Astronomy

What is astronomy? Astronomy is the study of the universe and its components. –Planets –Stars –Galaxies –Moons –Comets –Black holes They study these things by using telescopes and going into space (space travel)

Who studies astronomy? Astronomers New discoveries in astronomy are being made continuously.

Questions that astronomers are researching include: How did the universe begin? How old is our planet? Will the sun last forever? What is the universe? Will humans be able to live on earth forever? Is there life on other planets?

Auroras Also called “Northern Lights” Charged particles that become trapped by the Earth’s magnetic field, which collide with gas molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Satellites Another name for moon. Generally are smaller than planets. Some planets have several of these.

Asteroid Fragments of rock which scientists believe are parts of planets that never formed. Most are found between the orbits of Mars & Jupiter forming an asteroid belt.

Luminosity A measure of the actual brightness of a star.

Galaxies Consist of billions of stars. Our universe contains countless galaxies. Ex: Milky Way—spiral galaxy held together by gravitational pull.

Black Holes An object that is so dense that its gravity will allow nothing to escape- not even light. Difficult to detect because they can’t be seen. We can only study the effect they have on nearby stars.

Cosmology and Astronomy Cosmology: The study of the structure, origin, and evolution of the universe. Astronomy: The study of the universe and the objects in it.

The Big Bang Theory Theory of how the universe was created. All matter began as an extremely small volume. About billion years ago, the gases in this matter reacted with each other and “blew up”—throwing particles of matter everywhere. Today, our universe is still expanding with galaxies moving away from each other.

Pulsating Universe The theory which says that the universe will eventually contract—bringing the galaxies back together into a hot mass until another big bang sends matter flying out again. This process will continue forever.

Comet End contains ice, dust, and other frozen substances. As the comet nears the sun, heat causes the outer layer of the nucleus to vaporize releasing the dust and gas that cause a tail to form.

Quasars Emit vast amounts of radio waves and light (energy). Their nature is still not understood. Some scientists say they are galaxies in the early stage of formation.

Constellations Ancient groupings of stars used for navigation and for marking the seasons.

Polaris “North Star”

Revolution vs. Rotation Revolution: The motion of one object around another object in a circular, ellipse, or similar curve. Rotation: The turning of an object on its own axis.

Zodiac Circular backdrop of 12 constellations through which planets appear to move.

Meteor Lumps of rock or metal (asteroids) that have entered the Earth’s atmosphere.

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