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Astronomy 101 Planetarium Lab

Astronomy 101 Planetarium Lab. Instructor: Brian Pohl ConOps: Craig Zdanowicz www.physics.unc.edu/~bpohl/ YOU MAY SIT WHERE YOU WISH. Planetary Motions. How long does Mars take to orbit the Sun? How about Venus? Why do the planets appear to move backwards … sometimes??.

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Astronomy 101 Planetarium Lab

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  1. Astronomy 101 Planetarium Lab Instructor: Brian Pohl ConOps: Craig Zdanowicz www.physics.unc.edu/~bpohl/ YOU MAY SIT WHERE YOU WISH

  2. Planetary Motions • How long does Mars take to orbit the Sun? • How about Venus? • Why do the planets appear to move backwards … sometimes??

  3. The Original Planets! The Sun The Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn NO EARTH!!

  4. Periodic Orbital Motion • Synodic period - the period as seen from earth • Tied to the motion of the Earth • Sidereal period - the true period as seen from “outside”, relative to the background stars • Independent of the motion of the Earth

  5. Lab Instructions • Find synodic periods - synodic period is complete when planet appears at same place in sky with respect to the sun • We will measure the angle between the sun, us, and the planet. • Mark position of sun and planet on ecliptic • Use the ecliptic as a ruler so that the date is a measurement. The current date is the number that the sun is on. • Measure the difference between the two positions (the units will be days, later convert to angles) • This gives you the angle. • When the angle repeats, one period has been completed. • Write down how many days elapsed between period • Hint: Use difference in DOY for sun (col. 2). Oct-15,2007 – Dec-15, 2008

  6. Things to watch out for!Write this Down!! • Add 365 days to DOY after each year has passed • The period for Mars will be is in between the measurements, so you might not see the exact angle repeat. Need to interpolate! • Guess the DOY of Sun where period would repeat Use fractions or graph it • Keep track of negative angles: -225 degrees = 135 degrees 135-360 = -225 +135 deg -225 deg

  7. Calculations • Find synodic period using your measurements • Show any relevant calculations (e.g. interpolation) • Convert this to sidereal period using equation • Calculate theoretical sidereal period using Kepler’s law • Find % error for: sidereal of Venus and Mars from measurements compared to value you look up & sidereal of Venus and Mars from measurements compared to those you calculate from Kepler’s law (4 total).

  8. Lab Write Up • Separate page for calculations • Include sample calculation for: each calculation in the table, sidereal, Kepler’s, & % error. Include equation for each. • Explain how you found the synodic period • Include your interpolation method (if any) • Two sources of error: questions to consider: • Is this a ‘significant’ source of error? • What does it mean to make a ‘good’ measurement?

  9. All Power Points are on my website:http://www.physics.unc.edu/~bpohl Visit office hours or email me if you have questions! bpohl@physics.unc.edu Morehead room 404 Mondays (week-after-lab) 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Tuesdays (week-after-lab) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

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