Our Geographic Coordinates (24Set2008)

Today at Escola Secundária de Loulé students made a GPS activity. They have measured our geographic coordinates and obtained our coordinates: Latitude-37°8'33.01" N; Longitude - 8°1'3.56" W.

Studenst also learned the proinciples of the GPS system functioning and how to navigate using a GPS receptor.

The sunset on September 23rd

We took pictures of the Sunset on September 23rd (equinox day) in order to allow us to see the way sunsets change along the year.

Using the ancient way to find latitude (23Set2008)

Students have used the shadow of a pole to measure their local latitude.

Today the Sun is precisely over the Equator and therefore we can use the sahadow produced by a pole a noon to measure the latitude. The angle that the shadow produces at the top of the pole will be exactly the same as the latitude of the place.

Our students have obtained a latitude of 37º N. The fact that it is in the northern hemisphere was deduced by the fact that the shadow was produced in that direction (confirmed by a compass) which means that the Sun is South of the place.