So for this astronomy lab course I'm taking, I've had to observe the moon at the same time every night for a a little over a week (I personally chose to observe at 10:00 p.m.). You're to make one observation per night.
Anyway, I've noticed that, according to my data, the moon has increased its direction towards the east on every observation I've made. It has also gradually increased in altitude before reaching a peak and making its gradual descent eastward. This was also as the moon was waxing (and I live in California, i.e. in the northern hemisphere, if that makes any difference?).
Does this make sense? Or did I screw up with my east and west labeling? Or maybe I screwed up somewhere else?
Anyway, I've noticed that, according to my data, the moon has increased its direction towards the east on every observation I've made. It has also gradually increased in altitude before reaching a peak and making its gradual descent eastward. This was also as the moon was waxing (and I live in California, i.e. in the northern hemisphere, if that makes any difference?).
Does this make sense? Or did I screw up with my east and west labeling? Or maybe I screwed up somewhere else?
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Your data are fine. WHere you've fallen down, as so many observers do, is in interpreting them.
You've assumed that, when you observe the moon in the sky at one point, and the next night observe it slightly further east, it has been above you in your sky all that time. It hasn't. The moon rises and sets each day, from the east to the west. If you look at 10.00 each night, then look again at midnight, you'll find the moon has moved toward the west, with the rest of the stars.
What the course is trying to teach you is that, at the same time on successive days, the moon has moved about 12 degrees toward the east, when compared to the background sky. That's because it orbits the Earth in that direction. That's why it was necessary to observe at the same time each day. The stars will be in the same place at the same time each day (or will not have moved enough to notice from one day to another), while you can see the moon has moved to a different place compared to them.
You've assumed that, when you observe the moon in the sky at one point, and the next night observe it slightly further east, it has been above you in your sky all that time. It hasn't. The moon rises and sets each day, from the east to the west. If you look at 10.00 each night, then look again at midnight, you'll find the moon has moved toward the west, with the rest of the stars.
What the course is trying to teach you is that, at the same time on successive days, the moon has moved about 12 degrees toward the east, when compared to the background sky. That's because it orbits the Earth in that direction. That's why it was necessary to observe at the same time each day. The stars will be in the same place at the same time each day (or will not have moved enough to notice from one day to another), while you can see the moon has moved to a different place compared to them.
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Your observation could be right. The fact that the Earth spins on its axis faster than the moon revolves around it, together with the "wabble effect" as it spins, small momentery increased in moon altitude towards the east is possible(depending on the time and position of the observation).
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Because the Moon orbits the earth in about 29 days, the Moon each day moves about 13° eastward as it appears to us in the sky.
This is probably a side discovery that was intended from the asignment besides studying the phases of the Moon.
This is probably a side discovery that was intended from the asignment besides studying the phases of the Moon.
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Sounds like you are on to something. For extra credit, pick a spot in the sky and find out exactly what time the Moon makes it to that spot every night, or just record the time of Moonrise or Moonset every night.
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Get a compass and figure out where North is. Or, find Polaris (North Star). Check a map (north is usually at the top).