Chapter 2: Patterns in the Sky - Motions of Earth and the Moon Flashcards
What is apparent daily motion?
the path each celestial body makes across the sky each day
How long is one Earth rotation with respect to stars? What is it referred to as?
23h56min = sidereal day
How long is one Earth rotation with respect to the sun? What is it referred to as?
24 hours = solar day
Earth rotates ____ and also orbits the Sun in this direction
counterclockwise
The Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Which way is Earth rotating?
Toward the east
What is the celestial sphere?
an imaginary sphere upon which all stars remain fixed
What are celestial poles?
projection of North and South poles of Earth onto Celestial Sphere
What is the celestial equator?
midway between the two poles.
What is the ecliptic?
apparent path of the Sun, over the course of a year, inclined 23.5 degrees to Celestial Equator
What is the zenith?
the point in the sky directly above you wherever you are
What is the meridian?
imaginary north-south line
At the North Pole, we would see half of the celestial sphere (all stars ___ of celestial equator). The north celestial pole would be at the ___, the point directly overhead.
north, zenith
What is altitude?
angle above the horizon
What is latitude?
measures how far north or south of the equator you are on the surface of Earth
At the North Pole, stars are always above horizon. These stars are called ____ stars and they never rise or set.
circumpolar
What is the only place on Earth where you can see the entire sky over the course of 24 hours?
the equator
What would the sky look like from a latitude
of 35 degrees N (Flagstaff)?
Some stars would be circumpolar; some would never be visible.
From your position in Flagstaff, you look north and see a star near the horizon. A little later you notice it has shifted its position slightly. Which way did it move?
right (east)
A star on the celestial equator rises due ___ and sets due ___
east, west
Stars located north of the celestial equator rise north of __ and set north of ___. Stars located south of the celestial equator rise ___ of east and set south of ___.
Stars located north of the celestial equator rise north of east and set north of west. Stars located south of the celestial equator rise south of east and set south of west.
An observer can see exactly half of the northern sky and exactly half of the southern sky. Where would the north celestial pole be located?
On the horizon
