AST_101_Lab_4_Exercise_R (1)
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Arizona State University, Tempe *
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Course
101
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by ProfessorSheep4002
AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
Student Name:
Question 1 (20 points): Using Starry Night
, complete the following table for planets and dwarf planets visible at 11 pm tonight
from your home
location. If a body is not visible at 11 pm, leave
the last 3 columns blank.
Following the table, include a screenshot
showing Starry Night
centered on one of the visible at 11 pm. Be sure Starry Night
is set to display the planets and moons using the two options in the SOLAR SYSTEM group of the “gear” button menu. Also enable the names and outlines of constellations.
Body
Visible at 11 pm?
Altitude and Direction
Constellation
Apparent Magnitude
Mercury
no
Venus
no
Mars
no
Jupiter
yes
+44º 00' 38.9" above horizon
Aries
-2.4
Saturn
no
Uranus
yes
+66º 25' 46.7" above horizon
Aries
+5.7
Neptune
no
Pluto
no
Ceres
no
Eris
yes
+26º 20' 43" above horizon
Pieces
18.7
Haumea
no
Makemake
no
Page 1 of 6
AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
Question 2 (10 points): Copy your results from the table on page 18 of Starry Night “Activity 03
—The Planet Mercury”.
Following the table, include a screenshot
showing Starry Night for Mercury at the date and time listed in the table.
Date, time:
2/2/2024
Azimuth, altitude:
Azimuth: 282º 55' 28.7" in the west Altitude: -57º 21' 50.3" below horizon
Currently in which constellation:
Sagittarius
Current apparent magnitude:
-0.3
Max possible magnitude as seen from Earth:
-0.3
Current distance from Earth:
1.310418 AU 196.0 million km 10.90 light min
Distance at inferior conjunction (closest to Earth):
.131154 AU
Distance at superior conjunction (farthest from Earth):
1.23 AU
Page 2 of 6
AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
Question 3 (10 points): Starry Night “Activity 06—The Planet Mars”: Copy your results for the Date of Next Conjunction and next Opposition of Mars from the tables on page 37 and 38 of the Activity. After the table, include a screenshot showing Starry Night for Mars at the date of Next
Opposition.
Date of Mars at next Conjunction:
April 10 2024
Date of Mars at next Opposition:
Jan 16 2025
Page 3 of 6
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AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
Question 4 (10 points): Using your results for Starry Night “Activity 11—The Planet Saturn”, copy your results from page 62 into the following table. After the table, include a screenshot
showing Starry Night for the date and time listed in the table.
Date, time:
2/2/2024 10:39pm
Azimuth, altitude:
Azimuth: 270º 10' 16.9" in the west
Currently in which constellation:
Aquarius
Current apparent magnitude:
+1
Max possible magnitude as seen from Earth:
+1
Current distance from Earth:
10.628507 AU 1590.0 million km 88.39 light min
Distance at conjunction (aligned with the Sun):
18.799888 AU
Distance at opposition (opposite the Sun):
9.799888 AU
Question 5 (10 points): In which planetary configuration is it easiest to observe Mars from the Earth? Why? Describe some of the differences you might see in Mars’ appearance in this configuration compared with the other configuration where Mars also appears in the full phase.
The easiest time to observe Mars from Earth is during opposition. Mars is closer to Earth and fully eliminated by the sun, making it appear brighter and larger in the sky. Compared to when Page 4 of 6
AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
Mars is in conjunction, Mars appears much dimmer and smaller because It is farther away and not fully illuminated from our perspective.
Question 6 (10 points): For an inferior
planet, which is longer: its sidereal period or synodic period? In your answer, explain how this is caused by the different orbital speeds of the Earth and the other planet.
For an inferior planet, the sidereal period is shorter than the synodic period. The sidereal period is the time it takes for the planet to orbit the sun, while the synodic period is the time between successive conjunctions with the Sun as seen from earth. This difference is due to the fact that while the inferior planet completes one orbit, earth also moves in its orbit, so the inferior planet must catch up to reach the next conjunction. This results in the synodic period being longer than
the sidereal period. Question 7 (10 points): For a superior
planet, which is longer: its sidereal period or synodic period? In your answer, explain how this is caused by the different orbital speeds of the Earth and the other planet.
For a superior planet, the sidereal period Is shorter than the synodic period.This difference is due to the fact that while the superior planet completes one orbit, earth also moves in its orbit, so the superior planet has to ‘wait’ for earth to catch up to reach the next opposition. This results
in the synodic period being longer than the sidereal. Question 8 (10 points): The amount of light collected by a telescope determines the brightness objects appear and the faintest object a telescope can show. Since the amount of light collected
by a telescope depends on the area of its lens or mirror, use the area of a circle given by A = pi x R(squared) = 3.14 x Radius x Radius to answer the following 2 questions:
A)
If you are using a 10” telescope and your friend is using a 40” telescope, who will see fainter objects: you, or your friend?
My friend would see the fainter objects. This is because the 40” telescope has a larger lens or mirror and therefore collects more light than the 10”. Page 5 of 6
AST 101 Lab 4 Exercise
B)
How many times greater (what factor or ratio) is the amount of light collected by the telescope that can see fainter objects?
A10 = π (5”) ^2 = 25π A40 = π (20”) ^2 = 400π 400π/25π = 16
Question 9 (10 points): The angular resolution of a telescope determines the smallest angle between two points that can be distinctly seen as two points (two closer points will appear as one). A higher angular resolution shows smaller objects and finer details. The angular resolution
is given by R = 4.56 / D, where R is the smallest angle visible, measured in arcseconds, and D is the diameter of the lens or mirror, measured in inches. Consider the two telescopes in the previous question, with diameters of 10 inches and 40 inches. Using this formula, answer the following 3 questions:
A)
What is the angular resolution of each telescope, measured in arcseconds?
R10 = 4.56/10 = .456 arcseconds B)
Which telescope has higher angular resolution (smaller value of R)?
R40 = 4.56/40 = .114 arcseconds
C)
How many times better (what factor or ratio) is the telescope that has a smaller value of R (higher resolution)? Show your calculations.
.456/.114 = 4
Page 6 of 6
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