W11: The SKy Flashcards
Name the planets that are visible to the naked eye
5 planets: Saturn, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiters
Which objects were known as “wanderers” in the sky to ancient observers? Why?
Ancient observers refer to the “planets” as “wanderers”
A “dirty snowball” is often used to describe this celestial object
Comet
A potato is similar in appearance to this celestial object
Asteroid
Specific meteor showers are named because of
the constellation that coincides with this region in the sky, a spot known as the radiant
a star or constellation that is close to where the meteors appear in the sky.
When is the best time of night to view a meteor shower? And Why?
at midnight, just before dawn
* darker skies, fewer atmosperic disturbances
What is the difference in the Sun’s position at noon in Toronto at the Summer Solstice versus the Winter Solstice?
Summer Solstice
- sun appears higher in the sky and directly overhead, close to the zenith
Winter Solstice
- sun is lower in the sky, at a shallower angle, and farther from the zenith
The tilt of the Earth on its axis is responsible for us having
seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
What can you conclude about the daylight hours vs darkness hours at the Spring and Fall Equinoxes?
The Equioxes mark the transition from longer days to longer nights (Spring Equinox) and
from longer nights to longer days (Fall Equinox) as the earth’s axial tilt chnages
What does the term “constellation” mean?
recognizable pattern of stars in the night sky
Why won’t Polaris always be the North Star?
b/c of the earth’s axial precession, which causes the North Celestial Pole to shift over time,
resulting in different stars taking on the role of the North Star in the future
Why are we able to see meteors as a fast bright streak in the night sky?
b/c of their high speed and the intense heat generated by friction as they enter earth’s atmosphere
