Night Sky Unit Intro

The purpose of this unit is to understand how astronomy began and can be continued today. We will learn how early civilizations observed the night sky and recorded their observations. We will learn to recognize the major constellations, the mythology behind them, and why they are still important in studying Astronomy. We will also learn how to map the night sky and the objects in it, in a way that can be communicated with other astronomers around the world.

Our specific goals for this unit are:

Section 1: Cultural Views

Objective: Describe how early civilizations viewed and interpreted the night sky

Goals:

  1. Explain how early civilizations used observations of the night sky in their everyday lives
  2. Describe the difference between the traditional and modern scientific definitions of a constellation
  3. Identify the star pattern and mythology associated with the 13 zodiac constellations
  4. Explain what the zodiac constellations have in common, that separates them from other constellations
  5. Identify the pattern and mythology associated with other common constellations
  6. Recognize that different cultures view the stars differently, and recognize different shapes with different stories

 

Key Vocab: Asterism, Constellation (traditional), Constellation (modern), Ecliptic

 

Section 2: Observing the Sky

Objective: Demonstrate how to map and locate objects in the night sky, using local and global coordinate systems

Goals:

  1. Locate the important places on the celestial sphere (Zenith, Nadir, Celestial Poles, Horizon, Celestial Equator, and Meridian)
  2. Describe how to locate a celestial body relative to the observer’s location, using altitude and azimuth
  3. Describe how to communicate the location of a celestial body, regardless of the observer’s location, using Right Ascension and Declination
  4. Explain how to determine your own location, given the location of stars
  5. Locate the Vernal Equinox and explain its significance


Key Vocab: Altitude, Apparent Daily Motion, Azimuth, Celestial Equator, Celestial Sphere, Circumpolar, Declination, Equinox, Horizon, Meridian, Nadir, North Celestial Pole, Polaris, Right Ascension, South Celestial Pole, Vernal Equinox, Zenith