AST 3018
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1
1.
If I am located at 10° south latitude and observe an object at 3° south declination:
a. Where will it rise? (North of East, Due East, South of East)
b. How far from and which direction from the zenith will it transit?
c. Where will it set? (North of West, Due West, South of West)
2.
I am located at 40° north latitude. I see a star transit 15° south of my zenith. What is its
declination?
3. I am in Santiago, Chile (30° south latitude). What stars are circumpolar?
4. The Sun is setting on September 21.
a. What are it zenith angle and azimuth?
b. What are its hour angle, right ascension and declination?
5. If the declination of the Sun is 10° north and I observe it to transit 22° south of my zenith,
what is my latitude?
6. Consider two points on the Earth’s surface that are separated by 1 arcsecond as seen from
the center of the Earth. What is the physical distance between the two points?
7. Consider two points on the Earth’s equator that are separated by 1 second of time. What
is the physical distance between the two points?
8. Ancient Polynesian inhabitants of the Pacific held festivals whenever the Sun was at the
zenith at local noon.
a. How many times per year was such a festival held?
b. At what time(s) of the year was the festival held on:
(1) Tahiti
(2) Oahu
Look up their latitudes.