Tracking the Wandering Stars
Sky Watching for Venus
This project works with the planet
Venus- the brightest object in the
sky after the sun and moon, and thus the easiest to locate, even in
areas with a high degree of light pollution such as major cities. This
is best done over the course of several months to a year as Venus
shifts from morning star to evening star or vice versa. Evening
observation alone may be preferable for younger students, to avoid the
need for waking up before sunrise.
General Process:
1) A discussion of planetary orbits, retrogrades, and the basic
geometry of motion of planets in comparison to
stars as seen from Earth. Describe the uses to which stars were put,
particularly in navigation and in tracking the seasons in the absence
of printed calendars. Note that planets move against this backdrop of
fixed stars (the word "planet" is Greek for "wanderer") and with proper observation (like that done by the Sumerians,
Mayans, and Egyptians) can be used to track altogether more
complex cycles of time. A comparison to the moon's phases may be used
to illustrate the geometry of venus's phases due to orbital changes.
Several of the Venus links below offer graphics to that effect.
Venus in Half Phase
2) After determining a time where
Venus is not occulted by the sun, set
students up with sky calendars and observation logs. A planetarium
program may be downloaded, or calendars obtained off the web as noted
at page bottom. Have them note distance from the sun's location either
right before sunrise or right after sunset (one adult pinky equals
approximately one
arc degree -adjustments may be
necessary for student hand size) but make sure the sun is past the
horizon when the measurement is taken. Emphasize the danger of
permanent
damage to the eyes from looking directly at the sun.
Observe at sunset/sunrise every few days, or once a week, depending
on assessment of students' attention to the process. Make sure the
period is regular, though, so that changes can be graphed readily,
though using a graph listing each day marked when actual measurements
were taken may illustrate motion fine even when measurements are taken
at irregular intervals, as long as enough are done. A sunset
calendar would be
useful to help students determine when they need to go
outside and look for the first appearance of Venus.
Venus Elongation
3) During this time frame expose students to different Venusian
cosmologies from world cultures. Several sites of varying utility and
scientific rigor are listed below. Some sites on the list are stuffed
full of highly conjectural material, so that it might be advised to
draw the information you wish to present from them rather than send the
students directly to them.
Aphrodite (Venus) Washing her Hair
4) Have the students finish up by presenting a graph or visual depiction of
venus' pattern through the heavens, and elucidate the interesting
properties of the planet that made it so captivating to the ancients,
perhaps also thoughts on how it helped spur the evolution of the
science of astronomy. If so desired, students could be requested to
formulate their own versions of the Venus myth through their personal
experience.
Venus Cosmologies:
general overview and another
aztec cosmology- quetzalcoatl
mayan astronomy/venus cosmology/some unusual modern day mythologies
good description of longer venus cycle/ relation to sun as seen from earth, etc
overview of middle eastern cosmologies
sumerian- ishtar /inannah
sumerian planetary astronomy/mythology
biblical associations
phoenician anat
greek- aphrodite
egypt- (bennu bird) phoenix
roman- venus
and
christian mistranslation of hebrew "lucifer" (lightbringer)
lakota morning star
pawnee morning star
other native tribe star mythologies
lithuanian
dogon of mali
Science Related:
very informative overview of venus and so is this
Planetary Observation:
how to go outside and find venus and mars like the ancients did
monthly sky calendar
measure arc degrees
General Venus Info:
encyclopedia: see phases of venus
students can keep track of all the planets here
good pictures of venus orbit & phases