Astrophysics

2. The resolution of telescopic observations (how much detail we can resolve in one image) is limited by the turbulence of the Earth’s atmosphere. Light from celestial objects is refracted and scattered as it passes through the atmosphere, blurring the images. In astronomy, this is referred to as “seeing”. The closer a celestial object is to the observer’s horizon, the worst the “seeing”. Ideally, we would like to image objects near the zenith.

a) If you needed to take high quality images of a star from the Gemini South Observatory in Cerro Pachon, Chile, which of the stars on Problem 1 table would you select? Why?

3. Draw a diagram like the one in problem one. Instead of placing a star at its highest altitude (crossing the Celestial Meridian), mark the region where the Sun can be seen throughout the year.

8. What is the phase of Venus at inferior conjunction and the phase of Mars at opposition? Draw the diagram showing the position of each planet relative to the Earth and the Sun.

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT

Sample-2