(Astronomy) UNIT 3 ACTIVITY
Movement of the Moon and Sun
Recall that for the Unit 2 activity you were instructed to track the movement of any celestial body using a method of your choice. For this activity, you can re-visit the method you chose in the Unit 2 activity or choose a new method to record the apparent movement of the sun and the moon during the day (and the moon at night). Here is how you'll measure the sun and moon:

Use a finger on your hand as a measuring device (For guidance, see A Handy Guide to Measuring the Sky or Measure the sky with your hands)
Build something out of wood or another material. Feel free to reference books, websites, or articles to gather some ideas as well. (For an example, see How to make a sky ruler for stargazing)

For each step below, remember that we are not concerned with how much actual distance the Sun or Moon traveled; we just want to keep track of how your object moved within the canvas of space that is visible to you. You may track the movement of the Sun and Moon in whichever way makes the most sense to you. Also, if there is a day or night when the Sun or Moon is obscured due to clouds, weather, or light pollution, simply skip that day or night and track the movement the next day or night. Your three days of observation do not have to be consecutive, but try to complete your tracking within a week’s time.

Step 1: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Sun during the day.
Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the sun during the day. Observe and record the Sun’s location at two separate times, at least three hours apart. Keep the times consistent each day you observe.

Step 2: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Moon during the day.
Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the Moon during the day. Observe and record the Moon’s location at two separate times, at least two hours apart. Keep the times consistent each day you observe.

Step 3: Use your tool to measure the movement of the Moon at night.
Use your tool for three days to track the movement of the moon at night. Observe and record the Moon’s location at two separate times, at least one hour apart. Keep the times consistent each night you observe.

Step 4: Write a short paragraph reflecting on your experience and applying some further concepts from the unit.
Your paragraph should answer the following questions:

Reflect on your data/records from Step 1. Consider both of the times of day you recorded the Sun’s location. Which of those times do you think the angle of incidence of sunlight would provide the highest concentration of solar energy in your location? Explain your answer.
Again, reflect on the times of day that you recorded the Sun’s location. When the Sun is hovering over the Tropic of Cancer, how might you expect your observations to change? What about if the Sun was hovering over the Tropic of Capricorn? Why?
Did parallax play a role in your observations? Explain.
What were your reflections about your moon measurements? What did you notice about the changes you observed both in the daytime and nighttime measurements?
To complete this activity, submit:

A tracking document for:
The Sun during the day (Step 1)
The Moon during the day (Step 2)
The Moon at night (Step 3)
Your reflection paragraph (Step 4)