FYI. 0 You will need to take notes this information will come in handy when going through this unit and on the cok.

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2 FYI 0 You will need to take notes this information will come in handy when going through this unit and on the cok. One of the best ways to get started as a backyard astronomer is to learn the constellations. All it takes is a star chart (such as the ones provided at the back of this book), a dim flashlight, and a place that is dark and has an unobstructed view of the night sky. The star chart will tell you how to hold it so that it matches the sky for the date and time that you are observing.

3 Learning Constellations A. Materials needed 1. Star charts ( ). 2. Flashlight with red acetate over the bulb. 3. Dark spot,, an unobstructed view of the sky. 4. A telescope or good binoculars. 5. A compass.

4 B. Techniques 1. Determine 2. Locate stars (match up with charts) 3. Use your for scaling (fully spread hand at arms length covers 20 of sky, for smaller distances use widths at Learn stories associated with stars.

5 C. Star Lore 1. Part of all. 2. Stories about star. 3. We see the same sky as ancient people. 4. Helps to constellations. 5. can recognize star patterns. 6. are easily recognized grouping of stars that are part of either one constellation or pieces of several.

6 Asterisms 1. Big Dipper is part of (the Great Bear). Two stars in the of the dipper or Dubhe & Merak act as pointer stars that point to the or. The represents a huge, the represents chasing the bear. The bear wounded and dripping blood causes the changes in the leaves in fall when the constellation is low in the sky.

7 2. the three bright stars that are part of three different constellations: in Cygnus (swan), in Aquila the eagle, and in Lyra the harp. 3. The part of the constellation Ursa Minor, or the Little Bear. marks the end of the handle of the dipper.

8 D. Small Telescopes 1. used mirror to collect and focus light. 2. direct view, multiple lens, images.

9 E. Planetary Terms 1. planets lies in the as the Sun from Earth. a. planet lies between us and the Sun (Mercury & Venus). b. planets is on the other side of the Sun (All planets). 2. planet that is directly us and the Sun and silhouette is visible against the Sun (Mercury and Venus). 3. Planet directly the Sun in the sky (rises when Sun sets, sets when the Sun rises). 4. a planet seen close to the Sun at (Venus). Southwestern Sky 5. Greatest elongation planets greatest from the Sun. Mercury 28 away from Sun. Venus 47 away from Sun.

10 A. Dark adaptation Your Eyes at Night 1. Pupils open from 2mm to 7 or 8 mm. 2. changes cause retina to be more sensitive to light than under full daylight conditions. 3. during day our eyes respond best to green colors, while at night it responds best to (starlight is bluer than sunlight). 4. vision see faint objects easier if you don t look directly at the, but off to the side a bit. 1. This is due to the receptors in the eye.

11 0 All of these pictures were taken with the Neximage or with a Cannon Power Shot on the piggy back mount. 0 A Astromaster 130 EQ telescope was used Backyard Astronomy

12 0 Computer Lab: Constellations Activity 0 Every group (of 2) will get a chrome book and get on the class web page. 0 Choose the activity for today and following the instructions. 0 You will watch, then sketch or answer the question. You can discuss the question before you answer it.

13 0 Part 1: Star Movement in a Night: 0 1) Sketch the direction the stars moving ) Sketch the final image in this video. Label the North Star ) Do stars in the Northern Hemisphere appear to move in a clock-wise or a counter-clockwise direction? Why? 0 4) Predict & Draw what direction stars will appear to move in the Southern Hemisphere. 0 5) View this video of the stars in the Australian night sky. Did this match your prediction? Explain ) Which hemisphere is this from and how do you know? Locate Polaris in this video, from this can you tell what latitude this is taken from? 0 Part 2: Constellations & Seasons 0 7) After watching the animation, draw and describe what causes us to see different constellations at different times of the year. You do not need to subscribe to the link below. Be sure to just study and read the content below the animation. zodiacal-constellations 0 8) 0 What is a constellation? 0 How do modern astronomers use constellations? 0 How might earlier human populations have used constellations?

14 Backyard Astronomy

15 Mapping the Night Sky You will be able to say. I can distinguish between altitude and azimuth. I can distinguish between right ascension and declination. I can use the Big Dipper to locate other constellations.

16 On the celestial sphere, we track stars Right Ascension Similar to longitude Measured in hours, min, sec using: Declination Similar to latitude Measured in degrees +90 to -90 Celestial equator = 0

17 In the sky, we track stars using: Azimuth Angle measured eastward along the horizon from the north to a point directly below an object on the horizon Compass Headings Altitude An object s angle above the horizon Zenith = 90 0 straight up Horizon = 0 o Nadir = straight down

18 How to use your Hand to Measure Altitude and Azimuth

19 A familiar grouping of stars. Not just a constellation can be many. Asterism

20 Assignments Book Guided Notes 1-4 Starry Night E.1 Constellation Presentation MAKE YOUR CHOICE HERE

21 Planetary Configurations You will be able to say. I can draw the Sun, Earth, and other planets in any configuration (opposition, superior conjunction, inferior conjunction, elongation). I can estimate rising and setting times as well as best viewing times for a planet at a specific configuration.

22 Planetary Configurations

23 When a planet is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun Works for all planets except Mercury and Venus a. Planet rises at Sunset b. Planet sets at Sunrise Best time to view outer planets (Mars-Neptune) because a. They are in the sky at night b. They are closest to Earth in their orbits. Opposition

24 Superior Conjunction When a planet is on the opposite side of Sun from the Earth Works for all planets a. Planet rises at Sunrise b. Planet sets at Sunset Worst time to view any planet because a. They are in the sky during the day. b. They are behind the Sun

25 Inferior Conjunction When a planet is between the Sun and the Earth Works for Mercury & Venus only a. Planet rises at Sunrise b. Planet sets at Sunset Worst time to view the inner planets. a. They are in the sky during the day. b. They are in front of the Sun

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27 Greatest Elongation When a planet is farthest from the Sun in the sky. Works for all planets Best time to view Mercury and Venus because they are either: a. At greatest Eastern Elongation i. Set after the Sun sets ii. Evening Star b. At greatest Western Elongation i. Rise before the Sun rises

28 Assignments Book Guided Notes 1-4 Starry Night E.1 Constellation Presentation TEMPLATE

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