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26 Cards in this Set

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What celestial event is Newgrange aligned to? What happens on that day?
What celestial event is Newgrange aligned to? What happens on that day?
It is aligned to Midwinter's Day. The rising sun shines directly through the passage.
It is aligned to Midwinter's Day. The rising sun shines directly through the passage.
Describe what happens to the Sundagger on solstices and equinoxes.
Describe what happens to the Sundagger on solstices and equinoxes.
It aligns on spiral shaped glyphs.
It aligns on spiral shaped glyphs.
What celestial event is Stonhenge aligned to? Describe what happens to Stonehenge on this day.
What celestial event is Stonhenge aligned to? Describe what happens to Stonehenge on this day.
It is aligned to the summer solstice and the sun can be seen rising directly above the heel stone.
It is aligned to the summer solstice and the sun can be seen rising directly above the heel stone.
Why is it suspected that Stonehenge had a missing heel stone?
Why is it suspected that Stonehenge had a missing heel stone?
Where there would have been a partner stone, the Midsummer Sun would have risen directly between the two stones.
Where there would have been a partner stone, the Midsummer Sun would have risen directly between the two stones.
What causes the sun to rise and set everyday?
What causes the sun to rise and set everyday?
The tilt of the earth's axis which spins once every 24 hours.
The tilt of the earth's axis which spins once every 24 hours.
What is the local time for an observer facing the opposite sky from the sun?
What is the local time for an observer facing the opposite sky from the sun?
Obviously noon.
Obviously noon.
What is the azimuth of the noon sun in the Northern hemisphere? What about the southern hemisphere?
What is the azimuth of the noon sun in the Northern hemisphere? What about the southern hemisphere?
South: 0° North 180°

South: 0°


North 180°
What does the word "solstice" mean? How does is describe what happens to the sun's rising and setting positions in the sky?
What does the word "solstice" mean? How does is describe what happens to the sun's rising and setting positions in the sky?
It comes from the latin word 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to take a stand) and so the sun "takes a stand" in the sky the longest on that day.
It comes from the latin word 'sol' (sun) and 'sistere' (to take a stand) and so the sun "takes a stand" in the sky the longest on that day.
What is the Azimuth of sunrise and sunset on the northern winter solstice? The summer solstice?
What is the Azimuth of sunrise and sunset on the northern winter solstice? The summer solstice?
Winter solstice: 60.5° Summer Solstice: 120.°

Winter solstice: 60.5°


Summer Solstice: 120.°
Suppose the sunrise is being observed using the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo in Peru. What celestial events are the outermost markers aligned to? Given that this site is in the southern hemisphere, what is the approximate azimuth of the outermost ...
Suppose the sunrise is being observed using the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo in Peru. What celestial events are the outermost markers aligned to? Given that this site is in the southern hemisphere, what is the approximate azimuth of the outermost markers?
It starts with the summer solstice and ends with the winter solstice. The azimuths are 66° and then 112°.
It starts with the summer solstice and ends with the winter solstice. The azimuths are 66° and then 112°.
What is the longest day of the year and why? Which day is the shortest day of the year and why? What are the lengths of daytime and nighttime in the equinoxes?
What is the longest day of the year and why? Which day is the shortest day of the year and why? What are the lengths of daytime and nighttime in the equinoxes?
Longest Day: June 21 (roughly 14.5 hours) Shortest Da: Dec 22 (roughly 9 hours) Equinoxes have the same length of day and night.

Longest Day: June 21 (roughly 14.5 hours)


Shortest Da: Dec 22 (roughly 9 hours)


Equinoxes have the same length of day and night.
What causes the seasons? Describe the orientation of the Earth relative to the sun during Northern summer. What season does the southern hemisphere experience and why?
What causes the seasons? Describe the orientation of the Earth relative to the sun during Northern summer. What season does the southern hemisphere experience and why?
Earth has a tilt in its axis of 23° and so when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it is our summer and then the summer hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it is our winter.
Earth has a tilt in its axis of 23° and so when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it is our summer and then the summer hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, it is our winter.
What latitude can the observer  see the Sun directly overhead? How did these latitudes get their names?
What latitude can the observer see the Sun directly overhead? How did these latitudes get their names?
Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North) Tropic of Capricorn 23.5° South) They got their names because these are the constellations above their head.

Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North)


Tropic of Capricorn 23.5° South)


They got their names because these are the constellations above their head.
What are polar nights and polar days? Within what latitudes do these occur?
What are polar nights and polar days? Within what latitudes do these occur?
Polar nights and polar days when the night or day lasts over 24 hours. These happen only within polar circles.
Polar nights and polar days when the night or day lasts over 24 hours. These happen only within polar circles.
Where is the Zenith? What is its altitude? What is the altitude of the horizon? What altitude is a star halfway up the sky?
Where is the Zenith? What is its altitude? What is the altitude of the horizon? What altitude is a star halfway up the sky?
Zenith: Directly overhead (90°) Horizon: Directly in front (0°) A star would be 45° if it were halfway up the sky.

