Homework answers / question archive / even if you can only see a handful of celestial objects you can fulfill this assignment

even if you can only see a handful of celestial objects you can fulfill this assignment

Biology

Share With

even if you can only see a handful of celestial objects you can fulfill this assignment. The purpose of this is to introduce you to your local night sky, and to the difficulties faced by early astronomers. It is also to have you note , and comment on, the apparent motion of the sky. So observing in a light polluted area (even your own back yard) isn't a deal-breaker by any means.

PROCEDURE: Pretend you are an early astronomer, like Tycho, Kepler or Newton, just getting started. You've had access to the textbook chapter so you should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Go outside after the sky is completely dark on a clear (few clouds, no fog, no rain etc.) night this week. Take paper and pencil and make notes about as much of what you see as possible.

Draw a simple diagram noting the locations, colors (if any) etc. of the brightest objects, even if you don't know their names. Draw a horizon line noting items like trees or buildings that you can use to orient yourself when you do this again. Go back outside at least two hours later on the same night and write down how the sky has changed - especially with regard to the positions of the objects in the sky. Create a second drawing. Make careful note of the date and time of each observation and the direction you are facing. (See below for a sample).