Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence

CCC442: Astronomy for amateurs

Spring 2023
Assignment 1
Total Marks: 30
1. What is the latitude of your home city? Using the Stellarium app or any other resource find at
least two north circumpolar stars and two south circumpolar stars at that latitude. 2+2
2. Identify and sketch four constellations that you can see this season. 4
3. Explain why in any given era the stars may be found at practically the same coordinates on the
celestial sphere, while the Sun, Moon, and planets change their locations regularly. 2
4. Where would you look for the North Star if you were at each of the following locations: 3
(a) North Pole?
(b) The equator?
(c) SNU?
5. Where you have to stand on Earth to have the Sun pass directly across your zenith at the time of
the 4
(a) vernal equinox?
(b) summer solstice?
(c) autumnal equinox?
(d) winter solstice?
6. For each of the following references used on a terrestrial globe, list the corresponding name on the
celestial sphere: 3

(a) Equator
(b) North Pole
(c) South Pole
(d) Latitude
(e) Longitude
(f) Greenwich

7. Match where you might be on Earth with the correct description of the stars: 5

(a) The stars seem to move along circles around (1) Antarctica (below 61◦ S).
sky parallel to your horizon. (2) Equator.
(b) The stars rise at right angles to the horizon in the (3) Kurukshetra, Haryana (29◦ 58’N).
east and set at right angles to the horizon in the west. (4) North Pole.
(c) Vega practically crosses your zenith. (5) Lisbon, Portugal (38◦ 44’N).
(d)Acrux is always above your horizon.
(e) Polaris appears about 30◦ above your horizon.

1
8. Define the solar day and the sidereal day. Explain why the solar day is 4 minutes longer that the
sidereal day. If the Earth rotated in the opposite sense (clockwise rather than counterclockwise),
how long would the solar day be? 2+2+1