Chapter 1 Flashcards
(29 cards)
how are stars in a constellation are connected to one another
They are completely unrelated to one another
declination
angle that measures north and south from the celestial equator
reasons for studying astronomy
Our human curiosity demands that we better understand the universe
Technical innovations created by astronomers have benefited humanity
The study of astronomy lets us address the most profound questions humans have ever asked
unexpected benefit of astronomy research
Theme park ride engineering
X-ray scanners for airport security
Medical and scientific imaging
two coordinates of the “horizon coordinate system”
altitude
azimuth
two coordinates of the “celestial equatorial coordinate system”
right ascension
declination
constellations were essential for ancient peoples
Constellations provided a calendar to support agriculture
Professional astronomers, in general, know very few constellations in the night sky
true
altitude of the north celestial pole for an observer located on the earth’s equator
0 degrees
A star located halfway up the sky due south would have an altitude of
45 degrees
Our living bodies ultimately come from non-living material found on Earth.
true
zenith
point directly overhead
altitude
angle measured up from the horizon
The prime meridian
zero point of longitude
Latitude measures up/down from
the equator
altitude of the north celestial pole for an observer standing on the north pole of the earth
90 degrees
azimuth of due west
270 degrees
equator
location of zero latitude
Ecliptic
path traveled by the Sun with respect to the the fixed stars
at the poles
1/2 stars are visible
at the equator
all stars are visible
azimuth
direction of a star
south azimuth
180 degrees
equatorial coordinate system
coordinate system that allows use to specific an exact location of an object in the sky that anyone can find any time of the year
