The 42nd Period | STEM Education Hub

📍 Your Assignment

Generating your scenario…

🔒 Constraints

You get the location, date, and time above — nothing else is given to you.
You may use Stellarium Web (or an equivalent planetarium tool) to look up the raw facts: Moon phase, rise/set times, and what's visible.
You may not just screenshot or copy what the tool shows you — your report has to explain and defend those facts using this unit's concepts.
No AI-generated writing. The point of this problem is defending your own reasoning, not reporting someone else's.
One page. Due at the end of Day 3.

📋 Deliverable — Your Report Must Include

Moon phase on the assigned date, with a brief explanation of what determines it.
What's visible overhead at the assigned time — accounting for latitude and circumpolar zones.
Anything that gets in the way — Moon glare, an eclipse, or a clear statement that nothing does.
At least one supporting sketch or calculation — a meridian-altitude calculation, an alt-az sketch, or a phase diagram — that directly backs up a claim in your report.

📅 Day-by-Day Plan

Day 1

Gather the Facts

Set your location, date, and time in Stellarium Web (or your tool of choice) and record the raw facts: Moon phase and illumination, rise/set times, and what's visible in the sky. Note which objects are circumpolar for this latitude.

Day 2

Apply the Concepts

For each fact, ask "why" and answer it using this unit's reasoning — not the tool's. Check whether an eclipse is even plausible for this date. Sketch or calculate at least one supporting piece of work.

Day 3

Write & Submit

Write the one-page report in your own words, attach your supporting sketch or calculation, and submit. Read it once more asking: does every claim have a "because" attached to it?

📊 Grading Rubric — 100 pts

A starting point — adjust weights to fit your class before assigning.

Category	Weight	Exemplary	Proficient	Developing	Incomplete
Accuracy of Sky Facts	20 pts	Moon phase, rise/set, and visible objects are correctly looked up and clearly sourced (tool named).	Facts are mostly correct with a minor lookup error.	Facts are partially correct or the tool/source isn't clear.	Sky facts missing or clearly wrong throughout.
Application of Concepts	35 pts	Correctly applies phase reasoning, circumpolar/alt-az reasoning, seasonal effects, and eclipse plausibility to explain the facts — not just restate them.	Applies most concepts correctly; one area is thin or missing.	Explanation leans on restating facts rather than applying unit concepts, or contains a real misconception.	No application of concepts — facts with no reasoning attached.
Supporting Work	25 pts	At least one clear, correct sketch or calculation (e.g., meridian altitude, alt-az sketch, phase diagram) that directly backs up a claim in the report.	Supporting work present but has a minor error or isn't fully explained.	Supporting work is present but disconnected from the report's claims.	No supporting sketch or calculation submitted.
Clarity, Format & Process	20 pts	Fits one page, well-organized, submitted on time, written in the student's own words.	Mostly organized and on time; small formatting issues.	Disorganized, over length, or late.	Not submitted, or evidently AI-generated rather than the student's own reasoning.

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🔭 Problem 1.3.1 · Unit 1 of 6 · Single Semester