The Appearance of the Night Sky Constellations
Motions of the Earth in Space Revolution about the Sun -- Annual Ecliptic – plane of the Earth’s orbit , apparent path of Sun on sky, the zodiac Proof – stellar parallax (1838) Rotation on Axis -- Daily Foucault Pendulum 1851
The Celestial Sphere Celestial Equator Ecliptic Two intersecting planes -- the 4 cardinal pts – equinoxes and solstices
The sky from 3 different position on Earth
Origin of the seasons -- tilt of the Earth’s axis
Precession
Phases of the Moon
Rotation of Moon Synchronous rotation – rotation on axis = revolution about Earth
Eclipses of the Sun and Moon Solar – new moon Lunar – full moon Moon must be at one of the nodes of its orbit and the line nodes points to the Sun
An Eclipse of the Sun 3 types – total, partial, annular
Eclipse of the Moon
Next eclipses Lunar -- Total – 2015 Sept 27-28 Solar - partial 2015 Sept 13 S. Africa, S. Atlantic Total Mar. 9 , 2016 Annular Sept. 1, 2016 Aug 21, 2017 April 8, 2024 * Aug 23, 2044 Aug 12, 2045