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Chapter 2: Problem 17

If you were standing at Earth's North Pole, where would you see the north celestial pole relative to your zenith?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The North Celestial Pole would be directly at your zenith.

Step by step solution

01

- Understand the North Celestial Pole

The North Celestial Pole is the point in the sky that the Earth's northern axis points toward. It is very close to Polaris, the North Star.
02

- Define the Zenith

The zenith is the point in the sky directly above your head at any location on Earth's surface.
03

- Locate the North Pole

If you are standing at the Earth's North Pole, you are at the point where the Earth's northern axis meets the surface.
04

- Relate the Zenith to Your Position

While standing at the North Pole, your zenith is aligned with the Earth's northern axis, which also points towards the North Celestial Pole.
05

- Conclusion

Therefore, if you are standing at the Earth's North Pole, you would see the North Celestial Pole directly at your zenith.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

headline of the respective core concept
The zenith is a core concept in understanding the position of the North Celestial Pole. The zenith is the point in the sky directly above your head at any location on Earth's surface. Think of it as an imaginary line shooting straight up from where you're standing, reaching space. This point varies depending on where you are across the globe. Knowing your zenith helps in determining the relative position of various celestial objects in the sky.
headline of the respective core concept
The Earth's northern axis is crucial in locating the North Celestial Pole. The Earth's axis is an imaginary line around which the Earth rotates. This axis runs from the North Pole to the South Pole. The northern axis specifically points towards a fixed location in the sky. This point is known as the North Celestial Pole. Understanding the Earth's northern axis helps in comprehending concepts like the North Celestial Pole and why it remains fixed relative to Earth's rotation.
headline of the respective core concept
Polaris, also known as the North Star, is key to finding the North Celestial Pole. Polaris is very close to the North Celestial Pole, lying almost in a straight line with Earth's northern axis. This makes Polaris a valuable guide for navigation and star-gazing in the northern hemisphere. Since it appears almost stationary in the sky, it helps mark true north. This is why, if you were at the Earth's North Pole, you'd see Polaris very close to your zenith, almost directly overhead.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The apparent size of an object in the sky is proportional to its actual diameter divided by its distance. The Moon has a radius of \(1,737 \mathrm{km},\) with an average distance of \(3.780 \times 10^{5} \mathrm{km}\) from Earth. The Sun has a radius of \(696,000 \mathrm{km},\) with an average distance of \(1.496 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{km}\) from Earth. Show that the apparent sizes of the Moon and Sun in our sky are approximately the same.

From any given location, why are you more likely to witness a partial eclipse of the Sun than a total eclipse?

How would the length of the eclipse season change if the plane of the Moon's orbit were inclined less than its current \(5.2^{\circ}\) to the plane of Earth's orbit? Explain your answer.

We always see the same side of the Moon because a. the Moon does not rotate on its axis. b. the Moon rotates on its axis once for each revolution around Earth c. when the other side of the Moon is facing Earth, it is unlit. d. when the other side of the Moon is facing Earth, it is on the opposite side of Earth.

Day and night are caused by a. the tilt of Earth on its axis. b. the rotation of Earth on its axis. c. the revolution of Earth around the Sun. d. the revolution of the Sun around Earth.
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