Earth Science Research Paper Essay Example
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Research Paper III
Earth’s place in the universe
Part I. Definition
1. Aphelion - Aphelion: (opposite of perihelion) the point in its orbit where a planet is farthest from the Sun; when referring to objects orbiting the Earth the term apogee is used; the term apoapsis is used for orbits around other bodies.
2. Astronomical unit – (1 AU = 149,597,870.691 kilometers)
An Astronomical Unit is approximately the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun. It is a derived constant and used to indicate distances within the solar system. Its formal definition is the radius of an unperturbed circular orbit a massless body would revolve about the sun in 2*(pi)/k days (i.e., 365.2568983.... days), where k is defined as the Gaussian constant exactly equal to 0.01720209895. Since an AU is based on radius of a circular orbit, one AU is actually slightly less than the average distance between the Earth and the Sun (approximately 150 million km or 93 million miles). 3. Celestial sphere - The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere of gigantic radius with the earth located at its center. The poles of the celestial sphere are aligned with the poles of the Earth. The celestial equator lies along the celestial sphere in the same plane that includes the Earth's equator. * North Celestial Pole (NCP) and the South Celestial Pole (SCP) - these are just the north and south poles extended into space. * Celestial Equator - The earth's equator, but at a much greater radius. If the earth's equator was a rubber band, then the celestial equator is the same rubber band just stretched away from the earth. * Horizon - The horizon changes depending on your position on earth. * Zenith- The point on the celestial sphere directly overhead. * Meridian- The line that extends from the north point on the horizon upwards through the zenith and then downward to the south point on the horizon. 4.
Research Paper III
Earth’s place in the universe
Part I. Definition
1. Aphelion - Aphelion: (opposite of perihelion) the point in its orbit where a planet is farthest from the Sun; when referring to objects orbiting the Earth the term apogee is used; the term apoapsis is used for orbits around other bodies.
2. Astronomical unit – (1 AU = 149,597,870.691 kilometers)
An Astronomical Unit is approximately the mean distance between the Earth and the Sun. It is a derived constant and used to indicate distances within the solar system. Its formal definition is the radius of an unperturbed circular orbit a massless body would revolve about the sun in 2*(pi)/k days (i.e., 365.2568983.... days), where k is defined as the Gaussian constant exactly equal to 0.01720209895. Since an AU is based on radius of a circular orbit, one AU is actually slightly less than the average distance between the Earth and the Sun (approximately 150 million km or 93 million miles). 3. Celestial sphere - The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere of gigantic radius with the earth located at its center. The poles of the celestial sphere are aligned with the poles of the Earth. The celestial equator lies along the celestial sphere in the same plane that includes the Earth's equator. * North Celestial Pole (NCP) and the South Celestial Pole (SCP) - these are just the north and south poles extended into space. * Celestial Equator - The earth's equator, but at a much greater radius. If the earth's equator was a rubber band, then the celestial equator is the same rubber band just stretched away from the earth. * Horizon - The horizon changes depending on your position on earth. * Zenith- The point on the celestial sphere directly overhead. * Meridian- The line that extends from the north point on the horizon upwards through the zenith and then downward to the south point on the horizon. 4.