Name: _______________________________
Preliminary Observation
Due: Friday of Week 4
For the preliminary observation you will either find ONE constellation or make up your own
asterism and make three sets of altitude/azimuth measurements. Make sure that the
measurements are each at least 1 hour apart.
1. Describe your observing location.
2. Sketch of your constellation/asterism and its name.
3. Altitude and azimuth measurements for the alpha star of your constellation or asterism.
Time of Observation Altitude Azimuth
4. Answer the following questions:
a) Just from looking at the sky, could you tell that the constellation/asterism had moved
during the two hours of your observation? Explain.
b) At the first observation, was your constellation before or after transit? Explain how
you know.
c) How did the altitude change from the first to the second observation? Is this what you
would expect based on your answer to question b? Explain.
d) At the second observation, was your constellation before or after transit? Explain
how you know.
e) How did the altitude change from the second to the third observation? Is this what
you would expect based on your answer to question d? Explain.
