ASTRON 103 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Equinox, Celestial Equator, Northern Hemisphere
5 Oct 2016
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Ecliptic: path the sun traces across the celestial sphere. Zodiac: 12 constellations the sun passes through along the ecliptic: actually passes through 13 constellations, but that was not known in ancient times when the term was created. Seasons caused by the level of directness of the sun/ sun beams, not by differences in distances of northern vs southern hemispheres. Solstices: times when the sun reaches its extremes (n or s of celestial sphere: summer solstice. Marks the official beginning of summer: winter solstice. Equinoxes: times when sun crosses the celestial sphere. Equinoxes: sun crosses celestial sphere - creates an approximate equality of number of hours of daylight & night. Marks the beginning of spring (march 20/autumnal equinox) and fall (september 22/vernal equinox: equinox = latin equal night , rising & setting points of sun are due e & w. Solstices: sun is at its greatest distance n (summer solstice - june 21) or s (winter.
