AST101H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.1-2.2: Celestial Equator, Middle Latitudes, Ecliptic

• School: UTSG
• Department: Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Course: AST101H1
• Professor: Bryan Gaensler

Document Summary

Figures 2. 3, 2. 4, 2. 9, 2. 10, 2. 12, 2. 14, 2. 15, 2. 20. Constellation = region of stars with well defined borders. Most names are form u. s. and europe, have a middle eastern origin. Ecliptic: path the sun follows as it circles the celestial sphere. Clouds block our view of the galaxy - cannot see much. See only half of the celestial sphere at any time or place. Meriden is the distance between zenith and horizon. Angular distance between objects is the angle that separates. Earth rotates west to east --> celestial sphere appears to rotates east to west. Longitude: degree along prime meridian, measured east to west. Sky varies with latitude, does not with longitude. Zodiac: constellations along ecliptic --> sun"s location along the ecliptic determines constellations. Tilt of earth"s axis causes sunlight to fall different. Steep angle = longer path for sun and longer day. Use solstices --> when we have the most/least sunlight.