Grade

Name:

The Moon & Telescopes I

Pre-Lab Quiz: Record your answers as well as your reasonings and explanations.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Part 1: Observing Moon Phases

1. Identify the phase of the Moon for each case above.

Number Moon Phase

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2. Your lab for this week cannot be completed in one sitting. In addition to completing what you can of this lab worksheet today, your group members must also try to observe the Moon 4 times this week, on 4 different days, going outside where you are staying, looking all over the sky, and trying to find the Moon with your eyes. You must then also complete the parts of this lab worksheet that couldn't be completed until your observations were done before submitting this worksheet before the start of your next lab. For your 4 Moon observations, you must search once during each of the 4 observation blocks listed in the table below (you cannot look for the Moon at the same time each day). All of your group members should plan to observe the Moon at the same time regardless of your timezone (you do not need to meet in person). Talk through and coordinate all this now, and document your conversation in the blank space and in the table below. When will your 4 observations take place? Is anyone in different timezones, and what does this mean for their observation time? How will you coordinate completing and submitting this worksheet after your observations are done? How will you stay in contact throughout the week? Set reminders for yourself if you are worried you will forget about your selected observation times.

Observing Block Date

Exact Observing

Time

How many of your group members found the Moon? If none, why do

you think that is?* 10AM Central -

4PM 4PM Central -

10PM 10PM Central -

4AM 4AM Central -

10AM

*Possible reasons for being unable to find the Moon include: the current phase of the Moon may not be up during a particular Observing Block, the weather may be poor with clouds obscuring the Moon, or other circumstances students describe

3. If members of your lab group see the Moon during one or more of your viewing blocks, the first time one of your group members sees the Moon, they should make sure to take a picture of the Moon with a phone camera or other device and insert it into this lab worksheet below. Don’t zoom in on the Moon; include scenery (buildings, trees).

4. If members of your lab group saw the Moon during one or more of your viewing blocks, which side of the face of the Moon is illuminated in your picture (the left or the right)? By about how much? From that information, what was the current phase of the Moon?

6. If members of your lab group saw the Moon during one or more of your viewing blocks, given that the sky rotates 15o per hour towards the west, estimate the rise, set, and meridian transit times of the Moon. Explain how you arrived at your answers.

5. If members of your lab group see the Moon during one or more of your viewing blocks, the first time one of your group members sees the Moon, all group members who can see the Moon should estimate the azimuth, altitude, and angular size of the Moon and record this information in the table below. Reference the diagram and definitions that are also provided.

Azimuth – angle around the horizon, starting from the North and increasing to the East. Ranges from 0° to 360°. (Use a resource such as Google Maps to locate North, East where you are.)

Altitude – angle above the horizon. Ranges from 0° at the horizon to 90° at the zenith.

Student Name (If that Student Saw the Moon)

Student Observation

Location Azimuth Altitude Angular Size

Part 2: Lunar Features Observed with Telescopes Examine the magnified view of the Waxing Gibbous Moon the image below, taken through a small backyard telescope.

1. Even though this is an image of a Waxing Gibbous Moon, the side on the left isilluminated rather than the right side. This image from a telescope is flipped left toright, and top to bottom. Why do you think this is? (Make your best guess; your TAwill not count off if your answer to this question is incorrect.)

2. Noting that the phase of the Moon you observe may be different than the Waxing Gibbous Moon, and remembering that the image above is flipped left to right and top to bottom relative to what you will see when you observe the Moon with your eyes, if members of your lab group saw the Moon during one or more of your viewing blocks, compare the picture above to the picture your group took of the Moon with your phone camera or other device. Describe the similarities and differences in the space below. In the image above, circle or point to any lunar features that your phone camera or other device was able to capture (if any).