Vocab
A unit of length used for distances within the solar system; the average distance between Earth and the Sun.
AU or Astronomical Unit
Thickness of a piece of paper
millimeter
Is the shift of a star actual or apparent?
Which is simpler? A washboard or a washing machine?
A washboard
Which is larger? The diameter of the solar system or the diameter of the Sun?
The diameter of the solar system
The study of the Universe on its largest scale, including its origin.
Cosmology
Distance to Andromeda (our neighboring galaxy)
lightyear
What is the relationship between parallax and distance?
As distance increases, parallax decreases, or vice versa.
Which is more complex? A telegraph or a fax machine?
A fax machine
How old is our universe?
13.8 billion years old
Degrees of magnification, or perspective, used to measure time, space, and size.
Scale
Distance to the Asteroid Belt
AU
How long do we have to wait to get a second point of view to see a star's change in position?
6 months
Why is a more complex thing more fragile?
More complex things require more parts and a precise arrangement. If a piece is missing or out of place, it does not work.
How old is Earth?
4.5 billion years old
A unit used in astronomy to describe large distances (1=3.26 ly).
Parsec
Distance to Gladstone
kilometer
What is the farthest distance we can use parallax to determine the distance of a star?
1,000 ly
What two parts do we need to have emergent properties?
Diverse ingredients and precise arrangement.
What holds everything together in our Universe?
Gravity
All the matter and energy in existence, as well as the space that contains it.
Universe
Distance to Oort Cloud
AU
What is parallax helping astronomers actually measure?
Stellar distance
What does the second law of thermodynamics state?
Everything in the universe tends to become less and less organized.
How old is light from a star that is 3 ly away?
3 years old