The Celestial Sphere
[ 42 minutes: low-resolution 4.9 MB, high resolution 19.6 MB ]

Time Stamp   HTML Slide
[00:00]   Mechanics of the Solar System
[01:14]Seasons. I
[01:35]Seasons. II
[01:40]Seasons. III
[02:18]The Celestial Sphere
[02:58]Finding a Star in the Sky. I
[04:18]Finding a Star in the Sky. II
[04:43]Finding a Star in the Sky. III
[05:15]How Far Away are the Stars? I
[07:02]How Far Away are the Stars? II
[09:22]The North Pole. I
[09:50]Polaris, Ursa Minor
[10:25]The North Pole. II
[12:08]The North Pole. III
[12:18]Time-Lapse Photography of the Northern Sky
[12:27]The South Pole. I
[13:11]The South Pole. II
[16:02]The Equator. I
[18:41]The Equator. II
[21:50]The Zodiac
[24:27]Celestial Navigation
[24:26]Month to Month
[26:38]Orion
[27:32]Las Cruces Sky
[29:10]Self-Review
[29:30]Understanding the Celestial Sphere
[34:15]Glorious Sunsets

Learning Objectives

  1. Visualize the effect that the following factors have on the stars as observed from Earth

    1. The 24-hour rotational cycle of the Earth on its own axis

    2. The 23 degree tilt of the Earth's rotational axis toward, and away from, the Sun

    3. The yearly rotation of the Earth around the Sun

  2. Predict the appearance of the sky as viewed from the poles, the equator, or an intermediate position on Earth, over a night, a month, or a year.

  3. Understand why the Sun seems to change color between sunrise, noon, and sunset.


Copyright © 2006–2013 Nicole P. Vogt. All rights reserved.