Instructions from the activity:
We know that tools like telescopes and sextants help astronomers collect data about the movement of objects in the sky, but what if you don’t have access to those advanced tools? For this activity, you will use a simple tool of your choice that helps you observe the movement of one or more celestial bodies. Step 1: Observe the sky for a few nights. Things that are visible in the sky will change from night to night based on weather conditions, so be sure to glance up at the sky for several nights in a row. When you look at the sky, keep your eyes on the lookout for any object that stands out to you. This could be an especially bright star or even a planet. (You can distinguish a planet from a star because stars typically twinkle while planets do not.) The only requirement is that you choose an object other than the sun or moon. Make sure you are able to view the object for several nights, as you will be asked to monitor its movement for this activity, so you need to be sure the object will remain visible for several days. After a few nights of observation, select the object you’d like to track. Step 2: Choose a tool to measure the movement of this object in space. The goal of this activity is to use a tool to measure the way your chosen object moves across space. There are several ways to do this:
Once you have chosen your tool, use it for three consecutive nights in order to track the movement of the celestial object you chose. Note that we are not concerned with how much actual distance your object traveled, as it is likely impossible to know that if we don’t know how far away it is. Instead, we just want to keep track of how your object moved within the canvas of space that is visible to you. Choose the tracking method that works best for you, but do employ the same method each night you observe. Here are two options:
8 Step 4: Write a short paragraph reflecting on your experience. Your paragraph should answer the following questions:
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Alternate instructions:
This activity requires at least several nights of observation of an object in the night sky. This may be difficult or impractical for some students. If you don't want to complete the activity as outlined in the court, you can use an online simulator to do so. You can find the simulator here: stellarium-web.org/. There is a tool in the bottom right of the screen that you can use to change the date and time of the view. Choose a star, and use the date/time tool to advance the time. Move the time forward seven days, and measure how far the object moved in that time. (use a ruler to measure the distance on your screen). Repeat this process at least 5 times, advancing the time by one week each time. Then write a paragraph about the activity. Your paragraph should contain the following information:
To complete this activity, submit:
The measurements and paragraph can both be in the same document if you want. |