1. About this presentation…. Is free to be used by students, teachers & public. Please acknowledge it is from FSU. It can also be copied and downloaded. Is written in Microsoft Power Point that can be read by a number of computer systems. If you find any needed changes, please contact Dr. Doyle at rdoyle@frostburg.edurdoyle@frostburg.edu

2. Frostburg State Planetarium presents Nov-Jan. Sky Sights for Middle School & Intermediates by Dr. Bob Doyle Next Edition: Early Jan.’10

3. Big Topics Treated Horizon, Finding directions, Sunrise/Sunset How Day Sky Works, Twilight AM & PM Moon basics, It’s Origin Why it’s varying shapes? Bright points seen at night? Easy Nov.Jan.Planets Best Stars & Star Groups Seen Nov.Jan. Evenings 3 Built in Mini Quizzes with answers supplied Nov.Jan. Moon Schedule, Planet & Star tables Nov.Jan. Planetarium Schedule & related info

4. Horizon & Directions When looking at sky, we may view ½ of universe ! Horizon surrounds us, the sky/ground boundary At top of sky is zenith, 90 degrees from horizon From North to right, East, then South and West. Sun rises in ESE, face sunrise, to left is North Noon shadows point N (for E. Standard time) Sun sets in WSW, face sunset, to right is North Can use Big Dipper’s pointers to find N. Star

5. Sunrise & Sunsets? Earth’s daily rotation makes it look as if sun rises each morning & sets each afternoon Time of sunrise, sunset varies thru year Earliest sunrise & latest sunset in late June Latest sunrise & earliest sunset in late Dec. Longest days when sun highest, farthest N Shortest days when sun lowest, farthest S Change in sunrise/sunset time less near equator Change in sunrise/sunset time grows near poles

6. Let’s review these ideas What point in sky is farthest from horizon? Is it Celestial Pole? Zenith? Nadir? Which direction recipe WON’T work? S. Side of tree with moss? Shadow in mid day? Place where biggest changes with seasons? Polar Regions? Mid Latitudes? Equator? Write down your answers for these questions. Answers: Zenith, Mid day shadow, Polar regions

7. Interesting facts about day sky Noon sun million x brighter than full moon Day Sky max. polarization 90 deg. from sun Maximum sunlight energy in early summer Sun peaks mid day (Noon Standard time) Minimum sunlight energy start of winter To find North, face where sun goes down and extend your right arm out, points North.

8. Twilight or Dusk? When sun disappears from our view, the air overhead is still ‘seeing’ sun and glowing. When sun 6 dg. below horizon, turn on lights When sun 18 dg. below horizon, sky darkest To see faint star groups, sun must be 12 dg. below Arctic Circle cities have no darkness in June Equatorial places have shortest twilights Our twilights last 90 minutes at dusk & at dawn

9. What about Moon? Our moon is 2160 miles across, ¼ Earth’s width Moon ¼ as big as Earth; if Earth a regular globe (1 ft.wide), moon is a tennis ball, 30 ft. away As Earth-moon distance about 30 x Earth’s width. As Earth, Moon lit by sun with day & night halves As Moon orbits Earth, see varying part of day side After line up with sun, moon waxes (grows) 15 d After full moon, moon wanes (shrinks) 15 days Moon phase cycle 29.5 dy, approx. month length

10. Just a little bit more about Moon Moon rocks reveal moon matter from Earth! Moon due to planets colliding, debris hurled Moon formed from ring of orbiting debris Early moon closer, much stronger tides Moon slowly spiraling out, lengthen our day Earth has 1 st natural moon from sun, 6 th largest moon in solar system

11. Another review of ideas.. As you face sunset, what points North? Back of Head? Right arm (out)? Left ear? If Earth 1 ft. wide, how far away is moon? Is it 10 feet? 30 feet? 100 feet? 300 feet? How long does moon ‘grow’ or ‘shrink’? Is it A week? A half month? A month? Write down your answers to above 3 questions. Answers: Right arm (out), 30 feet, A half month

12. Bright points we see at night? Even the nearest planets appear as * (points) as we see them with our eyes; for even these objects far away, Venus at closest 100x farther than our moon To tell a planet from a star, all night stars twinkle and planets usually shine steady. Also satellites (especially Space Station) shine steadily as creep eastward across sky Night stars are distant suns, really, really far away compared to our planet neighbors. If Earth penny size, moon 22” away, sun 730 ft. away (6.3 ft. wide), nearest star is 37,000 mi.away

