Celestial Sphere

Unit 1: Celestial Sphere (weeks 1-3)

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 inexplicably. Our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land.” – T.H. Huxley, 1887.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the differences between Astronomy and Astrology

  • 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 essential aspects of a scientific model and evaluate cosmological models in the context of scientific model making.

Outline:

Astronomy vs Astrology – Zodiac Activity (in class)

Class Presentation/Notes

The Visible Sky

The Motions of the Sun and Moon

  • Seasons

  • 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 - Activity

  • Relative Distances of the Planets

Activities & Assignments:

Your Zodiac sign

Register for online homework using these instructions.

Read Zeilik or Openstax Astronomy: Chapter 1 & 2, OR the online content on Observation (Introduction through Northern Hemisphere)

Listen to AstronomyCast on Ursa Major (Big Dipper) Episode 227 – optional

Lunar Phases (in class), Post lab homework: Phases of the Moon tutorial

CAPER tutorial: Predicting Lunar Phases tutorial

Seasons tutorial

Unit 1 Exam Study Guide: Celestial Sphere

  1. Review all presentations.

  2. Review the assigned reading: Chapters 1 & 2 in textbook – or – online reading assignment.

  3. Know the phases of the moon and draw a diagram explaining the phases.

  4. Review all questions relating to the “Lunar Phases” online tutorial and the “Seasons” online tutorial.

  5. Review answers to the online HW1: Celestial Sphere.

  6. Match the following archeological sites to their importance to astronomy.

    1. Pyramids of Giza

    2. Newgrange

    3. Stonehedge

    4. Chiche’n Itza’

Online Homework

Online Lectures

Visit web sites:

Star Chart of the Month

Sky at a Glance

In the Sky this Month

Scale of the Universe

Online Astronomy: astronomyonline.org

How to choose a good telescope