Reference no: EM133204655
Assignment: Lab Exercise- Celestial Sphere
The goal of this lab is to illustrate the concept of the celestial sphere and how it is used to understand the location and motion of objects in our sky. We will also use this opportunity to study the celestial coordinate system and the local coordinate system. To perform this lab, you will need access to a celestial sphere globe.
I. Celestial Coordinates
Locate and identify the declination of the following features:
North Celestial Pole ____.
South Celestial Pole ____.
Celestial Equator _____.
1. What is the name of the bright star closest to the North Celestial Pole? What is its Declination? (Note, you'll need to look this up)
2. Is there a major star close to the South Celestial Pole?
3. Note the lines that run from one pole to the other passing through the celestial equator. These are right ascension lines. What units are they measured in and what is significant about the zero line? Note your instructor will need to help with this one.
4. What is the relationship between the altitude of the north celestial pole and your latitude on earth?
II. Ecliptic
1. Locate the ecliptic. What object follows the ecliptic?
2. Do any other objects in the solar system follow the ecliptic?
3. What is the relationship between the constellations of the zodiac and the ecliptic?
III. Constellations
1. Place the sun on today's date.
2. What constellation is almost directly opposite the ecliptic?
3. What time of night is this constellation at its highest point?
4. What constellation will be visible during this time (the time identified in the previous question) 6 months from now?
5. Why do stars visible at night change throughout the year?
6. What constellations are circumpolar from Las Vegas?
IV. Seasons
Find the date, Right Ascension, and Declination of the following points using your celestial sphere
Sun's Position
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Date
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RA
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DEC
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Vernal Equinox
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Autumnal Equinox
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Summer Solstice
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Winder Solstice
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What is the altitude of the sun at noon in Las Vegas on:
The autumnal equinox ____ .
Winter Solstice _____.