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Understanding Our Universe

FIRST EDITIONPalen | Kay | Smith | Blumenthal

© 2012 by W. W. Norton & Company

CHAPTER 2

Patterns in the Sky—

Motions of Earth

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The Sun rises in the east and sets in the

west. Which way is Earth rotating?

A. Toward the west

B. Toward the north

C. Toward the east

D. Toward the south

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If you were standing on the Earth’s

South pole, which stars would you

see rising and setting?

A. All of them

B. None of them

C.Some of them

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Kitt Peak, AZ – Latitude: 32°N

Thibodaux, LA – 29.8°N

• At a latitude of +50°, how far above the

horizon is the north celestial pole?

• a. 0°

• b. 40°

• c. 50°

• d. 90°

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If you were standing on Earth’s North pole,

where would the North Star be?

A. Straight overhead

B. On the horizon

C. At an altitude of 30° N

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Go to Zodiac Simulation

TRADITIONAL

ASTROLOGICAL DATES

ACTUAL ASTRONOMICAL DATES

TODAY (c. 2000 C.E.)

Constellation Date Span Days Constellation Date Span Days

Aries 21 Mar - 19 Apr 30 Aries 19 Apr - 13 May 25

Taurus 20 Apr - 20 May 31 Taurus 14 May - 19 Jun 37

Gemini 21 May - 20 Jun 31 Gemini 20 Jun - 20 Jul 31

Cancer 21 Jun - 22 Jul 32 Cancer 21 Jul - 9 Aug 20

Leo 23 Jul - 22 Aug 31 Leo 10 Aug - 15 Sep 37

Virgo 23 Aug - 22 Sep 31 Virgo 16 Sep - 30 Oct 45

Libra 23 Sep - 22 Oct 30 Libra 31 Oct - 22 Nov 23

Scorpio 23 Oct - 21 Nov 30 Scorpius 23 Nov - 29 Nov 7

Ophiuchus 30 Nov - 17 Dec 18

Sagittarius 22 Nov - 21 Dec 30 Sagittarius 18 Dec - 18 Jan 32

Capricorn 22 Dec - 19 Jan 29 Capricornus 19 Jan - 15 Feb 28

Aquarius 20 Jan - 18 Feb 30 Aquarius 16 Feb - 3/11 24-25

Pisces 19 Feb - 20 Mar 30-31 Pisces 12 Mar - 18 Apr 38

Figure 1

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Figure 2 Figure 3

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What do you do in a Lecture-Tutorial?

• Work with a partner (or group of 3)!

• Read the instructions and questions carefully.

• Discuss the concepts and your answers with one

another. Take time to understand it now!

• Come to a consensus answer you all agree on.

• If you get stuck, or are not sure of your answer, ask

another group.

• If you’re still stuck, raise your hand, and I’ll help.

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If the ecliptic were aligned with the celestial equator, what would happen to the seasons?

A. Nothing. They would be the same as now.

B. Each season would last longer.

C. We would not have seasons at all.

D. Can’t tell from the information given.

Which of the following locations

experiences the smallest amount of

change in sunlight over the course of a

year?

a) North Pole

b) South Pole

c) Equator

d) They all experience the same amount of

change in sunlight over a year.

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Suppose you are standing on the side of the

Moon that faces the Earth. How would earth

appear to move in the sky as the Moon

made one revolution around Earth?

a. The Earth would not move at all.

b. The Earth would rise and set.

c. The Earth would move across the sky but

not rise and set.

d. You could not see the Earth.

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http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html

Total Eclipse: August 21, 2017

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When the Moon appears to completely

cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the

Moon must be at which phase?

A)Full

B)New

C)First quarter

D)Last quarter

E)No particular phase

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Which, if either, occurs more often?

a. Total eclipse of the Moon as seen from Earth.

b. Total eclipse of the Sun as seen from the

Moon.

c. They are both just as common.

Hint: When in doubt, draw it out!

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AstroTour

View from the Poles

Click here to launch this AstroTour(Requires an active Internet connection.)

AstroTour

The Celestial Sphere and the Ecliptic

Click here to launch this AstroTour(Requires an active Internet connection.)