1. Viewing the Night Sky

3. Constellations
Constellations are configurations of the brightest stars
Named by ancient astronomers after mythological beings
Different cultures made different interpretations of same star configurations

4. Who cares about constellations?
Ancient astronomers used them as:
Navigational guides
Primitive calendars to predict planting and harvesting seasons
88 constellations TOTAL

5. Astrology vs. Astronomy
Astrology – use of relative position of stars and planets at a person’s birth to make predictions about destiny
Wanted to “see into the future”
Why doesn’t it work?
Stars that make up any particular constellation are NOT close to each other, but happen to lie in same direction when viewed from Earth

6. THE CELESTIAL SPHERE
Celestial sphere – a canopy of stars resembling an astronomical painting on a heavenly ceiling (what we see ½ of when we look up)
APPARENT MOTION of stars is due to Earth’s rotation—the stars are not actually moving.

7. Celestial poles – the points where the Earth’s axis intersects the celestial sphere
Celestial equator – midway between the north and south celestial poles

8. Ecliptic & the Milky Way
Ecliptic – the apparent simple path the Sun takes as it circles the celestial sphere
Milky Way – whitish band of
light in the sky
Stretches all the way around celestial sphere
Relates to Milky Way Galaxy because:
IT TRACES THE GALACTIC PLANE AS IT APPEARS FROM OUR LOCATION IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE GALAXY

11. My Notes (+) from Dark Skies
Because of Light Pollution, 70% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way.
Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition:
Their mission is to “celebrate, promote, and protect the glorious dark skies of northern Arizona”.
Believe people should be able to experience “seeing the stars”
Helping to set regulations for building lights
Fewer
Glare-free
Lower wattage
International Dark Sky Association:
Developed to protect our views of the night-skies.
How are we doing in North Bend-Snoqualmie?

12. The DOME OF THE SKY
Local sky – the sky as seen from wherever you happen to be standing
Horizon – the boundary between Earth and sky
Zenith – directly overhead
Meridian – an imaginary half-circle stretching from your horizon due south, through zenith, to your north horizon
ZODIAC – constellations along the ecliptic

14. Dome of the Sky (continued)
We cannot tell the true size of or between objects in space by looking at them
Angular size – the angle it appears to span in your field of view
Angular distance – the angle that appears to separate two objects
Use your hand for rough measurements

15. Stargazing Basics 1: Learn How to Get Oriented in the Night Sky for Stargazing

17. A few more notes on your location
Your latitude determines your orientation on Earth relative to celestial sphere
A few rules:
Circumpolar – stars that never rise or set but instead make daily counterclockwise circles around NCP

18. Where are the other stars?
In South Hemisphere, stars near NCP are never seen!
All other stars (not circumpolar or never visible) rise and set daily
Altitude of NCP in your sky = latitude