Planetspotting : Findtheecliptic
Learning objectives – Useacompas – Practisepatienceandstickability – Practise�ndingtheecliptic – Locateplanetsinthenightsky
O1-2 hours Minimal adult involvement Difficulty : VVVVV
Yourmission
Findtheecliptic ! TheeclipticistheimaginarylinethatappearstomarktheSun ’ sannualpathacrosourskies . It ’ stheline thatlunarandsolareclipseshappenon – that ’ swhyitiscaledtheecliptic . Whenitisdark , theplanetsalsoappeartotravel along ( orverycloseto ) thispath . Theeclipticwilseem tobeindifferentplacesintheskydependingonwhereyouareinthe worldandwhattimeofyearitis . Whichplanetsyoucansee , andhowbrighttheyare , wilalsovarydependingonthetimeof yearandyourpositiononEarth . Everyone , nomaterwheretheyare , shouldgetthechancetoobserveal�veofournearest andbrightestplanets
, Mercury , Venus , Mars , JupiterandSaturn , withthenakedeye , foratleastoneperiodeachyear . Watchingtheskiesandobservingandidentifyingplanetsmakesyouanastronomer !
Getstarted
Phase 1 :
Findaspaceoutdoorswithagoodview . Itwilhelpifyou ’ reawayfrom talbuildings , trees andanybrightlights . Ifyou ’ reinyourgarden , turnthelightsoffinyourhouse .
Phase 2 :
Alowatleast15minutesforyoureyestoadjusttothedarkness , untilyouareabletosee dimmerobjectsinthenightsky .
Phase 3 :
Useyourcompasto�ndsouth . Markthedirectiononthegroundwithsomechalkorsome sticksindaylightifit ’ seasier . Facethatway . Eastisnowtoyourleftandwestistoyourright .
You will need – Youreyes – Anopenspace – Askymap – tryStelarium ona laptopormobiledevice – Compas – Chalk ( optional
) – Sticks ( optional ) – Binoculars ( optional ) – Telescopeandtripod ( optional )
Phase 4 :
Usingyourskymap , lookforthenamesoftheplanetsinoursolarsystem . Lookforthe planetsnearesttoEarth . Mercury , Venus , Mars , JupiterandSaturncanalbeseenwiththe nakedeye . However , theywon ’ tnecesarilyalbevisibleatthesametime ( seepage2 ). The skymapwilhelpyoulocatetheplanets ’ positionsontheecliptic – forexampleyoumight needtolooktowardsthesouth-east , highinthesouth , orlowinthewesternsky .
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