Coordinate+systems+for+Earth+and+Space

__**Major Understandings:**__

Earths coordinate system of latitude and longitude, with the equator and prime meridian as reference lines, is based upon Earths rotation and our observation of the Sun and stars.

Earth rotates on an imaginary axis at a rate of 15 degrees per hour. To people on Earth, this turning of the planet makes it seem as though the Sun, the moon, and the stars are moving around Earth once a day. Rotation provides a basis for our system of latitude and longitude

How is Earth’s coordinate system used to find positions on Earth’s surface?

People want to know where they are, being right here is nice, but if you are attempting to communicate your location, more information is needed.

We usually can get by giving someone our street address, and then they can use a map or GPS receiver to get to where they need to go.

Not all locations have streets or even maps. Very few roads in the oceans. So, somewhere along the way, a system of locating places on the earth was determined. The earth was divided into a grid system of latitude and longitude, and giving the location of a place is giving its coordinates.



Any point on the globe can be found by its coordinates. For the most part, we can get by by referring to degrees latitude and logititude, but these can be broken down even further into minutes and seconds, but that is not important here, [|but here is some information]

Determine Latitude using the North Star First find the North Star.

Determine the elevation of the North Star above the horizon.

You can construct a simple device using a protractor, string, some paperclips, and a straw. Sight the North Star through the straw(a), and read the angle of elevation from the protractor(b).

Using Google maps or a GPS system, determine the latitude and longitude of the classroom.

How is longitude used to tell time? Time and Time Zones

Interactive Time Zone Map

What determines slope and elevation on a topographic map?

Performance Indicators:

Explain complex phenomena, such as tides, variations in day length, solar insolation, apparent motion of the planets, and annual traverse of the constellations.

Use the concepts of density and heat energy to explain observations of seasonal changes.