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  1. About this presentation…. • Is free to be used by students, teachers & public. Please acknowledge it is from FSU. It can also be copied and downloaded. • Is written in Microsoft Power Point that can be read by a number of computer systems. • If you find any needed changes, please contact Dr. Doyle at rdoyle@frostburg.edu

  2. Frostburg State Planetarium presents Spring 2013 Sky Sights for Middle School & Intermediates by Dr. Bob Doyle Next Edition: July 2013

  3. Big Topics Treated • Horizon, Finding directions, Sunrise/Sunset • How Day Sky Works, Twilight AM & PM • Moon basics, It’s Origin Why has varying shapes? • Bright points seen at night? Easy Spring Planets • Best Stars & Groups Seen on Spring Evenings • 3 Built in Mini Quizzes with answers supplied • Spring ‘13 Moon Schedule & Star diagrams • Spring Talk Show Schedule & related info

  4. Horizon & Directions • When looking at sky, we may view ½ of universe! • Horizon surrounds us, the sky/ground boundary • At top of sky is zenith, 90 degrees from horizon • From North rightward, East, then South and West. • Sun rises in East, face sunrise, left is North • Midday shadow N (1p in April, May & June) • Sun sets nearly in West, face sunset, right is North • Can use Big Dipper’s pointers to find N. Star

  5. Sunrise & Sunsets? • Earth’s daily rotation makes it look as if sun rises each morning & sets each afternoon • Time of sunrise, sunset varies thru year • Earliest sunrise & latest sunset in late June • Latest sunrise & earliest sunset in late Dec. • Longest days when sun highest, farthest N • Shortest days when sun lowest, farthest S • Change in sunrise/sunset reduced closer to equator • Change in sunrise/sunset increased near poles

  6. Let’s review these ideas • What point in sky is farthest from horizon? • Is it Celestial Pole? Zenith? Nadir? • Which direction recipe WON’T work? • S= Moss side of tree N = Shadow in mid day? • Place where biggest changes with seasons? • Polar Regions? Mid Latitudes? Equator? • Write down your answers for these questions. • Answers: Zenith, Mid day shadow, Polar regions

  7. Interesting facts about day sky • Noon sun 400,000 x brighter than full moon • Day Sky max. polarization 90 deg. from sun • Maximum sunlight energy in early summer • Sun peaks around 1 pm when Daylight time • Minimum sunlight energy in late Dec. • To find North, face where sun goes down and extend your right arm out, points North.

  8. Twilight or Dusk? • When sun disappears from our view, the air overhead is still ‘seeing’ sun and glowing. • Sun 6 degr. below horizon, turn on lights • Sun 18 degr. below horizon, sky darkest • To see most stars, sun must be 12 degr. below hor. • Arctic Circle cities no darkness in June & July • Equatorial places have shortest twilights • Our twilights last about 90 min. at dusk & dawn

  9. What about Moon? • Our moon is 2160 miles across, ¼ Earth’s width • Moon ¼ as big as Earth; if Earth a regular globe (1 ft.wide), moon is a tennis ball. • If Earth-moon distance about 30 x Earth’s width. • As Earth, Moon lit by sun with day & night halves • As Moon orbits Earth, see varying part of day side • After line up with sun, moon waxes (grows) 14 d • After full moon, moon wanes (shrinks) 14 days • Moon phase cycle 29.5 dy, approx. month length

  10. Just a little bit more about Moon • Moon rocks reveal moon matter from Earth! • Moon due to planets colliding, debris hurled • Moon formed from ring of orbiting debris • Early moon closer, much stronger tides • Moon slowly spiraling out, lengthen our day • Earth has 1st natural moon from sun, 6th largest moon in solar system

  11. Spring 2013 Moon Schedule • Early April: Moon in AM sky, ½ full on 4/3 • Mid April: Evening moon grows, ½ full on 4/17 • Late April : Full moon (4/25) near Saturn • Early May: Moon in AM sky, ½ full on 5/2 • Mid May : Evening moon grows, ½ on 5/17 • Late May: Full moon (5/24), ½ full a.m. 5/31 • Early June: Moon in AM sky • Mid June: Evening moon grows, ½ on 6/16 • Late June: Full moon (6/22), low sky track

  12. Another review of ideas.. • As you face sunset, what points North? • Back of Head? Right arm (out)? Left ear? • If Earth 1 ft. wide, how far away is moon? • Is it 10 feet? 30 feet? 100 feet? 300 feet? • How long does moon ‘grow’ or ‘shrink’? • Is it A week? A half month? A month? • Write down your answers to above 3 questions. • Answers: Right arm (out), 30 feet, A half month

  13. Bright points we see at night? • Even the nearest planets appear as * (points) as we see them with our eyes; for even these objects far away Venus at closest 100x farther than our moon • To tell a planet from a star, all night stars twinkle and planets usually shine steady. • Also satellites (especially Space Station) shine steadily as creep eastward across sky • Night stars are distant suns, really, really far away compared to our planet neighbors. • If Earth penny size, moon 22” away, sun 730 ft. away (6.3 ft. wide), nearest star is 37,000 mi.away

  14. Easy Spring 2013 Planets • Jupiter is brilliant point in SW dusk (Apr. & May) • Crescent Moon & Jupiter close 4/14 & 5/12 • Brilliant Venus joins Jupiter in late May • 3 planets close in late May (Venus, Jup. & Merc.) • In late April, Saturn rises E at sunset, brightest • Moon & Saturn close on 4/25, 5/22 & 6/19 • Mercury in W dusk in late May, early May • Dimmer Mercury above Venus then in W dusk • Mars then nearly in back of sun, seen in July dawn

  15. Spring Stars & Groups • Evening: Big Dipper upside down, pointers to N.* • Same Dipper * point right to sickle of Leo • Arc of Dipper’s handle arc to golden “Arcturus” • Low in SE is Scorpius, it’s stars forming ‘J’ • In SE is the Summer Triangle, peaked by * Vega • Bright golden star Capella seen briefly low in NW

  16. Big Dipper & N. Star in Spring Big Dipper North Star

  17. South on Spring Evenings 2013 Arcturus Sickle of Leo Regulus Saturn Spica

  18. Let’s review once more… • Planet NOT prominent in Spring‘12 evening sky? • Is it Venus? Mars? Jupiter? Saturn? • When closest to us, neighbor planet is invisible? • Is it Venus? Mars? Jupiter? Saturn? • Big Dipper’s handle arcs to what bright star? • North Star Sirius Capella Arcturus • Write down your answers • Answers: Mars Venus Arcturus

  19. Animal Presentations – April & May • Free Sunday Public Talks at 4 pm • Science Discovery Center, off 1st floor Compton • April Show: “Predators of Africa” • May Show: “Savannah Grazers” 5/5, 5/12, 5/19 • Come a few minutes early as no late admissions • Call (301) 687-7799 to get bookmark schedule

  20. Send any questions to…. • Bob Doyle email rdoyle@frostburg.edu

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