Lesson 1 Lab - Solar system PHYS1404 BreanaMattox

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Louisiana State University *

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1404

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Astronomy

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Apr 3, 2024

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Name: Lesson 1 Lab - Basic Coordinates & Seasons There are three main sections to this module: terrestrial coordinates, celestial equatorial coordinates, and understanding how the ecliptic is related to seasons on the Earth. Each of these sections has its own simulator(s). The background material necessary to utilize these tools is contained in each section. Terrestrial Coordinates Work through the explanatory material on units of longitude and latitude , finding longitude and latitude , and a bit of history (optional). Open the flat map explorer . Familiarize yourself with the cursor and how it prints out the longitude and latitude of the active map location. Note that you can vary the central meridian of the map (i.e. change its longitude). Use the “shift map” arrows at the top of the simulator to affect large rapid changes. Use the shift-click feature of the cursor for finer control. Note what information is accessible through the show cities and show map features check boxes. Center the cursor on your present location. Click the open Google Maps button to launch the Google Map tool focused on this location. Experiment until you get a good feeling for the Google Map’s capabilities and then close this window. (Note that you must be connected to the Internet to make use of this feature.) Question 1: (2 points) Use the flat map explorer to complete the following table. You are encouraged to try and predict the answers and then use the map’s cursor and other features to check the accuracy of your estimates. Location Longitude Latitude The center of the island of Madagascar. 58.2 º W 52.0 º S North Pacific Ocean 157.5º W 21.2º N London, United Kingdom Prime Meridian 51.8º N Cuba 82.1º W Tropic of Cancer Sao Paulo, Brazil 46.4W 23.7S South Pacific Ocean International Date Line Arctic Circle New Orleans, Louisiana 90º W Meridian 30º N Parallel NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 1/9
Latitude : 77.0365 ° W: 77 remains the same since it is the whole number. .0365 x 60=2.1900 .1900 x 60= 11.4000 The Latitude of 77.0365° is: 77° 2’ 11” in sexagesimal form. Longitude: 38.897° N : 38 remains the same since it is the whole number. .892x60=53.820 .820x60=49.200 The Longitude of 38.897° N is: 38° 53’ 49” in sexagesimal form. Question 2: (2 points) Determine which of the 50 states defines the farthest extent of the United States in each of the 4 map directions. Direction State North Alaska South Hawaii East (there are two ways of thinking about this) Alaska West Alaska Question 3: (2 points) The exact coordinates of the white house in Washington D.C., are 77.0365º W and 38.897º N. What are these exact coordinates in sexagesimal notation? Show your calculation in the box below. (You can use the Google Map tool to check your answer.) Open the globe explorer . You are encouraged to use the Terrestrial Coordinate Explorers link which opens both simulators at the same time for the following two NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 2/9
questions. Familiarize yourself with the features noting that they are very similar to those in the flat map explorer. Question 4: (1 points) A) Where is the North Pole on the flat map explorer ? What is its shape? The North Pole on the flat map explorer is at the top. The shape of the North Pole on the flat map is a straight line. B) Where is the north pole on the globe explorer ? What is its shape? The North Pole on the globe map is at the very top, between the United States and Eur-Asia. On the map itself, it appears to be in the shape of an X or a cross. C) Your answers to parts A and B should be different. Explain why. The answers between A and B are different because we are answering from two different types of maps. The flat map will not show the rounding features of the Earth the globe map does. The flat map shows no definition. Question 5: (2 points) Compare the relative sizes of Greenland and Australia in the two maps? The true values of the surface areas for these countries are Greenland (2.2 million km 2 ) and Australia (7.7 million km 2 ). Does each map demonstrate these true values? The globe map is more accurate in scale than the flat map. On the globe map, you can plainly tell that Australia has a bigger surface area. The flat map makes it seem like Greenland is larger than Australia. Celestial Equatorial Coordinates Work through the introductory material on the page entitled Celestial Equator, Declination, Right Ascension . Open either the Flat Sky Map Explorer or the Sky Map Explorer . Familiarize yourself with the same set of features (cursor movement, shifting the map, decimal/sexagesimal) that were available on the previous maps. Make sure that you understand what each check box does. Question 6: (1 points) Where is the star Polaris located on this map? What are its coordinates? The Polaris star is located at the North celestial Pole. The coordinates of the Polaris star are declination approx. +90 ° right ascension approx. 2.6 hr. NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 3/9
Question 7: (2 points) Find the constellation of Orion shown in the box below and measure the right ascension and declination of its brightest stars Betelgeuse and Rigel. Note that Orion is located on the celestial equator. Question 8: (1 points) Which direction is east on the flat sky map? Relate this to a coordinate of the celestial equatorial system. Both top and bottom flat border lines, to the right of both top and bottom 0h marks is East on the flat sky map Question 9: (2 points) Complete the following table of positions on the ecliptic. Ecliptic Location Approximate Date Right Ascension Declination Vernal Equinox March 21 0.0h 0.1 ° Summer Solstice June 21 6.0h 23.4 ° Autumnal Equinox September 21 12.0h -0.0 ° Winter Solstice December 21 18.0h -23.2 ° Question 10: (2 points) Write out a description of the ecliptic on the flat sky map. What does the shape look like? Describe the ecliptic in terms of its average and range of declination values. On the flat sky map, the ecliptic looks like a wave. Its average range, north and south, shows approximately, if not exact, same declination values. Its positive and negative “dips” in its’ wave is around positive & negative 23 °. Seasons and the Ecliptic Work through the introductory material on the page entitled Orbits and Light . Open the Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator . NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 4/9 RA 5.9H DEC 7.2 ° RA 5.2h DEC -8.1 °
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