I observed Casiopeia #12 and on. 1. The name we give to stars and constellations
ID: 108601 • Letter: I
Question
I observed Casiopeia #12 and on.
1. The name we give to stars and constellations like those in #12 ("constellation(s) that would be above the horizon no matter what day or time we choose") is "circumpolar. Where on the celestial sphere must a star or constellation be in order to be circumpolar? How does this change based on the observer's location on the Earth? 2. There is no "South Star". Instead, the South Celestial Pole points at an "empty" part of the sky. However, the Southern Cross happens to point to the SCP, and is circumpolar for most of the Southern Hemisphere. If the Southern Cross looks like the sketch below at 6 a.m. in February, how does it appear a. at 6 p.m. in February b. at 6 a.m. in August? c. at 6 p.m. in August? Keep in mind that August is half a year after February... Please carefully describe verbally or sketch using the computer so that you can turn your answer in to the icollege with the rest of your lab report. Note that both this question and the next refer to what you observed for #s 12, 13, and 14 of the lab.Explanation / Answer
A circumpolar star is defined as the star which is lying above the horizon all over the year. It is visible all the time because observer's view is above horizon in the celestial sphere. Since these type of stars are lying close to the poles, they never change its position below the horizon irrespective of the position of the earth. i.e. it never goes below the horizon for an observer in northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere. observer in northern hemisphere: all the stars available above the horizon will be visible . observer at the equator: the circumpolar stars vanishes to a point and finally disappears. observer at the southern hemisphere: all the starts will be visible again which are circumpolar in the southern part which will be visible to the observer above the horizon.