Day 1 :Introduction to astronomy
What is astronomy ?
- Astronomy is the scientific study of the universe
Describe mercury ?
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system
Who was Kepler's assistant ?
T . Brahe
Which planet is the only one to sustain life ?
Earth .
How old is the sun?
5 billion years
What is the Order of the Astronomical hierarchy from largest to smallest ?
Universe , galaxy solar system , planets
Which is the only planet with liquid water ?
Earth .
What did Johannes Kepler conclude ?
- Kepler concluded that all of the planets revolved around the sun in elliptical orbits
Describe earth's shape
- Earth's shape is a oblate spheroid , and has wider circumferences at equator .
What is the name of the sun's lovely nickname
" Heart of the solar system "
What is the big bang theory and how was it formed ?
The big bang theory explains the formation of the universe (13.7 billion years ago) and the theory was formed as the universe began as a dense point that created a cosmic explosion .
Describe all the three requirements a planet must have ?
Three requirements :
1. Must have a primary orbit around the sun
2 . Must have enough mass and be spherical in shape
3 . Must clear it's neighborhood .
Describe eccentricity ?
The orbital eccentricity of an astronomical object is a parameter that determines the amount by which it's orbit around another body deviates from a perfect circle .
What is a rotation , and describe time on a rotation
A rotation is earth spins on it's own axis , and there is 24 hours on the earth's rotation.
Name the 2 different types of nuclear functions and describe them
Fusion : Two atoms unite under heat and pressure
Fission : The release of heat by splitting atoms .
Describe the two famous astronomers , and describe which one created the geocentric and heliocentric theory
- Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer who believed that the earth was at the center of the universe and that the other planets and the sun revolved around the sun , While Nicolas Copernicus was a polish astronomer who believed in the heliocentric theory , this theory explained the movement of the planets around the sun
Describe Venus atmosphere , and why this planet is the hottest planet in our solar system ?
- Venus has an incredibly thick atmosphere that holds in greenhouse gases , making it the hottest planet in our solar system
What is the name of Kepler's second law? , and describe the law and it's effects
Name the three theories that caused the moon to form , and describe each theory and it's belief .
Capture theory - Earth's gravity pulled into orbit
Co creation theory - Earth and moon were formed and cooled at the same time
Giant Impact theory : While the Earth was cooling a " Mars like" object hit the angle and broke off a piece of that crust .
Describe the fusion's process , and what happens
During the fusion process , radiant energy is released . it can take 150,000 years for energy in the sun's core to make it's way to the solar system
Describe what the Jovian planets are , and name all the Jovian planets ?
The Jovian planets are the gaseous outermost planets of our solar system , the Jovian planets are Jupiter , Saturn , Uranus , and Neptune.
What is Barycenter , and describe what this effect has on our solar system
Barycenter is the point between two objects where the balance each other , and when a moon orbits a planet , but bodies are actually orbiting around the planet that lies outside the center of the larger body .
Describe Kepler third law , and it's effects
Kepler's third law was a mathematical formula and described that the square of the orbital period of a planet is directional to the cube of the semi- major axis of it's orbit .
Name all the rocky types , and landscapes of a moon
Rocky types : silicates , anorthosite ,lithophiles
Landscape : Craters , Mare basalts
Describe the Doppler effect , and the differences between the two different type of shifts
Redshift and blue shift describe how light/sound shifts toward shorter or longer wavelengths as objects in space ( Such as stars or galaxies ) move close or farther from us.