I

PH-112 SPACE, ASTRONOMY and OUR UNIVERSE LABORATORY

I

Locating Objects in t4e Sky &

IILAB#
OVERVIEW
111 Measuring Lunar Elevations

The goal of an astronomer is to discover and understand the nature of objects in our
universe. Using instruments that collect, record, disperse and magnify the light that
celestial objects emit, astronomers analyze and interpret the information obtained in order
to make accurate models of these objects. In this laboratory exercise, you will explore
several tools and techniques that astronomers employ in their investigation of various
celestial objects.
Part 1: The Local Coordinate System
The vast vault above you is called the sky. This illusory dome has particular reference
features that astronomers find useful. The border between the sky and the Earth is
defined as the horizon. The point directly above you is the zenith. The arc that extends
from due north on the horizon to due south on the horizon and passes through the zenith
is called the
meridian.
z nitfi
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0
--+-_;AL;.::::::::T =
Fill inthe missing values.

+ You stand on /
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toy of tfie Xartfi. /
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---- A Z l M U T.H..... .. ....;-f"-----.::,-----
0 0
AZI= AZI=
NORTH EST --+: SOUTH
horizon EARTH
horizon
ALT= 0

To locate objects in the sky from a particular place on Earth, you need to know two
coordinates: azimuth and altitude. The first coordinate is the number of degrees along
the horizon from a reference point - the direction of due north: The second coordinate is
the number of degrees above the horizon. First, find due north (You can use a compass to
find this direction, but it may only be approximate.) That's where you start to measure
azimuth in units of degrees. From north, count eastward along the horizon the number of
degrees of azimuth (0° to 359°, then reset to 0°). Then count straight up from the horizon
towards the zenith the number of degrees of altitude (o to 90°).
0
Lab #1: Locating Objects in the Sky (continued) Page2of6
PROCEDURE
Measure the altitudes and azimuths of artificial stars
A quadrant is a quarter of a circle that has
been divided into 90 equal parts or degrees. If
you sight a star along the two posts on the
upper edge of the quadrant·, the string will
indicate the altitude or height above the
horizon in degrees. In the illustration at right,
the altitude of the star is 35°.
Four paper stars that are labeled with the
Greek letters a (alpha), (beta), y (gamma)
and b (delta) have been fixed on the walls and bob
ceiling in the lab room.
The bob points to the Earth's
Use the quadrant to find the altitudes of these center and establishes a line
stars to the nearest degree from Location 1 if that is perpendicular to the
your last name begins with the letter A Sightinghorizon.
through I, Location 2 if your last name begins Location
with the letter J through R, or Location 3 if
your last name begins with the letter S
through Z. Record your values in the table at
right. Place the azimuth scale flat on the table Altitude Azimuth
with the zero degree mark pointing toward Star a Star a
the north wall of the room and estimate the
azimuths of the paper stars to the nearest ten

'
degree interval.
Altitude Azimuth
Star Star

Altitude Azimuth
Stary Stary

Altitude Azimuth
Imagi ,are
\, 'I
Starb Starb
standing! of the.AZI
center circle.
 Lab #1: Measuring Lunar Elevations Page3of6
Figure 1
Part 2: Lunar Elevations
The .Moon's surface exhibits a variety of features,
such as impact craters, mountain ranges, basalt
plains (maria) and sinuous channels. How can
astronomers determine their physical
dimensions?

Galileo was among the first to estimate the

height of a lunar feature. His method requires
that the Moon appears in either first or third
quarter phase. In addition, the feature must be
near the terminator, which is the border
between the Moon's daytime and nighttime
halves.

Figure 1 at right depicts the first quarter Moon

as it appears from Earth. In Figure 2 below, the
Moon's limb or edge is represented by a circle.
It also shows the outline of the Moon as seen
from above one of its poles - it is a view from
space.

Using the simple geometry concerning

corresponding right triangles shown in the figure,
the height of a feature can be determined.
Review the figure to see the triangles that are
relevant to the calculation.

The circle at right represents a cross-section Figure 2 ---,--

through the Moon's equator.
• The height h is the height of a lunar
feature.
• The length s is the length of
◄
the feature's shadow.
• The distance R is the Moon's radius.
• The distance c is the distance
of the feature from the sunlit ◄◄ sunlight

◄
half
terminator.
Note the two right triangles.
When angle a is small, the triangles are

◄
nearly similar and the ratio h to s equals ""'\
the ratio c to R, or, terminator

l=I View of Moon as seen from above its North Pole

Lab #1: Measuring Lunar Elevations (continued)
Page4of6
By measuring s, c and R in kilometers we can find h in kilometers.
PROCEDURE
Printed on page five is an image of the first quarter Moon and a millimeter ruler. Printed on page
six is a section of the image on page five near the terminator. It is magnified 3.54 times.
Tear off the ruler and fold th edge as indicated.
First, find the Scale Factor of the image on page five.
- Measure the vertical diameter of the Moon along the terminator in mm: mm
- Find the Scale Factor in km/mm by dividing
the Moon's actual diameter (3476 km) by the vertical diameter in mm = km/mm
- The Scale Factor is used to convert measurements made with the mm ruler into kilometers.

Measure the required distances and perform the necessary computations to determine the heights
of the two features listed in the table below.
- To find the Converted Distance in mm, divide the Distance in mm by 3.54.
- To find the Actual Distance in km, multiply the Converted Distance in mm by the Scale Factor.
- To find the Feature Height in km, use the relationship at the top of this page.
• Which feature has the higher elevation? _
• Is the height of Feature 1 more than or less than that of Mount Everest (8.8 km)? _

Feature 1: The central peak in the crater Arzachel.

Converted Distance
Distance (mm) (mm) Actual Distance (km)

S (Shadow length)

C (Terminator dist.) - -

.
R (Moon's radius) I•
'
1738km
r ..
h (Feature height) I
1
4 '

Feature 2: The central peak in the crater Walter.

Distance (mm) Converted Distance Actual Distance (km)
(mm
S (Shadow length)
C (Terminator dist.)
' - - -- - - - - ,- T

R (Moon's radius) 1738km

1 - • - I;

h (Feature height) ,
l -----=-::--::c:::._-
•
=:.. - - -
.
, _·_. - - - - _,!
I
Lab #1: Lunar Elevations (continued) Page 5 of 6

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Photograph of First Quarter Moon taken through QCC's 16-inch s
diameter reflecting telescope on June 14, 2005 at 10:1Spm EST. 0
Lab #t: Lunar Elevations (continued) Page 6 of6

Magnified section of photograph on page five.

Crater labels are at the right edge of the identified crater.