Charting the Heavens The gears in the big machine

Charting the Heavens

The gears in the big machine

The Universe is (according to the book) “…the totality of all space, time, matter and energy”.


As our understanding of what space, time, matter and energy are changes, we may need to revisit this definition, and find one that is more appropriate.



We should probably be able to tell how far away something is based upon a known geometry.

1,000 kilometers1,000,000 kilometers1,000,000,000 kilometers





This would be inconvenient, so we will be using scientific notation in many cases. Just move the decimal point to the right (or left) to make the number larger (or smaller).





This would be inconvenient, so we will be using scientific notation in many cases. Just move the decimal point to the right (or left) to make the number larger (or smaller).

1,000 kilometers = 1.0 x 103 meters1,000,000 kilometers = 1.0 x 106 meters1,000,000,000 kilometers = 1.0 x 109 meters

Things that are really big, old or small need special numbers.


Scientific Notation.

100 is 1.0 x 102

(just move the decimal 2 places to the right)



1,000 is 1.0 x 103




1,000,000 is 1.0 x 106




0.000,0001 is 1.0 x 10-7

(just move the decimal 7 places to the left)



0.0001 is 1.0 x 10-4

(just move the decimal 4 places to the left)



3,459 is



3,459 is 3.459 x 103



1,000,000,000 is



1,000,000,000 is 1x 109

Another quick and easy way to measure distance is to use the speed of light as a constant, because it is, you know CONSTANT.


A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. 4.2 light-years is approximatly the distance to Alpha Proxima Centauri. This is the closest star to our Sun. It is a red dwarf, which means it is not really all that hot (only red), and it is small (dwarf).


A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. 4.2 light-years is approximatly the distance to Alpha Proxima Centauri. This is the closest star to our Sun. It is a red dwarf, which means it is not really all that hot (only red), and it is small (dwarf).

A light-second is the distance light travels in one second. The moon is 1.282 light-seconds away.

A final measurement unit that we will use a lot is the Astronomical Unit. This is the average distance between the Sun and the Earth.

A final measurement unit that we will use a lot is the Astronomical Unit. This is the average distance between the Sun and the Earth.

This is also about 8.25 light-minutes, or about 150,000,000 kilometers, or 1.5 x 108 km

Celestial sphere

i. an imaginary "sphere" that surrounds the earth, and

moves around it, with stars attached to it.

ii. ancients cut the sphere into manageable parts called "constellations".

Celestial sphere




Celestial sphere




The Celestrial Sphere

An imaginary sphere, that surrounds the Earth, that the stars are attached to.

The Celestrial Sphere

An imaginary sphere, that surrounds the Earth, that the stars are attached to.

Why, oh why, is the ecliptic (path of the Sun and planets), not on the Celestial equator?

Celestial sphere




iii. celestial poles will be at the Earth's axis

Celestial sphere

i. an imaginary "sphere" that surrounds the earth, and moves around it, with stars attached to it.



iv. Celestial equatoris the same as the Earth's equatorial plane

Celestial sphere

i. an imaginary "sphere" that surrounds the earth, and moves around it, with stars attached to it.



iv. Celestial equator is the same as the Earth's equatorial plane

Movement of the Earth (Daily)It ROTATES on its axis, which means it spins.

Relative to distant stars is a sidereal day.

Relative to the Sun is a solar day.

Movement of the Earth (Daily)It ROTATES on its axis, which means it spins.

Relative to distant stars is a sidereal day.

Relative to the Sun is a solar day.

Which will be longer, a solar day or a sidereal day?

Movement of the Earth (Seasonal)

Because the Earth is tilted (we will figure out why later), the Sun appears to rise and fall at noon, from day to following day.


Because the Earth is tilted (we will figure out why later), the Sun appears to rise and fall at noon, from day to following day.


Because the Earth is tilted (we will figure out why later), the days get longer and shorter.

Movement of the Earth (Seasonal)Because the Earth is tilted (we will figure out why later), the days get longer and shorter.

The shortest and longest days are the solstices (December-winter, June-summer)The days of equal length are the equinoxs (March-spring and September-fall)

Movement of the Earth (long term)The Earth will move like a top, in a cycle called precession. This is a 25,000 year cycle.

Movement of the Earth (long term)The Earth will move like a top, in a cycle called precession. This is a 25,000 year cycle.

