THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Astronomy 2070 – Solar System
Fall 2007
Due Oct 3, at the beginning of class
Class Assignment #1(1%)
Be sure to record the date and time of your observations.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Locate the North Star.
Note the positions of Ursa Major (Big Dipper) and Cassiopeia.
Determine the altitude of the North Star.
Determine the path of the meridian across the sky.
Are there any notable objects near your zenith?
Are there any notable objects along the meridian above the southern
horizon(determine azimuth and altitude.
7. In which direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) does the Big Dipper
move?
Class Assignment #2 (1%)
Sometime between Sept. 27 and Oct 3 between the hours of 8 pm and 10 pm:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Locate the moon in the night sky.
Determine the azimuth and altitude of the moon.
Determine the angular size of the moon.
Determine the phase of the moon.
Repeat steps 2,3,4 two hours later.
Locate the star Capella in the NE sky.
Locate the star Vega in the sky.
Draw a picture of the sky depicting the positions of Vega, Polaris, and
Dubhe, Capella
Notes:
Dubhe
Vega
Capella
RA
11hr:03m:43.5s
18hr:36m:56.5s
5hr:16m:41.4s
DEC
610:45’:03”
380:47’:03”
450:49’:30”
Az
Alt
450
230