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Pathways to Astronomy

Stephen E. Schneider

Chapter 5

The Night Sky - all with Video Answers

Educators

Chapter Questions

00:49

Problem 1

What are your latitude and longitude? What are the latitude and longitude at the point on the Earth exactly opposite you (in the direction of your nadir)? What geographic features are located there?

Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
Numerade Educator
10:16

Problem 2

Your observatory lies at a latitude of $45^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$ and a longitude of $90^{\circ} \mathrm{W}$. You wish to observe three celestial objects that have dec. linations of $+87^{\circ},-40^{\circ},$ and $-67^{\circ} .$ Which of these are objects you can observe?

Linda Winkler
Linda Winkler
Numerade Educator
00:42

Problem 3

The constellations Ursa Major (the Great Bear), in the Northern Hemisphere, and Crux (the Southern Cross), in the Southern Hemisphere, can be used to locate the north and south celestial poles, respectively. Using the star charts at the end of the book, can you show how?

Mayukh Banik
Mayukh Banik
Numerade Educator
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Problem 4

Boston and Rome are at the same latitude, but Boston is at a longitude of $71^{\circ} \mathrm{W}$, while Rome is at $12^{\circ} \mathrm{E}$. If $\mathrm{M} 31$ passes through the zenith at a particular time in Rome, how many hours later will it pass through the zenith in Boston?

Ankit Pandey
Ankit Pandey
Numerade Educator
00:53

Problem 5

How far is the celestial equator from your zenith if your latitude is $42^{\circ} \mathrm{N} ? 34^{\circ} \mathrm{S} ?$

Mayukh Banik
Mayukh Banik
Numerade Educator
00:53

Problem 6

Draw a celestial sphere, as shown in Figure $5.3,$ as it would appear if you were standing at the North Pole. What celestial object lies directly above you? What celestial object lies on the horizon? Now draw a celestial sphere as it would appear if you were standing at the equator. What celestial object lies directly above you? What celestial object lies on the horizon?

Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
Numerade Educator
00:36

Problem 7

Using a protractor, draw a diagram of the Earth. Mark the poles, the equator, and your own latitude. With a ruler, find the line that is "tangent" to your location-that is, the line should touch the Earth's surface at your location while being parallel to the surface at this point. This tangent line represents your horizon. Draw a line extending from pole to pole to indicate the Earth's axis, and extend both this line and your horizon line until they cross. Show that your latitude is the same as the angle of the celestial pole with respect to your horizon.

Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson
Numerade Educator