Unit 1: The Celestial Sphere
Major Theme: The shores of the great cosmic ocean.
“The known is finite, the unknown infinite; intellectually we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability. Our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land.” – T.H. Huxley, 1887.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the daily motions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars relative to the horizon.
- Describe the seasonal positions of the sun – at sunrise, noon, and sunset – relative to the horizon.
- Describe the motions of the sun, moon, and planets relative to the stars of the zodiac.
- Understand the astronomical conditions necessary for solar and lunar eclipses.
- Define the ecliptic and tell how to find its approximate position in the sky.
- Describe the celestial models of the Anasazi, Babylonians, Greeks, and Ptolemy.
- Describe the essential aspects of a scientific model and evaluate cosmological models in the context of scientific model making.
- Compare and contrast a mythical and a scientific cosmological model with specific examples from Babylonian and Greek astronomy.
Outline:
The Visible Sky
- The Celestial Sphere
- Constellations
- Angular measurement
- Motion of stars
The Motions of the Sun and Moon
- Seasons in the Sun and your private universe
Motions relative to the horizon and stars - Precession of the Equinoxes
- Lunar orbital motion and Phases of the Moon
- Solar and Lunar Eclipses
The Motions of the Planets
- Retrograde Motion
- Relative Distances of the Planets
Prehistoric Astronomy
- Anasazi Sun watching: Ancient Pueblo Calendars
- Babylonian Sky watching
- Greek Models of the Cosmos
- Claudius Ptolemy: The Geocentric Model
Lab and Class Exercises:
Register for online homework using these instructions.
Astronomy Misconceptions; Your Private Universe
“Celestial Sphere” (see me for viewing makeup time)
Constellations Internet search
Lunar Phases (in class), Post lab homework: Phases of the Moon tutorial
CAPER tutorial: Predicting Lunar Phases tutorial (see handout)
Seasons tutorial
Quiz on : Celestial Sphere, Seasons, Lunar phases
Reading and tutorial materials:
Read the online content on Observation (Introduction through Northern Hemisphere)
Seasons are dictated by closeness to the sun (Video Podcast)
Complete online homework questions; resubmissions (hand written within 3 class days)
Star Party: DAS Open House at Chamberlain Observatory ( starting at Dusk)
The 2012 Doomsday Scare myth busted!
