Observation Targets

Question 1

For the first piece of the project you will use a planetarium program to plan an observing session (hint: use your favorite Internet search engine to locate the Stellarium home page).

• Select a future date and time in the evening for an observing activity.
• Use a planetarium to determine what astronomical objects will be available in the night sky on that date.
• Select the Moon, a visible planet, and two constellations as your observation target objects. Record the expected direction of sky that the planetarium program indicates where these four targets will be. If the Moon is not currently visible during the week, you may select another planet or another constellation.
• On the planned date and time, go outside and attempt to observe your four target objects. Are they located where the planetarium program predicted? Record what objects you observe and state the visible phase of the Moon.
• If you were unable to observe any particular observation target, explain why you think you were unable to see those observation targets.
• In a paragraph, discuss the ease or difficulty you had completing this assignment. Did you have a favorite aspect of this assignment?

Question 2

Next to the Sun, the brightest object in the sky is the Moon. The Moon also one of the more dynamic celestial objects, changing appearance and position every night. In a 2 to 3 paragraph essay, answer the following questions:

• What are the phases of the Moon and why do the different phases occur?
• What is the appearance of a total solar eclipse? What conditions allow a solar eclipse to occur?
• What is the appearance of a total lunar eclipse? What conditions allow a lunar eclipse to occur?