Name : Sukhdeep Kaur

Madonna id : 265355

Course detail : ESS 3290 - Principle of Astronomy lab

Description : Week - 2

Submission date : 29th May ,2022

Unit 2 : The Seasons

Lesson 1
1. Which two factors affect the amount of sunlight received by a planet’s
surface?
Ans. How close it is to the sun and how much of an atmosphere it has .This is because
an atmosphere will take in heat.
2. If Earth’s axis were not tilted, what effect would this have on the seasons (see
Figure 2-1) ?
Ans. There won’t be any seasons if there was no tilt. The focus of the axis is relative
to the sun variations; the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun in June which
is summer season and away in December which is winter season.
3. When is Earth closest to the Sun?
Ans. The earth will be closest to the sun every year early January and it will be winter
in the northern hemisphere.
4. Based on your answer to question 3, does the variation in distance between
Earth and the Sun affect the seasons? Explain your answer.
Ans. No, the variation in distance between Earth and the Sun doesn’t affect the
seasons as the seasons are controlled by the tiltedness of the earth. Thus, change in
the climate in the northern and southern hemisphere occurs due to the tiltedness of the
earth.
5. Explain why the temperature at the equator is always hot and the
temperature at the poles is always cold, despite the passage of the seasons.
Ans. The temp in an area depends on the amount of the sun’s energy reaching the
surface. The reason due to which the temperature at the equator is always hot and the
temperature at the poles is always cold is because of the amount of solar energy in a
given area is greater at the Equator and more direct sunlight is received as
comparative to the poles.
Lesson 2
6. If it is summer in the United States, what season is it in Australia (see Figure
2-2)?
Ans. United states will be in the northern hemisphere and Australia will be in the
southern hemisphere thus, there will be seasonal variation. Thus, if in united states the
climate is summer then in Australia the climate will be winter because of the
tiltedness of the earth as both are in different hemisphere.
7. Which regions of Earth have the greatest seasonal changes as far as the
amount of daylight and darkness they experience? Which have the least?
Ans . The seasonal changes in the temp and equator and throughout the tropics are
minor . as we move away for the equator , seasonal changes occur in larger areas in
the northern and the southern poles and throughout the Antarctic and artic region
8. Where would you have to go in order to observe a midnight, Sun? When
would this occur?
Ans. The midnight sun is a natural occurrence that occurs during the summer in
places south of the Antarctic Circle and north of the Arctic Circle – including
Northern Norway. It occurs in the late spring.
9. If it is dark almost all day at a location in northern Alaska, what would be
true of a location of similar southern latitude at the same time of year? You
may have to try several of the slightly different versions of the tool in the
lesson, shown in Figure 2-3, to answer the questions.
Ans . On the same day on southern hemisphere there will be complete light almost all
day at some location , this happens in the polar region during the solstice’s conditions
10. When is the Sun directly overhead at the equator?
Ans. The sun is directly overhead at "high-noon" on the equator twice per year, at the
two equinoxes. Spring Equinox is usually March 20 and Drop/fall equinox is usually
September 22.
11. Where is the Sun directly overhead on December 21, the winter solstice?
Ans. The Sun directly overhead on tropic of Capricorn , latitude 23.5% south passing
through Brazil , south Africa , Australia on December 21st where the sun is directly
overhead at "high-noon" on Winter Solstice, the start of winter in the northern
hemisphere
12. When is the Sun directly overhead at your location?
Ans. The Sun directly overhead in the northern hemisphere on June 21st .
LAB ACTIVITY The Seasons
Q1) The purpose of this activity is to determine whether the Sun’s altitude or
duration (time the Sun is up) has more of an effect on temperatures at a given
location. Use the tool from Lesson 3 (shown in Figure 2-4). Fill out the table for the
person standing in Canada. You can estimate the hours the Sun will be up by
looking at how much of Earth is in daylight at the different latitudes. For example,
at the Tropic of Cancer, about 2/3 of Earth is in daylight, and 2/3 of 24 hours is 16
hours of daylight. Next, move the observer first to the North Pole and then to the
Equator and fill out the table for each of these locations.
Think of typical temperatures at the three locations you visited. Based on your
data, can you determine which would be more important for warm weather, the
Sun’s altitude or how many hours it is up? Cite evidence from the above table for
your answer.
Ans.
Location Altitude of Sun Hours Sun Will Be Up
1. North Pole 23.5 degree 24h
2. Canada 65 degree 18h ( as nearly 3/4th of that
latitude is daylight. So,
3/4th of 24h is 18h )

3. Equator 66.5 degree 12h ( as half of the latitude

is daylight.)

