Homework 1 Due Wed. Feb. 11

All of the following exercises are observational.

1. Go out and look at the night sky between 8 and 10 p.m. Write down your location, observing conditions (little light pollution, wispy clouds, bright moon, etc), the date, and the time of your observation.

2. Find the Big Dipper. What is the orientation of the Big Dipper relative to the horizon (i.e. is it perpendicular or parallel to the horizon? Is the dipper right side up or upside down?) Use the pointer stars of the Big Dipper to find Polaris, aka the North Star. (See map below). Is Polaris very bright? Estimate how many degrees Polaris is above the north horizon. (Note—it is 90^o from the horizon to the zenith—a point directly overhead). Polaris is in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear—its popular name is the Little Dipper. (Ursa is Latin for bear. The genus species name for the grizzly bear is Ursa horribilis). From Polaris, find the other stars in the Little Dipper. How many of the seven stars making up the Little Dipper can you see? Make a sketch of the constellation as you see it.

The Big Dipper is roughly perpendicular to the horizon.
Polaris is not terribly bright.
Polaris is roughly 45 degrees above the north horizon.
You can see roughly 3 stars in the Little Dipper.

3. Now face east. You should see a bright object. This is Jupiter. Now face west and you'll see another bright object. This is Mars. Which is brighter? Does Jupiter have any color? If so, what is it? Does Mars have any color? If so, what is it? Is Mars rising or setting? Explain how you arrived at your answer.

Jupiter is brighter.
Jupiter is yellowish-white.
Mars is reddish.
Mars is setting because it is in the west. Astronomical objects rise in the east and set in the west (the apparent daily motion of the sky is due to the rotation of the earth).

4. Please note that the map below is old and does not have the correct planet positions. It is to be used for finding the constellations only. Now face south. Find the belt of Orion (see diagram below). Estimate how many degrees the belt is above the north horizon. Approximately 5 degrees (a boy scout promise at arms length) above the belt you should see a bright star. This is Betelgeuse (the name means armpit of the giant). Does Betelgeuse have a slight color? If so, what is it. Approximately 10 degrees (a fist at arms length) above the belt is a bright object. This is Saturn. In which constellation is Saturn?

The belt is roughly 45 degrees above the south horizon.
Betelgeuse is slightly red.
Saturn is in Gemini.