Homework

For Friday January 8th: Read Chapter 1

Friday January 15th: Submit your presentation outline

For Friday January 22th: Read Chapter 2

Midterm

Material to review: TBA

Welcome to 1101 - 3310 2013!

Textbook

21st century astronomy
Notes: 

• You can use the 3rd edition but it will sometimes be a bit confusing
• You can also use "21st century astronomy The Solar System" but it does not cover the material of the Spring astronomy course.
• You can buy the eBook.

Chapters
Chapter 1: Why learn astronomy?
Chapter 2: Patterns in the Sky
Chapter 3: Motion of astronomical bodies
Chapter 4: Gravity and orbits
Chapter 7: The birth and evolution of planetary systems
Chapter 8: The terrestrial planets
Chapter 9: Atmospheres of terrestrial planets
Chapter 10: The giant planets
Chapter 11: Moons and rings
Chapter 12: Dwarf planets

Labs content

 

 Pre-labs

Measuring angular distances activity

Ephemeris worksheet

Lab#1: The Zodiac

Astrological sign (Can you list the 12 Western astrology signs?)

Compass point (could you find North with a compass?)

The horizon

What is a constellation? How many are there?

The Zodiac and The  Zodiac constellations

What is an asterism?

The eight planets of the solar system (give their names)

The North star and the North Celestial pole

What is the Zenith?

What is represented on a Celestial Sphere? (You will be provided with one in the lab).

Suggested videos:

Stargazing Basics 1: Getting oriented http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUbG8jboh4M

Plane of the Ecliptic Tilted on Celestial Sphere  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-TtcfmbrkI

1.01    The Zodiac  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyJTiLhddyk&feature=related

Extra: how to find north using a watch?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Evig_k4RWg&feature=fvwrel

Lab#2: The celestial sphere

Review: latitude, longitude, equator
Apparent motion of the Sun
Celestial coordinates (right ascension and declination), a.k.a equatorial coordinates.
NCP, SCP (celectial poles)
Prime terrestrial meridian and zero celestial meridian
Ecliptic and Vernal equinox (a.k.a. Spring equinox)
Obliquity

Solstices, equinoxes

Lab#3: Apparent motion of the Sun in Vancouver

Positions of sunrise and sunset
Local coordinate system (altitude, azimuth)
Path of the Sun on solstices and equinoxes
Annalemma

 Lab#4: The motion of the Sun in different locations

The seasonal daily motion of the Sun at different latitudes
Arctic circles
Tropics

Lab#5: The phases of the Moon, the motion of the Moon

Synodic and sidereal periods of the Moon 

Lab#6: Solar and lunar eclipses

Nodes
Saros cycle
Band of totality
Umbra and penumbra
Annular and partiale eclipses

Lab#7: The motion of the inner planets

Transit of Venus
Retrograde motion
Conjunction, opposition
Elongation
Synodic and sidereal period
Phases of Venus
Geocentric and heliiocentric models