North Circumpolar Motion Of Stars Report Sample

Viewing location and group members:

The viewing location is in Denver, Colorado, which is 39.7618° N, 104.8811° W in the globe. The experiment started immediately when the sun had set. The essence of starting the experiment early enough was to get data enough for accurate calculations.

Purpose:

The physical experiments conducted by people through observing the sky are the major reasons for discovering the solar system and the ideology of the earth’s movement. When one looks at the sky at night notices that, objects in the sky moves in a certain direction. The only thing that perplexes the mind of people is to why the objects move? It is important to know the reason for the movements noticed in the sky. Conducting this experiment is one of the eye openers to understanding how the earth is moving. Rotation and revolution of the earth are the major scenarios that are helpful in explaining the phenomenon.
The major purpose of the experiment is to have a proper understanding of the motions of the stars that are near to the North Celestial Pole.

Procedure:

The experiment was conducted immediately on the set of the sun on a clear day. The point of reference is the Polaris which or the Pole Star. The Polaris does not appear to move like other stars the factor that made it the main point of directing sailors. The experiment needed three observations that were in the span of 90 minutes. After every 90 minutes, the observer made a sketch that was showing the position of the stars. The place for viewing the northern horizon was plain, and there were no obstructions. The observer used the Polaris as the reference point and ensured the Polaris was perpendicular to the horizon. Every observation made was recorded on the data collection sheet.

Data and Calculation:

The angle differentiating two celestial bodies is called the imaginary line. The experiment focused on the Big Dipper the angle between the stars in the dipper was measured in degrees.

Time The degrees

90

180

270
The first 90 minutes
The stars were at 150
Conclusion and Analysis:
The motion of the stars in the universe can be easily measured at the night time. The motion in the space gives room for studying the dynamic in which stars form arrangements in the sky and forming groups that change over centuries. The movement of the pattern takes a long time because the stars movement is very slow and follows a pattern. In measuring the angles in the sky, the astronomers use mathematical equipments such as protractors that are attached to the telescope to ensure accurate pointing. It is easy for an individual to use the available equipments to make the measurements. Some people use their hands in different ways; first the fist of the arm will be equivalent to 10 degrees, and the little finger’s width is equivalent to 1 degree. The angels by the hand do not depend on the size of the hand although most people have different hand sizes. The sketch given in the experiment shows the observation that is clear and valid. It is very crucial to notice that the zenith angle is always at the 90°. The experiment took time to complete because of the observers enthusiasm to get proper results.