Week 7 (Oct. 6, 8, 10)
Read: Heliocentrism: hypothesis or truth? (Chap. 11) and Earth as a Wandering Star (Chap. 12)
Quiz: Monday. Covers Waldseemuller's On Cosmography.
Homework exercises: Goal of astronomy essay (Ex. 11.3), Copernicus and Aristotle essay (Ex. 12.1).
Laboratory exercises: In lab this week, we will discuss the upcoming Lunar observations and Planetary observations. In short, you need to set aside about 10 days to view (and sketch) the moon every other night in late October and early November. You also need to hunt down and observe the following planets: Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.
For the lunar observations, you must go out at the same time between 7 and 8 pm (to within 5 minutes) at least every other night during the next period of lunation from waxing crescent to full moon. Go with a friend! Each night, make an observation book entry including the time, date, location, viewing conditions, a sketch of the lunar phase, and the horizontal coordinates (azimuth and altitude) of the moon. Use your cross staff to measure the coordinates! Be sure to record any other interesting information you observe in your notebook, such as which stars/constellations are near the moon. Can you see the moon progressing through the zodiac?
For the planetary observations, you must record two observations of each of the following planets: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn. Your two observations of Venus must be separated by one week; likewise with Jupiter and likewise with Saturn. Your observations must include the time, date, viewing conditions, and the distance from the planet to two or three nearby observable stars (if possible). Use your cross staff to make your observations. At the end of the semester, you will look back through your data and attempt to describe the migration of each of these planets through the zodiac. Is each planet progressing or retrogressing through the zodiac during the period that you observed it?
Heliocentrism: hypothesis or truth? (6 videos):
Earth as a wandering star (1 video)
Homework exercises: Goal of astronomy essay (Ex. 11.3), Copernicus and Aristotle essay (Ex. 12.1).
Laboratory exercises: In lab this week, we will discuss the upcoming Lunar observations and Planetary observations. In short, you need to set aside about 10 days to view (and sketch) the moon every other night in late October and early November. You also need to hunt down and observe the following planets: Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.
For the lunar observations, you must go out at the same time between 7 and 8 pm (to within 5 minutes) at least every other night during the next period of lunation from waxing crescent to full moon. Go with a friend! Each night, make an observation book entry including the time, date, location, viewing conditions, a sketch of the lunar phase, and the horizontal coordinates (azimuth and altitude) of the moon. Use your cross staff to measure the coordinates! Be sure to record any other interesting information you observe in your notebook, such as which stars/constellations are near the moon. Can you see the moon progressing through the zodiac?
For the planetary observations, you must record two observations of each of the following planets: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn. Your two observations of Venus must be separated by one week; likewise with Jupiter and likewise with Saturn. Your observations must include the time, date, viewing conditions, and the distance from the planet to two or three nearby observable stars (if possible). Use your cross staff to make your observations. At the end of the semester, you will look back through your data and attempt to describe the migration of each of these planets through the zodiac. Is each planet progressing or retrogressing through the zodiac during the period that you observed it?
Heliocentrism: hypothesis or truth? (6 videos):
Earth as a wandering star (1 video)