PHYS 1025 Introductory Astronomy

Lecture 2, Either Semester

- syllabus, information about the course

http://astronomy.uconn.edu

- observing sessions:
Monday Thursday 9:00 pm, weather
permitting
http://www.phys.uconn.edu/observatory

Richard Crudo
 Celestial Sphere

Our lack of depth

perception when we
look into space creates
the illusion that Earth is
surrounded by a
celestial sphere. In
reality, stars that appear
very close together in
our sky may actually lie
at very different
distances from Earth.

Remember that we are on the INSIDE of the

sphere (on Earth) looking out!
Points on the Celestial Sphere

North and south celestial poles

Celestial equator

REMEMBER: These are

points /lines on the celestial
sphere and NOT on the Earth

From now on:

equator = celestial equator
The Dome of the Local Sky
Zenith

Nadir

Horizon

Meridian

Transit
Horizon coordinate system
- coordinates are measured with respect to horizon
- change with time and depend on observer

Azimuth:
0 to 360 degrees around horizon from north towards east
0 = North, 90 = East, 180 = South, 270 = West
Altitude:
0 to 90 degrees up from horizon
0 = Horizon, 90 = Zenith
 Ecliptic Plane
Plane containing the Sun and planets
Ecliptic is tilted 23.5 with respect to the Equator

Eclipses can only occur when the moon crosses this plane
 Ecliptic:
The Sun's apparent annual path among the constellations
Zodiac Constellations
The constellations on the celestial sphere through which the ecliptic passes
Origin of Astrology (Zodiac Sign)
Cardinal Points on the Ecliptic
Vernal Equinox
Sun rises due East and sets
due West
Length of day = length of
night = 12 hours
Summer Solstice
Sun is highest in the sky (this
is why its so hot during
summer)
Autumnal Equinox

Winter Solstice
Sun is lowest in the sky (this
is why its so cold during
winter)
Equatorial coordinate system
- coordinates fixed on the celestial sphere
- time and observer independent
declination (dec)
Analogous to latitude, but on the celestial sphere; it is the angular
north-south distance between the celestial equator and a location on
the celestial sphere.
Measured in degrees:
0 to 90 north from celestial equator
0 to -90 south from celestial equator
right ascension (RA)
Analogous to longitude, but on the celestial sphere; it is the angular
east-west distance between the vernal equinox and a location on the
celestial sphere.
Measured in units of time: hours, minutes, seconds
0 h 24 h from Vernal Equinox towards east
Ex. Sirius has RA =
6 h 45 m OR 6:45
Dont confuse RA with time on your watch!
Equatorial coordinate system
Comparing latitude and longitude to
declination and right ascension
RA and Dec of the Cardinal Points on the Ecliptic

Vernal Equinox
Sun appears on March 21
RA = 0h Dec = 0
Summer Solstice
Sun appears on June 21
RA = 6h Dec = 23.5
Autumnal Equinox
Sun appears on Sept. 21
RA = 12h Dec = 0
Winter Solstice
Sun appears on Dec. 21
RA = 18h Dec = -23.5
RA and Dec of the Cardinal Points on the Ecliptic

23.5 Vernal Equinox

Sun appears on March 21
RA = 0h Dec = 0
Summer Solstice
Equator
Declination

Sun appears on June 21

RA = 6h Dec = 23.5
0h 6h 12 h 18 h 24 h Autumnal Equinox
Sun appears on Sept. 21
RA = 12h Dec = 0
Winter Solstice
Ecliptic Sun appears on Dec. 21
RA = 18h Dec = -23.5
-23.5
Example: where is Vega?
Its declination tells us
that it is 3844 north of
the celestial equator. We
can interpret its right
ascension in two ways:

As an angle, it means
Vega is about 279 east
of the vernal equinox

As a time, it means Vega

crosses the meridian
about 18 hours 35
minutes after the spring
equinox.
 Understanding Local Skies

3 classes of stars:

circumpolar north - always visible

circumpolar south - never visible
rising and setting
Understanding Local Skies

The sky at the North Pole.

Understanding Local Skies

The sky at the equator

Understanding Local Skies

The sky at 40N latitude.

Understanding Local Skies

The sky at 30S latitude.

The altitude of the celestial pole in your sky is equal
to your latitude.

Everything in the sky rotates around the north celestial pole

 Sidereal Time
Sidereal time
1) Time measured according to the position of
stars in the sky rather than the position of the Sun
in the sky.

2) How long ago the vernal equinox has

transited

3) Its the Right Ascension of ANY transiting

star.
 Problem 1
What is the Sidereal Time at noon, December 21?

1. Sidereal Time = RA of transiting Star

2. What star is transiting at noon?

Answer: Sun

3. What is significant about Dec. 21?

Answer: Winter Solstice: Sun has an RA of 18 hours

4. Therefore, the Sidereal Time at noon on Dec. 21

is 18:00
 Equator
Problem 2
Can we see Kapteyns star (RA 5 h 9.7 m, Dec -45)
from an observatory at latitude 50 N?
1. Set up a picture: Zenith
Dec = 50
NCP
2. Do the math:
NCP Equator
The horizon is 90 from your zenith
Celestial Sphere
Zenith has a dec = your lat = 50
50 40
Lat = 50
The lowest point in the sky that you can Horizon
see has a dec of:
-5 Horizon Equator
50 - 90 = - 40 Earth
Dec = -40
3. The star is 5 below the
Horizonso we cant see it
Kapteyns Star
Dec = -45
 Problem 4
A star lies 15 degrees due east of zenith at 10
PM; when will it transit?
1. Recall that 1 hour is equalZenith
to 15 degrees. Why is this?
Answer: Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours 360 / 24 = 15 degrees per hour

2. So we know the star will transit 1 hour before or after 10

PM. Since the star is east of the meridian, it hasnt yet
transited. (all stars rise in the east and set in the west as
time passes)
Therefore, the star will transit in one hour:
West East
11 pm
 Problem 5
What is the maximum altitude and the azimuth of the sun at noon,
September 21 in Storrs, CT.?
Zenith
1. Set up a picture: Dec = 42
NCP
2. Do the math: Celestial Sphere

Storrs has a lat of 42 N NCP Equator Sun

The horizon is 90 from your zenith
Lat = 42 Dec = 0

Zenith has a dec = your lat = 42 42 Earth 48 Equator

Horizon
The lowest point in the sky that you can
see has a dec of: Horizon
42 - 90 = - 48 Dec = -48
The sun has a dec of 0 on the Autumn Equinox
48 Degrees
Its altitude is then: 48

Since it is transiting at noon in the south, its azimuth must be 180