Very simple for most people but need help understanding this. I don't know what it's asking?? ?

Question

I know English but people need to explain things simply to me or else I can't get it. So the teaceher gave us an assignment I`m sure for most people the instructions are easy to comprehend but for me it's a little difficult and ambigious. Here it is:

Look up at the sky on a clear, cloud-free night and note the positions of a few prominent stars relative to such reference markers as rooftops,

telephone poles, and treetops. Also note the location from where you

make your observation. A few hours later, return to that location and

again note the positions of the same stars you observed earlier. How

have their positions changed? From these changes, can you deduce the general direction in which the stars appear to be moving?

I don't get the part where it says "...to such reference markers as rooftops, telephone poles, and treetops." Please explain in other words what the teacher meant by this and what it is asking. I would appreciate it. Try to be understanding because I haven't grown all my life here in the U.S.

Answer 1

I hope this helps. I think its asking you where the stars are in relation to the nearest rooftop, telephone pole etc. For example if you spot the little dipper in the sky, from where you're looking, is it to the west, east, north, or south of the nearest rooftop, pole ot treetop. Then a few hours later check for the little dipper again and see where it is then. Then make a note of which direction it seems to be moving.

~Phoenix

Answer 2

To do this you need a sense of star groupings called constellations. The easiest stars to find in the northern hemisphere are usually the ones in the so-called big dipper--four first and second magntude stars in a rectangle, with two stars in the shape of slightly bent handle off to their left.

When you find those stars, note where they are relative to the immediate landscape in front of you. Look at the end star in the handle, for instance, and see if you can stand in a place where that end star is almost touching the top of a tree or a telephone pole. Mark the spot where you are standing.

Three hours later go outside, find your mark, and stand in the same place. Look for the handle of the big dipper. It will have moved. Where are the stars now? Are they above the top of the tree or the telephone pole or are they below it?

The reason they will have changed is that the earth on which you are standing is turning. The teahcer wants you to deduce something about the way the stars have "moved" from where they before. (Actually, of course, they have not moved but the earth has turned.)  

Answer 3

means you actually got to go up in and to those places and view, note then compare.

Answer 4

She means to use reference points like buildings to figure out where the stars are.

Pick a building, find a star and figure out where that star is right now.  Is it close to the building?  Is it above the building?  Is it on the right of the building?  Is it on the left of the building?  Mark the spot.

Then come back later and see if the star has changed position and mark the new spot.

Answer 5

It means your teachers a moron.  Just go outside, write "this star was above this thing, this other star was above this other thing, etc."  then write "that star moved to over that thing, and that other star moved above that other thing,etc"

Just make it up, its a dumb assignment.

Answer 6

What she means is to look at the stars. See how close they seem to be to things that don't move like trees, houses, telephone poles, etc.

Now, go back a few hours later and look again. Use those same trees, houses, etc. that you used before. Where are the stars now?

Now, the stars will be in different place. From the differences in the first time you looked and the second time you look, which way are they going (north, east, south, west)?

And, good use of Y!A -- congrats!