Chapter 1. 144 Planetary Orbits

Map Learning Exercises

Question 1 of 4

Planetary Orbits

Daytime and Nighttime Planets

The large circles in this image represent the planet's orbits. The very small circles represent the planets themselves. Click on ONE of the planets that are on the "daylight" side of the Earth to receive credit.

{"title":"planet","description":"There's more than one planet on the \"daylight\" side of the Earth. Make sure that you click on all of them.","type":"correct","color":"#99cc00","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"173,84,11\"}]"} {"title":"planet COPY","description":"There's more than one planet on the \"daylight\" side of the Earth. Make sure that you click on all of them.","type":"correct","color":"#993300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"152,135,10\"}]"} {"title":"planet COPY COPY","description":"There's more than one planet on the \"daylight\" side of the Earth. Make sure that you click on all of them.","type":"correct","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"173,186,9\"}]"} {"title":"planet COPY COPY COPY","description":"There's more than one planet on the \"daylight\" side of the Earth. Make sure that you click on all of them.","type":"correct","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"290,135,8\"}]"} {"title":"planet COPY COPY COPY COPY","description":"There's more than one planet on the \"daylight\" side of the Earth. Make sure that you click on all of them.","type":"correct","color":"#333333","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"350,134,8\"}]"} {"title":"planet COPY COPY COPY COPY COPY","description":"\"Daylight\" occurs on the side of the Earth that is facing the Sun. This planet is on the side of the Earth that is turned away from the Sun. Try again.","type":"incorrect","color":"#800000","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"98,134,7\"}]"}

Correct.

Please try again.

"The Morning Star"

Click on planet(s) that are in the best position to be seen on Earth at dawn. (Hint: You need to remember which way the Earth spins, so imagine that you are looking that these objects from a spaceship far above the North Pole.)

{"title":"selection","description":"If we are looking at this system from above the North Pole, then the Earth is spinning counterclockwise into the sunlight. That means that the portion of the Earth that is nearest to the bottom of the image is experiencing dawn. You picked the planet that would be seen \"rising\" at dawn: The Morning Star. (By the way, the planet at opposition would appear to be setting in the West at dawn.)","type":"correct","color":"#99cc00","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"175,186,9\"}]"} {"title":"selection COPY","description":"Technically, this isn't a wrong choice. On the other hand, it's not the best choice. A planet like Venus or Mercury can be seen on the edge of the dawn horizon, when in this position. However, they can't been seen very well. In fact, they are so difficult to see that you most often have to use a telescope to see a planet in this position, and then you have to be careful not to look at the Sun while doing it. This is not the \"Morning Star\" position. You're getting credit, but try again to see if you can determine a better answer.","type":"incorrect","color":"#993300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"151,134,8\"}]"} {"title":"selection COPY COPY","description":"There planet is not visible at dawn. To think about this, imagine that you are above the North Pole as you see this system. Then, decide which way the Earth is spinning. Remember that dawn occurs at the point on Earth where we are turning out of the darkness and into the sunlight. Try again.","type":"incorrect","color":"#333300","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"174,85,7\"}]"} {"title":"selection COPY COPY COPY","description":"This planet is on the other side of the Sun from the Earth. If you could see them (which is really, really tough), it would have to be around noontime. To think about this, imagine that you are above the North Pole as you see this system. Then, decide which way the Earth is spinning. Remember that dawn occurs at the point on Earth where we are turning out of the darkness and into the sunlight. Try again.","type":"incorrect","color":"#000080","code":"[{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"290,133,11\"},{\"shape\":\"circle\",\"coords\":\"347,134,12\"}]"}