Zenith: Directly overhead (90°)


Horizon: Directly in front (0°)


A star would be 45° if it were halfway up the sky.
Does a star's altitude and azimuth depend on the observer's location? How about the right ascension and declension?

Does a star's altitude and azimuth depend on the observer's location? How about the right ascension and declension?
Azimuth and Altitude: Operate on a local degree system so yes, they change. Ascension and Declination: Taken from the vernal equinox, a fixed point, so they don't.

Azimuth and Altitude: Operate on a local degree system so yes, they change.


Ascension and Declination: Taken from the vernal equinox, a fixed point, so they don't.
Where does right ascension and declination originate from?
Where does right ascension and declination originate from?
The vernal equinox.
The vernal equinox.
Where are we on Earth if we see the Northern constellations rotating around our zenith? What is the name of the point and what happens if we walk south? Where is this point seen when we are at the equator?
Where are we on Earth if we see the Northern constellations rotating around our zenith? What is the name of the point and what happens if we walk south? Where is this point seen when we are at the equator?
Northern constellations rotate around Polaris. If we walk south, Polaris gets lower in the sky. If we move south of the equator is disappears below the horizon.
Northern constellations rotate around Polaris. If we walk south, Polaris gets lower in the sky. If we move south of the equator is disappears below the horizon.
If an observer sees Polaris at an altitude of 60°, what is the observer's latitude?
If an observer sees Polaris at an altitude of 60°, what is the observer's latitude?
60°. Altitude and latitude are always the same.
60°. Altitude and latitude are always the same.
What celestial object did the Polynesians use as the basis of their calendar? What does this object consist of? How did the Polynesians use this object to identify the 1st and 2nd half of their calendar year? How was this used to determine when to...
What celestial object did the Polynesians use as the basis of their calendar? What does this object consist of? How did the Polynesians use this object to identify the 1st and 2nd half of their calendar year? How was this used to determine when to plant?
They used the Pleiades, which is a cluster of stars. In December, they rise just as the sun sets and in June, they are first visible in the morning sky. When they were less bright, drought was expected.
They used the Pleiades, which is a cluster of stars. In December, they rise just as the sun sets and in June, they are first visible in the morning sky. When they were less bright, drought was expected.
What did the Polynesian navigators memorize in order to steer their canoes while at sea?
What did the Polynesian navigators memorize in order to steer their canoes while at sea?
The azimuths of the rising and setting positions of bright stars.
The azimuths of the rising and setting positions of bright stars.
What does the 'obliquity of the ecliptic' refer to? What is it's current value? By approximately how many degrees does it change throughout the course of its cycle and how many years is that cycle?

It is the angle of the plane between the Earth's orbit and the Earth's equator (basically the "tilt).


Current Value: approx. 23.4°


Varies: 2.5° (between 24.5° and 22°)


Cycle Length: 40,000
Which solar event is expected to have been viewed from outside the circle of Stonehenge?
Which solar event is expected to have been viewed from outside the circle of Stonehenge?
You could see the sunset on the winter solstice through the stones. You would have to be facing SW to see it.
You could see the sunset on the winter solstice through the stones. You would have to be facing SW to see it.
How many steps are there in the Mayan pyramid of Kukulcan? What does this number represent? What is the base of the pyramid aligned to and what happens to this pyramid on the equinoxes?
How many steps are there in the Mayan pyramid of Kukulcan? What does this number represent? What is the base of the pyramid aligned to and what happens to this pyramid on the equinoxes?
There are 365 steps which correlates to the amount of days in the year. A massive "shadow serpent" appears to cascade down the temple on the equinoxes.
There are 365 steps which correlates to the amount of days in the year. A massive "shadow serpent" appears to cascade down the temple on the equinoxes.
How do we know the Thrirteen Towers of Chankillo were used to observe both sunrise and sunset?
How do we know the Thrirteen Towers of Chankillo were used to observe both sunrise and sunset?
There are observing stations on both sides of the hill.
There are observing stations on both sides of the hill.
What is a 'gnomon'? In the 8th century, when gnomons were used to determine the range of latitudes spanned by the Chinese kingdom, what exactly was measured at each gnomon? How would this measurement differ near the equator compared to higher lati...
What is a 'gnomon'? In the 8th century, when gnomons were used to determine the range of latitudes spanned by the Chinese kingdom, what exactly was measured at each gnomon? How would this measurement differ near the equator compared to higher latitudes?
It is the point on a sundial. They used it much the same way as the shadow at different latitudes could calculate the differences in the latitude across the empire to determine a round earth.
It is the point on a sundial. They used it much the same way as the shadow at different latitudes could calculate the differences in the latitude across the empire to determine a round earth.