(1) Find the following places on a globe or in an atlas: (2) Pick one of the following topics and search the web references given below for information about the topic. The objectives of this assignment are (i) to have some fun exploring some interesting sites, (ii) to explore these sites with the goal of extracting specific information, (iii) to collect information and synthesize a coherent summary of your findings. Write a page (approximately 300 words) on the topic of your choice. OK - so this question is really designed for the distance education version of this course. BUT you might find the links and subjects interesting.

(3)

(a) What had the Greeks deduced about the Earth? That the Earth is round, has a circumference of a measured size, is about 4 times larger than the Moon, its shadow causes lunar eclipses. 
(b) What did they deduce about the Moon? That it is a sphere whose monthly cycle of phases is caused by changing illumination by the Sun as it orbits the Earth, that it is about 1/4 the size of the Earth, that its shadow causes solar eclipses on the Earth.
(c) What else had they found out about the lay-out of the Earth/Moon/Sun system? The Sun has to be much bigger than the Earth and much farther from the Earth than the Moon. 
(d) What was thought to be at the center of the universe?  The Earth.
(e) Did the Greeks believe that the Earth moved? Why or why not? They did not believe that the Earth moved because they were not able to measure any parallax motion of the stars over the year - which is what they expected to see if the Earth orbited the Sun.

(4) The second major issue is the retrograde motion of Mars. The modern accepted explanation for retrograde motion is that of the Earth overtaking Mars as both planets orbit the Sun. Looking at Figure 3.7, estimate over what sort of period of time do you need to observe Mars to see its retrograde motion? Seconds? Hours? Days? Months? Years? Well, this is a question on Homework 2 so I will just give you a clue. It is obviously not seconds, hours or years. See if you can estimate the number of months.

(5) Some people reckon that if something "works" then it must be "true". What evidence would you need to be convinced that astrology "works"? For example, how many "events" in a month would have to be accurately predicted? Personally, I'm a skeptic. Astrology would have to have a high rate of correct prediction and virtually never be wrong for me to be convinced it was worth looking in to. Besides, I think the underlying basis is fundamentally flawed. But this is not science, really - more opinion and you are entitled to your own.

(6) Pick one of the following topics and use the web references and the textbook as sources of information. Write a page (~300 words) on the topic you choose.
(a) Compare how two or more cultures viewed an astronomical object (the Sun, Moon, Milky Way, Venus, a constellation, etc.;).
OR
(b) Compare for two or more cultures the roles played by astronomy in the culture.
Again, this is more designed for distance education than a lecture-based course. But I hope you find the links interesting.