SIERRA COLLEGE OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY

LABORATORY EXERCISE

NUMBER   III.G.    TITLE:   The Moons of Jupiter

DATE-                 PRINT NAME/S AND INITIAL BELOW:     GROUP

                                               

DAY-                            

                                                           

LOCATION

 

 

Objective: Plot the distance of two different moons from Jupiter vs. time and determine the average orbital distance (a) and period of orbit (P) of each moon and compute the mass of Jupiter.

Procedure:

1)      Your lecture textbook (Astro 10 and 2) discusses the satellites of Jupiter.

2)      Instructor will demonstrate the use of the Contemporary Labs Experiences in Astronomy for the collection of Jovian (Jupiter) moon data.

3)      Instructor will discuss how to use Kepler’s 3rd Law modified by Newton: M = ka3/P2 , where k = 5.919×1011 kg•s2/m3

4)      Use the Contemporary Labs Experiences in Astronomy to determine the separation distance (d) of two of the moons of Jupiter in 5 hour intervals and complete the table below

5)      Plot d vs. time (t) onto the graph below.

6)      From the graph determine the average distance (a) of the moons from Jupiter in Jovian Diameters. Convert to meters (1 Jovian Diamter = 142,980,000 m).

7)      From the graph determine the orbital period (P) the moons in hours. Convert to seconds (1 hour = 3600 seconds).

8)      Using M = ka3/P2 where k = 5.919×1011 kg•s2/m3 find the mass of Jupiter in kilograms.

9)      Answer the 2 bluebook questions on page 3.

10)  If time permits: On the back page use TheSky and sketch out the moons of Jupiter on today’s and tomorrow’s date at 10 PM (or the date and time specified by the instructor). Indicate which moons are which and note how many are visible (i.e. and not behind, in front, or in Jupiter’s shadow).

Starting date and time: __________________ _________ Note: Make East + and West –


Hours from Starting date

Moon 1  ____________

Separation distance from Jupiter (DJ)

Moon 2 __________

Separation distance from Jupiter (DJ)

0

 

 

5

 

 

10

 

 

15

 

 

20

 

 

25

 

 

30

 

 

35

 

 

40

 

 

45

 

 

50

 

 

55

 

 

60

 

 

65

 

 

70

 

 

75

 

 

80

 

 

85

 

 

90

 

 

95

 

 

100

 

 

105

 

 

110

 

 

Note: Some measurements may be marred by “clouds”

 

Enter “CS” for cloudy skies and “B” for satellite (moon) behind Jupiter

5

 

 

4

 

 

3

 

 

2

 

 

1

 

 

0

 

 

-1

 

 

-2

 

 

-3

 

 

-4

 

 

-5