Author Question: Describe the location of Polaris in the sky relative to the horizon as seen by observers in Alaska ... (Read 26 times)

stephzh · **on:** Jul 27, 2018

Describe the location of Polaris in the sky relative to the horizon as seen by observers in Alaska (lat. = 60 N), Texas (lat. = 33 N), Ecuador (lat. = 0), and Australia (lat. = 30 S).

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the path that a star on the celestial equator follows from the time it rises until it sets for a person at a latitude of 60 N and a person at the equator.

What will be an ideal response?

frankwu0507 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The further away from the north pole you travel, the closer Polaris is to the horizon. In Alaska, it would be 60 degrees above the horizon, in Texas, 33 degrees above the horizon, and in Ecuador, Polaris would be just on the horizon. In Australia, Polaris would not be visible at all, because the Earth is blocking its view.

Answer to Question 2

A star on the celestial equator, when viewed from the Earth's equator, will rise due east and set due west.