• Study Guides
  • Homework Questions

Astronomy Homework 2 (2)

2.1 The Sky Above

The direct evidence of our senses supports a geocentric perspective, with the celestial sphere pivoting on the celestial poles and rotating about a stationary Earth. We see only half of this sphere at one time, limited by the horizon; the point directly overhead is our zenith. The Sun’s annual path on the celestial sphere is the ecliptic—a line that runs through the center of the zodiac, which is the 18-degree-wide strip of the sky within which we always find the Moon and planets. The celestial sphere is organized into 88 constellations, or sectors.

2.2 Ancient Astronomy

Ancient Greeks such as Aristotle recognized that Earth and the Moon are spheres, and understood the phases of the Moon, but because of their inability to detect stellar parallax, they rejected the idea that Earth moves. Eratosthenes measured the size of Earth with surprising precision. Hipparchus carried out many astronomical observations, making a star catalog, defining the system of stellar magnitudes, and discovering precession from the apparent shift in the position of the north celestial pole. Ptolemy of Alexandria summarized classic astronomy in his Almagest ; he explained planetary motions, including retrograde motion, with remarkably good accuracy using a model centered on Earth. This geocentric model, based on combinations of uniform circular motion using epicycles, was accepted as authority for more than a thousand years.

2.3 Astrology and Astronomy

The ancient religion of astrology, with its main contribution to civilization a heightened interest in the heavens, began in Babylonia. It reached its peak in the Greco-Roman world, especially as recorded in the Tetrabiblos of Ptolemy. Natal astrology is based on the assumption that the positions of the planets at the time of our birth, as described by a horoscope, determine our future. However, modern tests clearly show that there is no evidence for this, even in a broad statistical sense, and there is no verifiable theory to explain what might cause such an astrological influence.

2.4 The Birth of Modern Astronomy

Nicolaus Copernicus introduced the heliocentric cosmology to Renaissance Europe in his book De Revolutionibus . Although he retained the Aristotelian idea of uniform circular motion, Copernicus suggested that Earth is a planet and that the planets all circle about the Sun, dethroning Earth from its position at the center of the universe. Galileo was the father of both modern experimental physics and telescopic astronomy. He studied the acceleration of moving objects and, in 1610, began telescopic observations, discovering the nature of the Milky Way, the large-scale features of the Moon, the phases of Venus, and four moons of Jupiter. Although he was accused of heresy for his support of heliocentric cosmology, Galileo is credited with observations and brilliant writings that convinced most of his scientific contemporaries of the reality of the Copernican theory.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/astronomy/pages/1-introduction
  • Authors: Andrew Fraknoi, David Morrison, Sidney C. Wolff
  • Publisher/website: OpenStax
  • Book title: Astronomy
  • Publication date: Oct 13, 2016
  • Location: Houston, Texas
  • Book URL: https://openstax.org/books/astronomy/pages/1-introduction
  • Section URL: https://openstax.org/books/astronomy/pages/2-summary

© Jan 28, 2022 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.

IMAGES

  1. Astronomy chapter 2 notes

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

  2. OpenStax Astronomy

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

  3. Astronomy-Chapter 2 notes.pdf

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

  4. HOMEWORK #2

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

  5. Astronomy chapter 2

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

  6. OpenStax Homework Chapter 2.pdf

    astronomy chapter 2 homework

VIDEO

  1. ACCT 2301 Chapter 2 Homework #7

  2. 2nd Secondary

  3. 2nd Secondary

  4. 2nd Secondary

  5. Geology Unit 2

  6. 3rd Secondary

COMMENTS

  1. Astronomy chapter 2 homework Flashcards

    Astronomy chapter 2 homework. Get a hint. Two stars that are in the same constellation: 1. must both be part of the same cluster of stars in space. 2. must both have been discovered at about the same time. 3. may actually be very far away from each other. Click the card to flip 👆. may actually be very far away from each other.

  2. Astronomy Chapter 2 Homework Flashcards

    Terms in this set (21) The place in a planet's orbit that is closest to the Sun is called. It was the Chinese who provided critical ancient data on supernova and comets. The principal culture that transferred Greek astronomical knowledge to Renaissance Europe was. The Ptolemaic model probably persisted for all these reasons EXCEPT.

  3. Ch. 1 Introduction

    1.1 The Nature of Astronomy. 1.2 The Nature of Science. 1.3 The Laws of Nature. 1.4 Numbers in Astronomy. 1.5 Consequences of Light Travel Time. 1.6 A Tour of the Universe. 1.7 The Universe on the Large Scale. 1.8 The Universe of the Very Small. 1.9 A Conclusion and a Beginning.

