Chapter 7 SKYGAZER CD-ROM ACTIVITIES

The Seasons
INTRODUCTION
In this activity you will investigate the reasons for the observed seasonal changesnot
only on Earth, but on other planets in our solar system as well. Read about the seasons in
the Sky Guide under the Explore menu in Basic Concepts: The Seasons.

PART 1: THE VIEW FROM SPACE

File | Open Settings | Basics | Earths Seasons
1. On the Location Panel, change the button that reads Sun so that it reads Earth.
2. On the Location Panel, change the Longitude to 90 and the Latitude to 0.
3. Now use the + button to zoom in so that Earth fills your Sky Chart.
4. Set Date and Time. under the Chart menu to June 21 at noon of this year. Your
Sky Chart should look similar to Figure 7-1.

Figure 7-1 Earth on the Summer Solstice

PART 2: ANOTHER LOOK

File | Open Settings | Basics | Earths Seasons
1. Repeat Steps 1-4 of Part 1.

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2. Advance time in 1-day steps and observe the changes that occur on Earth throughout
one year. As time advances through the year, answer the questions on the RESULTS
sheet.

PART 3: SEASONS ON THE INNER PLANETS

File | Open Settings | Planets and Satellites | Marss Close-Up
1. On the Location Panel, change the Longitude to 180 and the Latitude to 0. Use
the button to zoom out so you can see all of Mars.
2. Advance time in 1-minute steps and watch Mars rotate. Compare the tilt of Marss
rotational axis to Earths.
3. Now advance time in 1-day steps. Pay special attention to Marss polar ice caps.
Does Mars appear to have seasonal changes similar to those on Earth?
4. Now change the button on the Location Panel that reads Mars so that it reads
Venus. Zoom out until you can see all of Venus and continue to allow time to
advance time in 1-day steps and watch Venuss clouds to observe its rotation. What
do you notice about Venuss rotation that is different than Earths and Marss?
5. Answer the questions on the RESULTS sheet.

PART 4: SEASONS ON THE OUTER PLANETS

File | Open Settings | Planets and Satellites | Jupiter and Neptune 1613
1. Bring up the Location Panel. Click on the Solar System button, then change the
button that reads Sun so that it reads Neptune. Adjust the Longitude to 180 and
Latitude to 0. Use the + button to zoom in on Neptune.
3. Advance time in 1-minutes steps to observe Neptunes rotation. Draw in Neptunes
rotational axis on the Figure on the RESULTS sheet.
4. Now change the button on the Location Panel so it reads Jupiter Use the button
to zoom out until you can see all of Jupiter, then advance time in 1-minute steps to
observe Jupiters rotation. Draw Jupiters rotational axis on the RESULTS sheet.
5. Repeat Step 4 for Saturn and Uranus. Use the + and buttons to zoon in or out so
that you can see the entire planet.
6. Answer the questions on the RESULTS sheet.

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RESULTS SHEET 7 The Seasons

NAME ________________________________ DATE ____________SECTION __________________

PART 1: THE VIEW FROM SPACE

Summer
Is your location on Earth spending more time in daylight or darkness?
How does this differ for latitudes to the north and to the south of you?
Where on Earth is it dark all day?
Light all day?
Estimate how much time is spent in daylight and in darkness on the equator.
What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?
Winter
Is your location on Earth spending more time in daylight or darkness?
How does this differ for locations to the north and to the south of you?
Where on Earth is it dark all day?
Light all day?
Estimate how much time is spent in daylight and darkness on the equator.
What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere?
Spring and Fall
What is the reason for our use of the term equinox?

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PART 2: ANOTHER LOOK

Match the correct date with each occurrence (some dates may be used more than once,
and an event can occur on more than one day).
A = March 21

B = June 21

C = September 21

D = December 21

_______________ Northern Hemisphere pointed toward the Sun

_______________ Southern Hemisphere pointed toward the Sun
_______________ South Pole in total darkness
_______________ North Pole in total darkness
_______________ Solstice
_______________ Equinox
_______________ Equator is directly under the Sun.

PART 3: SEASONS ON THE INNER PLANETS

Based on what you observed, draw lines that represent the axis of rotation of each planet
in Figures 7-2.

Figure 7-2 Draw a line that represents Marss axis of rotation and one that represents
Venuss axis of rotation.
Based on your drawings, answer the following questions.
Venus / Mars (choose one) has seasons similar to Earth. Explain your answer.
Venus / Mars (choose one) has no seasons at all. Explain your answer.

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PART 4: SEASONS ON THE OUTER PLANETS

Draw the axis of rotation for each planet in Figure 7-3.

Figure 7-3 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

Based on your drawings, answer the following questions.
Jupiter / Saturn / Uranus / Neptune (circle one) appears to have seasons most like Earth.
Jupiter / Saturn / Uranus / Neptune (circle one) appears to have no seasons at all.
Jupiter / Saturn / Uranus / Neptune (circle one) appears to be tilted on its side.
A planet tilted on its side would have seasons like Earths poles / equator (circle one) all
year round.
A planet with little or no axial tilt like Earths poles / equator (circle one) all year round.

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CONCLUSION
In the space below, write a conclusion for this activity. Briefly explain what you did and
what you learned from it.

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CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 7: THE SEASONS

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Which planet has the most axial tilt?
a. Earth
b. Mars
c. Jupiter
d. Uranus
2. Which planet should have seasons most similar to Earths?
a. Venus
b. Mars
c. Jupiter
d. Uranus
3. Which planet could be thought of as upside down compared to the others?
a. Venus
b. Earth
c. Mars
d. Jupiter
4. Earths Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in
a. March.
b. June.
c. September.
d. December.
5. When Earths Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it is
a. summer all over the world.
b. winter all over the world.
c. summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
d. winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

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6. Neither of Earths hemispheres is tilted closer to the Sun in

a. March.
b. June.
c. September.
d. [two of the above]
7. An equinox occurs
a. halfway between solstices.
b. when Earths North and South poles are equally distant from the Sun.
c. all over Earth at the same time.
d. [all of the above]
8. A solstice occurs
a. in June and December.
b. when one of the poles is tilted toward the Sun.
c. in between the equinoxes.
d. [all of the above]
9. Extremes in the amounts of daylight and darkness occur at the
a. solstices.
b. equinoxes.
c. [both of the above, depending on which hemisphere you are in]
d. [none of the above]
10. Which planet would experience the least seasonal changes throughout its orbit
around the Sun?
a. Earth
b. Mars
c. Jupiter
d. Uranus

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OPEN-ENDED ACTIVITY
Use the skills you learned in this activity and the previous one to devise an activity using
SkyGazer that will prove that the altitude of the Sun is more important than the number
of hours that it is up in determining whether the weather and climate at a given location
will be warmer or colder.

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