PHYS110-Fall2023-Lab1

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University of Notre Dame *

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110

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Astronomy

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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pdf

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7

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1 Name:__ Date:__ PHYS 110L Lab # 1 The Position and Motion of the Sun 1 Equipment: access to http://www.heavens-above.com Instructions: Please read and follow the steps described below and answer all questions. Part #1 Computer Simulation Setup Step 1. Go to the website: https://www.heavens-above.com/ Step 2. Under the Configuration section, click on the Change your observing location link. Step 3. Scroll down the page to the Enter place to search for box and type in your location ( e.g. Grand Forks, North Dakota). Click the Search button and your location should be displayed on the map. If not, please enter your latitude and longitude in the available boxes. Step 4. Once your location is set, click the Update button near the bottom of the webpage. This action will take you back to the main page with your location and time set in the box at the upper right of the page. Step 5. Under the Astronomy section, click the link Interactive Sky Chart . This will give you a star chart displaying the visible stars, planets, and Sun that are currently located above your position. 1 Modified from Engaging in Astronomical Inquiry , by S. J. Slater, T. F. Slater, and D. J. Lyons, 2010, W. H. Freeman and Company. Learning Objectives: In this lab assignment you will conduct a series of inquiries about the motion of the Sun in the sky using simulations and learn how the Sun follows different pathways at different times of the year.
2 Part #2 Exploration Question 1: On a map of the United States, north is toward the top of the page and west is to the left. On star charts, north is toward the top of the page and west is to the right. How do you account for this difference? The star chart is basically opposite to a standard map. Step 6. Looking at the sky chart, find the position of the yellow symbol that represents the Sun. If you do not see the Sun, your sky chart might be set to night-time viewing. If so, please add or subtract enough hours until you see the Sun symbol. This can be done by using the menu at the top of the sky chart, clicking the + or − button to change the current time. Question 2: Which constellation is the Sun closest to right now? The sun is closest to the constellation Leo according to the simulation. Step 7. Change the time by increasing it by one hour. Explain exactly how the Sun ’ s position has changed on the sky chart. The Sun’s original position was 250 degrees Southwest at 16:59 PM and shifted 10 degrees closer to true West and is now 260 degrees to the West at 17:59 PM from our location. Step 8. Slowly increase the time to later and later in the day. Determine exactly at what time (hours and minutes) that the Sun will set tonight (the Sun ’ s symbol should just disappear at the exact sunset time). Please record the sunset time: Sunset:_20:09 PM______________ Question 3: Which constellation was the Sun closest to when it set? The Sun was closest to the constellation Leo during sun set.
3 Question 4: Is this the same or different constellation from where the Sun was earlier in the day (see Question 2)? From the viewpoint of our location the Sun has been near the constellation Leo all day. Question 5: What generalization can you make about the relative speeds that the Sun and stars move through the sky over the course of a day? It appears from our viewpoint that the Sun and the Stars in sky are moving at the same speed since the stars close to our Sun are not lagging behind and stay in the same location near our sun but just shifted West. Part #3 When looking at the star chart for sunset tonight: Question 6: Which constellation appears highest in the sky (i.e., directly overhead)? The Constellation Draco appears directly overhead in the night sky at our location. Question 7: What is the position of this constellation relative to the sky chart (left, right, top, bottom, center)? The position of the constellation Draco appears center on the sky chart. Question 8: On what part of the sky chart (left, right, top, bottom, center) is the constellation that appears near the southern horizon? The constellation that is near the southern horizon appears on the bottom of the skychart. Question 9: What is the name of the constellation near the southern horizon? The constellation that is near the southern horizon is the constellation Scorpius. Question 10: On what part of the sky chart (left, right, top, bottom, center) is the constellation that appears near the eastern horizon?
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