Patterns in the Skywith Dr. Anthony Crider

Student Learning Objectives

• How do we identify stars in the sky?

• How do we mark the direction of stars?

• How does the sky appear to move during

the course of a single night?

What would this look like if you were right here?

Zenith? Meridian? Horizon?

hours

minutes

seconds

Measuring Angles

How does the position of

Polaris depend on latitude?

Start up Stellarium.

Face North.

Allow time to progress to sunset, then stop.

How far is Polaris above the horizon at the following locations?

• Burlington, North Carolina

• Tokyo, Japan

• North Pole

• Lima, Peru

Facing NorthA B

C D

Facing EastFacing South Facing West

Polaris, the North Star does not appear to move* in the sky!

* very much

Facing NorthA B

C D

Facing EastFacing South Facing West

Facing NorthA B

C D

Facing EastFacing South Facing West

In the northern hemisphere, the stars rise in the East, set in the West and revolve counter-clockwise around the North Celestial Pole.In the southern hemisphere, the stars rise in the ____, set in the _____ and revolve _______ around the South celestial pole.

East, West, CCWA B

C D

East, West, CWWest, East, CCW West, East, CW

Student Learning Objectives

• How do we identify stars in the sky?

• How do we mark the direction of stars?

• How does the sky appear to move during

the course of a single night?

Lecture Notes: Reasons for the SeasonsBad Astronomy: Why Summer Turns to Fall

MasteringAstronomy: Seasons