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Astronomy Class outdoors !? |
Sounds about right... |
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Awww, I wanted class in the Tower ! |
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:35 am
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:44 am
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:45 am
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:48 am
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 10:58 am
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★Past Lessons★
Astronomy One Lesson One There are six Constellations in the North Polar Constellation. Those Constellations are as follows: Camelopardus, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor. This lesson will teach you of two.
Camelopardus The Giraffe
Origin of the Constellation Camelopardus is a modern constellation. According to Ian Ridpath, it was invented by the Dutch theologian and astronomer Petrus Plancius. Both Ridpath and Julius D. W. Staal state that the German astronomer Jakob Bartsch included the constellation on a star map in 1614 (Ridpath) or 1624 (Staal).
The constellation contains no stars brighter than fourth magnitude. There is no classical mythology associated with it.
Cassiopeia The Queen or The Lady in the Chair
The Brighter Stars of Cassiopeia are Caph and Schedar.
The Story
The Vanity of Cassiopeia Queen Cassiopeia is the lovely, but vain queen and wife to King Cepheus of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia had the presumption to claim that she was even more lovely than the exquisite Nereids, the fifty sea nymphs who were the daughters of the gentle god Nereus, known as the Old Man of the Sea.
The Nereids' Revenge Now the Nereid Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon the God of the Sea. The Nereids begged Poseidon to punish the pride of Cassiopeia. This he did by sending the monster Cetus to ravage Ethiopia. To appease the god, King Cepheus had to offer his daughter Andromeda as a sacrifice to the monster, but the hero Perseus was able to slay the monster before it attacked Andromeda.
The Upside-down Queen As an added punishment Cassiopeia was placed in the sky to revolve around the celestial pole forever, sometimes hanging upside down in undignified positions.
Astronomy Three Lesson One Perseus The Hero
The Story
The Brighter Stars of Perseus are Algol and Mirfak.
The King Wants No Grandkids! Pereus was a son of Zeus by Danae, the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos. The king locked poor Danae away in a dungeon where no man could see her, because an oracle had foretold that King Acrisius would die by the hand of his grandson. What better way to forestall the prophecy than by ensuring that his daughter had no children at all? But the king's precautions were defeated by the actions of the gods.
The Shower of Gold Zeus looked down from Olympus and saw Danae languishing in her dungeon and desired her. He approached her in the form of a shower of golden rain that fell through the bars of the dungeon into Danae's lap. She became pregnant and bore Zeus' son Perseus.
A Fisherman Receives a Gift from the Sea Acrisius was furious and locked both the boy and the mother into a chest which he had tossed into the sea. After a few days the chest washed ashore in a different land, where it was discovered by a fisherman named Dictys, who broke open the chest to discover the mother and child. Dictys adopted the boy and raised him as his own child.
Perseus Gets in the Way As it happened, Dictys was the brother of the king of that land, King Polydectes. After many years, Polydectes met Danae and desired her, but Perseus, now grown, stood in the way of the king. The frustrated king invented a plot to get rid of Perseus.
An Impossible Task It was announced that the king was to marry Hippodameia, the daughter of King Oenomaus of Elis. The subjects of King Polydectes were asked to contribute to the collection of a herd of horses, to be presented as a wedding present. Polydectes knew that Perseus had neither horse nor money to give. That was the point. The King insisted that Perseus make another contribution; he was sent to fetch the head of the Gorgon Medusa. Polydectes was certain that the young Perseus would never return and the way would be open to have the mother Danae.
Introducing the Gorgons The Gorgons were three sisters of such unbelievable ugliness that anyone who dared to look directly at one of them, was immediately turned into stone. Two of the sisters, Euryale and Stheno, were immortal, but the third, Medusa, could be slain. She had been in fact at one time a mortal woman of great beauty. She had been particularly vain of her hair. Poiseidon seduced her inside a Temple of Athena, outraging the goddess Athena. So Athena caused Medusa to be changed into the ugly form of the other Gorgons, and Medusa's hair was changed into a mass of squirming snakes.
Turning Enemies to Stone Polydectes the king could not imagine that Perseus would survive the encounter with Medusa, but if Perseus succeeded, the head of Medusa would be a powerful weapon. Anyone who gazed on the head would be turned to stone.
Help From the Gods Perseus had powerful allies among the gods. Hades, the God of the Underworld, offered Perseus a magic helmet that made the wearer invisible. Hermes the Messenger God offered winged sandals that allowed the wearer to fly through the air with great speed. Hephaestus the God of Fire and the Forge created a sword made of diamond, and Athena offered a highly polished bronze shield, with the advice that Perseus should look at the Gorgon only in the metal of the shield. The metal of the shield would reduce the power of the Gorgon's visage, so that Perseus could safely view the image of the Gorgon without being turned to stone.
