Astronomy & Our Lives What could learning about the planets and stars possibly have in common with my life now??

Astronomy & Our Lives There are more connections between our lives & astronomy than you might realize…

Seven Days of the Week Sunday - the Sun’s day, of course Monday - the Moon’s day Tuesday - ? Wednesday - ?? Thursday - ??? Friday - ??#$ Saturday - ???%^?

Seven Days of the Week Sunday Domingo Dimanche Sun Monday Lunes Lundi Moon Tuesday Martes Mardi Mars Wed Miercoles Mercredi Mercury Thurs Jueves Jeudi Jupiter Friday Viernes Vendredi Venus Saturday Sabado Samedi Saturn Seven objects are easily seen to move in regular patters in front of the stars across the skies during the year

Seven Days of the Week

Moonths of the year… A “month” is around the same time as it takes the moon to repeat its phases from full to full.

Moonths of the year… A “month” ~ the time it takes for the moon to repeat its phases from full to full. Many cultures still use lunar calendars: Chinese New Year (second new moon after winter solstice) Tết Ramadan (starting and ending with the spotting of the crescent moon) Easter (first Sunday after full moon after vernal equinox)

Time itself… Where does “Clockwise” come from??

Time itself… “Clockwise” = from the motion of the sun’s shadow over a sundial in the northern hemisphere! horizon E 12 3 9 Early morning sun casts a shadow towards the “9” side of a clock face…

Time itself… By noon, the overhead sun casts a (smaller) shadow towards the “12” side of a clock face… horizon 12 3 9 S

Time itself… By afternoon, the setting sun casts a (longer) shadow towards the “3” side of a clock face… horizon 12 3 9 W

Words, words, words… East Catastrophe Disaster Meteorology Asterisk Astrology Cosmetics

Words, words, words… “aster” = star (from Latin) Astronomy, Astrology Disaster! “dis-aster” – going against the stars can be bad! Catastrophe! Asterisk *** “cosmos” = order Cosmology – the study of the order of the universe Cosmetics – putting your face “in order” “Meteorology” – the study of weather?

Products, products, products! Cars Ford: Taurus, Galaxy, Mercury Comet… Chevy: Astrovan, Nova, Vega… Plymouth Satellite, Pontiac Sunfire, Oldsmobile Starfire… Subaru, Saturn… Food Sunchips, Sunny Delite, Mars bars, Moon cakes, Starkist Products & Companies Comet cleanser, SUN mirosystems, Visa STAR network… TV & Movies galore…

A sense of who we are… Culture

A sense of who we are… Astronomy allowed us to develop agriculture, create calendars, maintain our history, navigate, explore…

A sense of who we are… Literature “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”  ―  Romeo and Juliet “Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love.”  ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings." Julius Caesar (I, ii, 140-141)

A sense of who we are… Technology

A sense of who we are… Trying to understand nature led us to develop technologies absorbed into our culture… Lasers, GPS, Cell Phones, Computers Weather Satellites, Velcro, Tang…

Astronomy & Our Lives There are more connections between astronomy than you realize… Days of the Week? Months of the Year? Time itself! Words, words, words, Products, products, and more products A sense of who we are

Key Questions for YOU…

Key Questions for YOU… How does science work? What do we gain, as humans, by asking questions of Nature? Is the quest for knowledge worth the costs?