The Night Sky (Part 1) Paul Bergeron Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City April 12, 2018
Today s Plan History of Astronomy Ancient Astronomy Saturday s Trip Stargazing Constellations
Antelope Island Trip Saturday 4/14 Forecast New Moon! (almost) No Storms Low around 4 C (39 F) Partly Cloudy Buggy?
Antelope Island Trip Saturday 4/14 Forecast New Moon! (almost) No Storms Low around 4 C (39 F) Partly Cloudy Buggy? Evening Plan Meet at White Rock Bay Trailhead (may need to move to Lakeside Trail head) Set-up at 7:30 PM for Solar Observing Sunset at 8:06 PM Astronomical Twilight 9:08 PM
Stargazing Do s Dress Warmly Bug Repellant? Bring a Planisphere Telescope/Binoculars Red Light source Green Laser Pointer (P < 5 mw) Use peripheral vision Don t s White light Point lasers at: eyes & air craft Point unfiltered telescopes at: Sun & Moon
Stargazing Natural Constellations Satellites Moon Planets (Moons of Planets) Clusters, Nebulae, Galaxies Periodically: Meteor Showers Periodically: Eclipses Rarely: Comets Poleward: auroras
Stargazing Natural Constellations Satellites Moon Planets (Moons of Planets) Clusters, Nebulae, Galaxies Periodically: Meteor Showers Periodically: Eclipses Rarely: Comets Poleward: auroras Artificial (Satellites) Commercial (typically East-West) Governmental (typically North-South) ISS
And that s a lot! Some Constellations include: Big Dipper/Little Dipper, Polaris Bootes (arcturus) Virgo (spica) Draco Pleiades Leo (Regulus) Cancer (Bee Hive Nebula) Corona Borealis Taurus (aldebran) Cassieopia Gemini (Castor and Pollux) Hercules Perseus Sirius
The Moon Phases Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons Joshua Tree National Park West: Man in the Moon East: Bunny in the Moon
Milky Way ESO, via Wikimedia Commons
Planisphere Usage I Planisphere: celestial map turnable to tune date and time I terrestrial maps: place down to the ground I planisphere: place up above to the sky
Polaris The (Current) North Star Astronomy Picture of the Day (2005-12-5), NASA hubblesite.org, NASA
Ursa Major & Minor The Great and Little Bear Ursa Major, Ursa Minor; oocities.org via Wikimedia Commons IAU Asterism: The Dippers (also ladles and wains)
Cassiopeia The Big W in the Sky (Big M, Big E., Big 3...) Urania s Mirror, Jameison via Wikimedia Commons IAU Her arm points to her husband, Cepheus Her knee points to her daughter, Andromeda
Orion The Hunter Urania s Mirror, Jameison via Wikimedia Commons IAU M35 above his club Nebula in the Sword
Gemini The Twins Urania s Mirror, Jameison via Wikimedia Commons IAU Pollux and Castor are the Heads M35 by Castor s foot
Canis Major The Dog Urania s Mirror, Jameison via Wikimedia Commons IAU Sirius the Dog s collar is the brightest in the sky Orion s right should points to it
Directions Mnemonics The plow points the way: Big Dipper s front points to Polaris
Directions Mnemonics The plow points the way: Big Dipper s front points to Polaris Arc to Arcturus... : Big Dipper s handle arcs to Arcturus in Boötes...Spike to Spica: Continue the Arcturus s arc to Spica in Virgo
Directions Mnemonics The plow points the way: Big Dipper s front points to Polaris Arc to Arcturus... : Big Dipper s handle arcs to Arcturus in Boötes...Spike to Spica: Continue the Arcturus s arc to Spica in Virgo A hole in the bowl leaks on Leo: Leo is below the Big Dipper Dipper s Back points to Regulus
Directions Mnemonics The plow points the way: Big Dipper s front points to Polaris Arc to Arcturus... : Big Dipper s handle arcs to Arcturus in Boötes...Spike to Spica: Continue the Arcturus s arc to Spica in Virgo A hole in the bowl leaks on Leo: Leo is below the Big Dipper Dipper s Back points to Regulus Cap to Capella: Dipper s top ladle points to Capella & Orion
Directions Mnemonics The plow points the way: Big Dipper s front points to Polaris Arc to Arcturus... : Big Dipper s handle arcs to Arcturus in Boötes...Spike to Spica: Continue the Arcturus s arc to Spica in Virgo A hole in the bowl leaks on Leo: Leo is below the Big Dipper Dipper s Back points to Regulus Cap to Capella: Dipper s top ladle points to Capella & Orion Andromeda sits on Cassiopeia s knee: Ankle & Knee point to Andromeda (M31)