Night Lights

An investigation by .......................................

GOAL:To develop observational and interpretative skills by using satellite imagery

KEY CONCEPTS

            * Fires and city lights can be seen from orbit.

            * Seeing Earth from orbit changes our perspective.

            * Excessive city lights greatly limit what we can see in the night sky.

MATERIALS

            * A compilation of Satellite images of the world as seen in the poster

            "Earth at Night", available from Astronomy Visuals (phone 8364 0328)

PROCEDURE

            *Study the poster, and discuss the questions below, with your group, but

ANSWER IN YOUR OWN WORDS in the spaces provided.

OBSERVE

            1. Look closely at the dots of light on the poster "The Earth at Night"

Describe the various shapes and sizes! (HINT: Look at the legend at the bottom)

Dots are probably.........................................................................................

Blurs or blotches could be ............................................................................

                                                                                          (1)

            2. Locate large areas of darkness. What could they be?

                                                                                          (1)

            3. Using the legend below the satellite complilation try to identify two of the

            largest dots of light.

                        1.

                        2.

                                                                                          (2)

            4. Are your city's lights observable?                                                     (1)

INTERPRET

            5. Are all of the dots of light cities?          Explain:

                                                                                          (2)

            6. Why can't you see clouds in this poster?

                                                                                       (1)

            7. The poster is actually a PHOTOMOSAIC, that is one picture made up from

many pictures that fit together like a puzzle. Why was this technique used in

this poster?

                                                                                          (1) 

8. Could all of the pictures have been taken in one orbit?

Explain your answer:

                                                                                          (2)

APPLY

9. Where would be the best place in Australia to build an astronomical observatory?

Why would this be the best place?

What would be the major problem with building it at your chosen site?

                                                                                          (3)

10. Which countries are well outlined by lights?

                                                                                          (2)   

Why is it that the countries you mentioned are so well outlined by lights?

                                                                                          (1)

11. How would this poster have looked if the photomosaic was made 100 years

ago?

                                                                                         (1)

12. How might this picture change (if at all) if it was made 100 years from now?

Explain:

                                                                                         (1)

13. Could you use this photomosaic to estimate the population density (how many

people occupy a given area) ? Explain why or why not!

                                                                                         (1)

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                                                       TOTAL: