AstronomyAstronomy

AstronomyAstronomy

The study of the planets, stars, The study of the planets, stars, and other objects in space.and other objects in space.

HistoryHistory

Nicolaus Nicolaus CopernicusCopernicusPolish AstronomerPolish Astronomer11stst suggested the suggested the

sun was the center sun was the center of the solar systemof the solar system

Put six known Put six known planets in proper planets in proper order.order.

HistoryHistoryGalileo GalileiGalileo Galilei

Italian ScientistItalian ScientistGreatest contributions were his descriptions Greatest contributions were his descriptions

of moving objects.of moving objects.Laid groundwork for the study of gravity by Laid groundwork for the study of gravity by

demonstrating the weight of an object does demonstrating the weight of an object does not affect its rate of fall.not affect its rate of fall.

Discovered four moons of JupiterDiscovered four moons of JupiterObserved and recorded the phases of VenusObserved and recorded the phases of Venus

HistoryHistoryGalileo GalileiGalileo Galilei

Studied the moon’s surfaceStudied the moon’s surfaceTracked sunspotsTracked sunspotsTried by Inquisition in the 1600’s for Tried by Inquisition in the 1600’s for

teaching against current belief of the teaching against current belief of the Catholic Church.Catholic Church.Declared innocent by John Paul II in 1980Declared innocent by John Paul II in 1980

HistoryHistory

Albert EinsteinAlbert EinsteinGerman born German born

American physicistAmerican physicistDeveloped the Developed the

Theory of Relativity Theory of Relativity (E=MC^2)(E=MC^2)Explained the Explained the

motion of particles motion of particles traveling at the traveling at the speed of light.speed of light.

History History

Edwin HubbleEdwin HubbleAmerican American

AstronomerAstronomerFirst discovered First discovered

light beyond our light beyond our galaxy.galaxy.

InstrumentsInstruments

Refracting Refracting TelescopeTelescopeUses an Uses an

objective lens to objective lens to collect light collect light coming from an coming from an object in Spaceobject in SpaceGalileoGalileo

InstrumentsInstruments

Reflecting Reflecting TelescopeTelescopeUses mirrors to Uses mirrors to

reflect and form a reflect and form a magnified image of magnified image of an object which is an object which is seen through a seen through a lens.lens.Issac NewtonIssac Newton

InstrumentsInstruments

Radio TelescopeRadio Telescope Consists of a reflector, Consists of a reflector,

a receiver, and an a receiver, and an antenna and focused antenna and focused on a receiver.on a receiver.

Radio waves are Radio waves are collected by the collected by the antenna and focused antenna and focused on the receiveron the receiver

Grote ReberGrote Reber

InstrumentsInstruments

SpectroscopesSpectroscopes Separates light into Separates light into

wavelengths by means wavelengths by means of a glass prism or of a glass prism or ruled gratings.ruled gratings.

Used to determine Used to determine elements in a starelements in a star

InstrumentsInstruments

RADARRADARSystem that System that

detects an object detects an object beyond the range beyond the range of visible light.of visible light.Used to determine Used to determine

an object’s distance an object’s distance or range.or range.

OriginsOriginsUniverseUniverse

Big Bang TheoryBig Bang TheoryA cosmic explosion occurred 15 to A cosmic explosion occurred 15 to 20 billion years ago.20 billion years ago.Sent matter and energy in all Sent matter and energy in all

directionsdirectionsFrom this matter all objects in the From this matter all objects in the

universe developed.universe developed.

OriginsOriginsSolar SystemSolar System

Nebular HypothesisNebular HypothesisA nebula (gas and dust pulled together A nebula (gas and dust pulled together

by gravity) collapsed due to gravitational by gravity) collapsed due to gravitational forces.forces.

Flattened by gravity, rotation, and pressureFlattened by gravity, rotation, and pressureRegions of condensation eventually Regions of condensation eventually

became the sun and planets, moon and became the sun and planets, moon and other space objects.other space objects.

The SunThe Sun

The SunThe Sun

A medium sized yellow star A medium sized yellow star composed mostly of hydrogen composed mostly of hydrogen and helium.and helium.

Exerts gravity on the planets Exerts gravity on the planets keeping them in orbit.keeping them in orbit.

The SunThe SunStructureStructure

CoreCoreUp to 15,000,000 degrees CelsiusUp to 15,000,000 degrees CelsiusHydrogen and Helium are in constant Hydrogen and Helium are in constant

motionmotionHydrogen is fused into Helium Hydrogen is fused into Helium

This releases the sun’s energyThis releases the sun’s energy

The SunThe SunPhotospherePhotosphere

Innermost layer of the sun’s atmosphereInnermost layer of the sun’s atmosphereChromosphereChromosphere

Middle layer of the sun’s atmosphereMiddle layer of the sun’s atmosphereCoronaCorona

Outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphereOutermost layer of the sun’s atmosphereAlthough its average temperature is over Although its average temperature is over

1,000,000 degrees it produces little heat.1,000,000 degrees it produces little heat.

The SunThe SunActivityActivity

SunspotsSunspotsDark, cooler areas on the Dark, cooler areas on the photospherephotosphereCaused by disturbances in the Caused by disturbances in the

sun’s magnetic fieldsun’s magnetic field

The SunThe SunActivityActivity

Solar FlaresSolar FlaresIntense magnetic storms on the Intense magnetic storms on the sun’s surface.sun’s surface.

The SunThe Sun

ActivityActivityProminencesProminences

Arcs of gas that erupt from Arcs of gas that erupt from the surface of the sun.the surface of the sun.

