Stellarium

Description

In this lesson, students explore the motions of the Moon throughout a single day, comparing these observations for locations in the northern and southern hemispheres.

Standards

  • NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas
    • ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars; Patterns of the apparent motion of the sun, the moon, and stars in the sky can be observed, described, predicted, and explained with models.
  • NGSS Performance Expectations
    • SMS-ESS1.1: Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
  • NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
    • Patterns: Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships.
  • NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
    • SAnalyzing and Interpreting Data
    • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Materials

  • Computer
  • Stellarium
  • a computer mouse makes the activity easier

Lesson Sequence

  1. Choose Lexington, KY as your location in Stellarium if it is not already there. Set the date to September 22, 2013. Set the time to 06:00. Find and zoom in on the Moon.
    • What does the moon look like?
    • Where is the Moon located in the sky?
  2. Change your location to Puerto Montt, Chile. Keep the date and time the same. Find and zoom in on the Moon.
    • What does the Moon look like?
    • Where is the Moon located in the sky?
  3. Change your location back to Lexington, KY. Change the time to 22:00, when the Moon should be have just risen. Use the search tool to find the Moon. Use the time tool to move through the day, increasing by an hour at a time. Continue until the Moon sets.
    • Describe the path of the Moon in the sky during one day.
    • Where is the sun in relation to the Moon during the day?
  4. Change your location to Puerto Montt, Chile once again. Change the time to 22:00, when the Moon should be about to rise. Use the search tool to find the Moon. Use the time tool to move through the day, increasing by an hour at a time. Continue until the Moon sets.
    • Describe the path of the Moon in the sky during one day.
    • Where is the Sun in relation to the Moon during the day?
  5. Change the location back to Lexington, KY. Choose your next birthday as the date.
    • When is your birthday? (Month/Day)
    • What does the Moon look like?
    • At what time does the Moon rise?
    • Where is the Moon in the sky when it is rising?
    • At what time does the Moon set?
    • Where is the Moon in the sky when it is setting?
    • Describe the path of the Moon in the sky during one day.
  6. Explore Stellarium on your own. See if you can find an interesting feature to share.