CELESTIAL MOTIONS

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CELESTIAL MOTIONS
Stars appear to move counterclockwise on the
surface of a huge sphere the Starry Vault, in
their daily motions about Earth
Polaris remains stationary.
In Charlottesville we see Polaris 380 above the
Northern horizon.
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Daily Motion of Stars seen from Charlottesville
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IMPORTANT TERMS
Vernal Equinox
Summer Solstice
Autumnal Equinox
Winter Solstice
Celestial Equator
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LATTITUDE 380 NORTH
380
Charlottesville
Sunlight
Equator
Earth
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MOON
Siderial Period Time for the Moon to orbit
Earth and realign with a star. Equal to 27.32
days.
Synodic Period Time for the Moon to orbit Earth
and realign with the Sun. Equal to 29.53 days.
Zodiac A band extending 80 on either side of
the ecliptic. The Sun, Moon, and planets move
through the zodiac.
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MOONS PATH THROUGH THE ZODIAC
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PHASES OF THE MOON
Full
Crescent
Half
Gibbous
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ECLIPSES
Lunar eclipse
Moon
Earth
Solar Eclipse
Moon
Earth
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LUNAR ECLIPSE
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SOLAR ECLIPSE
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MOTIONS OF THE PLANETS
The five planets visible by naked eye
are Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Sat
urn
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VENUS RETROGRADE MOTION
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VENUS AND MERCURY RETROGRADE MOTION