Astronomy Club Meeting and Problem of the Week

1. "Why are you probably less popular than your friends?"

2. Do you think the image of the Earth-Moon below is real? Why or why not?

3. Do you expect the night sky to be darkest in the direction opposite the Sun? Why or why not?

4. Why is a Full Moon highest in the sky during winter?

Astronomy Club Meeting and Problem of the Week

Problem of the Week:

This week's evening sky presents a great opportunity to see both Mercury and Jupiter in the west just after sunset. Go outside, observe them, and estimate their relative brightness. Based on your knowledge of those planets and their orbits, predict their relative brightness. Then compare your prediction with your observations. Treat this problem like a Fermi problem to do in your head without looking up any details.

Astronomy Puzzle of the Week

The figure below plots the total brightness of a Solar System object like the Moon as a function of its phase. You might not expect the "surge" in brightness near Full phase.

1. What was your expectation for the trend of brightness and why?
2. How can you explain the fact that the Moon appears brighter at Full phase that you would expect geometrically?