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This presentation ……. Can be used by the public, any school, group, provided credit is given to FSU Planetarium. May be downloaded and copied freely. Is written in Microsoft Power Point so many operating systems can view it. Advance by pressing Enter or the Space Bar or Arrows

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  1. This presentation …… • Can be used by the public, any school, group, provided credit is given to FSU Planetarium. • May be downloaded and copied freely. • Is written in Microsoft Power Point so many operating systems can view it. Advance by pressing Enter or the Space Bar or Arrows • If you see any need for corrections, please contact Dr. Doyle at rdoyle@frostburg.edu

  2. Frostburg State Planetarium presents Nov.-Jan. Sky Sights for Primary Grades & Beginners by Dr. Bob Doyle Next Version: Early Febr.2010

  3. Big Topics Treated • Horizon, Finding directions, Sunrise/Sunset • How Day Sky Works, Twilight AM & PM • Moon basics, Made of what? Lady in moon? • Bright points seen at night? Planets Nov.-Jan. • Best Stars & Star Groups Seen Nov.-Jan. Even. • 3 Built in Mini Quizzes with answers supplied • Nov.-Jan. Moon Schedule, Planet Table, * Table • Planetarium Public Shows for Nov., Dec. & Jan.

  4. Horizon & Directions • When looking at sky, we may view ½ of universe! • The Horizon is line between ground and sky. • Horizon has 4 directions – North, East, South & West. To learn, say Never Eat Salty Worms! • North is direction your shadow points in mid day. • Sun rises each morning to the right of East (ESE) • South is where sun is highest in sky (at Noon) • Sun sets each afternoon to the left of West (WSW)

  5. Whydoes SunRise & Set? • For thousands of years, humans believed that sun & sky objects moved about Earth every day! • In the 1500’s, Copernicus proposed that the Earth itself was moving, not the sky objects! • Copernicus wrote that the Earth was spinning every day and orbiting the sun every year! • It took over a century until most were convinced that Copernicus was correct (thanks to Newton). • The Earth turns so sun seems to rise and set.

  6. Let’s review these ideas • What is the line between ground & sky? • Is it Ground line? Horizon? Edge of sky? • In what direction are shadows in mid day? • Is it North? East? South? or West? • Why does sun seem to rise and set? • Because: Sun is moving? Earth is spinning? • Write down your answers for these questions. • Answers are: Horizon, North & Earth is spinning

  7. How Day Sky Works • Sun, our day star is so bright that it lights up air, causing it to glow blue on a clear day. • As Earth turns, sun seems to rise in morning • Due to our turning, sun slowly rolls right. • Sun peaks mid day (12 noon for standard time) • Sun sets near direction West as we turn. • To find North, face where sun goes down and extend your right arm out, it points North.

  8. Twilight or Dusk? • When sun disappears from our view, the air overhead is still ‘seeing’ sun and glowing. • As we turn more away from sun, only very thin, very high air still lit & sky gets darker. • This time is twilight or dusk, lasts an hour. • During dusk, bright planets, bright stars show 1st. • By end of dusk, easily seen star groups seen. • Just as dusk after sunset, dawn before sunrise.

  9. What about Moon? • Our moon is a ball of rock that orbits Earth. • Moon ¼ as big as Earth; if Earth a regular globe (1 ft.wide), moon is a tennis ball. • If Earth is regular globe, moon is 30 ft.away • As moon orbits us, we see day & night sides • In evening sky, lighted side ‘grows’ for 12 days • Then moon is full, shining all thru the night • Then in morning sky, moon ‘shrinks’ for 12 days • Moon seems to change shape, can’t see night side

  10. Just a little bit more about Moon • The moon NOT a big cheese ball! (Sorry!) • Man/lady/rabbit at full moon by dark plains • Dark plains of hard lava, good to land there • Over 40 yrs. ago, 1st men walked on moon • Perhaps in 2020’s, more moon landings • Current rockets can’t carry people, new rockets needed, U.S., China or Russia to try

  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 dozen days? A month? • Write down your answers to above 3 questions. • Answers: Right arm (out), 30 feet, Dozen days

