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For the Answers to the Packet Lessons 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 click the HOMEWORK link above.
Objects in the Solar System
What is a Solar System? The star at the center of our Solar System has a name, and no it's not the "Sun." It's name is actually "Sol." Everything in our Solar System revolves (travels around) Sol, so we call Sol and everything that goes around it the Solar System.
Measuring the sky
You’re one minute away from knowing an essential skill to finding your way around the sky.
The Basics
• Astronomers measure the apparent distance between objects in in the sky in a unit called "degrees." There are 360 degrees in a circle. And the apparent distance (or "angular separation") of any point on the horizon and the point directly overhead (the zenith) is 90 degrees. Halfway from the zenith to the horizon is 45 degrees. So far, so good.
• Smaller angles are a little trickier. But your hands and fingers are a remarkably accurate (and convenient) measuring tool. When you hold your hand at arm’s length, you can estimate angles like this:
- Stretch your thumb and little finger as far from each other as you can. The span from tip to tip is about 25 degrees
- Do the same with your index finger and little finger. The span is 15 degrees
- Clench your fist at arms length, and hold it with the back of your hand facing you. The width is 10 degrees
- Hold your three middle fingers together; they span about 5 degrees
- The width of your little finger at arms length is 1 degree.
The Basics
• Astronomers measure the apparent distance between objects in in the sky in a unit called "degrees." There are 360 degrees in a circle. And the apparent distance (or "angular separation") of any point on the horizon and the point directly overhead (the zenith) is 90 degrees. Halfway from the zenith to the horizon is 45 degrees. So far, so good.
• Smaller angles are a little trickier. But your hands and fingers are a remarkably accurate (and convenient) measuring tool. When you hold your hand at arm’s length, you can estimate angles like this:
- Stretch your thumb and little finger as far from each other as you can. The span from tip to tip is about 25 degrees
- Do the same with your index finger and little finger. The span is 15 degrees
- Clench your fist at arms length, and hold it with the back of your hand facing you. The width is 10 degrees
- Hold your three middle fingers together; they span about 5 degrees
- The width of your little finger at arms length is 1 degree.