PHYSICS 115 ASTRONOMY-STARS AND GALAXIES Student Name: …………………………………………… Date: …..... Student ID: …………………………………………… Lab 2: Solar & Sidereal Day Introduction Some of our most basic knowledge of astronomy is based on observing the sun and its position in the sky. Unfortunately, some of things we "know" are not entirely correct! One common misconception is that the sun is directly overhead at noon. Whether or not the sun is straight overhead depends on where you are on the globe, what time of year it is, and what you mean by "noon." Similarly, we all know that one day is 24 hours long. Our entire calendar is based on this fact! However, the measurement of the rotation rate of any object must be done with respect to some reference point. When we measure the time it takes for the Earth to complete one full rotation, it turns out that it makes a difference whether we measure it with respect to the sun or with respect to a distant star. Objectives • • • • Clearly define the concept of solar noon Examine the position of the sun in the sky over the course of a year Compare the position of the sun at the same time in different global locations Observe the lengths of solar and sidereal days Procedure Launch the Stellarium program and set your location for right here in North Charleston SC. Make sure you are located at the correct place on the map before you continue. If it is not already, make this your de ...
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