What is Earth Science? A. EARTH SCIENCE: the study of Earth and its history B. Earth science is divided into 4 main branches:

1. Geology: study of the lithosphere 2. Oceanography: study of oceans 3. Meteorology: study of weather and climate 4. Astronomy: study of space

What is astronomy? A. ASTRONOMY: the study of stars, planets, and other objects in

space B. Astronomers want to understand the universe and our planet’s

part in the universe. 1. Space exploration started with its study from earth using

telescopes. 2. Our study of space now takes place in space using a great

deal of technology.

How space is explored? A. NASA: National Aeronautics and

Space Administration 1.  A federal agency responsible for

exploring space. 2.  NASA works with private companies

to aid in their work of space exploration.

B. Rocketry is one of NASA’s major focuses in order to get off earth’s surface. 1.  ESCAPE VELOCITY: the speed

and direction required to escape Earth’s gravitational pull.

2.  They must travel at 25,000 mph to fight earth’s pull, which is 32 times faster than the speed of sound at 768 mph.

How space is explored? C. Satellites, probes, landers &

rovers are all other means of exploration 1.  JPL: Jet Propulsion

Laboratory 2.  A number of NASA’s

engineers work for and through JPL to design, build and test vehicles for exploration.

D. NASA is developing & testing new vehicles for exploration. 1.  CSTS: Constellation Space

Transportation System 2.  NASA’s focus is to use ISS

to test equipment designed for a permanent base on the moon and eventually Mars

How space is explored? E. HUBBLE TELESCOPE

1.  First large space telescope launched in 1990

2.  Tasked to view and document the observable universe from above the Earth’s atmosphere

F. KEPLER TELESCOPE

1.  Space observatory launched in 2009

2.  Tasked to discover Earth-sized planets in the Goldilocks Zone of other stars

How space is explored? G. CURIOSITY ROVER

1.  Mars Science Laboratory launched 2011 and landed 2012

2.  Tasked to robotically explore the surface of Mars and determine its past habitability for for microbes

H. VOYAGER 1 PROBE 1.  Interplanetary space probe

launched in 1977 2.  Primary task was to explore

the outer planets and beyond

3.  Secondary task is to explore interstellar space beyond the influence of the Sun

How space is explored? I. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS)

1.  Orbiting Space Habitat launched in 1998 2.  Tasked as a international, zero-G laboratory, astronomy

platform and testing ground for astronauts and equipment headed to the Moon and Mars.

What is the universe? A.  UNIVERSE:thewholeofspaceand

everythinginit1.  Itisbelievedtobeinfinitein

volume2.  Theobservableuniverseisa

spherearoundearthwitharadiusof46billionlightyears.

B.  Theuniverseisgettinglarger.1.  Therearegalaxiesmovingoutand

awayfromearthineverydirection.2.  Thisisevidenceofhowthe

universemayhavestarted.a.   BIGBANGTHEORY:the

universestartedasaverydensepointknownastheSINGULARITYthatexplodedoutward

What are some major features of the universe? A.GALAXY:alargecollectionofstars,

dust,andgasthattravelthroughspaceasonebody.1.  Mostgalaxiesaregroupedtogether

closetooneanother2.  Therearethreecategoriesof

galaxies:a.   SPIRALGALAXIES:galaxies

shapedlikeflatteneddisksb.   ELLIPTICALGALAXIES:galaxies

shapedlikespheresc.   IRREGULARGALAXIES:galaxies

withnodefiniteshape3.  Galaxiesareheldtogetherbygravity

a.Manygalaxiesareheldbythegravityofblackholes

What are some major features of the universe? B.STARS:spheresofgasesthatgiveoffalotofenergy

1.  Moststarsarecomposedofhydrogenandhelium2.  StarsformfromacloudofgasanddustcalledNEBULA

a.  Gravitycausesanebulatocontractandspinb.  Thenebulaflattensandbecomesadiskc.  AbulgeinthecenterformsaPROTOSTARd.  Contraction,temperature,andpressureincreasecausing

nuclearreactions.Anewstarisborn.3.  MoststarsmovethroughspaceinlargegroupscalledSTAR

CLUSTERS.4.  Starsareclassifiedbyitssurfacetemperatureand

brightness.a.  TheH-Rdiagramisusedbyastronomerstoclassifystarsb.  Moststarsfallintoagroupcalledthemainsequence

stars.