~~This will continue~~ for ~~a while~~ and then it ~~will return~~ to ~~its~~ normal "prograde" ~~motion~~. Note ~~when that happens~~.		Follow its motion with respect to stars from the months before opposition and notice roughly what day it starts retrograde motion. Retrograde continues for many days and then it the motion returns to the normal "prograde" pattern. Note the dates on which these changes in direction occur.

	''8. What were the dates on which retrograde motion started and then ended? For how many days was it moving backwards?''		''8. What were the dates on which retrograde motion started and then ended? For how many days was it moving backwards?''
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	''10. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?		''10. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?



	Now advance the date only one day at a time and notice how the planet changes its position in the sky. It will seem to drift past the more distant stars. This retrograde miton is reversed from the direction it followed a few months before or after opposition.

	== Bright Stars ==		== Bright Stars ==

WikiSysop: /* Introduction */

2013-09-02T19:08:25Z

Introduction

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	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==

	This study unit will help you explore the appearance of the Moon and bright planets. We will use Stellarium, desktop sky simulation software. While this experiment may be done on any of the computers in the lab, its is best to do it in the immersive visualization room where the night sky fills your field of view. Let one ~~one~~ the members of your group drive the software, while the others interact and guide the work through the following exploration.		This study unit will help you explore the appearance of the Moon and bright planets. We will use Stellarium, desktop sky simulation software. While this experiment may be done on any of the computers in the lab, its is best to do it in the immersive visualization room where the night sky fills your field of view. Let one of the members of your group drive the software, while the others interact and guide the work through the following exploration.

	== Software and Websites ==		== Software and Websites ==

WikiSysop: /* Introduction */

2013-09-02T19:07:54Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:07, 2 September 2013
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	== Introduction ==		== Introduction ==

	This study unit will help you explore the appearance of the Moon, ~~planets~~, ~~bright stars and constellations~~ in the night sky ~~from a chosen point on~~ the ~~Earth at any time. It uses~~ software ~~enabling a virtual planetarium on~~ the ~~desktop~~.		This study unit will help you explore the appearance of the Moon and bright planets. We will use Stellarium, desktop sky simulation software. While this experiment may be done on any of the computers in the lab, its is best to do it in the immersive visualization room where the night sky fills your field of view. Let one one the members of your group drive the software, while the others interact and guide the work through the following exploration.

	== Software and Websites ==		== Software and Websites ==

WikiSysop at 19:05, 2 September 2013

2013-09-02T19:05:02Z

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	''1. When does full Moon occur ~~in late August 2012~~? Advance the day again, and find the next full Moon, and perhaps the one after that ...''		''1. When does full Moon occur this month? Advance the day again, and find the next full Moon, and perhaps the one after that ...''


	''2. How many days ~~pass~~ from one full Moon to another?''		''2. How many days passed from one full Moon to another?''


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	''4. On what day and time ~~in September 2012~~ does the last quarter moon rise?''		''4. On what day and time this month does the first quarter moon set and the last quarter moon rise?''


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	There are always several bright planets in the sky, some visible at sunset, others at sunrise. To see how this works, begin by setting the date and time to ~~September 1, 2012,~~ at ~~12:00 AM~~. ~~Let~~ the ~~clock slowly advance and you will see a~~ bright planets ~~rise in the east before sunrise~~.		There are always several bright planets in the sky, some visible at sunset, others at sunrise. To see how this works, begin by setting the date and time to tonight at sunset and advance the time until the sky is dark enough to see bright stars and planets. Look for any of the 5 bright planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) that may be visible.

			''Which planets are in the sky at sunset tonight?''

			Now advance the sky slowly and watch stars and planets set in the west, and new ones rise in the east. For each of the bright planets, find where they are, when they set if they are up at sunset, or when they rise if they are not:

			''5. For each planet (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), what did you find?''

			The time that this planet rises will change as the weeks go by. Follow these into next season and find approximately on what day the outer planets, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, will be rising at sunset during the coming year.
			At our point of closest approach to a planet farther from the Sun than we are, the planet is said to be in opposition to the Sun.

	''5. What planet rises ~~first~~?''		In fall 2013 Saturn is on the far side of the Sun from us and is low in the western sky at sunset. Eventually Earth's orbit will carry us around until Saturn is opposite the Sun and high in our sky at midnight. See if you can find when this will happen.
			The behavior is similar for Jupiter, but it is moving in its orbit faster than Saturn so the oppositions of Jupiter occur less often.

			''6. What are the next dates of opposition for Jupiter and Saturn?''

			If you advance the date only one day at a time you can see how these planets change position in the sky as they appear to drift past the more distant stars. Since Earth and the planet are both moving, this apparent position depends on Earth's orbit too. If it were only the motion of the planet, it would drift past stars from west to east, in what we call "prograde" motion. At opposition, however, Earth overtakes the planet, and its motion is in the opposite or "retrograde" sense.
			This retrograde motion begins before opposition and ends after it, causing the planet to appear to loop in the sky. The effect is most obvious for Mars, so find Mars in the sky now, and let the date go forward until Mars rises at sunset, in opposition to the Sun.

			''7. What constellation is Mars in when it is next in opposition?''

			Follow its motion with respect to stars from the months before opposition and notice when does it start retrograde motion. This will continue for a while and then it will return to its normal "prograde" motion. Note when that happens.

			''8. What were the dates on which retrograde motion started and then ended? For how many days was it moving backwards?''

			While the outer planets may be 180 degrees from the Sun, the inner planets (Mercury and Venus) are always close to the Sun and therefore visible only soon after sunset or before sunrise.

