Project Goal: To observe the phases of the Moon.
What You Need for This Project
To do this project you will have to be able to view the movie clip included with this project. All Macs come with a version of QuickTime and computers running Windows have a movie viewer called Media Player. The movie clip should play using either type of computer or player.
If your computer does not have QuickTime movie viewer installed you can download the Macintosh or Windows version from the internet by clicking on QuickTime. Also, an installable version of QuickTime is included on the StarryNight CD program disk.
Start the movie and watch as Sirius rises and sets. Drag the horizontal scroll box to the left to rewind to the first frame of the movie. Clicking once to the right of the scroll box will advance to the next time frame. Alternately, if you are using a QuickTime viewer, you can click the right arrow at the end of the scroll bar. Each click advances one time frame forward. The left arrow allows you to step backward in time.
What You Need to Know for This Project
In the upper left hand corner of the movie screen you will see the fixed time (12:45 A.M.),and changing date, altitude, azimuth, right ascension, and declination of the Moon. The time increment is one day.
The right ascension of the Sun on the date of the vernal equinox is 0 hours. In one month the Sun's right ascension increase about 2 hours.
For a discussion of relavent informat on llunar phases see Voyage 7
To begin your observations click Lunar PhasesTo continue your observations click Sunset Lunar Phases: New to Full.
Print or copy the Project Results Form on which to record you answers and hand it in to your instructor.
Results Form
Name____________________ Student Number__________ Class ______________
Date ____________________
Task 1: Observing the Moon's phases.
Record the date and corresponding phase, altitude, and azimuth of the Moon. begining March 20, 2000 A.D. and ending April 22, 2000.A.D.
Time of Observations 12:45 A.M.
Latitude_____________ Longitude________________
Date Lunar Phase Altitude Azimuth
March 20, 2000 ________Full____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
March 27, 2000_____Third Quarter________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
April 04, 2000_________New___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
April 12, 2000_____First Quarter_________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
April 19, 2000________Full_____________________________________________
Based on your observations:
1. The right ascension of the Sun on the date of the vernal equinox (about March 20) is zero hours. What was the right ascention of the full moon?________________
2. About how many days are there between
a. Full moon and the third quarter?____________days.
b. Third quarter and new?____________days.
c. New and the first quarter?____________days
d. First quarter and full?____________days.
e. One full moon and the nextl full moon?____________days.
3. Based on the Moon's altiude and azimuth, at about midnight (12:45 A.M.).
Circle the appropriate word.
a. The full moon is (high or low) in the sky and in the (souh or north).
b. The third quarter moon is (high or low) in the sky and in the (east or west).
c. The new moon is (above the horizon or below the horizon).
d. The first quarter moon is (high or low) in the sky and in the (east or west).
Task 2: Observe the phases of the Moon at sunset. Click Sunset Lunar Phases: New to Full.
Advance the movie frame by frame (one day at a time).
Record the date and corresponding phase, altitude, and azimuth of the Moon. begining March 27, 1998 A.D. and ending April 11, 1998.A.D.
Time of Observations 06:53 P.M. (sunset)
Latitude_____________ Longitude________________
Date Lunar Phase Altitude Azimuth
March 27, 1998_________New___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
April 03, 1998______First Quarter_________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
April 11, 1998_________Full_____________________________________________
Based on your observations:
1. The right ascension of the Sun on the date of the vernal equinox (about March 20) is zero hours. What was the right ascention of the new moon?________________
Circle the appropriate word.
2. The new moon sets about (sunet or sunrise).
3. The first quarter moon should rise about (midnighr or noon).
4. The full moon should rise about (sunset or sunrise).
5. Each day the moon sets (later or earlier) than the day before.
6. Each day the moon rises (later or earlier) than the day before.