Observations of the Sky
What patterns, motions, and events do we notice in the sky?
What theories can we create to explain them?
How can these theories be tested?
Observations of the Sky
How does the sky change over…
A day?A night?A month?A year?A lifetime?A millenium?
Why do we see these changes?
How does the sky change over…
A day?The Sun rises in the East, sets in the West
It rises and sets at an angle
It takes about 24 hours from sunrise to sunrise
Good Science => Careful observations?
How does the sky change over…
A day?The Sun rises in the East, sets in the West
… for *most* observers, but not all!… not always due East, nor due West
How does the sky change over…
A day?The Sun rises and sets at an angle
… but angle isn’t the same everywhere!
Oakland
Venezuela
Rio New Zealand
Canada Alaska
Sunrise 9 February in the North America
Sunrise 9 February in the Southern Hemisphere
How does the sky change over…
A night?The Moon, planets, and most stars also
rise in the East, set in the West, at an angle
The sky seems to rotate around a fixed point – Polaris.
How does the sky change over…
A night?The sky rotates around Polaris (check out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V3rmDG5J8A )
Did you know?
The ANGLE of Polaris above the horizon indicates your latitude in the Northern Hemisphere
Altitude angle
How does the sky change over…
A night?In the Southern Hemisphere, the sky
seems to rotate the other way! (check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfRFCdYCcZA
How does the sky change over…
A night?Some constellations always visible (circumpolar)
How does the sky change over…
A “moonth?”The Moon goes through phases
We see slow change in which constellations are visible at night
The Sun’s slowly shifts “in front of” different zodiac constellations
Good Science => Careful observations?
How does the sky change over…
A “moonth?”The Moon goes through phases
How does the sky change over…
A “moonth?”We see slow change in which
constellations are visible at night
How does the sky change over…
A “moonth?”The Sun’s slowly shifts “in front of” different
zodiac constellations
What have we learned? Why do the constellations we see depend
on latitude and time of year?
— Your location determines which constellations are hidden by Earth.
— Time of year determines the location of the Sun in the sky.
How does the sky change over…
A year?Sun’s rising/setting points, and noon-time
height return to the same points.
Constellations return to the same pattern
But planets “wander” in front of the zodiac at different rates, and even dance!
Sunrise Planting Calendars – Southwestern US Peoples
Walpi (Hopi) horizon calendar. McCloskey, after Stephen. Observations from Bear Clan House.
Sunrise Planting Calendars – Southwestern US Peoples
From Zeilik (1985) Hopi planting calendar. Village of Shungopavi.
How does the sky change over…
A year?The Sun’s height changes slowly
Photo of the sun, taken @ same time every day,
over a year
How does the sky change over a year?
Sun’s “speed” across the sky varies
lower loop = Winter, Earth moves faster in its orbit
Upper loop = Summer, Earth moves slower in its orbit
How does the sky change over a year?
The analemma
Bergamo, Italy
Photos by John Nystuen, University of Michigan
How does the sky change over…
A year?Summer
Sun higher in the sky, shining more DIRECTLYSun up longer, more hours in the day
WinterSun lower in the sky, less direct lightSun not up as long
TRUE OR FALSE?
Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and farther from the Sun in winter.
TRUE OR FALSE?
Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and farther from the Sun in winter.
(Hint: When it is summer in the United States, it is winter in Australia.)
Earth is closer to the Sun in sun summer and farther from the Sun in winter.
• Seasons are opposite in the N and S hemispheres, so distance cannot be the reason.
• The real reason for seasons involves Earth’s axis tilt.
TRUE OR FALSE!
What causes the seasons?
Seasons depend on how Earth’s axis affects the directness of sunlight.
Direct light causes more heating.
Directness of Light
Axis tilt changes directness of sunlight during the year.
Why Does the Flux of Sunlight Vary
Sun’s altitude changes w/ seasons
Sun’s position at noon in summer: higher altitude means more direct sunlight.
Sun’s position at noon in winter: lower altitude means less direct sunlight.
The Real Reason for Seasons
Earth’s axis points in the same direction (to Polaris) all year round, so its orientation relative to the Sun changes as Earth orbits the Sun.
Summer occurs in your hemisphere when sunlight hits it more directly; winter occurs when the sunlight is less direct.
AXIS TILT is the key to the seasons; without it, we would not have seasons on Earth.
Why doesn’t distance matter?
• Variation of Earth–Sun distance small ~ 3%• Small variation overwhelmed by effects of
axis tilt.
How do we mark the progression of the
seasons?
• We define four special points: summer solstice winter solstice spring (vernal) equinox fall (autumnal) equinox
Recognize solstices and equinoxes by the Sun’s path across the sky.
Summer solstice: Highest path, rise and set at most extreme north of due east
Winter solstice: Lowest path, rise and set at most extreme south of due east
Equinoxes: Sun rises precisely due east and sets precisely due west.
Seasonal changes are more extreme at high latitudes.
Path of the Sun on the summer solstice at the Arctic Circle
How does the sky change over…
A year?Constellations return to the same pattern
But planets “wander” in front of the zodiac at different rates, and even dance!
Tunc Tezel, apod031216
How does the sky change over…
A lifetime?Annual patterns repeat: Moon Phases,
Seasons, constellationsLonger patterns apparent: Planetary
motions, solar eclipses
How does the sky change over…
A millenium?Slow change in location of “North” star
How does the sky change over…
A millenium?Slow change in location of “North” star
Slower, even smaller change in direct positions of stars themselves
Top Related