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Physics Tutorial 22.8 - Orientation in the Sky and Constellations

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There are 8 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Orientation in the Sky and Constellations. The tutorial starts with an introduction to Orientation in the Sky and Constellations and is then followed with a list of the separate lessons, the tutorial is designed to be read in order but you can skip to a specific lesson or return to recover a specific physics lesson as required to build your physics knowledge of Orientation in the Sky and Constellations. you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

In this Physics tutorial, you will learn:

  • What is celestial sphere?
  • What is the configuration of celestial sphere?
  • What are equatorial coordinates? How to calculate them?
  • What is horizon?
  • What are horizontal coordinates? How to calculate them?
  • What are vernal points? When do they occur?
  • What are constellations? Which are the most visible constellations in the sky?
  • Where do constellations differ from galaxies?
  • What are the Zodiac constellations? Do they have any connection to the fate of people?

Introduction

Do you know how to find the north direction during the night? Can you find the other directions if you know the direction of north?

Do we always see the same celestial bodies at the same position in the sky?

Do we always see the same celestial bodies at the same position in the sky in different periods of year?

How do we take the position of Earth when observing the sky? Does it make any difference if you take another celestial body as a frame of reference? Why?

Like all the other phenomena, the study of the sky requires some reference points as orientation. Recall that all planets of the solar system including Earth revolve around the Sun in elliptic orbits. Stars and planets rotate around their own axis as well. An observer on Earth (if taking Earth as fixed reference system) considers the Sun, Moon and stars as revolving in periodic orbits around it, in very regular periods. This approach puts us in the the same position as our ancestors who believed that the Earth is stationary and all celestial bodies revolve around it. Although we now know that this is not true, this approach is very comfortable in our goal of gaining acquaintance with the sky and all "actors" participating in the nighlty show it offers to our sight.

Please select a specific "Orientation in the Sky and Constellations" lesson from the table below, review the video tutorial, print the revision notes or use the practice question to improve your knowledge of this physics topic.

Cosmology Learning Material
Tutorial IDPhysics Tutorial TitleTutorialVideo
Tutorial
Revision
Notes
Revision
Questions
22.8Orientation in the Sky and Constellations
Lesson IDPhysics Lesson TitleLessonVideo
Lesson
22.8.1Orientation in the Sky
22.8.2Equatorial Coordinates
22.8.3Horizontal Coordinates
22.8.4Ecliptics
22.8.5The Brightest Stars and Constellations
22.8.6Observation of the Sky
22.8.7Spring Constellations
22.8.8Zodiac Constellations. The Non-Veracity of Horoscope

Whats next?

Enjoy the "Orientation in the Sky and Constellations" physics tutorial? People who liked the "Orientation in the Sky and Constellations" tutorial found the following resources useful:

  1. Physics tutorial Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this tutorial (see below)
  2. Cosmology Revision Notes: Orientation in the Sky and Constellations. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Orientation in the Sky and Constellations
  3. Cosmology Practice Questions: Orientation in the Sky and Constellations. Test and improve your knowledge of Orientation in the Sky and Constellations with example questins and answers
  4. Check your calculations for Cosmology questions with our excellent Cosmology calculators which contain full equations and calculations clearly displayed line by line. See the Cosmology Calculators by iCalculator™ below.
  5. Continuing learning cosmology - read our next physics tutorial: Expansion of the Universe

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