Date column:

- This is the date that you recorded for each observation. It is very important so do not forget to write it down when you make an observation.

Clock Time column:

- This is the time that you record for each observation according to your watch (which you should make sure is correct). You must write down A.M. or P.M. If you don't, I will have no idea which one you are talking about.
 

Decimal CST column:

- CST stands for 'Central Standard Time' and for this you are required to have it on the 24-hour clock (military time). Therefore, if you observe at clock time of 9:30 p.m. you will have to convert. To do this, just add 12 to the hours after noon.

- You must make sure you are in standard time as well. When we are in Daylight Saving Time (starting 2 a.m. April 7), you have to subtract one hour from ALL OF YOUR TIMES (not just the ones you added 12 to).

- You MUST also convert your minutes into decimals - this will help you when you make calculations. I'll give you a few examples:

Phase Sketch column:

- Draw what you saw.
 

Phase Number column:

- I highly encourage you to use decimal phase numbers for the 'in-between' phases. By doing this, you will end up with better results on the graphs you will do for your final project.

Hands/Fists column:

- Don't know how to take an observation? Either check back to Lab D: Observing The Moon or read this section.

- Write down how many fists East (left) or West (right) of South you measured the Moon's position.

- Make VERY sure that you record the direction you went - either to the right or the left of south (left [East] = negative)

Moon's H.A. column:

- The Moon's HA column should have the number of degrees the moon is away from south. To convert:

Day Number column:

- This is the number of days from the beginning of the year (i.e. January 1st). For example, Jan 1 = Day 1, Jan 2 = Day 2, Jan 31 = Day 31, Feb 1 = Day 32, etc...

- Something you may do with this for greater accuracy (only if you want to!) is to make your day number reflect your observation time

Sun's H.A. column:
also see Lab G for how to do this

- Sun's Hour Angle is where the sun is in relation to 0 degrees South (just like the moon). Therefore, if the Sun's H.A. is 0, the time is 12 noon (or so)

- The equation goes as this:  [(CST) - 12.0] * 15 = SUN'S H.A.

Elongation column:
also see Lab G for how to do this

- The equation goes as this:  (Sun's H.A.) - (Moon's H.A.) = ELONGATION

- You have the Sun's H.A. from above and the Moon's H.A. is what you calculated from your hands/fists. REMEMBER, if Moon's H.A. is negative, keep it that way and when you subtract a negative number, it turns positive.

- This brings up a situation: ELONGATION MUST BE POSITIVE. If you get a negative number for elongation, then add 360 degrees until you get a number between 0 and 360 (sometimes you may come up with a rather large negative number)