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Week 7

This document discusses the apparent motion of stars and the sun as seen from Earth. It explains that the Earth's rotation causes stars to appear to move across the sky from east to west each day. It also describes the daily and yearly motion of the sun, and how the length of daylight varies throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth. Key terms discussed include rising, setting, maximum altitude, and equatorial versus circumpolar stars. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to calculate a star or the sun's maximum altitude at a given location and date.

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Quanta Physics
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44 views

Week 7

This document discusses the apparent motion of stars and the sun as seen from Earth. It explains that the Earth's rotation causes stars to appear to move across the sky from east to west each day. It also describes the daily and yearly motion of the sun, and how the length of daylight varies throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth. Key terms discussed include rising, setting, maximum altitude, and equatorial versus circumpolar stars. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to calculate a star or the sun's maximum altitude at a given location and date.

Uploaded by

Quanta Physics
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Astronomy

A111 (Practical Part)


Mona Foda
Reham I. El-Kholy

Week (7)

Activity (2): The


Location of the Sun
and Its Apparent
Motion

Apparent Motion of the Stars


The Earth rotates around
its axis from West to East
once every day.

Apparent Motion of the Stars


The Earth rotates around
its axis from West to East
once every day.

Apparent Motion of the Stars


The Earth rotates around
its axis from West to East
once every day.
Due to the Earths motion,
the stars appear to be
moving around the Earth
from East to West once
every day.

Apparent Motion of the Stars


The Earth rotates around
its axis from West to East
once every day.
Due to the Earths motion,
the stars appear to be
moving around the Earth
from East to West once
every day.
This is known as the
Apparent Motion of the
Stars.

Rising and Setting


For an observer in the
northern hemisphere

Rising and Setting


For an observer in the
northern hemisphere, a
typical star comes up over
the horizon (rises) somewhere
in the eastern sector.

Rising and Setting


For an observer in the
northern hemisphere, a
typical star comes up over
the horizon (rises) somewhere
in the eastern sector.
The star starts to increase its
altitude by climbing higher
in the sky until it reaches its
highest point when it is on
the meridian.

Rising and Setting

Rising and Setting


After that, the star
continues moving
towards the horizon,
decreasing its altitude.

Rising and Setting


After that, the star
continues moving
towards the horizon,
decreasing its altitude.
Then the star disappear
below the horizon
(sets) somewhere in the
western sector.

Duration Above (and Below) the Horizon

Duration Above (and Below) the Horizon


The length of the stars
orbit above the horizon,
measured in hours, is the
duration of the star above
the horizon.

Duration Above (and Below) the Horizon


The length of the stars
orbit above the horizon,
measured in hours, is the
duration of the star above
the horizon.
The length of the stars
orbit below the horizon in
hours is its duration
below the horizon.

Duration Above (and Below) the Horizon

The sum of the stars


duration above the
horizon and its
duration below the
horizon must be
equal to 24 hours.

Ex. For an observer in Egypt,


th
Cairo, on 20 Nov. 2014, the
Star Rigel rose at 7:28 PM,
20/11/2014 and sat at 6:53 AM,
21/11/2014. Calculate the stars
duration above the horizon.

Visible Stars for an Observer


For any observer in the
northern or southern
hemisphere, there are
two types of visible
stars;
Equatorial stars, and
Circumpolar stars.

Visible Stars for an Observer


Equatorial stars: all stars
that rise and set, i.e. all
stars whose orbits
intersect the observers
horizon.

Visible Stars for an Observer


Equatorial stars: all stars
that rise and set, i.e. all
stars whose orbits
intersect the observers
horizon.
Circumpolar stars: stars
that does not rise or set,
stars whose orbits does
not intersect the
observers horizon.

Upper and Lower Transits

Upper and Lower Transits


Upper Transit: the
moment at which the
star is at its highest
point on the observers
meridian (maximum
altitude).

Upper and Lower Transits


Upper Transit: the
moment at which the
star is at its highest
point on the observers
meridian (maximum
altitude).
For equatorial stars, the
upper transit is usually
called noon time.

Upper and Lower Transits

Upper and Lower Transits


Lower Transit: the
moment at which the star
is at the lowest point in
its daily path, i.e. in the
opposite direction to the
upper transit.

Upper and Lower Transits


Lower Transit: the
moment at which the star
is at the lowest point in
its daily path, i.e. in the
opposite direction to the
upper transit.
For equatorial stars, the
star is below the
observers horizon at the
lower transit.

Maximum Altitude of the Star


The star has a maximum
altitude when it is on
the observers meridian,
i.e. at its upper transit.

Maximum Altitude of the Star


The star has a maximum
altitude when it is on
the observers meridian,
i.e. at its upper transit.
At the maximum
altitude, the spherical
triangle of the star
becomes an arc.

Maximum Altitude of the Star


The star has a maximum
altitude when it is on
the observers meridian,
i.e. at its upper transit.
At the maximum
altitude, the spherical
triangle of the star
becomes an arc.

Maximum Altitude of the Star

Maximum Altitude of the Star


It is clear that,

Maximum Altitude of the Star


It is clear that,

which gives us:

Condition for a star to rise

Condition for a star to rise


It is obvious that, in
order for a star to rise, its
maximum altitude must
be greater than zero, i.e.

Condition for a star to rise


It is obvious that, in
order for a star to rise, its
maximum altitude must
be greater than zero, i.e.
which means that:

Ex. The star Achernar has a


declination of
. Will
this star rise, for an observer
at a latitude of
?

Apparent Motion of the Sun


Unlike other stars, the
Sun has to kinds of
apparent motion:

Apparent Motion of the Sun


Unlike other stars, the
Sun has to kinds of
apparent motion:
Yearly Motion (along
the ecliptic), and

Apparent Motion of the Sun


Unlike other stars, the
Sun has to kinds of
apparent motion:
Yearly Motion (along
the ecliptic), and
Daily Motion
(parallel to the
equator).

Apparent Motion of the Sun


Unlike other stars, the
Sun has to kinds of
apparent motion:
Yearly Motion (along
the ecliptic), and
Daily Motion
(parallel to the
equator).

Apparent Motion of the Sun


Due to the tilt of
the ecliptic plane on
the equatorial plane,
the apparent (daily)
motion of the sun
appears to be on
different paths
throughout the year.

Length of Daylight and Night


The duration of the Sun
above the horizon is the
length of daylight, and its
duration below the horizon
is the length of night.

Length of Daylight and Night


The duration of the Sun
above the horizon is the
length of daylight, and its
duration below the horizon
is the length of night.
Since the Sun move on
different paths throughout
the year, these duration are
different from one day to
another.

Altitude vs. Time


The apparent daily motion can also be
represented by plotting the altitude as
a function of time.

Altitude vs. Time


The apparent daily motion can also be
represented by plotting the altitude as
a function of time, as shown below.

Ex. Calculate the


maximum altitude of the
Sun at Egypt, Cairo on
th
30 April 2014.

Activity (2): The Location of the Sun and


Its Apparent Motion

Lab. Work

Thank You

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