Astronomy: The original Science Unit 6: Sixth Grade

Imagine that it’s 5,000 years ago, and you are alive…. Clocks and modern calendars have not yet been invented… How would you know what time it is???? How would you know that your birthday is just a week away???

One way to tell the passage of time is to study the movement of the stars, planets and the moon People in ancient cultures used the seasonal cycles of the stars, the planets, and the moon to plan when to plant and harvest crops, when it would be safe to travel, and to explain nature

Our modern Calendar Although ancient cultures did not fully understand how the planets, moon and stars move in relation to each other, their observations led to the first calendars. The months and days of our modern calendar are based on the observations of bodies in our solar system. A year is the amount of time it takes for the Earth to revolve once around the sun A month is roughly the amount of time it takes for the moon to revolve around the Earth. The word month comes from the word moon A day is the time required for the Earth to rotate once on its axis The names of our days of the week come from the names of planets

Astronomy is the study of the universe

Early Astronomers Studying the movement of objects in the sky was so important to these ancient cultures that they built observatories to better see them Over time, this study of the night sky became the science of astronomy

Early Astronomers Early astronomical views have given us much more than our modern calendar! The careful observations and work by the early astronomers helped people understand their place in the universe. Almost everything the early astronomers knew about the universe came from what they saw with their own eyes, discussed with other people and decided in their own minds. Not surprisingly, most early astronomers thought that our entire universe consisted of our earth, the sun and the moon, and though the stars were the edge of the universe. In fact, the earliest astronomers, such as Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe believed in a Geocentric model of our solar system Point #3 to GO

The Geocentric model of our solar system The geocentric model of the universe, as developed by Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, is the belief that the Earth is the center of our solar system, and the other planets, the Sun and the Moon all revolved around us. For over 1,500 years Ptolemy’s model of Geocentrism was the most popular belief for how our solar system was structured. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiBIFlvu-X0

The Geocentric model of our solar system Although it goes against what we have been taught and believe to be true, there is some evidence that supports the geocentric model; It appears as if all objects in space fall to Earth We can’t feel the Earth moving, so we must be fixed and the Sun is orbiting us. The stars appear to be moving, and the Sun is a star

Heliocentric Model of our solar system In 1543, Copernicus, a Polish astronomer published a controversial new theory: Heliocentrism Heliocentrism is the belief that the Sun is the center of the solar system and that not only are the other planets and their moons are revolving around it, but that we (the Earth) and our moon are revolving around the sun as well! This was not widely accepted at first, and it took MANY years for his beliefs to be accepted.

New Technology, new ideas In 1609, Copernicus’s theory of a sun- centered solar system started to gain support due to Galileo’s development of the telescope. Now astronomers did not have to rely on the observations made with the naked eye. Telescopes allowed them to see further and further into the sky and to make new observations that would support Copernicus. And then, 200 years ago, Newton’s Laws of Gravitation were developed and unequivocally proven. Gravity works on all objects equally The larger the mass = stronger the gravitational field

Heliocentric model of our solar system This new technology and new ideas gave evidence that support the heliocentric model. The Sun is enormous, which means it has a greater gravitational pull Stellar Aberrations: the apparent movement of the stars was actually due to our movement. Over 300 other planets have been observed orbiting a star, but not one star has ever been observed orbiting a planet.

Modern Astronomy The most significant discoveries in the development of modern astronomy were the telescope (Galileo) and the description of gravity (Newton). In the 200 years after Newton’s laws of gravity were discovered and developed, scientists made many discoveries in our solar system. But in the 1920’s an even more exciting discovery was made: we are not the only galaxy in the universe!

Beyond the edge of the milky way Before the 1920’s many astronomers thought that our galaxy, the Milky Way, included every object in space. In 1924, Edwin Hubble made observations and collected data that proved that other galaxies existed beyond the edge of our galaxy. Today, larger and better telescopes on the Earth and in space, study space. We are continuing to learn about the universe and all that it contains through the use of these telescopes, computers and data.

Assignment: Geocentric/Heliocentric debate EQ: How does the model of our solar system different from past models?

The Past Almost everything the early astronomers knew about the universe came from what they saw with their own eyes, discussed with other people and decided in their own minds. Not surprisingly, most early astronomers thought that our entire universe consisted of our earth, the sun and the moon, and though the stars were the edge of the universe. In fact, the earliest astronomers, such as Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe believed in a Geocentric model of our solar system The geocentric model of the universe, as developed by Ptolemy, a Greek astronomer, is the belief that the Earth is the center of our solar system, and the other planets, the Sun and the Moon all revolved around us. For over 1,500 years Ptolemy’s model of Geocentrism was the most popular belief for how our solar system was structured.

Evidence for Geocentrism It appears as if all objects in space fall to Earth We can’t feel the Earth moving, so we must be fixed and the Sun is orbiting us. The stars appear to be moving, and the Sun is a star

The new idea … In 1543, Copernicus, a Polish astronomer published a controversial new theory: Heliocentrism Heliocentrism is the belief that the Sun is the center of the solar system and that not only are the other planets and their moons are revolving around it, but that we (the Earth) and our moon are revolving around the sun as well! This was not widely accepted at first, and it took MANY years for his beliefs to be accepted.

New technology, new ideas In 1609, Copernicus’s theory of a sun-centered solar system started to gain support due to Galileo’s development of the telescope. Now astronomers did not have to rely on the observations made with the naked eye. Telescopes allowed them to see further and further into the sky and to make new observations that would support Copernicus. And then, 200 years ago, Newton’s Laws of Gravitation were developed and unequivocally proven. Gravity works on all objects equally The larger the mass = stronger the gravitational field This new technology and new ideas gave evidence that support the heliocentric model.

Helicentric evidence The Sun is enormous, which means it has a greater gravitational pull Stellar Aberrations: the apparent movement of the stars was actually due to our movement. Over 300 other planets have been observed orbiting a star, but not one star has ever been observed orbiting a planet.

Today’s assignment Today we will be comparing the geocentric theory of the solar system the heliocentric theory of the solar system It is for a classwork grade Two components: Written work Collaborative poster You will be assigned to support either the geocentric theory or the heliocentric theory Do not let your personal opinions get in the way. Use the evidence provided to prove your point

Today’s assignment You will be given a sheet to fill out asking for general information about your theory. Use #5: Astronomy and the anchor notes to assist you as you work Then, as a group, create a collaborative poster to draw and highlight the evidence that supports your theory. Be prepared with points that would disprove the other theory At 11:08 (3rd period) and 12:37 (4th period) we will debate the two theories.

3rd period groups Geocentric Heliocentric Group H-1 (Table 1) Jacob T. Group G-1 (Table 4) Nurah Sydney Abbie Abby E Group G-2 (Table 5) Chris M Jase Theus Group G-3 (Table 6) KJ Holly Brooke Ashlyn Group G-4 (Table 7) Kyler Georgiana Logan Group H-1 (Table 1) Jacob T. Jake Ian Christian Group H-2 (Table 2) Jocelynne Danielle Alexa Group H-3 (Table 3) Brody Tristan Alex Ethealn

4th period groups Geocentric Heliocentric Group G-1 (Table 5) Chandler Isaiah Wyatt Group G-2 (Table 6) Jared Chase Trenton Kade Group G-3 (Table 7) Avery Alyssa Jayden Group H-1(Table 1) Caleb Conner Colby Group H-2 (Table 2) Taylor Kera Ciara Natalie Group H-3 (Table 3) Emma Taaliyah Kathy