Name ___________________
Lab Night _________
The Moon (Rev 2/10)
Objectives
Understand the phases of the Moon
Be able to identify various features on the Moon, and know how those features were formed
Introduction
Besides the Sun, the most prominent object in the sky is the Moon. Earth’s only natural
satellite is visible in both day and night as it follows an orbit that creates changing angles in
relation to the Earth and Sun to produce the universally familiar phases. In early civilizations,
calendars were based on the Moon, not the Sun. Months began with the dark phase or New
Moon, and the Full Moon marked an important time for hunters who were able to find food at
night as well as in the light of the day. The nature of the Moon in all its mysterious phases and
eclipses has been long thought to have influence on the everyday lives of individual people —
some say it even causes “human tides.” Our Moon influence on society as a whole is captured
by the words of Wordsworth’s poem, “To The Moon”...
“Yes, lovely Moon! If thou so mildly bright
Dost rouse, yet surely in thy own despite,
To fiercer mood the frenzy-stricken brain,
Let me a compensating faith maintain;
That there’s a sensitive, a tender, part
Which thou canst touch in every human heart,
For healing and composure.”
A.
The Moon in our language (3 points each)
Below are 10 words or phrases. Choose any six and briefly define these terms, explaining the
significance of the words to the Moon. Put answer beside or below term. You may need to do
an Internet search for some terms. (3 points each)
“To shoot for the Moon”
“Mooning”
“Over the Moon”
“Once in a blue Moon”
“Moonshine”
“Loony”
“Moonrakers”
“The Moon is made of green cheese.”
“Moonlighting”
“To the Moon, Alice!”
B. Find and draw 5 craters, 4 mares and 1 mountain chain in the circle below. Use small circle
for crater, large circle for mare and zigzag line for mountain. Label with specific names not
categories. Moon maps with features labeled can be found at the web sites below. (2 points
each)
Moon Map Sites
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/moon/Map.shtml
http://www.geocities.com/bruastronomy/sunmoon_moonmap.htm
http://www.oarval.org/MoonMapen.htm
http://www.anos-luz.pro.br/lua.htm
C. Answer the following questions about the Moon. It may help to find a labeled diagram
showing phases of the moon in your text or on the Internet. Also use Voyager (3 points each)
1. At which location does the Sun rise first: Miami or San Francisco? __________
2. How much (percent) of the Moon is always lit up by the Sun except during a
lunar eclipse? ____________
3. At which phase of the Moon is it above the horizon from sunset to sunrise? _________
4. The Moon is at First Quarter phase and the Sun is setting in the west. Where is the
Moon (compass direction)? ____________
5. What is the approximate time if the 3rd Quarter Moon is rising? Assume sunset is at 6
PM and sunrise is at 6 AM . __________
6. What is the approximate time if the 1st Quarter Moon is rising? ______________
7. Give date for 1st Quarter this Month. ________________
8. Give date for Full Moon this month. ________________
D. Finding the Diameter of the Moon (Outside Version)
PROCEDURE: Using a telescope and a stop watch, you and your lab partner can record the drift time
in seconds for the entire diameter of the Moon. Use 40mm eyepiece. While observing the Moon, turn
off the telescope motor. Once one side of the Moon ‘touches’ the edge of the field of view, tell your
partner to start timing. When the Moon is completely out of view, tell your partner to stop. Record 3
separate drift times and take an average. Knowing the distance to the Moon find the diameter of the
Moon using your drift times. Use the Voyager program to find Moon’s DEC and distance for your lab
night. The diameter of a distant object can be determined using the arc-length equation, s  r radians .
Follow these steps to calculate diameter of the Moon. Put results below.
1. Calculate angle in degrees = k x (Cosine of Dec) x (Ave. Drift time in sec) where k = 1/240.
For Dec round off seconds to nearest minute and then convert minutes to fraction of degree
before getting cosine.
2. Calculate the angle in radians = angle in degrees / 57.3.
3. Correct angle for phase. Calculate diameter (s in equation above).
DATA: (1 point each)
Distance to Moon from Voyager in km r = ______________
Time in Sec
t1
t2
t3
taverage
DECMOON = _____________
CALCULATIONS: (2 points each)
Angle in degrees = ______________
Angle in radians = ______________
Correction factor for phase of Moon (from Instructor) = _____________________
Adjusted angle = radians x correction factor = ________________
Calculated diameter of the Moon in km s = ______________
Check your work. Voyager program diameter of moon = __________________
D. Finding the diameter of the Moon (Bad Weather Version)
1. Obtain one of the negatives from your instructor and measure the diameter in
millimeters. Put results below. Return negative and ruler when finished. If negatives are
not available measure the diameter of a penny.
2. Get the focal length of the Celestron 8 telescope from telescope lab report or owner’s
manual. Put results below
3. Find out the distance (d) to the Moon in kilometers (from Voyager for today). Put
results below.
4. The value of A (angle in radians) is given by A = diameter of image on film / focal
length of scope. Put results below.
5. The diameter (D) of the Moon is given by D = Ad. Put your calculated value of
diameter below.
6. Look up diameter of Moon (Voyager). Put results below. If your value is not close
check for errors.
Results (3 points each)
Image Diameter (mm)
_____________
Focal Length (mm)
_____________
Distance to Moon (km)
_____________
Value of A
_____________
Calculated Moon Diameter (km) _____________
Voyager Value of Diameter (km)
_____________
Part E
OBSERVATIONS OF MOON (OUTSIDE VERSION)
OBJECT:
Moon
Low Power Sketch (7pts)
TIME:______________________
TELESCOPE: ________________
Eyepiece: __40______mm
MAG: _____________ X
(1 point each blank)
DATE: _________________
High Power Sketch (7pts)
TIME:______________________
TELESCOPE: ________________
Eyepiece: __10_____mm
MAG: _____________ X
(1 point each blank)
Part E
OBSERVATIONS OF MOON (Bad Weather Version)
As a substitute for observing outside find a labeled map and draw the area around
the two features given below. (10 points each)
OBJECT:
Moon
STRAIGHT WALL
ALPINE VALLEY