Activity 1-6
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School
Indiana University, Kokomo *
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Course
110
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by DrHedgehogPerson988
AST-A 100
Name ______________________________________
ACTIVITY 1 – 50 pts
WATCH THE WALK-THROUGH VIDEO FOR THIS FIRST!
I. Overview
1. (10 pts) Let’s make a scale distance model of our solar system, with the scale factor being 10 cm = 1
AU. Thus, the distance from the Sun to the Earth would be 10 cm on our scale. Make a scale model in
your house/driveway/yard using everyday items (eg., rocks, pencils, etc) to represent the Sun & planets.
Include the Sun, all 8 planets, and Pluto (the distances are given below). Once done, take a photo.
Include:
Paste a photo
of your scale model here or include it separately in your upload.
What are some of your observations of your model (eg., what do you notice about the
distances between the inner planets vs. the outer planets? What surprised you about seeing
the model?)
Where would you place the nearest star, 15 mi from the Sun?
You do not have to drive 15
miles away, but on a map find a location that is 15 miles from your house and list it here:
Distances (use the scale factor that 1 AU = 10 cm):
Object
Distance from Sun (AU)
Scale Distance (cm)
Mercury
0.39
Venus
0.73
Earth
1.0
10
Mars
1.5
Jupiter
5.2
Saturn
9.5
Uranus
19.0
Neptune
30.0
Pluto
39.5
II. Night Sky
Go to the
web-based planetarium site, Stellarium
(http://stellarium-web.org). This site shows the sky
for any time and location. In the lower left, adjust the location to be your own location. In the lower
right, adjust the date and time to be 9/15/23 at 10pm (
22:00
). You can drag the screen around to
change the direction you are looking. Answer the following:
1.
(1 pt) For 9/15/23 at 10pm, list any planets that are visible and the approximate direction (eg.,
south, southeast, etc.) you can see them.
AST-A 100
Act 1
2.
(2 pts) Click on the 'triangle' icon at the bottom of the screen to show the constellations. List 2
constellations you can see in the southern sky and roughly sketch them.
3.
(2 pts) List 2 constellations you can see in the northern sky and roughly sketch them.
4.
(1 pt) Which constellation is at the zenith?
5.
(1 pt) Face north and advance the hours. What constellations are circumpolar?
6.
(2 pts) Change the date to your birthday and the hour to noon. What constellation is the Sun
nearest to? Is this what you expected from your astrological sign?
7.
(1 pt) Keeping the date on your birthday, advance the hours to 9pm (21:00). What are 2
constellations you will be able to see?
8. (3 pts) You are lost at sea in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Clearly
explain how you can determine
your latitude without the aid of any equipment.
AST-A 100
Act 1
III. Moon Phases & Eclipses
1.
Go to the website,
https://stardate.org/nightsky/moon
, “Moon Phase Calculator.”
a. (1 pt) What phase is the Moon in on 9/8/23?
b. (3 pts) Sketch the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth for this phase.
c. (1 pt) What phase was the Moon in on your birthday (give the date)?
d. (3 pts) Sketch the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth for this phase.
2. Answer the next questions about the relative sizes and distances of the Sun and Moon to see why we
are lucky enough to have total solar eclipses!
a. (2 pts) The Sun’s radius is 6.96 x 10
8
meters, while the Moon’s radius is 1.74 x 10
6
meters.
How
many times larger
is the Sun than the Moon?
b. (2 pts) The Sun’s average distance from Earth is 1.5 x 10
11
meters, while the Moon’s average
distance from the Earth is 3.8 x 10
8
meters.
How
many times farther
from the Earth is the Sun
than the Moon?
c. (1 pt) How do your answers to (a) and (b) compare?
This is why we have total solar eclipses!
3. (2 pts) Do a web search to find out the dates of the next lunar and solar eclipses that you will be able to
see in your area.
Cite the source(s) you use.
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AST-A 100
Act 1
IV. History of Astronomy
1. (2 pts)
The geocentric model lasted for 1500 years.
List
two
reasons why you think it took so long for
the heliocentric model to come into favor.
2. (4 pts) Pick one historical culture of interest and look up some information on their astronomical ideas
(beyond what we discussed in class).
Describe it here and cite your source.
V. Reflections
1. (6 pts) You have been learning about the night sky, Earth’s motions in space, Moon phases & eclipses,
and history of astronomy.
Has anything surprised you?
What still confuses you?
What is your biggest
take-away from these first few weeks?