Surface temperature mostly depends on the angle of incident of the solar ray. When angle
of incident is high, the solar ray travel a less thickness of the atmosphere , so less amount
of absorption , scattering , diffraction of solar ray before reaching at the surface , so the
energy of the solar ray will be high. So, temperature will be high. But, when solar
altitude is low, the solar ray travels a larger distance through the atmosphere. So, larges
amount of absorption by the particles and the clouds in the atmosphere. So, less amount
of energy reaches earth surface. So, the temperature will be low . although the north pole,
will be illuminated all the 24h during this time, but the solar altitude is very low, so the
temperature rises up to nearly 0 degrees, but equator and the Canada where solar altitude
is high, temperature will rise to more than 30 degrees. So, we can say suns altitude is
more important for warm weather than how many hours it is up to the sky .
Unit 3 : Eclipses
LESSON 1
1. Explain what happens during a solar eclipse.
Ans. During a solar eclipse, the sun gets dimmer and dimmer outside as more and
more of the Sun is covered by the Moon. At a point , the entire Sun is covered for a
few minutes, and it becomes very dark outside.
2. Explain what happens during a lunar eclipse.
Ans. A lunar eclipse is affected by Earth obstructing sunlight from touching the
moon and producing a shadow across the lunar surface. The sun-blocking Earth
creates two shadows that fall on the moon throughout a lunar eclipse: The umbra is a
fully dark shadow, and the penumbra is a partial outer shadow.
3. Explain why eclipses do not occur every month.
Ans. They do not happen every month because the Earth's orbit across the sun is not
in the same plane as the Moon's orbit across the Earth.
4. In which lunar phase do lunar eclipses occur? In which phase do solar eclipses
occur?
Ans. During the lunar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow on Earth, and blocks or
partially blocks our view of the Sun and a Solar eclipse occurs only at the new moon
phase, when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun.
LESSON 2
5. What is an annular eclipse? Explain why they occur.
Ans. An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are just in line with the
Earth, but the visible size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun
appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, encircling the dark disk of the Moon.
6. Explain why some observers of a solar eclipse see a total eclipse while others
see only a partial eclipse. Also explain why some observers from Earth see no
eclipse at all.
Ans. People at the umbra will see a total solar eclipse while people at penumbra will
see partial eclipse this is due to the fact that umbra is an area of the full shadow of the
moon axis while in penumbra only partial shadows exists.
7. Is there one and only one specific place on the Earth from which a given
solar eclipse can be seen? Explain your answer.
 Ans. No, because the solar eclipse can be seen from the different places through the
shadow of the moon fall. It can be any where on the globe , but we cannot confirm the
exact location /point where we can see the solar eclipse
8. If a solar eclipse were being observed from Earth, describe what an observer
on the Moon would see when looking at Earth
Ans. They will see 2 dark circle on earth one big circle which will be less dark will
have a core that will be completely dark.
LESSON 3
9. From where on Earth can a lunar eclipse be seen (see Figure 3-3)?
Ans. If you are in the eclipse part the best place to see the entire eclipse are Austria,
parts of the western united states, western south America, and southeast Asia.
10. Which type of eclipse is more common, lunar or solar? Why?
Ans. The solar and lunar eclipse both occur with equal frequent, so, it is less common
to see a solar eclipse than compared to a lunar eclipse as it lies in the geometry lunar
eclipse when the moon moves through the shadow earth it is visible from wherever
the moon is above the horizon however, when the moon moves / appears Infront of
that during a solar eclipse.
11. Which type of eclipse do you think you are likely to observe more often in
your lifetime? Explain your reasoning.
Ans. The person is more likely to observe the lunar eclipse during the lifetime
Because solar eclipse are visible from the narrow paths of the earth and can only be
viewed from a specific location whereas it is not in the case of the lunar eclipse
12. If a lunar eclipse were being observed from Earth, what would an observer
on the Moon see (see Figure 3-3)?
Ans. If a lunar eclipse were being observed from Earth, an observer on the Moon
Would see the sun only partially covered, If the moon only passes the outer part of
the shadows this is the condition of penumbra that is the observer on the moon
That is the observers on the moon.

LAB ACTIVITY Eclipses

The purpose of this activity is to determine how differing distances between Earth and the
Moon will affect solar eclipses. Use the tool from Lesson 2 (shown in Figure 3-4) to
complete the table below. The position to the right of the Moon in Figure 3-4 is position
1, and the position numbers progress counterclockwise.
In general, how does the angular size of the Moon appear to vary with changes in its
orbital radius? According to the table, ANNULAR | TOTAL (circle one) solar eclipses
seem more likely. In which position would the eclipse be least noticeable to observers on
Earth? Explain your reasoning.

