Question

-How many degrees of angle does the Sun’s position change per day due to Earth’s rotation?

-How about degrees of angle per day due to Earth’s revolution around the Sun?

-What is the Celestial Equator? What is the Ecliptic? What is the Ecliptic Plane?

-Remember that a circle has 360 degrees [deg], one degree equals 60 arcminutes [min], and one arcminute equals 60 arcseconds [sec]. Show your calculations.

(a) What is the average angular size of a zodiac constellation on the sky? ________________________________________________________________

(b) 20.25 degrees = how many arcminutes? ____________________________________

(c) 35deg 25min 45sec = how many arcseconds? ________________________________

-The sky is divided into zones of motion. Describe the typical paths of stars moving:

- near the North Celestial Pole

- near the eastern horizon

- near the southern horizon

- What are latitude and longitude on Earth? What are right ascension (RA) and declination (DEC) on the sky?

- What is the angle of the NCP over the horizon at a latitude of 60 degrees? How about at the equator?

- Two important great circles on the celestial sphere that are important are the ecliptic and the celestial equator. How are they defined with respect to the celestial sphere?

- What is the angle between the ecliptic and celestial equator? Why is that important?

Answer 1