Astronomy Unit 1

Front 1

This is a clear plastic or glass sphere that represents the earth and surrounding stars. This model places the Earth at the center of the sphere with the stars and Moon suspended above.

Back 1

Celestial Sphere

Front 2

These are points on the celestial sphere that do not move. There are two celestial poles, the North celestial pole and the south celestial pole. These are located directly above the North and South poles respectively.

Back 2

Celestial Poles

Front 3

This is the path that the Sun traces on the celestial sphere as it moves across the sky or more correctly as it appears to move through the Constellations.

Back 3

Ecliptic

Front 4

Groups of stars that seem to form some type of pattern or object. Examples of this are Ursa Major, the big dipper, and Ursa Minor the little dipper.

Back 4

Constellations

Front 5

This is the day on which the Sun crosses the celestial equator. On this day the length of day and night are very close to the same. The spring equinox occurs around March 21 and the fall equinox occurs around September 23.

Back 5

Equinox

Front 6

This is located directly above the Earth's equator.

Back 6

Celestial Equator

Front 7

This is the day on which the Sun pauses in its steady North to South motion and is stationary. Soon the Sun will reverse direction and begin to travel South to North. The Winter Solstice occurs near December 21 and the Summer Solstice occurs around June 21.

Back 7

Solstice

Front 8

This theory is based on the assumption that the Earth is the center of the Universe. This theory was embraced strongly by the early Catholic Church and it was considered heresy to speak against this theory.

Back 8

Geocentric theory

Front 9

This theory is based on the sun being the center of our solar system. The planets orbited the sun in an elliptical pathway.

Back 9

Heliocentric theory

Front 10

is an ancient set of stone statues located in England. The Statues line up with the Sunrise on the solstices and equinoxes

Back 10

Stonehenge

Front 11

one of the Egyptian temples has it's main chamber pointed in the direction of sunrise at Winter Solstice.

Back 11

The Temple at Karnack

Front 12

The Mayan Indians of Central America built pyramids so that they may observe the heavens above the dense rain forests.

Back 12

The Mayan Pyramids

Front 13

About how many miles does the Earth's Rotation cover in 24 hours?

Back 13

25,000 miles

Front 14

the appearance and disappearance of stars and constellations during the year.

Back 14

Annual Motion

Front 15

a massive body that orbits a star.

Back 15

Planet

Front 16

Greek word which means "wanderers".

Back 16

Planetia

Front 17

The planets move within a narrow band on the celestial sphere called the

Back 17

Zodiac

Front 18

The westerly motion that all planets undergo this at some time.

Back 18

Retrograde

Front 19

means to increase in size

Back 19

Waxing

Front 20

means to decrease in size

Back 20

Waning

Front 21

___________________________is the shape of the moon between New and first quarter and third quarter and new.

Back 21

Crescent

Front 22

_________________ is shape of the moon between first quarter and full and full and third quarter.

Back 22

Gibbous

Front 23

Early Astronomer who's ideas included:
Round Earth - the sphere was the perfect shape.

Back 23

Pythagoras

Front 24

Presented Arguments of Earth's spherical shape based on observations.

Back 24

Aristotle

Front 25

Estimated the size of the Earth, Moon, Sun and relative distances to each.

Back 25

Aristarchus of Samos

Front 26

Estimated the size of the Earth, calculated circumference of Earth to within 100 miles.

Back 26

Eratosthenes

Front 27

Alexandria, Egypt described the epicycle, Lots of observation.

Back 27

Ptolemy

Front 28

This group of people were responsible for the following: Set Religious Calendar, zenith star names

Back 28

Islamics

Front 29

A polish physician and lawyer who was central to the demolition the geocentric theory. He embraced the heliocentric model and was able to begin to explain retrograde motion

Back 29

Copernicus

Front 30

was a member of the Danish Nobility, made meticulous observations in his extensive study of the heavens, He believed that God placed the planets to be signs of events that happened on Earth. He theorized that the heavens were changeable and quite complex. In 1572 he witnessed an exploding star, a supernova, and in 1577 he observed a very bright comet, he was also one of the last astronomers to believe in the geocentric theory

Back 30

Tycho Brahe

Front 31

His laws included:
1. Planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun located at one focus of the ellipse.
2. The orbital speed of a planet varies so that a line joining the Sun and a planet will cover equal areas in equal amounts of time.
3. The amount of time required for a planet to orbit the Sun is related to the size of the planets orbit.

Back 31

Johannes Kepler

Front 32

described all aspects of motion and gravity. He derived a set of laws governing motion.
encountered much trouble in life when he began to support the Copernican view and was forced to recant by the Inquisition Board of the Catholic Church.

Back 32

Galileo Galilei

Front 33

formulated the Laws of Motion used in Physics today and was the first person to study astrophysics.

Back 33

Isaac Newton