Astr115 chS1 Sept17

Chapter S1Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation: 

Chapter S1 Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

S1.1 Astronomical Time Periods: 

S1.1 Astronomical Time Periods How do we define the day, month, year, and planetary time periods? How do we tell the time of day? When and why do we have leap years? Our goals for learning:

How do we define the day, month, year, and planetary time periods?: 

How do we define the day, month, year, and planetary time periods?

Length of a Day: 

Length of a Day Sidereal day: Earth rotates once on its axis in 23 hrs, 56 min. This is measured with respect to the stars.

Length of a Day: 

Solar day: The Sun makes one circuit around the sky in 24 hours. This is the time from noon to noon & is what your watch measures. Length of a Day

Length of a Day: 

Length of a Day Solar day is longer than a sidereal day by 4 minutes. This also means that the sky shifts westward 4 minutes each day.

Length of a Month: 

Length of a Month Sidereal month: Moon orbits Earth in 27.3 days. Earth & Moon travel 30° around Sun during that time (30°/360° = 1/12) Synodic month: A cycle of lunar phases; therefore takes about 29.5 days.

Length of a Year: 

Length of a Year Sidereal year: Time for Earth to complete one orbit of Sun Tropical year: Time for Earth to complete one cycle of seasons Tropical year is about 20 minutes (1/26,000) shorter than a sidereal year because of Earth’s precession.

Planetary Periods: 

Planetary Periods A planet in opposition, is seen all night long. Happens only for outer planets (Mars, Jupiter, etc.) A planet in conjunction with the sun can’t be seen.

Transits: 

Transits On rare occasions, an inner planet will be perfectly aligned with Sun during inferior conjunction, causing a transit across Sun’s surface Transit of Venus: June 8, 2004

How do we tell the time of day?: 

How do we tell the time of day? Apparent solar time depends on the position of the Sun in the local sky A sundial gives apparent solar time

Mean Solar Time: 

Mean Solar Time Length of an apparent solar day changes during the year because Earth’s orbit is slightly elliptical. Mean solar time is based on the average length of a day. Noon is average time at which Sun crosses meridian Figure 8 is the analemma

The Analemma: 

The Analemma The analemma illustrates position of Sun with respect to mean solar time

Universal Time: 

Universal Time Universal time (UT) is defined to be the mean solar time at 0° longitude. It is also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) because 0° longitude is defined to pass through Greenwich, England It is the standard time used for astronomy and navigation around the world

When and why do we have leap years?: 

When and why do we have leap years? The length of a tropical year is about 365.25 days. In order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the seasons, we must add one day every four years (February 29). For precise synchronization, years divisible by 100 (e.g., 1900) are not leap years unless they are divisible by 400 (e.g., 2000).

How do we locate objects on the celestial sphere?: 

How do we locate objects on the celestial sphere? Equinoxes and solstices occur when Sun is at particular points on celestial sphere

Solstices & Equinoxes: 

Solstices & Equinoxes

How do stars move through the local sky?: 

How do stars move through the local sky? A star’s path depends on your latitude and the star’s declination or altitude above the celestial equator

Star Paths at North Pole: 

Star Paths at North Pole At the North Pole stars remain at same altitude as Earth rotates

Star Paths at Equator: 

Star Paths at Equator At the Equator, all stars remain above horizon for exactly 12 hours each day Celestial equator passes overhead

Star Paths in Northern Hemisphere: 

Star Paths in Northern Hemisphere Celestial equator is in south part of sky

Star Paths in Southern Hemisphere: 

Star Paths in Southern Hemisphere Celestial equator is in north part of sky

How does the Sun move through the local sky?: 

How does the Sun move through the local sky? Sun’s path is like that of a star, except that its declination changes over the course of a year

Sun’s Path in the Local Sky: 

Sun’s Path in the Local Sky

Special Latitudes: 

Special Latitudes Arctic Circle (66.5°N): Sun never sets on summer solstice Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N): Sun directly overhead at noon on summer solstice

Special Latitudes: 

Special Latitudes Antarctic Circle (66.5°S): Sun never sets on winter solstice Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S): Sun directly overhead at noon on winter solstice

Sun’s Path at North Pole: 

Sun’s Path at North Pole Sun remains above horizon from spring equinox to fall equinox Altitude barely changes during a day

Sun’s Path at Equator: 

Sun’s Path at Equator Sun rises straight up and sets straight down North of celestial equator during spring and summer South of celestial equator during winter and fall

Sun’s Path at Tropic of Cancer: 

Sun’s Path at Tropic of Cancer Sun passes through zenith at noon on summer solstice

Sun’s Path at Arctic Circle: 

Sun’s Path at Arctic Circle Sun grazes horizon at midnight on summer solstice

S1.3 Principles for Celestial Navigation: 

S1.3 Principles for Celestial Navigation How can you determine your latitude? How can you determine your longitude? Our goals for learning:

How can you determine your latitude?: 

How can you determine your latitude? Latitude equals altitude of celestial pole Altitude and declination of star crossing meridian also gives latitude.

Latitude During Daytime: 

Latitude During Daytime You can determine the Sun’s declination from the day of the year Thus, measuring the Sun’s altitude when it crosses meridian can tell you latitude

How can you determine your longitude?: 

How can you determine your longitude? In order to determine your longitude from the sky, you need to know time of day because of Earth’s rotation You also need to know day of year because of Earth’s orbit Accurate measurement of longitude requires an accurate clock.

Instruments for Navigation: 

Instruments for Navigation An astrolabe can be used to measure star positions and to determine the time of day from them

Instruments for Navigation: 

Instruments for Navigation A cross-staff or sextant can be used to make accurate measurements of angles in the sky

GPS Navigation: 

GPS Navigation The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses a set of satellites in Earth orbit as artificial stars GPS devices use radio signals to determine your position relative to those satellites

What have we learned?: 

What have we learned? How can you determine your latitude? The altitude of the celestial pole is equal to your latitude. You can determine your latitude by measuring the altitude of a star crossing the meridian if you know the star’s declination. The Sun can be used if you determine its declination from the date

What have we learned?: 

What have we learned? How can you determine your longitude? Because of Earth’s motions (orbit and rotation) you need to know both the date and time of day to determine longitude. Accurate determinations of longitude therefore require accurate clocks. The GPS system uses a set of satellites as artificial stars.