PROJECT 1
Moon Observing
The purpose of this project is to observe the Moon over most of a lunar cycle. Your
observations can be taken at any time of day and from any location. The lab will require a
minute or two every day for three weeks, between August 30 and September 30. You can use
an internet source or Stellarium to predict when you should try to see the Moon because it is
not always above the horizon, or you can just try to pay attention to the sky in the morning,
afternoon, and night.
1) Visually record the position and phase of the Moon. You can do this by drawing the Moon
and obvious landmarks on the landscape (the image should include the horizon), or by taking a
picture with your phone. If the Sun is in the sky, also record the position of the Sun. (DON'T
take a photo of the Sun, or ever LOOK at it directly!) Make a note of the date and time.
Submit these images, indicating on each image the date, time, and phase (i.e. waxing gibbous,
new, first quarter, etc.). See the textbook for the moon phase terminology and more
explanations.
If it is too cloudy to see the Moon, make a note of this for the given time and date.
2a) For each image of the Moon, using the lunar phase, draw a diagram of the relative positions
of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. (Imagine a view from above the Solar System. Don’t try to draw
to scale. I show examples in class.) Label each diagram with the date, time, and phase (i.e.
waning gibbous, waxing crescent, etc.).
2b) On each diagram, using the times at which the Moon was observed, indicate your
approximate position on the Earth at the time of observation, relative to the terminator line
(i.e. the line between night and day).
3) Explain, with examples from your visual records, how the Moon's altitude above the
horizon relates to the time at which the observation was taken, and to the phase of the
Moon.
4) Make a table of observations of the form:
Date/Time | Phase | Moonrise time | Time of Maximum Altitude | Moonset
Time
Jan. 19/1:00am | 1st quarter | 1:00 pm | 7:30 pm | 2:15 am
Use Stellarium to find the time for moonrise, moonset, and maximum altitude every three days starting
August 30 for 15 days. What trend is there for the timing of these events? Is the moon getting closer or
farther away from the sun? How does the moon’s maximum altitude trend? You will learn how to use
Stellarium in the second lab, so you can leave this until later in September.
What to turn in:
Turn in the following by October 2, midnight:
1) Drawings/pictures of the observed moon
2) Diagrams of the relative positions of the Earth/sun/moon system
3) Table from the Stellarium exercise
4) Answers to the questions in the above list.