Be sure to write down the date and time of each observation. This is important information in all astronomical observations.

Open Starry Night and make sure your view is set to your home location.

If it’s not already visible, turn on the Display palette by clicking the Display icon in the Tool palette.

If it is daylight in your location at the time you do this project, turn daylight off by clicking Daylight on the Display palette.

Turn on the Planet palette by clicking the Planets icon in the Tool palette. Double click Moon in the Planet palette to center the display on the Moon.

1. Is the Moon above or below the horizon? If it is below the horizon, turn off display of the horizon by clicking Horizon in the Display palette. What phase is the Moon in?

Set the time step in the Time palette to one day. Click the Step Time Forward button in the Time palette seven times to move the view forward one week. Watch how the Moon’s phase changes.

2. What phase is the Moon in after one week? Is it above or below the horizon?

Click the Step Time Forward button in the Time palette seven times to move the view forward another week. Watch how the Moon’s phase changes.

3. What phase is the Moon in after two weeks? Is it above or below the horizon?

Click the Step Time Forward button in the Time palette seven times to move the view forward another week. Watch how the Moon’s phase changes.

4. What phase is the Moon in after three weeks? Is it above or below the horizon?

Click the Step Time Forward button in the Time palette seven times to move the view forward another week. Watch how the Moon’s phase changes.

5. What phase is the Moon in after four weeks? Is it above or below the horizon? Is it in the same phase as it was at the beginning of the exercise? If not, explain why.

Use the Lunar Eclipse Computer at the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Data Services web site to obtain data about the next partial or total lunar eclipse visible from your location.

Turn on Onscreen Info by clicking Info in the Display palette.

Set the date and time to an hour before the Moon enters penumbra, using the Time palette.

Make sure the Moon is centered and locked (Planet palette).

Set the field of view to 3° (Tool palette).

Set the time step to 1 minute (Time palette).

Click the Flow Time Forward button in the Time palette and watch the eclipse from the moment the Moon enters penumbra until it sets. (Hint: Stop time from flowing forward or backward by clicking the Stop button in the Time palette.)

Flow Time Backward until just before the Moon enters penumbra. Use the Step Time Forward button to determine the times of the following events (if they occur while the Moon is above the horizon), as closely as possible. Record both the local time from the Time palette and UTC from the Onscreen Info display.

1. Moon enters penumbra

2. Moon enters umbra

3. Moon enters totality (if a total eclipse)

4. Middle of eclipse

5. Moon leaves totality (if a total eclipse)

6. Moon leaves umbra

7. Moon leaves penumbra

8. How well do your data agree with the data given by the U.S. Naval Observatory?