Pedagogical Objectives - The Rotating Sky

Horizon Coordinate System

Student will be able to visualize the formation of the horizon system as a tangent plane to the observer's location on earth and understand that the observer sees half the celestial sphere.
Student will understand the definition, notation, and ranges of altitude and azimuth and identify the coordinate of an object on a finite projection of the sky.
Student will be able to define, identify and name horizon coordinate features – zenith, nadir, horizon, cardinal points, vertical circle.
Student will be able to specify the altitude of the north or south pole for a given latitude and the angle of intersection of the celestial equator with the horizon.

Student will understand that all celestial objects rotate in parallel circles defined by the rotational axis of the earth and apply this understanding in terms of “star trails”
Student will be able to identify approximate latitude or orientation of observer given a picture of star trails and orientation or approximate latitude of the observer.
Student will be able to give the declination ranges for rise and set, circumpolar, and never-rise stars for a given latitude.
Student will understand that the sun, moon, and planets lie in a plane near the ecliptic and how that effects where those objects will be visible in the sky.