Observing Basics

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Observing Basics

• What is there to see in the night sky?

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Stars
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Planets
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Sun
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Satellites
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Galaxies
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Moon
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The Celestial Sphere

• Ancient astronomers envisioned a great hollow
  sphere surrounding the earth.
• All the stars were attached to the sphere.
• The sphere rotated once a day carrying all the
  stars, the moon, the sun, and the planets.

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Celestial Sphere
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• The celestial sphere model is still used today.
• Notice the celestial poles.
• The suns path is known as the ecliptic.
• Zenith is the point directly over head.

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Stars and Planets

• Stars Twinkle
• Planets dont

Why is this?
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General info on stars.

• Most star names come from ancient Arabic
• Siris the searing/scorching one
• Capella little she-goat
• Alderban follower of the Pleiades

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Greek Letters

• Like you know, Greek letters are used to
  designate the order of brightness.
• Alpha the brightest star in the constellation.
  a
• Beta second brightest, etc. ß

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Polaris

• The north star.
• Found in the handle of the little dipper.
• Dist 430 ly
• Not a significantly bright star

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Constellations

• Groupings of stars
• Purpose Entertain, Tell Stories, Record History
• Not real objectsDuh!
• Must use imagination
• 88 recognized constellations

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Constellation stars may appear close to each
other, but they may actually be far away.
90
120
220
60
70
70
95
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Asterism

• Grouping of stars that is not a constellation.
• What do you see?