Defeating the Gorgon Perseus fought the Gorgon and secured her head. From the body of the Gorgon emerged the Flying Horse Pegasus and the warrior Chrysaor bearing a golden sword. After the battle Perseus flew through the air across Africa carrying the Gorgon's head. Where blood from the head fell on the sands of Libya, serpents emerged from the ground. When Perseus halted for a rest in the kingdom of Atlas, the king received him with hostility. So Perseus showed the king the severed head of Medusa. Atlas the king was turned to stone. This is the origin of the Atlas Mountains of North Africa.
Finding a Wife Perseus in his flight saw Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, chained to her rock on the Mediterranean coast. King Cepheus had been forced to chain her there as a sacrifice to appease the anger of the Sea God Poseidon at the vanity and overweening pride of Queen Cassiopeia. Perseus slew the approaching sea monster that was to devour Andromeda. Then he carried Andromeda back to her home in Ethiopia and claimed her hand in marriage.
The Court of Stone When Perseus got back to King Polydectes, who had sent him on his mission, the king did not receive him well. Perseus revealed the head of Medusa so that Polydectes and his court were turned to stone.
A Prophecy Fulfilled After all of Perseus' adventures the prophecy made to King Acrisius ultimately proved true. The king happened to be present at an athletic contest in which Perseus was taking part. A discus hurled by Perseus went astray, soaring into a crowd of spectators. It struck King Acrisius in the head, and he died as a result of the injury
Astronomy One Lesson Two Cepheus The King
The Brighter Star of Cepheus is Alderamin.
The Story
The Kingdom of Ethiopia King Cepheus was the King of Ethiopia, which in Greek myth, according to Ridpath, was conceived to be a country stretching from Palestine down to the shores of the Red Sea and included parts of present-day Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
The Vanity of Cassiopeia Cepheus was descended from Zeus, and the offspring that resulted from Zeus' liason with Io. Cepheus wife Cassiopeia was very beautiful, but very vain as well. She had the presumption to compare her beauty with that of the Nereid sea nymphs. Poseidon punished her pride by sending the sea monster Cetus to ravage Ethiopia.
Sacrificing the Maiden Cepheus sent to the Oracle at Ammon to learn what he must do to appease the anger of the god. He was told that he must offer his virgin daughter Andromeda as a human sacrifice. She was to be chained to a rock on the Mediterranean Coast and left for the monster to devour.
Perseus Saves the Day Cepheus did as he was told, but the hero Perseus showed up. He slew the monster and released Andromeda from her chains. Perseus claimed Andromeda's hand in marriage. King Cepheus was agreeable, but there was a problem. Cepheus had already promised Andromeda to his brother Phineus.
The Bloody Engagement Dinner Phineus showed up with numerous followers at the engagement banquet for Andromeda and Perseus. So Perseus had to prove his heroism once more by battling for the right to marry his betrothed. The banquet turned into a bloody battle royal, where Perseus slaughtered Phineas and all of his followers.
Astronomy Three Lesson Two Phoenix The Phoenix
The Story
The Brighter Stars of Phoenix is Ankaa.
Origin of the Constellation Phoenix was created by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, who charted the southern skies in 1595 - 1597. There is no classical mythology associated with this particular group of stars, although the concept of the phoenix is part of classical mythology.
The Phoenix represents the mythical bird that expires in fire only to be reborn again from the ashes of its previous existence.
Piscis Austrinus The Southern Fish
The Story
The Brighter Stars of Piscis Austrinus is Fomalhaut.
Origin of the Constellation There is little classical mythology associated with the Southern Fish. According to Ridpath, the fish is associated with the Syrian Fertility Goddess Atagartis, who fell into a lake near the Euphrates River and was saved by a large fish. The Southern Fish is always shown with its mouth open drinking the water pouring from the jar of Aquarius. According to Staal, the fish is often seen as a sign of salvation in the legends of a great deluge. The fish drinks the waters of the flood to save the world. The Southern Fish is sometimes seen as the parent of the two fish of Pisces.
Astronomy One Lesson Three Draco The Dragon
The Brighter Stars of Draco are Eltanin and Thuban.
The Story
The Monstrous Dragon of the Cosmic War There are at least two stories about the Dragon. According to one the Dragon was one of the monsters fighting with the Titans, the elder gods, in the cosmic war in which the younger Olympian gods overturned their elders to take command of the universe. Towards the end of that war, the goddess Athena was confronted by the Dragon. She grabbed it by the tail and with a mighty hurled it into the sky. The Dragon was spinning in chaotic flight. It struck the dome of heaven and became twisted up in knots by the rotation of the sky. Because the Dragon struck the sky in the cold regions near the north celestial pole, it froze in place before it untwist the knots in body. And so we see it twisted up in the sky to this day.
The Dragon Ladon In another story the Dragon is the dragon Ladon which guarded the legendary tree on which grew the beautiful apples of gold. The tree belonged to the goddess Hera, the spouse of Zeus. She had received it as a wedding present on the occasion of her marriage to the chief of all the gods.
