Star Raiders: Introduction to Astronomy One Earth Foundation Ver 1.3 (2013)

Where do we start?? How are stars formed? How do stars die? Classification of Stars? What constitutes of Solar System? What lies immediately beyond? Our Galaxy and where are we in it? Types of Galaxies

The Kuiper belt , sometimes called the Edgeworth–Kuiper belt is a region of the Solar System, beyond the planets, extending from the orbit of Neptune (at 30 AU) to approximately 50 AU.  Like the asteroid belt, it consists mainly of small bodies, or remnants from the Solar System's formation. While most asteroids are composed primarily of rock and metal, most Kuiper belt objects are composed largely of frozen methane, ammonia and water. It is home to at least three dwarf planets – Pluto , Haumea and Make make

Region beyond the Kuiper belt, extending as far as 1 LY from our sun Region beyond the Kuiper belt, extending as far as 1 LY from our sun. The region where most comets originate.

Who has seen the Milky Way? Our Galaxy Who has seen the Milky Way?

Colliding Galaxies

make up our Universe: lets Piece it together Billions of Galaxies make up our Universe: lets Piece it together

The way forward …. Measures of distance Measuring distances The address of celestial objects Zodiac Viewing options

Measures of distances 1 Astrom. Unit = 149,597,870,700 kms Approx 150 Mil Km Light Year = 9,460,000,000,000 kms Parsec = 3.26 Light Years

Measuring distance in space Hold out your thumb at arm's length, close one of your eyes, and examine the relative position of your thumb against other distant (background) objects, such as a window, wall, or tree. Now look at your thumb with your other eye. What do you notice? Move your thumb closer to your face and repeat the experiment D= 1/p D= distance in parsecs P = angle in arc seconds

Hipparcos (High Precision Parallax Collecting satellite To honour Greek astronomer Hipparchus Period 1989 – 1993 Hipparcos Catalogue = 118,000 stars Tycho Catalogue = 1 Mil stars GAIA Astronometry Satellite Due to launch 2013 Oct Life 5 Years 3 D image of our galaxy Measuring 1 Bil stars

Address of Celestial Objects Right Ascension = Longitude Declination = Altitude

Some facts Our Milky way is 100,000 light years in diameter The Milky way is said to have about 200 ,000,000,000 stars The Core of the milky way falls in the constellation of Sagittarius Our solar system is about 30,000 Ly from the core At the core of the milky way s a massive black hole We can see our own and other galaxies with the naked eye Andromeda and milky way will collide Nearest star: proxima Centauri of Centaurus constellation is 4.2 Ly. S. Hem The brightest star is Sirius of of constellation Canis Majoris and is Mag -1.44. Southern Hemisphere. Distance 8.6 Ly Our sun is Mag -26 On a dark night the naked eye can see about 6000 stars In a metro you could see about 300-500 stars Have we left the Solar System?? Not yet but just about there. Voyager 1 & 2 (1977) are both in the other reaches of solar system There are 88 constellations We have basic data on over 1,000,000 stars and growing

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Some Viewing options Naked Eye Binoculars Astronomy Binoculars Guide scopes Telescopes Electromagnetic Radiation (EM Bandwidth) Radio Waves & Radio Astronomy

Today’s Night Sky

happy Gazing & dark skies Thank you. Wishing you happy Gazing & dark skies Raminder Chowdhary