13. Nov.Jan. Planets Evenings, Jupiter very bright steady point Moon near Jupiter 11/23, 12/21 & 1/17 First number is month number / 2 nd is date Venus very bright at dawn, slowly dropping Moon near Venus 11/15, by Dec. Venus gone As Venus lowers, Mars higher & brighter Mars late evening sky in East in Nov., rises earlier each week, well seen by 9 pm in December, then seen as soon as it gets dark in late January

14. Nov.-Jan. Stars & Groups Big Dipper low N, steadily improves each month Rightmost Dipper * point to North Star. Cassiopeia, high in North, resembles a “M” In NE bright star Capella and 7 Sisters star cluster Late Nov. evenings see Orion with 3 star belt Orion better in Dec., resembles tilted hour glass On Jan. even., Orion’s 3 star belt points to Sirius, night’s brightest star that’s also close (9 lt.yrs.)

15. Big Dipper & N. Star Nov.Jan.

16. Summer Triangle in West Altair, Deneb & Vega

17. Cassiopeia, Capella & 7 Sisters cluster

18. Orion & Sirius, late even.Dec, Jan.

19. Let’s review once more… What planet is now prominent in the evening sky? Is it Venus? Mars? Jupiter? Saturn? When closest, bright planet is lost in sun’s glare? Is it Venus? Mars? Jupiter? Saturn? Which night star is the brightest? Capella or Vega or Sirius Write down your answers Answers: Jupiter, Venus, Sirius

20. Nov.Jan. Moon Schedule Early Nov: Full 11/2, much even. moonlight Mid Nov: Dawn crescent moon Late Nov: Growing evening moon & Jupiter Early Dec: Full on 1 st, then drifts into morning Late Dec: Growing even.moon&Jupiter, 12/31 full Early Jan: After few days, Moon into morn.sky Rest of Jan: Moon in W dusk & Jupiter on 1/17, ½ full on Jan.22 and onto full on Jan. 29 Dates change from yr to yr, lunar month = 29.5 d.

21. Nov.Jan. Planet Schedule Nov: Jupiter in SW dusk, Mars in E in late even. Venus in Nov. very low in E dawn, Saturn higher Dec: Jupiter low in SW dusk, Mars low in E 9 pm, Mercury seen low in W dusk from mid to late Dec Jan: Jupiter even lower W dusk, Mars in E at nightfall, Saturn rises late PM, at dawn in South Planet schedule changes each year due to all planets having different periods to orbit sun

22. Nov.-Jan. Group Schedule Same *’s (stars) & groups come back same time each year as Earth orbits the sun Nov. & Dec.even: Summer Triangle low in W Nov.-Jan. even: Cass (“M”), Capella,7 Sisters high Dec. & Jan. even: Orion (3 star belt), Sirius below Nov.-Jan. Dawn Skies feature spring evening stars

23. Planetarium Schedule & Services Free Sunday Public Shows at 4 pm, 7 pm Planetarium=Tawes 302, near Clock Tower Nov.Sunday shows: Telescopic Astronomy (no programs Nov.22, Sunday before Thanksgiving) “Christmas & Seasonal Feasts” Dec.6, 13 & 20 “Our Glorious Atmosphere” Jan.10,17,24 & 31 Come about 10 min.early as no late admissions Call (301) 687-7799 to request bookmark & map

24. Frequently asked questions What are shooting or falling stars? Pea sized space grit impacting upper atmosphere and bursting into flame. What if planets aligned (as beads on string)? They can’t as orbits are not in 1 plane. But even if they could, their pull very weak next to our moon. Why study other worlds? won’t ease our problems By understanding other worlds, better know Earth Your questions are welcome at our public programs.

25. Send any questions to…. Bob Doyle email rdoyle@frostburg.edurdoyle@frostburg.edu Be sure that questions involve basics about sky, moon, planets and stars For questions about 2012, Pluto, Asteroids, Comets – visit Planetarium, talk to Dr. Doyle Sunday programs are free on Sundays at 4 p.m.and 7 p.m. starting Sept.6, change monthly at FSU To arrange program for special group, club, call below number and state your date and hour. Call (301) 687-7799 to request free planetarium bookmark, schedule sent to you through mail