Astronomy & Insolation Review
Evidence for the Earth’s rotation Coriolis Effect Star Trails Foucault Pendulum
Evidence for Revolution Stars (we see different stars depending on the season) Seasons (we are closer to the Sun in winter and farther in summer)
Moon Phases Due to revolution Be able to interpret diagram Waxing (going into a full moon) Waning (going into a new moon) Why do we see phases? What positions (crescent and gibbous) When would we see an eclipse?
Tides
The Sun Sunspots, solar flares. What causes sunspots? What part of the sun do we see in a solar eclipse? Where does the sun get its energy? What will happen to this fuel as the sun ages? Sun’s life cycle?
Life Cycle of Stars Small stars - just “burn out”, white dwarf Medium (sun) enlarge to red giant (larger, cooler) then shrink to white dwarf Massive – supernova Be familiar with the H-R Diagram
H-R diagram (reference table) Be familiar with this chart. Know how to read it and interpret the information.
Our Galaxy (The Milky Way Galaxy) Where is our solar system?
Doppler Effect Evidence that the universe is expanding Red = receding = Moving away Blue = coming toward you Longwaves Shortwaves
Kepler/ Newton Laws (no math for this, don’t need to memorize exactly) Equal areas Planets move faster when they are closer to the Sun Bigger objects = more gravitational pull Gravity is stronger when closer Planetary orbits are elliptical, with the sun at one of the foci (the other foci is imaginary)
About the Planets… Jovian/Gas giants - Which ones? Terrestrial – Which ones? Know the general characteristics Solar System Chart in Reference Tables
Eccentricity The rounder the orbit = the more it resembles the number 0 = the closer its eccentricity is to 0 The flatter the orbit = the more it resembles the number 1 = the closer the eccentricity is to 1
How do we know the Earth revolves (moves around the sun = 365 days)? 1. Different constellations are visible at different times of the year 2. Apparent diameter of celestial objects change 3. Doppler Effect of Stars 4. Seasons
How do we know the Earth rotates (spins on its axis = 24 hours)? Day and night Coriolis Effect Star Trails Foucault Pendulum
Sun’s Path: Solstices Summer Solstice = June 21 Sun rises North of East & Sets North of West 15 Hours of Daylight Sun’s rays are direct at the Tropic of Cancer Winter Solstice = December 21 Sun rises South of East & Sets South of West 9 Hours of Daylight Sun’s rays are direct at the Tropic of Capricorn
*Notice they are the SAME except for the dates* Sun’s Path: Equinoxes Fall Equinox = September 22 Sun rises Due East & Sets Due West 12 Hours of Daylight Sun’s rays are direct at the Equator Spring Equinox = March 21 *Notice they are the SAME except for the dates*