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Astronomy > Topic 6 - Celestial observation > Flashcards

Topic 6 - Celestial observation Flashcards

1
Q

What is a meridian

A

An imaginary line between north and south poles through observers position

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2
Q

Local noon is the same as

A

LST

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3
Q

What is an hour angle

A

The angle between the meridian of observer and the meridian line which the star is on

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4
Q

What is hour angle measured in

A

Hours minutes seconds

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5
Q

What is the equation for hour angle

A

LST - right ascension of star

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6
Q

What does the Milky Way look like to the naked eye

A

A furry light irregular column in the sky

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7
Q

What can you use the be able to see stars in the Milky Way

A

Telescope or binoculars

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8
Q

What is is the group of galaxies called with the Milky Way

A

The local group

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9
Q

What does 24 hours measure in arc mins

A

360°

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10
Q

How many arc mins in 1 hour

A

15°

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11
Q

What way is the earth moving

A

West to east(anti-clockwise)

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12
Q

What way do you see objects in the sky go

A

East to west

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13
Q

What is cardinal points

A

The same as compass points

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14
Q

What does circumpolar mean

A

When a star never sets below the observers horizon

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15
Q

What is culmination

A

Is when a star reaches the observers meridian

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16
Q

What is upper culmination/transit

A

The highest point a star crosses the observers meridian

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17
Q

What is lower culmination/transit

A

The lowest point a star crosses the observers meridian

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18
Q

What is the equation for co-declination

A

90°-dec

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19
Q

What is the zenith

A

The point directly above observers head

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20
Q

Where is the zenith located

A

90° perpendicular to the ground

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21
Q

What does the altitude of the NCP equal

A

The observers latitude

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22
Q

What are the 2 equation for declination of a star

A

90° - latitude of observer or observers latitude + co dec of star

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23
Q

What is the equation for polar distance

A

90-dec

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24
Q

How long does it take for eyes to become used to and adjust to the dark

A

7-30 mins

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25
Q

What’s a light source that can be used that doesn’t ruin dark adaption

A

Red light

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26
Q

What is averted vision

A

When you look to an area near a faint object to be able to view it

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27
Q

What happens when you look at a faint object in the sky

A

It can look like it disappeared

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28
Q

Why does it look like a faint object in the sky has disappeared when you look directly at it

A

Because the centre part of the inside of the eye contains rods which help us distinguish bright light and colour. Areas around the forvea are cone cells which are more sensitive to faint light making it easier to see faint details

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29
Q

Why does relaxing your eyes help view the night sky

A

By straining or squinting eyes in places stress on them which makes it harder to refocus by relaxing your eyes we can improve our vision

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30
Q

What are binary stars/double stars

A

The consist of two or more stars that share a gravitational bond

31
Q

Are planets brighter or dimmer than stars

A

Brighter

32
Q

What is a constellation

A

A group of stars that appear to make a pattern in the sky

33
Q

Can we see different constellations and asterisms at different times if the year and why

A

Yes due to the rotation of the earth and the tilt of our axis

34
Q

What is an asterism

A

Is a pattern of stars that may or may not be linked to a constellation

35
Q

What do comets look like form earth

A

Vast trails of ice and dust over a large portion of the sky thinning to a dense core

36
Q

What do meteors look like from earth

A

Are short lived but very bright streaks of light that move across the sky in a matter of s3cinds

37
Q

Who made list of constellation we use today

A

Ptolemy

38
Q

What are constellations mainly based on

A

Mythology

39
Q

How many constellations are there

A

88

40
Q

Why do different countries have different names for the constellations

A

Different cultured beliefs and religion

41
Q

What does a nebulae look like with the naked eye

A

A blurry patch of light in space that are in our galaxy

42
Q

How long can a supernova be visible for

A

Up to years

43
Q

What is a supernova

A

Is when a star dies and causes an explosion

44
Q

Why does the aurora happen

A

Solar wind reacts with atmosphere to create spectacular displays of light and colour in sky

45
Q

What is the aurorae called in the northern hemisphere

A

Aurorae borealis

46
Q

What is the aurorae called in the Southern Hemisphere

A

Aurorae australis

47
Q

What do artificial satellites look like to the naked eye

A

Slow moving faint objects orbiting in a polar orbit and viewable on the meridian

48
Q

What is an open cluster

A

Are groups of stars close to each other in space

49
Q

How many stars can be in an open cluster and where are they usually found

A

12-thousands of stars and found on the galactic plane

50
Q

What do open clusters look like to the naked eye

A

Irregular shape and bright (young stars)

51
Q

What do globular clusters look like

A

A fuzzy ball

52
Q

What types of stars are found in a globular cluster

A

Red giants and white dwarfs

53
Q

How many stars are found in a globular cluster

A

100000-over a million

54
Q

What do aircraft look like to the naked eye

A

Multiple bright white and red lights slowly moving across the sky

55
Q

Where are star maps and charts published

A

In books newspapers and magazines

56
Q

Why do we use star mops and charts

A

To show us what is in the night sky during a month or season

57
Q

How many stars maps and charts and what do they show

A

2 one shows west-east towards the south and the other west-east towards the north

58
Q

Why is planisphere good

A

It’s a quick and easy way to find out what stars are viewable at any time

59
Q

What is a planisphere

A

It consisted of two discs fastened to each other . On one of them there is a hole so that a portion of the disc underneath can be seen. around edge are hours of day and have days of the year. On the underneath disc is a star map showing very constellation a bike for viewing from a general location

60
Q

What are the advantages of using software to help view the night sky

A

Can show sky at any given time and can offer features like 30 maps of planets or the ability to change time and location

61
Q

What are the advantages of apps

A

Can be downloaded on different toes of phones
Most are free

62
Q

What is a features in apps

A

Being able to point your device at the sky and identify planets and constellations

63
Q

What is the horizontal coordinate system attitude

A

Measures how high something is in the sky from 0° at the horizon to 90° at the zenith

64
Q

What is azimuth

A

Measure direction along horizon north = 0° travel eastward

65
Q

Why does the sky appear redder at sun set and sun rise

A

Caused my the angle of the sun being acute so sunlight has to travel further through earths atmosphere

66
Q

What is are 2 examples of a seeing condition and how does it obscure

A

Saharan dust or volcanic ash in the upper earth atmosphere can obscure viewing by refracting light

67
Q

What is declination

A

Is the latitude of a star in the sky measured from the celestial equator

68
Q

What is dec measured in

A

Degrees° arc minutes’ arc seconds “

69
Q

What is right ascension

A

Equivalent to longitude in space

70
Q

What do you use to measure right ascension

A

First point of aries

71
Q

What is right ascension measured in

A

Hours h, minutes m and seconds s

72
Q

What time of weather conditions can obscure viewing and how

A

Clouds and rain block stars
Ice particles
Heat can cause disruption in atmosphere so stars appear to twinkle

73
Q

What landscapes block stars

A

Mountains and trees

Astronomy (16 decks)

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