Question

THIS IS ASTR 100

1. The latitude of Seattle is 47 degrees north. How many degrees above the north point of the horizon is the north celestial pole as seen from Seattle?

2. Circumpolar stars circle around the north celestial pole [clockwise, counterclockwise]

3. The Earth rotates from [west to east, east to west].

4. If you travel south, Polaris would get [higher, lower] in the sky.

5. Where on Earth could you see all the constellations rise and set?

6. Astronomers measure distances across the sky in [inches, meters, angles]

7. According to the Universe Bowl (See page 6), on the time scale civilization began about [1 yard, 1 foot, less than 1 inch] from the other goal line.

Answer 1

1) The angle that star makes with respect to the horizon = latitude

Since, Latitude of Seattle is 47

Hence, North Celestial pole will be 47 above the horizon as seen from Seattle.

2) Since, Earth rotates from west to east, So Sun, moon and stars all appear to rise from east and set in the west.

Hence, if you are facing North, Stars appear to move from right to left, i.e in counter-clockwise direction.

If you are facing South, Stars appear to move from left to right, i.e in clockwise direction.

3) The earth rotates from west to east. That is the reason why Sun rises from east and sets in the west.

4)

As we travel south, Polaris gets closer to the northern horizon.

As we reach the equator, Polaris reaches the horizon.

As we go south of the equator, Polaris disappears from the sky.

5)

At equator, both the North celestial pole and south celestial pole lies near to the horizon. You could see, at some point or the other, every constellation rise or set.

6)

Astronomers measure distance across the sky in angles.

and then convert those angles into different units of measurement.