Constellations
How do telescopes help us study the stars?
Telescopes make objects that are very far away, such as stars and planets, appear closer.
Why is the Sun important to life on Earth?
The sun is important to life on Earth because it is our closest star and provides us with heat and light. Without heat and light from the Sun, plants and animals would not be able to survive on Earth.
Who came up the laws of gravity?
Isaac Newton
What causes the cycle of day and night on Earth?
Day and night is caused by Earth rotating on its axis once every 24 hours.
Why do constellations change with the seasons?
The constellations have been in the same positions for thousands of years. As Earth orbits the sun, it goes through different areas of space. This means that each season. Earth is in a different part of space. For this reason, the constellations that can be seen from Earth change with the seasons.
How are other stars different from the sun?
Our sun appears very large, because it is so close to us. All other stars are so far away that they appear to be points of light. But stars vary in size, with some being smaller and some much larger than our sun. Even stars that are thousands of times larger than the sun appear small because they are so far away.
Is the sun’s path through the sky predictable?
The sun has a pattern as it moves through the sky from day to day and from season to season.
How does gravity affect things on or near Earth?
Things tend to fall toward the Earth when dropped. Gravity is the force of attraction between any two masses.
Why are different constellations visible at different seasons of the year?
This happens because as the Earth revolves around the sun throughout the year, that portion of the night sky we see, and therefore individual constellations, is constantly changing.
Why do the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasonal experiences?
The Earth’s tilt causes this. The northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun when the southern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. The different angles of sunlight mean that the seasons are always opposite in northern and southern hemispheres.
What is a constellation?
A constellation is a group of stars that forms a pattern or image.
What are the properties of our Sun?
Our Sun is an average sized star. It is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gases. There are billions of stars in the universe, but the Sun is the most important to Earth.
How do mass and distance affect the gravitational pull between objects?
The greater the masses of two object, the greater the gravitational pull between them. The smaller the distance between two objects, the greater the gravitational pull between them.
When it is day on one side of the Earth, what is happening on the other side of Earth?
When one side of Earth faces the sun, it is day. The side of Earth that isn’t facing the sun is experiencing night.
How long does it take for the Earth to rotate around its own axis?
The Earth rotates around its axis once every 24 hours.
Why do stars appear to move across the night sky?
The stars appear to move because of Earth’s rotation. Constellations also change with the seasons because Earth is orbiting around the sun.
What is the main source of heat energy for our Earth?
The sun is the main source of heat energy for our Earth. We can feel how something is warmed when the sun shines on it. We can tell that the object cools off when the sun is no longer shining on it.
Why does everything get pulled to earth?
The earth is so much bigger than everything on it, it's gravitational pull is the strongest.
How does Earth’s rotation affect the way we view the planets, the sun, and the stars around us?
Earth’s rotation makes the sun, stars and planets look like they are moving. Really, it’s Earth that’s moving.
How long does it take for the Earth to revolve around the sun?
The Earth revolves around the sun once every 365 days.
What are some ways stars differ from one another?
Stars differ from one another by how large they are, their brightness, and how far away they are from Earth. They also can vary in color from red to yellow to blue and white. Finally, they can differ in how old they are, measured in millions of years.
How many stars do we have in our solar system?
One the Sun
When do you experience gravity?
at all times
What would happen if the earth stopped spinning on its axis? Why?
We would no longer have day and night because one side would always face away and one side would always face the sun.
What causes the cycle of seasons?
Earth’s axis is always tilted in one direction. Because of this, different parts of Earth receive different angles of sunlight. This affects day length and warmth. For most places on Earth, the angle of sunlight changes as the Earth revolves around the sun. We see this as a change of season.