Instructions from the activity:
Recall that for the Unit 2 activity you were instructed to track the movement of any celestial body using a method of your choice. For this activity, you can re-visit the method you chose in the Unit 2 activity or choose a new method to record the apparent movement of the sun and the moon during the day (and the moon at night). As a reminder, here were your options in Unit 2:
For each step below, remember that we are not concerned with how much actual distance the Sun or Moon traveled; we just want to keep track of how your object moved within the canvas of space that is visible to you. You may track the movement of the Sun and Moon in whichever way makes the most sense to you. Also, if there is a day or night when the Sun or Moon is obscured due to clouds, weather, or light pollution, simply skip that day or night and track the movement the next day or night. Your three days of observation do not have to be consecutive, but try to complete your tracking within a week’s time. Step 1: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Sun during the day. Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the sun during the day. Observe and record the Sun’s location at two separate times, at least three hours apart. Keep the times consistent each day you observe. Step 2: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Moon during the day. Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the Moon during the day. Observe and record the Moon’s location at two separate times, at least two hours apart. Keep the times consistent each day you observe. Step 3: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Moon at night. Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the moon at night. Observe and record the Moon’s location at two separate times, at least one hour apart. Keep the times consistent each night you observe. Step 4: Write a short paragraph reflecting on your experience and applying some further concepts from the unit. Your paragraph should answer the following questions:
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Alternate instructions:
As in the unit 2 activity, 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 instructions, 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 the sun and moon in turn, 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 be in the same document if you want. |