Astronomy Today: W 01/25/06Welcome!

RecallList some ways you think you could tell

a planet apart from a star when you are looking at them in the night sky. Reminder: Look up the answers in the book or online.

What we’re gonna do todayHand Out : R - The Sky and the

CalendarReview : N - Constellations & Twinkling

oAnswer review questionsActivity : Draw a constellation

ReflectAll the stars in the constellation of

Pegasus appear close together in our sky. Do you think all of them formed at the same time? Explain. Reminder: Look up the answers in the book or online.

Homework A - Draw a constellation Read Sections 6.1 and 6.2 in your book

(p. 95-7)

Test only required (all others optional): o Read the following web article and

click on some of the constellation links http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/sow/const.html

Astronomy Today: TH 01/26/06Welcome!

Recall

Can a star not be a part of a constellation? Explain.

Are stars on the horizon more or less likely to twinkle than stars overhead? Explain.

What we’re gonna do todayLab : Using Planispheres and Sky Maps

ReflectWe cannot tell the stars in a

constellation are at different distances, but we can tell things are at different distances in this room. Explain the difference between the two.

Homework Finish L - Using Planispheres and Sky

Maps Read Section 6.3 (p. 97-99) Read and

understand example 6.1, and stop before you get to example 6.2.

Test only required (all others optional):

o Read the following web article

http://www.astro.uiuc.edu/~kaler/celsph.html

Astronomy Today: F 01/27/06Welcome!

RecallDo you think the Big Dipper will always

look like it does? Explain your answer. Turn in your RC/RF.

What we’re gonna do todayTurn In : L - Using Planisphers and Sky

MapsDiscuss : N - The Equatorial SystemLab : L - The Equatorial System

ReflectNone

Homework Will have the first 5 or 10 minutes of

class to finish lab on Monday if not done…Have a relaxing weekend!

Astronomy Today: M 01/30/06 Welcome!

RecallWhat is the maximum Right Ascension

and Declination the Sun can reach during the year?

What we’re gonna do todayLab : Finish L - The Equatorial System;

Turn In.Inquire : Why does the Earth have

seasons? Lab : L – The Reason for the Seasons

ReflectAstrology bases human actions and the

outcome of events on astrological signs from the Zodiac. What is your sign? On what day and month is your birthday? Look at the sky chart you used in this lab and see if the two match up. Explain your findings. (What does this tell you about the validity of your horoscope and other astrological predictions?)

HomeworkL – Reasons for the Seasons

Read Section 6.5 (p. 103-5)

Astronomy Today: TU 01/31/06Welcome!

RecallDoes Mars have seasons? Explain. Use

diagrams in your explanation.

What we’re gonna do todayTurn In : L - Reason for the SeasonsDiscuss : Reason for the Seasons Activity :

oRead about Precession in your book (p. 100 -101)

oWrite and turn in a paragraph explanation on what it is and how it affects our view of the night sky and the seasons.

Review : N - Sidereal and Solar TimeActivity : W - Sidereal and Solar Time

ReflectWhen Arcturus (Appendix 5) is due

South of you, what is the sidereal time where you are at?

Homework W - Sidereal & Solar Time

Read about Sidereal and Solar Time Section 6.3 (p. 99-100), including Examples 6.2 & 6.3

Astronomy Today: W 02/01/06Welcome!

RecallBy comparing their Right Ascension

and Declination, describe whether Sirius (6h45m09s, -06042’58”) and Canopus (06h23m57s,-52041’44”), the two brightest stars, are close together or far apart in our sky. Explain. Describe how far apart from one another you would estimate they actually are.

What we’re gonna do todayGrade/Review : W - Sidereal and Solar

TimeLab : The Earth in Space

ReflectDescribe what the Earth’s seasons

would be like if the Earth’s axis of rotation were tilted @ 00 to the orbital plane? @ 900?

HomeworkFinish L – The Earth in SpaceRead Section 6.4 in your book (p. 101-

3)

Astronomy Today: TH 02/02/06Welcome!

Recall

A pair of friends walked South 2 km, East 2 km, and then North 2 km, only to wind up back where they started, at which point they were eaten by a bear. What color was the bear?

What we’re gonna do todayTurn In : L - The Earth in SpaceVideo : Redshift - Sidereal and Solar

Time/Seasons/Celestial SphereReview : N - The Horizon SystemActivity : W - The Horizon System

ReflectWhy can’t a person in Australia use the

Big Dipper to find the North direction?

