Motions and Historical Astronomy

Labs

• • Measuring Angular Sizes and Distances: Measure the height of a building using a paper cross-staff.

  • Measuring Earth's Circumference : Use Eratosthenes' method to determine the circumference of Earth.

  • Planetarium Sky Motions: Study sky motion in the planetarium with a planisphere

  • Distance to the Center of the Milky Way: using the location of globular clusters

Shorter Activities (linked below)

• • Sun Days: Using the sky's rotation to tell time.

  • Phases of the Moon: Students will determine the direction of motion, and the reason for the phases.

  • Proving Kepler's Laws: Students will test Kepler's laws by reproducing ellipses, examining the orbits of Jupiter's Moons, and using characteristics of Pluto's orbit.

  • Kepler's Laws Questions: The student reviews Kepler's three laws, determines the properties of an ellipse and relates these properties to the orbits of planets and to binary stars.

  • Drawing Ellipses: Use a string and two thumbtacks to investigate the eccentricity of real ellipses.

• Questions on Motions

• Questions on Historical Astronomy