CometComet

A small mass of ice, rock A small mass of ice, rock and dustand dust

CometCometOrbit the sun in an elliptical orbitOrbit the sun in an elliptical orbit

Have varying periods of revolution (Comet to Have varying periods of revolution (Comet to Comet)Comet)Hailey’s Comet appears every 76 years. (2061)Hailey’s Comet appears every 76 years. (2061)

Originate in an area outside our solar Originate in an area outside our solar systemsystem

Tail – particles of the comet that have Tail – particles of the comet that have been vaporized and forced away from the been vaporized and forced away from the sun.sun.

AsteroidsAsteroids

Small rocky bodies orbiting the Small rocky bodies orbiting the sun in the same direction as the sun in the same direction as the planets.planets.

AsteroidsAsteroidsMost are found in a region between Mars Most are found in a region between Mars

and Jupiterand JupiterKnown as?Known as?

Believed to be fragments of pre-planet Believed to be fragments of pre-planet material.material.What does this mean?What does this mean?

Some cross earth’s orbitSome cross earth’s orbitMeaning?Meaning?

MeteoroidsMeteoroids

Similar to asteroids but Similar to asteroids but smaller.smaller.

MeteoroidMeteoroid MeteorMeteor

A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphereA meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphereBurn up as a result of friction with gas particlesBurn up as a result of friction with gas particles““Falling Star”Falling Star”

MeteoriteMeteoriteA meteor that doesn’t completely burn up and A meteor that doesn’t completely burn up and

reaches Earth’s Surface.reaches Earth’s Surface. Meteor ShowerMeteor Shower

Occur when Earth passes through debris left in a Occur when Earth passes through debris left in a comet’s orbit.comet’s orbit.

StarsStars

Bright Spheres of gasBright Spheres of gasEnergy is produced by nuclear Energy is produced by nuclear

fusion.fusion.

StarsStarsPropertiesProperties

MagnitudeMagnitudeBrightness based on its composition Brightness based on its composition

and distance from the earth.and distance from the earth.Absolute – Actual brightnessAbsolute – Actual brightnessApparent – Brightness as in appears Apparent – Brightness as in appears

from Earthfrom Earth

StarsStarsPropertiesProperties

ColorColorRelated to temperatureRelated to temperature

Hot – BlueHot – BlueCooler – RedCooler – RedMedium - YellowMedium - Yellow

StarsStarsPropertiesProperties

Hertzberg-Russell diagramHertzberg-Russell diagramGraphs absolute magnitude vs. Graphs absolute magnitude vs.

temperaturetemperatureUsed to predict the how long stars will Used to predict the how long stars will

livelive

Life CycleLife Cycle

NebulaNebulaCluster of gas and dust pulled Cluster of gas and dust pulled

together by gravity.together by gravity.Star Forming RegionsStar Forming Regions

Why would they get this name?Why would they get this name?

StarsStars

Life CycleLife CycleProtostarProtostar

Beginning stage in star formation.Beginning stage in star formation.Nuclear formation beginsNuclear formation begins

StarsStars

Life CycleLife CycleMain SequenceMain Sequence

Hydrogen changes to heliumHydrogen changes to heliumMay last billions of yearsMay last billions of years

Dependant on massDependant on mass

StarsStars

Life CycleLife CycleRed GiantRed Giant

Outer surface cools, expands, and becomes red.Outer surface cools, expands, and becomes red.

StarsStarsDeathDeath

Final stage depends on massFinal stage depends on massLow MassLow Mass

Red Giant collapses and becomes a white dwarfRed Giant collapses and becomes a white dwarfMedium MassMedium Mass

Forms planetary nebula (Shed their outer layer) Forms planetary nebula (Shed their outer layer) then a white dwarfthen a white dwarf

MassiveMassiveForm supernovas then may become a very dense Form supernovas then may become a very dense

neutron star or an extremely dense black hole.neutron star or an extremely dense black hole.

Other Stellar ObjectsOther Stellar ObjectsPulsarsPulsars

Spinning neutron stars that send out Spinning neutron stars that send out beams of radiation.beams of radiation.

QuasarsQuasarsVery bright centers of some distant Very bright centers of some distant

galaxies.galaxies.

ConstellationsConstellationsA group of stars that form a pattern.A group of stars that form a pattern.

88 accepted worldwide88 accepted worldwideUsed for navigationUsed for navigationCircumpolar – 5 constellations seen Circumpolar – 5 constellations seen

throughout the year that revolve around the throughout the year that revolve around the North StarNorth StarUrsa Major – Great Bear (includes part of Big Ursa Major – Great Bear (includes part of Big

Dipper)Dipper) Points to the North StarPoints to the North Star

Ursa Minor – Little Bear or Little DipperUrsa Minor – Little Bear or Little Dipper North Star (Polaris) is at the end of its handle.North Star (Polaris) is at the end of its handle.

ConstellationsConstellations

Zodiacal ConstellationsZodiacal ConstellationsBand of 12 constellations moving across Band of 12 constellations moving across

the sky throughout the yearthe sky throughout the year

GalaxiesGalaxies

Huge system of billions of stars Huge system of billions of stars held together by gravity.held together by gravity.

GalaxiesGalaxies

SpiralSpiralDisk shaped with a bulge in the Disk shaped with a bulge in the

center and spiral armscenter and spiral armsExamplesExamples

Milky WayMilky WayAndromedaAndromeda

GalaxiesGalaxies

EllipticalEllipticalSlightly flattened spheres with bright Slightly flattened spheres with bright

centers.centers.Very little gas and dust.Very little gas and dust.

GalaxiesGalaxiesIrregularIrregular

No regular shape.No regular shape.Many starsMany starsGreat clouds of gas and dust.Great clouds of gas and dust.

ExamplesExamplesLarge and Small Magellanic CloudLarge and Small Magellanic Cloud