Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is Latitude?
Declination in degrees (N-S)
What is Longitude?
Right Ascension in hour (E-W (from Vernal Equinox)
What is the horizon?
Unique in each location/time.
What is the Meridian?
line from N-S through zenith, its cuts the sky in half. (Unique in each location)
What is the Nadir?
It is the point directly below you (Opp of Zenith) (Unique in each location)
What is the origin?
The ‘Zero’ point of the celestial coordinate system.
What is the Vernal Equinox?
Point in space where the celestial equator and the ecliptic intersect in March (RA = 0h, Dec = 0)
What happens with the Sun in the summer?
It’s light hits the earth at a more direct (no spread, more effective)
What happens with the Sun in the winter?
It’s light hits the earth at an angle (lots more spread, less effective)
What is the Equinox?
Equal night and day, the ecliptic and equator intersect.
What/When is the Summer Solstice?
June 21st, sun farther N (longest day)
What/When is the Autumnal Equinox?
September 21st, sun on celestial equator (moving S)
What/When is the Winter Solstice?
December 21st, Sun farther S (shortest day)
What/When is the Vernal Equinox?
March 21, Sun on celestial equator (moving N)
When/What is the New Moon?
Rises/Sets with sun, Day 1, Can’t see it
When/What is the 1st Quarter Moon?
Rises when the sun is halfway across the sky (midday), Day 7, Left side is Dark
When/What is the Full Moon?
Rises when the sun sets, day 14, See all of it
When/What is the 3rd Quarter Moon?
Rises halfway through the night (midnight), day 22, Right side is dark
What is Waxing?
It gets “bigger”, left side is dark.
What is Waning?
It gets “Smaller”, right side is dark.
What is the Moon’s Synchronous Rotation?
The moon makes 1 orbit around the Earth and spins once on axis in the same time (one monthish)
What is the Lunar Eclipse?
The sun and moon are on the opposite sides of the Earth, the moon travels through the Earth’s shadow (quite common).
What is a Penumbral Eclipse?
Barley is covered by shadow.
What is a Partial Eclipse?
Kinda covered by the shadow.
What is a Total Eclipse?
All of it is covered.
Why is it seen as Red?
The blue light is filtered by the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is a Total Solar Eclipse?
The moon covers the sun in the darkest part of its shadow, which happens at the new moon.
What is an Annular Solar Eclipse?
The Moon is at the furthest position, cone of shadow does not reach the Earth. (circle not annual)
