AST_101_Lab_3_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 3 Exercise
Student Name: Isabella Brown Question 1 (10 points): Set Starry Night
to your home location
. List your location below. (5 points of 10).
Location: Anthem AZ
Next, paste a screenshot of Starry Night
showing your location and the current date (5 points of 10).
Question 2 (20 points): Use the EclipseWise
website to complete the following table for your home location (specified in Question 1
)
. Following the table,
include a screenshot
showing the EclipseWise
page used to answer Part (1) of this question.
1
What is the date of the most recent lunar eclipse?
Oct 28 2023
2
Was the most recent lunar eclipse total or partial?
Partial 3
What is the date of the next lunar eclipse?
March 25 2024
4
Is the next eclipse total or partial?
Penumbral
5
What is the time difference between the most recent lunar eclipse and the next lunar eclipse (months, weeks, or days)?
5 months Page 1 of 3
AST 101 Lab 3 Exercise
Question 3 (20 points): Explain the arrangement of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during the following events. In each case, describe how alignment on the “line of nodes” is related to the event.
A)
A lunar eclipse:
During a lunar eclipse, the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned in a straight line, with the Earth positioned between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment causes the Earth's shadow to fall upon the surface of the Moon, obscuring it. The moon can appear reddish during a total lunar eclipse because some of the sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moons surface, lighting it dimly. The line of nodes, the intersection of the Earth-Moon plane and th ecliptic or Earth-Sun plane, plays a vital role in this event. A lunar eclipse can only occur when the full moon is near either lunar node.
B)
A new moon:
During a new moon, the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun. The bright side of the Moon is facing away from the Earth, making it appear dark from our perspective. The line of nodes is also significant during a new moon. A solar eclipse can only occur at a new moon that falls within one of the month-long eclipse seasons when the nodes align with the Sun. This is because the Moons orbital plane intersects the Earths orbital plane at the line of nodes. Question 4 (15 points): Explain the reason for the time difference you found in Part 5 of Question 2 for the time between the most recent lunar eclipse and next one. Hint: consider factors such as alignments of Earth, Moon, and Sun, your location on Earth, and the time of day.
The time difference between the lunar eclipses on October 28, 2023, and March 25,2024, is due
to the Moons orbit around the Earth and the alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the moon, and this alignment happens approximately every six months. However, the exact timing of these events can vary based on the Moons position in its orbit and the alignment of the Earth and Sun. For the lunar eclipse on October 28, 2023, at my location the penumbral phase began at 10:01. For the eclipse that will occur in March, it's supposed to start at 9:53pm
Question 5 (20 points): Which factor(s) is (are) most important for causing summer and winter on Earth? Explain your reasoning in detail, including the effects of latitude on Earth, the tilt of the Earth’s axis, and the ellipticity of Earth’s orbit.
The Primary factor causing summer and winter on Earth is the tilt of the Earth's axis. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt causes each hemisphere to receive varying amounts of sunlight Page 2 of 3
AST 101 Lab 3 Exercise
throughout the year, leading to seasonal changes. During a hemisphere’s summer, it is tilted towards the sun receiving more direct sunlight and experiencing warmer temperatures. Conversely during winter, the hemisphere is tilted away from the sun receiving less direct sunlight in thus cooler temperatures. Latitude also plays a role as areas closer to the equator receive more consistent sunlight year-round, while regions closer to the poles experience more drastic seasonal changes, The ellipticity of Earth's orbit has a minor effect slightly affecting the length of the seasons but its impact on the temperature is minimal compared to the effects of axial tilt and latitude. Question 6 (15 points): As explained in Starry Night Exercise B-3-2, “Kepler’s Second Law”
, a planet’s orbit sweeps out “equal area in equal time”. Using only
Kepler’s Second Law, explain why Mercury must
move faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is further from the Sun.
Kepler's second law states that the line joining a planet and the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This implies that when a planet like Mercury is closer to the sun it must move faster
to sweep out the same area that it would when it's farther away. Conversely, when mercury is at
its furthest point from the sun, it moves slower because it must cover a smaller arc to sweep out
the same area. Therefore, the speed of mercury's orbit around the sun is not constant but varies
depending on its distance from the sun moving faster when closer and slower when farther away. Page 3 of 3
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