1. Goal: To understand the very basics of Astronomy. Objectives: 1)To understand how the night sky is set up 2)To be familiar with some useful Astronomy terms.

2. Celestial Sphere Imagine all of the stars and objects in the sky were painted on a single canvas Each star/galaxy/ect has a specific spot on the celestial sphere

4. Basic Sky Terms http://www.whfreeman.com/dtu5e/con_index.htm ?01http://www.whfreeman.com/dtu5e/con_index.htm ?01 Celestial Sphere – if all night sky objects where on a hollowed sphere, this sphere is the Celestial Sphere. Celestial N. and S. Poles, and Equator – expansions of the Poles and Equator of the earth. On Celestial Sphere – position of Stars are constant! The sun, moon, and planets all move along this sphere.

5. Basic Sky Terms continued Angel of Declination – think of this as the object’s Latitude on the Celestial Sphere. Angle of Right Ascension – think of this as the object’s Longitude on the Celestial Sphere. Ecliptic Plane – the plane which the sun and the planets trace as they move across the Celestial Sphere.

8. Useful Astronomy Terms (distance) AU or Astronomical Unit = 93 million miles (distance from the earth to the sun). 1 meter = 3.3 feet 1 km = 1000 m = 0.6 miles 1 cm = 0.01 m = 0.4 inches

9. More Useful Astronomy Terms 1 kg = 1000 grams = 2.205 lbs on surface of the earth 1 degree K (Kelvin) = 1 degree C = 1.8 degrees F = a unit of temperature 32 F = 0 C = 273 K (freezing pt of water) 0 K = absolute zero. Speed of Light= 3 * 10 8 m/s = 1 lightyear / year

10. Conclusion: We have examined the set up of the nighttime sky We have examined the most common Astronomy terms that will be used in this course.