Celestial Motion and Star Patterns

This lecture covers the motion of celestial bodies, focusing on how stars and the sun appear to move in the sky. It explains the concept of the celestial sphere and horizon diagrams, using the Big Dipper and Orion as examples. The lecture also discusses circumpolar stars, the visibility of the Southern Cross, and how star trails can be captured in photographs. Additionally, it touches on the sun's motion relative to zodiac constellations, emphasizing the Earth's rotation and orbit.

What is the celestial sphere?

• A physical sphere surrounding the Earth

• A constellation in the northern sky

• A tool used to measure star brightness

• An imaginary sphere representing the sky

Why are the stars of the Big Dipper always visible in the northern hemisphere?

• They are located at the equator

• They are very bright

• They are circumpolar

• They are part of the zodiac

In which direction do the stars of Orion rise in the northern hemisphere?

• North

• West

• South

• East

What is the significance of the Southern Cross in the southern hemisphere?

• It marks the South Celestial Pole

• It is a circumpolar constellation

• It is visible from the equator

• It is part of the zodiac

How do stars appear to move in the northern hemisphere when facing north?

• Clockwise around the North Star

• Counterclockwise around the North Star

• In a straight line

• Randomly

What causes star trails in long-exposure photographs?

• The Earth's rotation

• The stars moving rapidly

• The camera moving

• The stars' brightness

How does the sun's motion compare to the stars over a single day?

• The sun moves faster than the stars

• The sun moves slower than the stars

• The sun does not move

• The sun and stars move together

What is the path of the sun in the sky over the course of a year?

• It moves through the zodiac constellations

• It stays in the same constellation

• It follows the moon's path

• It moves randomly

What direction are you facing if star trails angle up and to the right in the northern hemisphere?

• East

• North

• West

• South

What is the relationship between the sun and the stars in terms of daily motion?

• The sun and stars move together at the same speed

• The sun moves in the opposite direction to the stars

• The sun moves independently of the stars

• The sun and stars move at different speeds