			''9. When is Venus highest in the sky at sunset this year? In this configuration it is often called the "evening" star.''

			After you find that date, advance the date and find about when Venus disappears into the glare of the Sun as its orbit takes it overtakes Earth with its faster orbit around the Sun. It will then reappear before dawn as a "morning" star.

			''10. When is Venus next highest in the sky at sunrise?

	The time that this planet rises will change as the weeks go by. Follow it into the fall and find approximately on what day the planet is rising at sunset. At our point of closest approach to a planet farther from the Sun than we are, the planet is said to be in opposition to the Sun.


	~~''6. What day is this planet in opposition?''~~


	Now advance the date only one day at a time and notice how the planet changes its position in the sky. It will seem to drift past the more distant stars. This retrograde miton is reversed from the direction it followed a few months before or after opposition.		Now advance the date only one day at a time and notice how the planet changes its position in the sky. It will seem to drift past the more distant stars. This retrograde miton is reversed from the direction it followed a few months before or after opposition.

WikiSysop: /* Moon */

2012-08-28T18:26:32Z

Moon

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	Notice the appearance of the Moon changes in the sky during the ~~Moon~~, and that it rises at different times night after night.		Notice the appearance of the Moon changes in the sky during the month , and that it rises at different times night after night.


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	If you have time and want to look into this further, notice how the point on the horizon where the Moon rises changes during the month, and from month-to-month through the year.		If you have time and want to look into this further, notice how the point on the horizon where the Moon rises changes during the month, and from month-to-month through the year.



	== Planets ==		== Planets ==

WikiSysop: /* Looking from the South */

2012-08-28T02:32:03Z

Looking from the South

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	Look for a familiar constellation that you have already identified from the northern location nearly overhead now.		*Look for a familiar constellation that you have already identified from the northern location nearly overhead now.


	There is a very bright star south of Sirius that you could not see from a northern location, nearly as bright as Sirius, in the constellation of Carina.		*There is a very bright star Canopus, south of Sirius, that you could not see from a northern location, nearly as bright as Sirius, in the constellation of Carina.


	The bright star Achernar is not far away, a little southwest of the star you found in the question above. Set the field of view so that you can see a field of 70 to 90 degrees with Achernar on right. (If you're lost, try using the search option and type in the name to have the software center up on the object.)		*The bright star Achernar is not far away, a little southwest of the star you found in the question above. Set the field of view so that you can see a field of 70 to 90 degrees with Achernar on right. (If you're lost, try using the search option and type in the name to have the software center up on the object.)


	There are two fuzzy clouds in the center of the field of view now. These are the "Magellanic Clouds", companion galaxies to our own Milky Way. If you need help in identifying them, the search term "SMC" will center the Small Magellanic Cloud. Zoom in and you'll find an object that is not a star, and is close to the "SMC". Use the search term "47 Tuc" to center on it.		*There are two fuzzy clouds in the center of the field of view now. These are the "Magellanic Clouds", companion galaxies to our own Milky Way. If you need help in identifying them, the search term "SMC" will center the Small Magellanic Cloud. Zoom in and you'll find an object that is not a star, and is close to the "SMC". Use the search term "47 Tuc" to center on it.


	47 Tuc is a giant globular star cluster. There's information about it in Stellarium, and you can also Google the term and find out more.		*47 Tuc is a giant globular star cluster. There's information about it in Stellarium, and you can also Google the term and find out more.


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	You can identify this pattern easily with the constellation outlines (C) and names (V) on. Look for "Crux".		*You can identify this pattern easily with the constellation outlines (C) and names (V) on. Look for "Crux".
	See if you can find the names of two bright stars in Crux?		See if you can find the names of two bright stars in Crux?


	Just east of Crux at this time of night is the constellation Centaurus. Look for the bright star Rigel Kentaurus. This star goes by another name, because it is brightest star in Centaurus. It's also one of the closest stars to our Sun.		*Just east of Crux at this time of night is the constellation Centaurus. Look for the bright star Rigel Kentaurus. This star goes by another name, because it is brightest star in Centaurus. It's also one of the closest stars to our Sun.


	10. What is the other name for this star? How far is it from the Sun?		''10. What is the other name for this star? How far is it from the Sun?''

WikiSysop: /* Constellations */

2012-08-28T02:28:53Z

Constellations

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	Set the date for January 15 at 10 P.M.		*Set the date for January 15 at 10 P.M.


	Orion with very bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel od in the sky at this time.		*Orion with very bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel od in the sky at this time.


	Set the date for March 15 at 10 P.M.		*Set the date for March 15 at 10 P.M.


	Gemini, the twins , with the pair of similar stars Castor and Pollux comes in to view.		*Gemini, the twins , with the pair of similar stars Castor and Pollux comes in to view.


	Set the date for June 15 at 10 P.M.		*Set the date for June 15 at 10 P.M.


	Leo, the lion, with the bright star Regulus is visible.		*Leo, the lion, with the bright star Regulus is visible.


	Set the date for September 15 at 10 P.M.		*Set the date for September 15 at 10 P.M.


	You will see Sagittarius, the archer , that looks like a teapot.		*You will see Sagittarius, the archer , that looks like a teapot.


	Set the date for November 15 at 10 P.M.		*Set the date for November 15 at 10 P.M.



	9. Where is Pegasus, the horse, at this time?		''9. Where is Pegasus, the horse, at this time?''



	== Looking from the South ==		== Looking from the South ==