  4. Preface

    Chapter 1: Science and the Universe: A Brief Tour. Chapter 2: Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy. Chapter 3: Orbits and Gravity. Chapter 4: Earth, Moon, and Sky. Chapter 5: Radiation and Spectra. Chapter 6: Astronomical Instruments. Chapter 7: Other Worlds: An Introduction to the Solar System.

  5. Ch. 2 Review Questions

    2. Give four ways to demonstrate that Earth is spherical. 3. Explain, according to both geocentric and heliocentric cosmologies, why we see retrograde motion of the planets. 4. In what ways did the work of Copernicus and Galileo differ from the views of the ancient Greeks and of their contemporaries? 5. What were four of Galileo's discoveries ...

  6. Homework Chapter 2 (Discovering the Universe for Yourself)

    Homework for AST 1002 chapter 2 (Discovering the Universe for Yourself) find the diameter. the sun has an angular diameter of about and an average distance from. Skip to document. ... Homework Chapter 3 (The Science of Astronomy) Preview text English (US) United States ...

  7. OpenStax Astronomy

    View OpenStax Astronomy - Chapter 2 HW.docx from AA 1OpenStax Astronomy Chapter 2 Homework Ch 2, Q1: From where on Earth could you observe all of the stars during the course of the year?

  8. Astronomy Chapter 2 DISCOVERING THE UNIVERSE FOR YOURSELF

    The Moon's orbit is tilted at 5 degrees to the ecliptic plane So we have about 2 eclipse seasons each year, with a lunar eclipse at full moon and solar eclipse at new moon. Most months, no eclipses happen. CHAPTER 2 STUDY GUIDE: 88 constellations have no real physical significance (just used to divide up the sky)

  9. Astronomy HW 2

    Chapter 2's homework from the book. astronomy homework page 61 4800 car hours angle 10 parsecs in light years: 10 3.26 32.6 light years 1km pc km pc

  10. OpenStax Astronomy Homework Chapter 2.pdf

    View OpenStax Astronomy Homework Chapter 2.pdf from ASTR MISC at San Diego State University. OpenStax Astronomy Chapter 2 Homework Ch 2, Q1: From where on Earth could you observe all of the stars

  11. Chapter 2 Solutions

    Chapter. CH2. Problem. 1E. From where on Earth could you observe all of the stars during the course of a year? What fraction of the sky can be seen from the North Pole. Step-by-step solution. Step 1 of 3. When earth rotates, the part of sky one observes changes (except if you are on the poles), because on poles our sky will appear to rotate ...

  12. Solved: Chapter 2 Problem 11A Solution

    Access Learning Astronomy by Doing Astronomy 0th Edition Chapter 2 Problem 11A solution now. Our solutions are written by Chegg experts so you can be assured of the highest quality!

  13. Key Points

    Related documents. Homework 2 - 2018 - qwqwd; Key Points - Chapter 12; Keplers Laws Lab Worksheet Astronomy; Planetary Astronomy assignments; Midterm study guide - chpt 1-10

  14. Free Astronomy Book for Download

    Designed to meet the scope and sequence of your course, Astronomy 2e is written in clear non-technical language, with the occasional touch of humor and a wide range of clarifying illustrations. It has many analogies drawn from everyday life to help non-science majors appreciate, on their own terms, what our modern exploration of the universe is ...

  15. Astronomy Homework 2 (2) (pdf)

    Page 1 of 2. Uploaded by CaptainFlagRedPanda14 on coursehero.com. Physics document from San Francisco State University, 2 pages, ASTR 115-02 Dr. McArthy Homework Assignment 2 Questions 1. Chapter 1 Imagine that you and your friend were looking at a crescent moon, just after sunset, and your friend asks "Why does the Moon look like this now?"

  16. Ch. 2 Summary

    2.3 Astrology and Astronomy. The ancient religion of astrology, with its main contribution to civilization a heightened interest in the heavens, began in Babylonia. It reached its peak in the Greco-Roman world, especially as recorded in the Tetrabiblos of Ptolemy. Natal astrology is based on the assumption that the positions of the planets at ...

  17. Astronomy chapter 2 homework (pdf)

    Astronomy document from College of the Desert, 5 pages, Question 1 1 / 1 pts What does retrograde mean?Correct! ... Astronomy chapter 2 homework.pdf. School. College of the Desert * *We aren't endorsed by this school. Course. A 002. Subject. Astronomy. Date. Apr 26, 2023. Pages. 5. Uploaded by ChefVulture1949 on coursehero.com. Helpful ...

  18. Chapter 2 homework

    Book questions and answers for chapter 2. Astronomy class. Course. Astronomy (Phys 1060) 4 Documents. Students shared 4 documents in this course. University Snow College. Info More info. Academic year: 2020/2021. ... Chapter 2 homework: 2. Earth's shadow during an eclipse of the moon is always round.