Guardian of the Tree Hera planted the tree on the slopes of Mount Atlas and set the Hesperides to guard it. The Hesperides were the three daughters of the Titan Atlas. They were irresponsible girls who persisted in stealing the apples from the tree for themselves. So Hera set dragon Ladon to guard the tree.
Hercules Kills the Dragon It was the hero Hercules who killed the Dragon. The Eleventh Labor of Hercules was to steal the apples from the golden tree. Hercules killed the Dragon with arrows poisoned with the blood of the Hydra, and with the aid of Atlas, made off with the apples from the tree. After the loss of the apples, Hera placed the Dragon into the sky as the constellation of Draco.
| Intro | Rules | Completion List | Current Lesson | Past Lessons | HW/Past HW | Classwork/Past Classwork | House Points | Announcements |
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:02 am
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★Homework★
FINAL FOR ALL Your final is to PMed to ME like any other HW ! THERE will be no classwork BUT for ANyone WHO posts in the classroom 3 times in a conversation about the class, and final (no answers of course) will each receive 10 points extra credit.
★Past Homework★
Astronomy One Homework Lesson One Questions: (Each Q&A is Worth One Point)
1. How many Constellations are in the North Polar Constellations? And also name those Constellations. 2. Does the constellation Camelopardus have any classical mythology associated with it? 3. What is Camelopardus also known as? 4. Who was Queen Cassiopeia married to? 5. What was the Queen known for? 6. Who did the Queen presume she was more lovely than? 7. The God Nereus is also know as? 8. How did Poseidon punish Cassiopeia? 9. What did King Cepheus do to appease the god? 10. Who was Andromeda saved by and also able to slay the monster?
Extra Credit: Extra Credit: (Worth 5 Points) As an added punishment for Cassiopeia what happened to her.
Astronomy Three Homework Lesson One Questions: (Each Q&A is worth 1 Point except Extra Credit, which is worth up to 5 Points.)
1. Who were Perseus's parents? 2. What was the prophecy that an oracle told to King Acrisius about? 3. In what for did Zeus appear to Danae? 4. What did King Acrisius do when he found out that Danae was pregnant? 5. Who was Dictys brother? 6. King Polydectes announced that he was going to marry who, as part of his plot to get Danae? 7. What did the King insist that Perseus do, because he had no money or horses to give the King as a fake wedding gift? 8. What Gods helped Perseus? 9. What did each God give to Perseus? 10. What happened when Perseus finally returned home?
Extra Credit: Question: Astrology emerged from the Ancient City of ________?
Astronomy One Homework Lesson Two Questions: (All questions are worth 1 point) 1. According to Ridpath, what did King Cepheus have as land (What are the names of those countries?) 2. King Cepheus is the desendent of who? 3. Who did Cepheus go to, to find out what to do to appease the God? 4. What did the King do to stop the monster? 5. By what coast was Andromeda chained to? 6. Who was Andromeda promised to, for marriage? 7. What happened at Andromeda and Perseus Engagement Dinner? 8. Who won this royal battle? 9. By what God was the King's wife punished by? 10. What is the brightest star in Cepheus?
Astronomy Three Homework Lesson Two Questions: (All questions are worth 1 point) 1. The Constellation Phoenix was created by who? 2. Both men worked as what? 3. When did they chart the southern skies? 4. Is there any classical mythology associated with these stars? If Yes, please explain. 5. Is the concept of the Phoenix a part of classical mythology? If Yes, please explain. 6. What does The Phoenix represent? 7. Is there any classical mythology associated with Piscis Austrinus? If Yes, please explain. 8. How is the Southern Fish always shown? 9. According to Stall, the fish is often seen as a sign of what? 10. According to Ridpath, the fish is associated with what goddess?
Astronomy One Homework Lesson Three Questions: (Each Question is worth 1 point) 1. Who did The Dragon fight with in the cosmic wars? 2. Who did The Dragon confront towards the end of the war? 3. What did Athena do? 4. The Dragon struck the sky in the cold regions near the north celestial pole, it froze in place before it could what? 5. What did the Dragon Ladon guard? 6. Which goddess did this tree belong to? 7. Who was this goddess married to? 8. Where did the goddess plant this tree? 9. Who killed Ladon The Dragon? 10. What is one of the brighter in Draco the Dragon?
Astronomy Three Homework Lesson Three Questions: (Each Q&A is Worth One Point)
1. According to the Greeks, who did the fish represent? 2. According to the Romans, who did the fish represent? 3. Who were Eros’ parents? 4. What did Aphrodite represent? 5. What did Eros represent? 6. What is the name of the God who tried to warm the town of an approaching monster? 7. In a version of this story why were Aphrodite and Eros tied together by a cord? 8. Where does the constellation Pisces probably derive from? 9. The constellation Sculptor, was invented by who? 10. What was the name of the Constellation Sculptor originally?
| Intro | Rules | Completion List | Current Lesson | Past Lessons | HW/Past HW| Classwork/Past Classwork | House Points | Announcements |
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:05 am
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Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 am
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Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:01 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:11 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:55 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:01 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:36 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:37 pm
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