Position Number Angular Size of Moon Orbital Radius of Total or Annular

(in degrees ) Moon (in km) Eclipse?
1. 0.548 363,000 Total
2. 0.785 378,850 Annular
3. 0.987 378,669 Annular
4. 1.154 386,876 Annular
5. 1.876 397,567 Annular
6. 2.397 401,235 Annular
7. 2.829 404,783 Annular
8. 3.694 407,273 Total

Since the radius of the moons orbit varies in size, inverse also varies, and the angular size
differ due to the fact that when observed on the horizon, the moon is one radius away
from the earths. Solar eclipse that seems more likely are less likely occur when a lunar
eclipse is observed . It will be less noticeable in the penumbra of the shadow which is less
dark and usually not noticeable

Unit 4 : Phases of the Moon

LESSON 1
Q1. When the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, the Moon’s DARK |
ILLUMINATED (circle one) side is facing Earth, and the Moon will be visible from
Earth mostly during the DAY | NIGHT (circle one).
Ans. The moon is between the earth and the sun in DRAK side is facing Earth, and the
Moon will be visible from Earth mostly during the NIGHT.
2. When Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, the Moon’s DARK |
ILLUMINATED (circle one) side is facing Earth, and the Moon will be visible from
Earth mostly during the DAY | NIGHT (circle one).
Ans. When Earth is between the Moon and the Sun, the Moon’s ILLUMINATED side is
facing Earth, and the Moon will be visible from Earth mostly during the NIGHT.
 3. The same side of the Moon is always facing Earth. This side of the Moon is
ALWAYS DARK | ALWAYS ILLUMINATED | COULD BE EITHER DARK OR
ILLUMINATED OR PARTLY BOTH(circle one).
Ans. It is partly both ( depends on what side are we on )
4. Use the tool to determine if the Moon can ever be seen from Earth during the
day.
Ans. YES, in some cases it can be seen in from the earth during the day

LESSON 2
5. What time is it when your location on Earth is facing directly toward the Sun?
Ans. The time when your location on earth is facing directly toward the sun is 12:00
noon
6. What time is it when your location on Earth is facing directly opposite the Sun?
Ans. The time when your location on the earth is facing opposite the sun is at 12am
7. As seen from above the North Pole, Earth rotates CLOCKWISE |
COUNTERCLOCKWISE (circle one). This is from EAST TO WEST | WEST
TO EAST (circle one).
Ans. As seen from above the North Pole, Earth rotates CLOCKWISE. This is from
WEST TO EAST.
LESSON 3
8. When does the new Moon rise and set?
Ans . At new , moon rises at the sunrise and set at the sunset, and we donot perceived
any of the illuminated side.
9. If the Moon is up all night, what phase is it in?
Ans. The phase of the moon is not determined by how long it lasts during the night. The
phase is determined by how much of the moon you can see. If it shines all night, it’s a
full moon. If it rises at 6pm and has an app by 6am,it is still in the first quarter, and after
6 it is the third quarter and the all moon occurs only once in 28days.
10. If the Moon is up half the night, then half the day, what phase is it in?
Ans. If the moon is up half the night, then half the day is it last quarter.
11. When does a first-quarter Moon rise and set?
Ans. The first-quarter moon rises around early afternoon is the most elevated in the sky
at the nightfall, and it sets around 12pm.it comes seven days after new moon.
12. If the Moon sets just after the Sun, what phase is the Moon in?
Ans. If the moon sets just after the Sun has the stage will nearly be past new moon
nearly to+ the waxing crescent phase and would be in full moon.

LAB ACTIVITY Phases of the Moon

The goal in this activity is to determine the phase and the rising and setting times of the
Moon when observed from Earth. Use the tool shown in Figure 4-4, taken from the
exercises section of the tutorial, to answer the questions below.
Q1 ) About what time is it in Figure 4-4?
Ans. The time is 6.00am
Q2 ) Where will the Moon be in the observer’s sky in Figure 4-4? RISING | HIGH IN
THE SOUTH | SETTING (circle one)
Ans. The moon will be in setting position.
Q3 ) In what phase is the Moon in Figure 4-4?
Ans. The moon is in the last quarter of the phase
Q4 ) At what times will the Moon rise and set in Figure 4-4?
Ans. Moon rise at local midnight and set at local moon.
Q5) What is the name of the phase shown in Figure 4-5?
Ans. The name of the phase is last quarter moon
Q6) At what times will the Moon rise, set, and be highest overhead when in this
phase?
Ans . New moon : rise : 6pm ; High: 3pm ; set : 3am
Full moon : rise : 6pm ; high : midnight ; set : 3am
Q7) If the Moon is at its highest in the south at 9 A.M., what phase is it in?
Ans. Waning crescent at 9am position 3