Phy 121 The Solar System - Portland Community College

Phy 121 The Solar System name Portland Community College

Analyze and report on the activities performed during the Stellarium-based observation and exploration of the night sky, including familiarization with celestial objects, constellation identification, exoplanet and deep-sky object observation, time progression effects, and celestial object identification. Examine the advantages of night sky mode and compare constellations as observed from Earth and Mars, discussing the implications of distance and perspective.

Paper For Above instruction

In this report, I detail my exploration of the night sky using Stellarium, as part of the introductory lab activity designed to familiarize students with celestial phenomena and observational tools. The experience enriched my understanding of the sky's structure, celestial objects, and the influence of perspective on constellations.

Introduction

Stellarium is a planetarium software that provides an immersive simulation of the night sky from any location and time on Earth. The purpose of this activity was to learn to navigate the sky, identify constellations, stars, exoplanets, deep-sky objects, and understand how celestial objects' positions change with time. Accurate setting of location, date, and time was essential for authentic representation. By simulating the night sky in Portland, Oregon, I engaged with various aspects of celestial observation that serve as foundational knowledge for astronomy.

Exploration of the Sky and Identification of Features

Interface Analysis

Upon opening Stellarium and setting my location to Portland, Oregon, and the date and time to 10:30 pm, I observed the interface's controls. The vertical button bars on the lower left featured essential functions such as ground concealment and sky display options, including constellation lines and names. The bottom horizontal bar contained controls for adjusting time, toggling grid lines, constellations, and other features.

The vertical buttons (Figure 1) included (a) a ground toggle button and (b) a constellation view option. The functions of the vertical buttons allowed me to manipulate the horizon and the visibility of terrestrial features, aiding in better sky comprehension. The bottom bar contained buttons for adjusting time, enabling or disabling constellation lines, labels, and other display preferences.

Constellation and Star Observation

Disabling the time flow, I turned on constellation lines and names to aid identification. I then observed the sky from different horizons:

• Western horizon: I identified the constellation Scorpio with the bright star Antares.
• Eastern horizon: The constellation Orion with stars Betelgeuse and Rigel was prominent.
• Southern horizon: The constellation Crux, or the Southern Cross, was visible.
• Northern horizon: The constellation Ursa Major was observable, with the Big Dipper a notable feature.
• Overhead: Cygnus, the Swan constellation, was nearly overhead, with its bright star Deneb.

These identifications demonstrate how celestial features shift with the observer's orientation on Earth, aligning with Earth's rotation.

Exoplanets Exploration

Enabling exoplanet visualization, I selected three exoplanets, such as Kepler-22b, HD 209458 b, and Gliese 667 Cc. Some, like Gliese 667 Cc, were below the horizon and my ground view was adjusted using the ground hide feature to see them. Table 1 summarizes the exoplanets' data based on Stellarium's displays:

Star Analysis

Stars Betelgeuse, Arcturus, and Polaris were examined:

Deep-Sky Object Observation

I searched for and identified three deep-sky objects:

Time Progression and Night Sky Mode

Advancing time in intervals shifted the positions of stars and planets across the sky, illustrating Earth's rotation. The stars appeared to move from east to west, and constellations changed positions relative to the horizon, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the night sky. Night sky mode's advantage lies in reducing light pollution effects, enhancing visibility of faint objects, and preserving night vision essential for astronomical observation.

Object Selection and Detailed Viewing

Using the '/' and '\' keys, I navigated to different objects within the sky. The '/' key is used to zoom into objects, bringing them into detailed view, while the '\' key allows zooming out or returning to a broader sky view. For example, I zoomed into the Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula, and Saturn, observing structural details and host constellation markers. These controls are essential for detailed study and instrument planning.

Additional Celestial Objects and Viewing

I identified three more objects: the asteroid 4 Vesta, the comet Hale-Bopp, and the International Space Station (ISS). Zooming in on these objects provided detailed images: Vesta's surface features, Hale-Bopp's coma and tail, and the ISS's structure. Their distances ranged from a few hundred million kilometers for Vesta and Hale-Bopp to approximately 400 km for the ISS.

Perspective from Mars

The apparent constellations from Mars would differ primarily due to the change in viewing angle and the planet's different position relative to the stars. While many constellations would be similar, their orientation and the visibility of certain features might change, especially for features near the ecliptic plane. Betelgeuse, located approximately 429 light-years away, would appear essentially unchanged because the light travel time is so long that the observer's perspective on its position isn’t significantly affected by the Earth's or Mars's relative position at any given moment. Therefore, unless considering very wide-field differences or looking at the local sky from different vantage points, the constellations would generally remain consistent to celestial observers regardless of planet position, within the constraints of the celestial sphere concept.

Conclusion

My experience with Stellarium provided comprehensive insights into celestial observation, demonstrating the dynamic nature of the night sky and the importance of tools for astronomy education. Comparing views from Earth and Mars highlighted how perspective influences celestial observation, emphasizing the three-dimensional structure of the universe. Such explorations lay foundational understanding essential for further astronomical studies and space exploration planning.

References

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