Astrognosy/Laboratory

This diagram illustrates the theoretical structure of the interior of the Earth. Credit: Dake.

This laboratory is an activity for you to engage in astrognosy. While it may become a part of the radiation astronomy course principles of radiation astronomy, it is also independent.

By combining a theory with experimental testing, you are to accomplish the mission of explaining an astronomical situation.

This learning activity is a series of puzzles about the constitution of known and unknown objects or sources, where you are free to make some guesses, evaluate them, and test your suppositions against observations.

Evaluation evaluation activity

Earth

Main resource: Rocks/Rocky objects/Earth

This image is a composite of the first picture of the Earth in X-rays over a diagram of the Earth below. Credit: NASA, Ruth Netting.

This diagram shows the approximate magnetic north pole positions of the Earth. Credit: Tentotwo.

On this diagram, the black cross indicates the geographic North Pole. Credit: The National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Def. the geological study of the Earth's structure and composition is called geognosy.

The Earth is a known astronomical object. It is usually not thought of as an X-ray source.

At right is a composite image which contains the first picture of the Earth in X-rays, taken in March, 1996, with the orbiting Polar satellite. The area of brightest X-ray emission is red. An appropriate projection of the Earth has been added.

While an interpretation can be found in X-ray astronomy, what if anything does this X-ray image tell you about the astrognosy, or geognosy, of Earth?

Try calculating a correlation factor for the location of highest X-ray intensity with the most likely location of the Earth's magnetic north pole, indicated in the diagram on the left.

The second image on the left shows the approximate location of the geographic north pole of Earth per its rotation.

Calculate a correlation factor between the center of X-ray intensity and this pole. Which correlation factor is greatest?

Another source, on the journal's abstract page, allows you access to several figures from the text. On those, where there is a center of X-ray intensity similar to the one shown here, estimate its latitude and longitude, and compare correlation factors between the two north poles of Earth.

The Earth is estimated to have a net charge on its solid and liquid surface of 300,000 coulombs. What is the magnetic strength of the geographic north pole?

Is the magnetic strength of the geographic north pole greater than that of the magnetic north pole?

Sampling

This diagram shows the approximate magnetic north pole positions of the Earth. Credit: Cavit.

File:Suspended spherical magnet.png

The image shows a levitating magnetic sphere. Credit: bis0uhr.

In the image on the right, the magnetic north pole of the Earth has been relocating itself. Its movement even appears to be accelerating.

On the left is a solid, spherical magnet suspended between two poles of another magnet generated by an electric current. The cable connected to an outlet is on the lower right edge.

From geoseismology the Earth is known not to be a solid spheroid. Some liquid exist between the crust and the inner core (an apparent solid). As silicate minerals can carry current, it is likely that the liquid portion is also electrically conducting.

To conduct an experiment I am assuming that the projection on the right has been made to allow correct distances to be measured. I will use a millimeter scale and the file image on the file page to measure distances between pole points paired with dates and approximate locations.

Likely Locations and Movements of the Earth's Magnetic North Pole

Date	Latitude °	Longitude °	Distance (mm)	Years	△ in Direction °	Accelerations
1590	74	-112	0	0	0	0
1600	76	-112	9	10	0	0
1632	77	-111	8	32	180, -45	2
1700	74.5	-114	15	68	+45	1
1730	73	-115	8	30	-180, +60	2
1800	72	-102	21	70	30	1
1831	70	-97	13	31	-30	1
1859	69	-97	14	28	180	1
1904	70.5	-97	2	45	+30	1
1948	74	-100	20	44	-3	1
1962	75	-100	6	14	-2	1
1973	76	-100	4	11	10	1
1984	77	-103	5	11	0	0
1994	78	-105	6	10	0	0
2001	81	-111	17	7	0	0
2007	84	-120	16	6	0	0

Scale: 100 km : 5 mm.

Hypotheses

Main resource: Hypotheses

1. The internal structure of each astronomical object should contain an electrically conducting medium of some kind.
2. The liquid magnetic sphere within the Earth is moving such that the North magnetic dip pole is coming closer to the geographic North pole.

I will provide an example of a control group for my astrognosy example. You will need to provide at least one also.

See also

• Astrognosy
• Geoseismology

External links

• International Astronomical Union
• NASA's National Space Science Data Center
• Office of Scientific & Technical Information
• The SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System
• SIMBAD Astronomical Database
• SIMBAD Web interface, Harvard alternate
• Spacecraft Query at NASA
• Universal coordinate converter

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