ASTRONOMY

Scientific study of stars, planets and other things in space. What is Astronomy?? Scientific study of stars, planets and other things in space.

Three main theories of the origin of the universe. Big Bang theory Steady State theory Creation theory

The universe has always been as it is today Steady State Theory The universe has always been as it is today New matter is always being produced The universe is continuously contracting and expanding.

Big Bang Theory Billions of years ago the universe was packed in a small space-Primeval Atom It explodes and threw matter in all directions The explosion caused the formation of the galaxies.

God created the Heavens and the Earth. Adam and Eve Religion Creation Theory God created the Heavens and the Earth. Adam and Eve Religion

The universe is made up of millions of Galaxies. A galaxy is a swarm of billions of stars, clouds and dust rotating around a central point.

Our galaxy is called the Milky Way Our WHOLE solar system is located right about here X

Cycles of the Sky Seasons Moon movement Eclipses Moons effect on Earth Stars life cycle

Rotation vs Revolution Rotation- spinning of an object: Night and day Revolution- movement of one object around another object

EARTH

The Earth is tilted on it’s axis 23.5 degrees. This is why we have seasons.

Astronomical Instruments

Telescopes Gather light and focus it into images 2 Types: Refracting- uses a lens to gather light Reflecting- uses a mirror to gather light

Photometer Light meter to measure brightness

Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Computer chip that contains millions of light detectors Can detect bright (high energy) and faint (lower energy) at the same time Can be converted to numerical data to be analyzed.

Spectrographs Spreads white light according to wavelengths Most of the other wavelengths don’t make it to Earth’s surface.

Moon Facts Distance from Earth: 250,000 miles Circumference: 7,000 miles Diameter: 2,000 miles ** The moon is about a ¼ of the size of Earth. Gravitational Pull: 1/6 that of the Earth. Ex) If you weight 100 pounds on the Earth, you would weigh about 16 .5 pounds on the moon!

The Background Info. The Moon is the Earths only natural satellite. Lunar- From the moon. 1609, Galileo was the 1st person to fully examine the moon through a telescope.

Effects of only a little gravity on the moon: No water No atmosphere No air Effects of no air: No sound No wind to carry warmth to cold areas Topography: Craters, mountains, smooth plains, valleys

Bright side is 200-300 degrees! Temperature on the Moon Dark side is –270 degrees! Below Zero! Bright side is 200-300 degrees!

Due to the extreme conditions on the moon astronauts must were a suit like this.

Phases of the Moon

Rotation: 27 1/3 days Revolution: 27 1/3 days -We only see one side of the since the rotation and revolution are the same. -Astronauts had to orbit the moon to see the other side.

Half of the Moon is ALWAYS lit-up Sunlight

The Moon appears to have phases because it is revolving around us. Quarter/Half Moon New Moon Full Moon (sunlight) Quarter/Half Moon

ECLIPSES

This is how we knew the Earth was round! LUNAR ECLIPSE When the Earth gets between the Sun and the Moon. The Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. This is how we knew the Earth was round!

Lunar Eclipse

SOLAR ECLIPSE When the Moon gets between the Sun and Earth. The Moon casts a small shadow on the Earth.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

LUNAR ECLIPSE

This is a picture of the Earth from the moon. Cool Pictures of the Moon This is a picture of the Earth from the moon.

This shows the craters and the smooth areas on the moon.

This shows the surface of the moon Little Astronaut

And away we go!

Constellation Model Constellation- a group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern; help identify points in space Started as ancient made up models. Invented by farmers to know when to plant crops. 1929 official constellations adopted including all stars in only one constellation.

The Zodiac- Find January move counterclockwise Gemini (January 1st) Cancer Leo Virgo Libria Scorpius Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces Aries Taurus