Lesson 1 Lab - Solar system PHYS1404 BreanaMattox
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Louisiana State University *
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1404
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Astronomy
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Apr 3, 2024
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Name: Lesson 1 Lab - Basic Coordinates & Seasons
There are three main sections to this module: terrestrial coordinates, celestial equatorial
coordinates, and understanding how the ecliptic is related to seasons on the Earth. Each
of these sections has its own simulator(s). The background material necessary to utilize
these tools is contained in each section. Terrestrial Coordinates
Work through the explanatory material on units of longitude and latitude
, finding
longitude and latitude
, and a bit of history
(optional).
Open the flat map explorer
.
Familiarize yourself with the cursor and how it prints out the longitude and
latitude of the active map location.
Note that you can vary the central meridian of the map (i.e. change its longitude).
Use the “shift map” arrows at the top of the simulator to affect large rapid
changes. Use the shift-click feature of the cursor for finer control.
Note what information is accessible through the show cities
and show map
features
check boxes.
Center the cursor on your present location. Click the open Google Maps button to
launch the Google Map tool focused on this location. Experiment until you get a
good feeling for the Google Map’s capabilities and then close this window. (Note
that you must be connected to the Internet to make use of this feature.)
Question 1: (2 points) Use the flat map explorer to complete the following table. You are
encouraged to try and predict the answers and then use the map’s cursor and other
features to check the accuracy of your estimates. Location
Longitude
Latitude
The center of the island of
Madagascar.
58.2 º W
52.0 º S
North Pacific Ocean
157.5º W
21.2º N
London, United Kingdom
Prime Meridian
51.8º N
Cuba
82.1º W
Tropic of Cancer
Sao Paulo, Brazil
46.4W
23.7S
South Pacific Ocean
International Date Line
Arctic Circle
New Orleans, Louisiana
90º W Meridian
30º N Parallel
NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 1/9
Latitude :
77.0365
° W:
77 remains the same since it is the whole number.
.0365 x 60=2.1900
.1900 x 60= 11.4000
The Latitude of 77.0365° is: 77° 2’ 11” in sexagesimal form.
Longitude:
38.897° N : 38 remains the same since it is the whole number.
.892x60=53.820
.820x60=49.200
The Longitude of 38.897° N is: 38° 53’ 49” in sexagesimal form.
Question 2: (2 points) Determine which of the 50 states defines the farthest extent of the
United States in each of the 4 map directions.
Direction
State
North
Alaska
South
Hawaii
East (there are two ways
of thinking about this) Alaska
West
Alaska
Question 3: (2 points) The exact coordinates of the white house in Washington D.C., are
77.0365º W and 38.897º N. What are these exact coordinates in sexagesimal notation?
Show your calculation in the box below. (You can use the Google Map tool to check your
answer.)
Open the globe explorer
. You are encouraged to use the Terrestrial Coordinate
Explorers link which opens both simulators at the same time for the following two
NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 2/9
questions. Familiarize yourself with the features noting that they are very similar
to those in the flat map explorer. Question 4: (1 points) A) Where is the North Pole on the flat map explorer
? What is its
shape? The North Pole on the flat map explorer is at the top. The shape of the North Pole
on the flat map is a straight line.
B) Where is the north pole on the globe explorer
? What is its shape? The
North Pole on the globe map is at the very top, between the United States and Eur-Asia.
On the map itself, it appears to be in the shape of an X or a cross. C) Your answers to parts A and B should be different. Explain why. The answers between A and B are different because we are answering from two different
types of maps. The flat map will not show the rounding features of the Earth the globe
map does. The flat map shows no definition. Question 5: (2 points) Compare the relative sizes of Greenland and Australia in the two
maps? The true values of the surface areas for these countries are Greenland (2.2 million
km
2
) and Australia (7.7 million km
2
). Does each map demonstrate these true values? The globe map is more accurate in scale than the flat map. On the globe map, you
can plainly tell that Australia has a bigger surface area. The flat map makes it seem like
Greenland is larger than Australia. Celestial Equatorial Coordinates
Work through the introductory material on the page entitled Celestial Equator,
Declination, Right Ascension
.
Open either the Flat Sky Map Explorer
or the Sky Map Explorer
.
Familiarize yourself with the same set of features (cursor movement, shifting the
map, decimal/sexagesimal) that were available on the previous maps.
Make sure that you understand what each check box does. Question 6: (1 points) Where is the star Polaris located on this map? What are its
coordinates? The Polaris star is located at the North celestial Pole. The coordinates of
the Polaris star are declination approx. +90 °
right ascension approx. 2.6 hr. NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 3/9
Question 7: (2 points) Find the constellation of Orion shown in the box below and
measure the right ascension and declination of its brightest stars Betelgeuse and Rigel.
Note that Orion is located on the celestial equator. Question 8: (1 points) Which direction is east on the flat sky map? Relate this to a
coordinate of the celestial equatorial system. Both top and bottom flat border
lines, to the right of both top and bottom 0h marks is East on the flat sky map
Question 9: (2 points) Complete the following table of positions on the ecliptic. Ecliptic Location
Approximate Date
Right Ascension
Declination
Vernal Equinox
March 21
0.0h
0.1
°
Summer Solstice
June 21
6.0h
23.4
°
Autumnal Equinox
September 21
12.0h
-0.0
°
Winter Solstice
December 21
18.0h
-23.2
°
Question 10: (2 points) Write out a description of the ecliptic on the flat sky map. What
does the shape look like? Describe the ecliptic in terms of its average and range of
declination values. On the flat sky map, the ecliptic looks like a wave. Its
average range, north and south, shows approximately, if not exact, same declination
values. Its positive and negative “dips” in its’ wave is around positive & negative 23
°.
Seasons and the Ecliptic
Work through the introductory material on the page entitled Orbits and Light
.
Open the
Seasons and Ecliptic Simulator
. NAAP – Basic Coordinates & Motions 4/9
RA
5.9H
DEC
7.2
°
RA
5.2h
DEC
-8.1
°
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