This document provides instructions for observing the sun and moon without a telescope over multiple weeks. Students are asked to observe and record where the sun sets relative to landmarks on the horizon each week for a month. They will then answer questions about how the sunset position changes and why. Students are also instructed to observe the moon over multiple nights as its phase changes, recording its position and illumination, and then answer questions about the moon's movement relative to Earth. The purpose is to learn about seasonal changes from sunset positions and the moon's phases without advanced equipment.

1. Observational Astronomy
You can do a great deal of astronomy without the aid of a
telescope, in fact many famous astronomers worked without
telescopes. This lab (which you should begin at the beginning of
the semester) we will learn about the Moon and Sun and the just
by looking up at the right time.
80 points total
Part One Observing The Sun.
DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!!!
If you really want to look at the sun get some of these
Find a place where you have a good view of the western horizon
were there are still a few features on the horizon for you to
note. (The beach will NOT work for this). WITHOUT
LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE SUN estimate where the Sun is
going to set relative to a feature (tree, building etc.) on the
horizon and Draw it in the box labeled week 1. Note the Date
and time the sun set (when the bottom of the sun touched the
horizon) One again DON’T LOOK AT THE SUN… estimate.
Return to that exact same spot for three more weeks (give or
take) and estimate where the sun is setting relative to your tree
or building and note the date and time. Once your observations
are complete (Worth 20 points) answer the following questions
in a separate document that you can submit to the drop box.
1) What did you notice about how the position of sunset was
changing? (5 points)
2) Why was it changing? (5 points)
3) How might the changing of the position of the sunset relate
to the seasons? (5 points)
4) How might the changing of the position of the sunset relate
to the passage of a year? (5 points)

2. 5) Given your answer to #4 would you need to know the Earth
was going around the Sun to keep track of the passage of a
year? (5 points)
Week 1
South
North
Horizon
Date________________
Time _______________
Week 2
South
North
Horizon
west

3. Date________________
Time _______________
Week 3
South
North
Horizon
Date________________
Time _______________
Week 4
South
North
Horizon
Date________________

4. Time _______________
Part 2 Observing the Moon
Go to this web site
http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml
and find a day with a waxing crescent Moon (just a sliver of it
lit on the right side) that you can observe. You’ll need a place
where you can see the western sky (for this the beach will work
just fine).
6) Get to your spot right after sunset you’ll see the Moon right
on the horizon. Make a drawing of the Moon relative to the
horizon and note the Date and time beside your drawing of the
Moon. Make sure your drawing includes how much of the
Moon is lit and about how far it is off the horizon. (5 points)
7) Return to the same place two or three days later at the same
time and draw the Moon again on the same drawing and label
the Moon with the time and date. (5 points)
8) Return to the same place two or three days later at the same
time and draw the Moon again on the same drawing and label
the Moon with the time and date. (5 points)
So In the end you’ll have one drawing of the Moon on three
different nights from the same place. Once you have your
drawings answer the following questions in the same document
you answered the Sun questions in.
9) How did the Moon’s distance from the horizon change from
one observation to the next? (5 points)
10) How did the lit portion of the Moon change from one
observation to the next? (5 points)

5. 11) From our point of view is the Moon moving around the
Earth east to west or west to east? (5 points)
12) Based on your observations is the Moon setting later or
sooner as the month goes by? (5 points)
Venn Diagram of Historical Events (Early America – 1776)
Input Historical Event 1
Input Historical Event2
List Unique Elements of
Historical Event 1
List Unique Elements of
Historical Event 2
List Shared Elements of
Historical Events 1 and 2