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Pismp The Skysains

The document describes different systems for defining positions in the sky, including altitude-azimuth and right ascension-declination coordinates. It explains that altitude is the angle of an object above the horizon while azimuth defines the direction from north. Right ascension specifies east-west position analogous to longitude, while declination is analogous to latitude. Measurements use degrees, minutes, and seconds. The document also discusses using hand gestures to estimate angular sizes and provides exercises to identify constellations' positions.

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Yatie Atie
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59 views28 pages

Pismp The Skysains

The document describes different systems for defining positions in the sky, including altitude-azimuth and right ascension-declination coordinates. It explains that altitude is the angle of an object above the horizon while azimuth defines the direction from north. Right ascension specifies east-west position analogous to longitude, while declination is analogous to latitude. Measurements use degrees, minutes, and seconds. The document also discusses using hand gestures to estimate angular sizes and provides exercises to identify constellations' positions.

Uploaded by

Yatie Atie
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Sky

Edward M. Murphy Space Science for Teachers 2005


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Horizon and Zenith


It is sometimes useful to think of the sky as a great dome over our heads.
The horizon (ufuk) is where the dome meets the Earth. The zenith is the point directly overhead. As the Earth turns, this dome turns over our heads. It appears as if the sky is a large hollow sphere centered on the Earth.
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Horizon and Zenith

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The Sky

Defining the position of objects


The are two common systems for defining position of astronomical bodies in the sky.
The Azimuth-Altitude (Az/Alt) system, and The Right Ascension-Declination (RA/Dec) system.

Altitude and Azimuth


The height of a star above the horizon is called the altitude. The direction to the star as measured from true north is called the azimuth.
Note: True north is not the same as magnetic north. The magnetic north pole is not located in the same place as the true north pole.
On maps, the legend will show you how to correct from magnetic north, as measured by a compass, to true north.
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The Az/Alt System


Alt / Az system defines the position of an object in the sky in terms of its: azimuth (0 to 359 degrees; N = 0o, E = 90o, S = 180o, W = 270o) along the horizon, its altitude above the horizon (0 to 90 degrees; 0o = horizon, 90o = zenith)

E.g. Az = a =70o Alt = b = 60o N


a b

Object in the sky Observer (you)

Altitude and Azimuth

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The Sky

Estimating Az and Alt: The Hand and Fist Method


Your hand span, closed fist and fingers can be used as a measure of angle to estimate angles.

Measuring Angles in the Sky

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The Sky

Angular Sizes and Distances

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Measuring Angles
The Sun and Moon appear to be about degree in size. Your finger held at arms length is about one degree across. Your fist at arms length is about 10 degrees. Your outstretched hand at arms length is about 20 degrees across.
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Altitude and Azimuth


The altitude and azimuth of a star change during the course of night as the star rises and sets. Angles are measured using degrees, minutes of arc, and seconds of arc.

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The Sky

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Measuring Angles
Angles in astronomy are measured in degrees, arcminutes and arcseconds.
1 degree = 60 arcminutes 1 arcminute = 60 arcseconds 1 degree = 3600 arcseconds 1 arcsecond is the size of a U.S. quarter as seen from 5 km (3 miles) or a penny as seen from 2.2 miles.
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The RA/Dec System


RA / Dec system defines the position of an object in the sky in terms of its position on the Celestial Sphere. The RA / Dec system is analogous to the Longitude / Latitude system of defining the location of places on the Earth, i.e., RA is similar to lines of Longitude and Declination is similar to lines of latitude. Units of RA are measured in hours, minutes and seconds. (00h:00m:00s --> 23h:59m:59s) Units of Dec are measured in degrees north and south of the celestial equator. (-90S --> +90N)

The North Celestial Pole mark the position of +90o degrees Dec; The South Celestial Pole marks the position of -90o degrees Dec; and The Celestial equator is defined as 0odegrees Dec. These positions are analogous to the North pole of the Earth (+90o Lat); South Pole (-90o Lat), and the equator (0o Lat)

Celestial Coordinates
Just as Earth has lines of longitude and latitude, the celestial sphere has a system of celestial coordinates:
Declination (dec): The north-south position of a star on the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees, arcminutes, and arcseconds. The celestial equator is defined to have a declination of 0o. Right Ascension (RA): The east-west coordinates of an object on the celestial sphere. R.A. is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds of time. The spring equinox is defined to be 0h.
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Celestial Coordinates

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Celestial Coordinates
Vega
RA 18h35m

DEC +38 44

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Longitude and Latitude

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Longitude and Latitude


Latitude: Your north-south position on Earth. The equator is defined to have a latitude of o o 0 . The north pole is at 90 N and the south o pole at 90 S. Longitude: Your east-west position on Earth. An arbitrary point, the Prime Meridian in o Greenwich, England marks a longitude of 0 . Leander McCormick Observatory is at:
Longitude 78o 31 19.8 W Latitude 38o 01 58.2 N Altitude 264 meters
The Sky

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Rotation of the Earth

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The stars move from east to west because the earth rotates from west to east.

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Classroom Exercise
Find Orion in the night sky. Is it on the equator, the ecliptic, both, or neither. How long is Orion above the horizon each day? Find Sagittarius. Is it north or south of the equator? How long is Sagittarius above the horizon each day?
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Classroom Exercise
Find Taurus. Is it north or south of the equator? How long is it above the horizon each day? Find the Sun on December 21. Which constellation is it in? How long is it above the horizon each day? Find the sun on June 21. Which constellation is it in? How long is it above the horizon each day?
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