Lab 4 – 2024 – Basic Coordinates and Seasons

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Astronomy

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Apr 3, 2024

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Astronomy 020 —Lab 4 Basic Coordinates & Seasons There are three main sections to this lab: 1. terrestrial coordinates, 2. celestial equatorial coordinates 3. understanding how the ecliptic is related to seasons on the Earth Each of these sections has its own simulator(s). The background material necessary to utilize these tools is contained in each section. All of this content is organized on the following webpage: https://astro.unl.edu/naap/motion1/motion1.html Terrestrial Coordinates Work through the explanatory material on units of longitude and latitude , finding longitude and latitude , and a bit of history (optional). • Open the flat map explorer . • Familiarize yourself with the cursor and how it prints out the longitude and latitude of the active map location. • Note that you can vary the central meridian of the map (i.e. change its longitude) by using the shift- click feature of the cursor for control. • Note what information is accessible through the show cities and show map features check boxes. • Center the cursor on your present location. Click the open Google Maps button to launch the Google Map tool focused on this location. Question 1: Use the flat map explorer to complete the following table. You are encouraged to try and predict the answers and then use the map’s cursor and other features to check the accuracy of your estimates. Location Longitude Latitude The center of the island of Sri Lanka. 18.4° W 33.9º S International Date Line 16.8° S 150.5° W Tropic of Capricorn Reykjavík, Iceland 91° 04’ E 29° 37’ N 23° 43’ E 37° 55’ N Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 25.7° E Arctic Circle 66.1° W 18.4° N

106° 45’ E 6° 09’ S Question 2: Using show cities , which city shown in the flat map explorer is the closest to the Tropic of Cancer? Question 3: The exact coordinates of the Great Pyramid of Giza (tomb of pharaoh Khufu) are 31.134° E and 29.979° N. What are these exact coordinates in sexagesimal notation? Show your calculations below. • Open the globe explorer. You are encouraged to use the Terrestrial Coordinate Explorers link which opens both simulators at the same time for the following two questions. Familiarize yourself with the features noting that they are very similar to those in the flat map explorer. Question 4: A) Where is the north pole on the flat map explorer ? What is its shape? B) Where is the north pole on the globe explorer ? What is its shape? C) Why does the north pole not have the same shape in the two different map explorers?

RA DEC D) This difference in shape of the north pole is indicative of what happens to shapes represented in both types of maps. At what latitudes are shapes most dramatically affected by changing a map from a globe to flat? Why is this the case? Question 5: Compare the relative sizes of Greenland and Australia in the two maps? The true values of the surface areas for these countries are Greenland (2.2 million km 2 ) and Australia (7.7 million km 2 ). Does each map demonstrate these true values? Explain the implications of your answer. Celestial Equatorial Coordinates Work through the introductory material on the page entitled Celestial Equator, Declination, Right Ascension . • Open either the Flat Sky Map Explorer or the Sky Map Explorer . • Familiarize yourself with the same set of features (cursor movement, shifting the map, decimal/sexagesimal) that were available on the previous maps. • Make sure that you understand what each check box does. Question 6: What are the coordinates of the star Eta Piscium? This star is in the Pisces constellation and is shown in the figure to the left. Enable show zodiac constellations to be able to locate the correct star.

Question 7: The image below, from the Sky Map Explorer, shows the celestial sphere including labeled representations of the celestial equator, the ecliptic, and the galactic equator. What does it mean that the galactic equator is angled relative to the ecliptic? Consider describing the ecliptic plane as a disk in your answer, or discussing what the galactic plane might appear to an observer on Earth. Question 8: Complete the following table of positions on the ecliptic. Ecliptic Location Approximate Date Right Ascension Declination Vernal Equinox March 21 Summer Solstice June 21 Autumnal Equinox December 21 Question 9: Complete the descriptive criteria for the following items from the Flat Sky Map Explorer : Shape of the ecliptic : Total range of declination angle of ecliptic : Shape of the galactic equator : Total range of declination angle of galactic equator :

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