Our Our UniverseUniverse

Our galaxy is known as Our galaxy is known as the Milky Way.the Milky Way.

There are thousands of There are thousands of other galaxies in our other galaxies in our

universe.universe.

Other galaxies in Other galaxies in our universe have our universe have many similarities many similarities

to our to our Milky Way.Milky Way.

Other Other galaxies of galaxies of our universe our universe appear to appear to have the have the same same elements elements (like those (like those found on our found on our Periodic Periodic Table of the Table of the elements).elements).

They also appear to They also appear to have the same kinds have the same kinds

of forces, such as of forces, such as gravity.gravity.

And they appear to And they appear to have similar energy have similar energy

sources – such as sources – such as energy from stars energy from stars (like our sun), and (like our sun), and

internal heat energy internal heat energy within large bodies within large bodies (like our planets).(like our planets).

Most of what we know Most of what we know about our vast universe about our vast universe

so far has been so far has been discovered using tools discovered using tools and technology such as and technology such as

the Hubble Space the Hubble Space Telescope.Telescope.

How vast is vast?How vast is vast?The farthest thing The farthest thing ever observed by ever observed by

humans is a quasar humans is a quasar 12 billion light years 12 billion light years

away. away.

Since a light year is Since a light year is the distance light the distance light travels in a given travels in a given

year, 12 billion light year, 12 billion light years is how far years is how far

light would travel in light would travel in 12 billion years.12 billion years.

How big is a billion?How big is a billion?

It would take about It would take about 32 years to count to 32 years to count to

one billion if you one billion if you count one number count one number

per second and per second and NEVER stop or NEVER stop or pause at all!pause at all!

Light travels Light travels 300,000 300,000

kilometers kilometers per second!per second!

So 12 billion So 12 billion light years is a light years is a very long way!very long way!

Scientists estimate that Scientists estimate that the universe is the universe is

approximately 15 billion approximately 15 billion light years across. That light years across. That means it would take 15 means it would take 15 billion years traveling at billion years traveling at

the speed of light the speed of light (something we can’t do (something we can’t do yet) to reach the edges yet) to reach the edges

of the universe!of the universe!

There are many more There are many more things to discover about things to discover about

our universe, but because our universe, but because it is so vast, it will take a it is so vast, it will take a long time for scientists to long time for scientists to

develop more ways to develop more ways to explore it.explore it.

The name of the galaxy in which you find our solar

system is the

A: Black HoleB: Double SpiralC: AndromedaD: Milky Way

How many galaxies are in our universe?

A: thousandsB: hundreds

C: tenD: just ours

The same elements found in our Periodic Table of the elements can be found in stars and celestial bodies throughout the universe.

A: TrueB: False

The force of gravity is only found within our solar

system.

A: TrueB: False

Celestial bodies throughout the universe get their energy from our sun.

A: TrueB: False

Most of the information we have discovered about the distant universe has come

from

A: the Hubble Telescope.B: the Apollo program.

C: space travel.D: the International Space

Station (ISS).

The farthest object ever observed by humans is a

quasar that is

A: 12 billion miles away.B: 4 billion kilometers

away.C: 12 billion light years

away.D: 10 million kilometers

away.

A light year is

A: the distance between the Earth and the sun.B: the time it takes to

travel to the moon.C: the distance light

travels in one Earth year.D: 365 days.

It would take 32 years to travel to the end of the

universe in a space ship.

A: TrueB: False

You are looking into the night sky and notice a particular star. You

research the star and find out it is 5,000 light years away. Which of

the following is true?

A: the star is 5,000 years oldB: the light you see from that

star today began its travel 5,000 years ago

C: the star will explode and die within 10 years from now

D: none of the above