Some Old Guys
Ptolemy is credited with...?
The first mathematical based model of a geocentric solar system
Einstein’s most significant contribution to astronomy was...?
Relativity
What is the primary purpose of a telescope?
Gather and focus light
What was Copernicus’s model of the universe and why wasn’t it accepted?
Sun-centered (Heliocentric) and that was counter to the doctrine of the Catholic Church
Computer modeling’s advantages are...?
Can compress time so lengthy events can be observed, can allow astronomers to change different factors and see the outcome, can be used to study things too far or too dangerous to see otherwise
The Copernican heliocentric model was actually first proposed by...?
Aristarchus
What was Sir William Huggins' contribution to astronomy?
First to use a spectrometer in astronomy
What are the advantages of the Hubble Space Telescope?
It is above the atmosphere, so it is free from atmospheric distortion
The Chinese and the Babylonians are known for what aspect of their astronomical study?
They wrote down their observations
Examples of evidence that early human cultures observed astronomical phenomena...?
Calendars, alignments of structures, etc
Aristotle’s philosophy of the universe was the basis for...?
Ptolemy’s geocentric model
Henrietta Leavitt, while unable to use a telescope to actually observe the heavens, made which discovery that revolutionized astronomers’ ability to calculate distance?
Period - luminosity relationship in Cepheid variable stars
Why is a mountain top is a good location for optical and infrared telescopes?
Minimal atmosphere disturbance, cooler temps for equipment efficiency, and minimal external light interference.
If you were an ancient South Pacific Islander traveling between islands, what would be the primary purpose for studying the cosmos?
Navigation
What are the things common to all ancient cultures and their study of the heavens?
Needed calendars for agriculture and scary events (eclipses), worship of heavenly objects, astrology
Who proposed the first mathematical explanation of motion?
Sir Isaac Newton
Annie Jump Cannon was responsible for...?
A classification system for stars based on temperature
Most modern astronomical observations are made by...?
Looking at EM spectrum outside that of visible light.
Which accomplishment is associated with Adam Riess?
Evidence of accelerating expansion of the universe and confirmation of Dark Energy.
Parallax is...?
The observed displacement of a star due to the changing position of the earth.
Which Awesome Astronomer provided the direct means for Newton to develop his law of universal gravitation?
Kepler and his equations for the laws of planetary motion
What was Fritz Zwicky's major contribution to astronomy?
First proposed more matter in the universe than could be observed - Dark Matter
Which astronomical tool provided the best evidence for the Big Bang theory?
Radio telescope - Cosmic Background Radiation
What is the “chain” of astronomers that led to the discovery of Dark Matter?
Aristarchus, Copernicus (helio-centric), Brahe (data), Kepler (laws of orbital motion), Newton (gravity), Leavitt (distance), Einstein (relativity -refined gravity, predicts dark matter), Hubble (discovered other galaxies), Zwicky (studied galaxies, proposed more matter than could be seen), Rubin (noticed stars in galaxies didn’t rotate at rates predicted by Kepler and newton - had to be more matter than seen - Dark Matter)
What is the “chain” of astronomers that led to the discovery that the cosmos was made up of multiple galaxies and expanding?
(abbreviated list) Aristarchus, Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Newton, Leavitt, Einstein, Hubble