Homework W – The Horizon System Quiz tomorrow over everything up to

this point

Astronomy Today: F 02/03/06Welcome!

Recall

Where do you have to be on Earth in order to see the South Celestial Pole directly overhead? What is the maximum possible elevation of the Sun above the horizon at that location? On what date is this maximum elevation achieved?

What we’re gonna do todayReview : W – The Horizon SystemQuiz : Q – The Sky and the Earth in

SpaceVideo : Redshift - Time, Time Zones, and

the CalendarReview : N - Time, Time Zones, and the

CalendarActivity : W - Time, Time Zones, and the

Calendar

ReflectWhy is it convenient to have the Earth

divided into time zones?

HomeworkW – Time, Time Zones, and the CalendarRead Sections 6.6 and 6.7 (p. 105-8)

Astronomy Today: M 02/06/06Welcome!

RecallUsing diagrams, describe in a short

paragraph, why the Moon has phases.Draw where the Earth, Moon, and Sun

would be during a full moon.

What we’re gonna do todayTurn In : W - Time, Time Zones, and the

CalendarReview : N - The Moon in Orbit; N -

Phases & Tides; N - EclipsesActivity : W - Phases & Tides; W -

Eclipses

ReflectWhen, if ever, is the Moon visible

during the day time?

Homework W - Phases & Tides; W – Eclipses Read Sections 7.2, 7.3, and 8.3

Astronomy Today: TU 02/07/06Welcome!

Recall

What is the phase of the Moon if it rises at 3 AM? …if it sets at 12 AM?

What we’re gonna do todayReview : W - Phases & Tides; W -

EclipsesLab : L - Motions of the Moon

ReflectDuring a lunar eclipse, does the Moon

enter the Earth’s shadow from the East or West? Explain why.

Homework Finish L – Motions of the Moon Test Only Required, Optional for all

others:o Read all of Chapter 7

Astronomy Today: W 02/08/06Welcome!

Recall

In his novel King Solomon’s Mines, author H Rider Haggard described a total solar eclipse that was seen in both South Africa and the British Isles. Is such an eclipse possible? Why or why not?

What we’re gonna do todayReview : N - Planetary Aspects & PhasesActivity : W - Planetary Aspects &

PhasesReview : Draw a celestial sphere for 6h

sidereal time and correctly position & label Polaris & Sirius for:o Santa Claus’s back yard (the North

Pole)o London (450 N)oEcuador (on the Equator)

ReflectCan one ever observe an annular eclipse

of the Moon? Why?

Homework W – Planetary Aspects and Phases;

Finish Review and R – The Sky and the Calendar

Astronomy Today: TH 02/09/06Welcome!

Recall

Can we see Venus or Mercury in our sky? Explain with diagrams how this is possible.

What we’re gonna do todayGrade : W - Planetary Aspects & PhasesReview : Draw a celestial sphere for 6h

sidereal time and correctly position & label Polaris & Sirius for:o Santa Claus’s back yard (the North

Pole)o London (450 N)oEcuador (on the Equator)

Finish Review : The Earth in SpaceReview : Finish R - The Sky and the

Calendar

ReflectWhat phase would we see Mars in if it

was directly in line with the Sun and Earth, on the same side of the Sun from us? Why wouldn’t we see an eclipse of Mars at this point?

Turn in RC/RF.

Homework Test Tomorrow

Astronomy Today: F 02/10/06Welcome!

RecallNone

What we’re gonna do todayTest : T - The Sky and the Calendar

Reflect (just for fun, don’t write down)1.   I have in my hand two U.S. coins which total 55 cents in value. One coin is not a nickel. Please bear this in mind. What are the coins? 2.   A farmer had 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many did he have left? 3.   Two men play checkers. They play five games and each man wins five games. There are no ties. How can this be? 4.   Take two apples from three apples and what do you have? 5.   An archeologist claimed he found some gold coins dated 46 BC. Do you think he really found the coins?6.   A woman gives a beggar 50 cents. The woman is the beggar's sister, but the beggar is not the woman's brother. How come? 7.   How many animals of each species did Moses take aboard the ark?

8.   Is it legal in Tennessee for a man to marry his widow's sister?9.   If you went to bed at eight o'clock at night and set your alarm clock to get up at nine o'clock in the morning, how many hours sleep would this permit you to have?