**For all you Astrologers...the “ages” change as precession places the Earth’s axis at different zodiac signs. We are in the “age of aquarius” because our axis most closely points to aquarius.**

The Earth also moves from a tilt of 22.1º to 24.5º degrees each 41,000 years, and the eccentricity of the orbit changes slightly over the course of 100,000 years (the Milankovitch cycle).

The changes in the Earth’s orbit and rotation alter the climate characteristics of the Earth. They are LONG term changes.

**For all you Astrologers...the “ages” change as precession places the Earth’s axis at different zodiac signs. We are in the “age of aquarius” because our axis most closely points to aquarius.**

Finding distances with triangulation.

Parallax is the apparent change in position, due to the movement of the observer.

Parallax terminology

Parallax is the apparent change in position of an object, due to the change in position of the observer.

Arc is some movement around a circle

Degree is 1/360th of a circle

Minute of arc is 1/60th of a degree

Second is 1/60th of a minute

Par-sec is the distance from an object, such that the parallax from Earth would be one second of arc.

The light-year is a measure of distance T FThe number 2 x 109 is equal to to billion T FThe stars in a constellation are physically close to one another T FThe star Polaris always lies precisely at the north celestial pole T FConstellations are no longer used by astronomers T FThe solar day is longer than the sidereal day T FThe constellations lying along the ecliptic are collectively referred to as the zodiac T FThe seasons are caused by the precession of Earth’s axis T FThe vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring T FThe parallax of an object is inversely proportional to its distance T F

Rotation is the term used to describe the motion of some body around some ___________.To explain the daily and yearly motions of the heavens, ancient astronomers imagined that the Sun, Moon, stars and planets were attached to a rotating _________.The solar day is measured relative to the Sun, the sidereal day is measured relative to the bright and beautiful __________.The apparent path of the Sun (and approximate path of most planets/moon) across the sky is know as the ______________.On December 21, known as the ______________________, the Sun is at its ____________ point on the celestial sphere.Declination measures the position of an object north or south of the ______________ (see page 14).

The light-year is a measure of distance T FThe number 2 x 109 is equal to to billion T FThe stars in a constellation are physically close to one another T FThe star Polaris always lies precisely at the north celestial pole T FConstellations are no longer used by astronomers T FThe solar day is longer than the sidereal day T FThe constellations lying along the ecliptic are collectively referred to as the zodiac T FThe seasons are caused by the precession of Earth’s axis T FThe vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring T FThe parallax of an object is inversely proportional to its distance T F

Rotation is the term used to describe the motion of some body around some _axis__.To explain the daily and yearly motions of the heavens, ancient astronomers imagined that the Sun, Moon, stars and planets were attached to a rotating _celestial sphere_.The solar day is measured relative to the Sun, the sidereal day is measured relative to the bright and beautiful _stars__.The apparent path of the Sun (and approximate path of most planets/moon) across the sky is know as the _ecliptic__.On December 21, known as the _winter solstice__, the Sun is at its _lowest_ point on the celestial sphere.Declination measures the position of an object north or south of the _celestial equator_ (see page 14).

An arc second is ____________________ of an arc minute.The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is an _____________________.Between Alpha Centari Proxima (about 4 light years away), and Rigel (about 800 light years away); ___________________________ would have the largest parallax.

An arc second is _1/60th__ of an arc minute.The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is an _astronomical unit_.Between Alpha Centari Proxima (about 4 light years away), and Rigel (about 800 light years away); __Alpha Centari Proxima __ would have the largest parallax.

Eccentricity is simple the ratio of the elipse, which models the orbit of planets, moons and other heavenly bodies.


1. Find your focal points (this is where your “pins” are at. This is the point that the astronomical bodies orbit around. Mark them.


1.Find your focal points (this is where your “pins” are at. This is the point that the astronomical bodies orbit around. Mark them.

2.Find the distance from this focal point to the “center” of the ellipse. This is “c”. ________________




3.Find the distance from the focal point to the “end” of the semi-major axis. This is “a” ____________




3.Find the distance from the focal point to the “end” of the semi-major axis. This is “a” ____________

4.Eccentricity is “c” divided by “a”. ______________________________________________________

c

a

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Charting the Heavens The gears in the big machine