Purpose:

A primary outcome for this class is for you to become more aware of astronomical patterns around you. Watching and noticing the patterns to moon makes is a great introduction to this practice. This lab is intended to help you understand the data you are being asked to take over the next 8 weeks so that we can discuss the implications of that data when we get to the appropriate part of the term.

In the beginning you may find it difficult to know when or where to look for the moon. Dr Google can help for sure as can the Skyview app. Skyview will allow you look all over the sky until find the moon (assuming you let it use location information while you're using the app). I will also be asking in most classes about who observed the moon in the previous days as well as when and where.

Procedure:

The starting point for any science endeavor is to gather the data (yeah, yeah -- I know. It's starts with a hypothesis and moves on from there!). As you begin gathering data you will look for emerging patterns to help guide your future data taking as the weeks progress. Here is the data that you will endeavor to collect at each observation.

• Because the moon moves across the sky in just hours it is important to first note both the date and the time that you are gathering your data. If you were to be talking to friends in other parts of the world you would also want to note where you are on the planet. Do you expect the moon to appear different to observers in other parts of the US? Is it day time or night time when you are observing the moon?

• Note where the moon is in the sky. This will require you to become clear about which way is N, S, E, and W in your neighborhood. You can certainly use google maps to help with this but each time you observe the moon note where it is relative to these cardinal directions. How high is it above the horizon (roughly in degrees)? Is it SE or SW or W or perhaps NW?

• One pattern that you probably expect to see are changes in the shape of the bright part of the moon. As you may know these are the phases of the moon. When you make your observations it will be important to make a reasoable sketch of the phase you observe. Be careful about which side is bright and which side is dark. Think of dividing the face of the moon into quarters and use those to guide your sketch. Don't worry about names for the phases.

• The next bit of data you will need is where the sun is at the time you made your observation. Sometimes you will actually be able to see the sun and sometimes you will need to infer the location of the sun. Sometimes the sun is exactly opposite the moon (when the moon is on the eastern horizon the sun is just setting in the west). Sometimes its a lot closer. Hold up your arms and point one arm at the moon and the other at the sun. What is the angle between your arms? We don't need tremendous precision in this measurement but you should be able distinguish 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and halfway in between those. Similarly you can continue the pattern out to 180 degrees. After the next lab you will have some additional tools to help with this. Be sure to note which side of the moon the sun is on. Is it to the left or right as you are looking at the moon. Watch and see if the sun is following the moon or leading the moon. Write this down.

• Noticing the pattern of mare (the dark areas on the face of the moon) is a lot more difficult especially when the moon is 'smaller'. Do your best to sketch where those shapes are on your moon. There is an important pattern this will allow us to discover.

• Some patterns are hard to notice if you only look at the moon 1x a week. For a least a few days go out at the same time of night or day and observe where the moon is relative to where it was the previous day at the same time. Is it closer or further from the sun? Is it higher in the sky or lower? You may find that doing this helps you know where to look for the moon a couple of days in the future or what time to look for it.

 

LAB DELIVERABLES: (Turn in on LMS)

I) In the next week go out and observe the moon 2x (on different days).

II) Present all of the different data described in this lab for each of the two observations in a clear and coherent form.

III) Describe any difficulties you had gathering the requested data. Do you need input from your lab instructor?

IV) You are asked to keep gathering this data at least 3x a week (weather permitting) until we need it to do the second Moon Lab where we seek to find the patterns in the data.