  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 very far away (if moon dist.=1, Venus dist.= 100) • 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. Easy Nov.-Jan. Planets • Evenings, Jupiter very bright steady point • Moon near Jupiter 11/23, 12/21 & 1/17/10 • First number is month number / 2nd is date • Venus seen low in eastern dawn in Nov.only • Moon near Venus 11/15, late Nov, Venus gone • Mars late evening sky in East in Nov., seen earlier each week, well seen by 9 pm in Dec., seen as it gets dark in late January, when brightest

  14. Easy Nov.-Jan.Stars & Groups • Big Dipper low in N, slowly improves • Rightmost Dipper * point to North Star. • Cassiopeia, high in N, resembles a “M” • NE Bright golden star Capella & 7 Sisters • Late Nov. even. see Orion with 3 star belt in E • Orion better Dec., see as tilted hour glass • On Jan. even., Orion’s belt points left to Sirius, the night’s brightest star that’s close (9 lt.yrs.)

  15. Big Dipper, N. Star as Year ends

  16. Summer Triangle late in yearAltair, Deneb & Vega

  17. Cassiopeia, Capella & 7 Sisters

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

  19. Let’s review once more… • How to tell a planet from a star? • Planet always brighter Planet shines steady • Brightest Evening , Brightest Midnight planet? • (Mars PM, Jupiter M) (Jupiter PM, Mars M) • Which part of Big Dipper points to N.Star? • End of Scoop or Arch of Dipper’s Handle • Write down your answers • Answers: Pl. steady, Jup. PM, Mars M, Scoop

  20. Frequently asked questions • What are falling stars? (Aka shooting stars) • Nearly all are pea sized space grit burning up in our upper atmosphere. Only dust left. • Can the planets line up like beads on string? • No, orbits are tilted but even if they could, pull is extremely weak, compared to moon. • What keeps stars, planets floating in sky? • There’s no up/down in space. Earth floats too!

  21. Nov.-Jan. Moon Schedule • Early Nov: much even. moonlight, full 11/2 • Mid Nov.: Dawn sky moon, near Venus 11/15 • Late Nov.: Growing even. Moon & Jupiter • Early Dec.: Full on 1st • Late Dec: Growing even. Moon & Jupiter and a 2nd full moon on Dec.31st (called a Blue Moon) • Early Jan.: After few days, Moon into morn. sky • Mid Jan.: Moon returns to western dusk, seen near Jupiter Jan.17, ½ full on Jan.22 & full on Jan.29

  22. Nov.-Jan. Bright Planet Table • Nov: Jupiter SW Dusk, Mars E. late even. Venus very low in SE Dawn, Saturn higher • Dec: Jupiter low in SW, Mars low in E in mid evening (9 pm), Mercury seen low in W dusk from mid Dec. & next 12 days • Jan: Jupiter even lower W dusk, Mars E as it gets dark, Saturn rises late pm, dawn best

  23. Bright Nov.-Jan.*’s & Groups • Nov. & Dec. even: Summer Triangle low in W • Nov.-Jan. even: Cassiopeia high in North • Nov.-Jan. even: Capella & 7 Sisters easily seen • Dec. & Jan. even: Orion (3 star belt), Sirius below Nov.-Jan Dawn Skies feature spring evening stars

  24. FSU Planetarium Shows (free)Tawes 302 Sundays, 4 pm ,7 pm • “Telescopic Sky Exploring” Nov. 1, 8, 15, 29 • “Christmas & Seasonal Feasts” Dec. 6, 13, 20 • “Our Glorious Atmosphere” Jan. 10, 17, 24,31 • Different Program (last 45 min.) each month Tawes Hall near FSU Clock Tower, Lane Center With convenient free parking, hand. access Limited free literature: Monthly sky map, bookmark/schedule, beginner’s guide to universe Late comers not admitted, come 10 min.early

  25. Send any additional questions to…. • Bob Doyle email rdoyle@frostburg.edu • Be sure that questions involve basics about sky, moon, planets and stars • For questions about 2012, Sun out of order, collisions – 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 • Call (301) 687-7799 request free planetarium bookmark, map, schedule be sent to you thru mail

  26. Other ways FSU Planetarium serves the Tri-State area • Friday Starlab sessions Allegany Cty. Schools • Special FSU Planetarium programs for Tri-State schools – free, call (301) 687-7799 and leave message of desired date & time • Free Special programs arranged for special groups, clubs, scouts, etc. – call above # • Dr. Doyle talks to clubs, groups as well, no fee • FSU Planetarium has served area for 40 years

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