Introduction ToAstronomy

Introduction ToAstronomy

A little overview of what you might need to know

for the 2010 STAR Test

A little overview of what you might need to know

for the 2010 STAR Test

Our SOL-AR SystemOur SOL-AR System

Contains objects that: Reflect Light and Objects that give off light

We live on a planet-an object that

only reflects light from starslike our sun: SOL

Contains objects that: Reflect Light and Objects that give off light

We live on a planet-an object that

only reflects light from starslike our sun: SOL

Formed over 12 billion years ago

Our UniverseOur Universe

Milky Way GalaxyMilky Way Galaxy

•Our Solar system is located in one of the “spiral arms” of the Milky Way•The Milky Way is just ONE of hundreds of billions of galaxies•Each galaxy contains billions of stars

•Our Solar system is located in one of the “spiral arms” of the Milky Way•The Milky Way is just ONE of hundreds of billions of galaxies•Each galaxy contains billions of stars

Types of GalaxiesTypes of Galaxies

• Spiral• Elliptical• Irregular

• Spiral• Elliptical• Irregular

Stars produce lightStars produce light

• Stars are born in clouds of gas and dust called Nebulae

• Nuclear Fusion creates Helium from Hydrogen

• Helium can fuse to form Carbon

• Heavier elements are formed from supernova explosions

• Stars are born in clouds of gas and dust called Nebulae

• Nuclear Fusion creates Helium from Hydrogen

• Helium can fuse to form Carbon

• Heavier elements are formed from supernova explosions

Basic Star TypesBasic Star Types

• Smaller red and yellow stars like the sun are called main sequence stars

• Massive bright stars begin as white and blue stars

• Supergiant stars form when massive stars die

• Supernova is a massive explosion of a dying star

• Smaller red and yellow stars like the sun are called main sequence stars

• Massive bright stars begin as white and blue stars

• Supergiant stars form when massive stars die

• Supernova is a massive explosion of a dying star

Betelgeuse

DistancesDistances

AU (Astronomical Unit) the distance of the Earth from the Sun (1 AU ∼ 150 million km). Light Year is the distance that light can travel in year, which is 9.46 trillion km.

The Sun is about 93 million miles from the earth. The star nearest to the Sun is Proxima Centauri. Proxima Centauri is 4.3 light-years from the Sun (270,000 AU)

AU (Astronomical Unit) the distance of the Earth from the Sun (1 AU ∼ 150 million km). Light Year is the distance that light can travel in year, which is 9.46 trillion km.

The Sun is about 93 million miles from the earth. The star nearest to the Sun is Proxima Centauri. Proxima Centauri is 4.3 light-years from the Sun (270,000 AU)

Our Solar System

Our Solar System

• Contains other objects that reflect light and orbit other bodies called satellites or moons.

• Our moon: Luna has a lunar cycle of 28 days in which it revolves once around Earth and rotates on its axis in the same period.

• Comets, asteroids and meteroids also reflect light.

• Contains other objects that reflect light and orbit other bodies called satellites or moons.

• Our moon: Luna has a lunar cycle of 28 days in which it revolves once around Earth and rotates on its axis in the same period.

• Comets, asteroids and meteroids also reflect light.

MeteoroidMeteoroid

A meteoroid is a sand to boulder-sized particle of debris. The visible path of a meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere is a meteor, commonly "falling star". If a piece impacts Earth it is called a meteorite.

A meteoroid is a sand to boulder-sized particle of debris. The visible path of a meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere is a meteor, commonly "falling star". If a piece impacts Earth it is called a meteorite.

Asteroids orbit within an area between Jupiter and Mars known as the asteroid belt

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Meteor Crater, Arizona thought to have been formed by a 30m iron asteroid impacting at a speed 36 times speed of sound

Kuiper BeltKuiper Belt

The Kuiper Belt is a disk-shaped region past the orbit of Neptune extending roughly from 30 to 50 AU from the Sun containing many small icy bodies. It is now considered to be the source of the short-period comets.

The Kuiper Belt is a disk-shaped region past the orbit of Neptune extending roughly from 30 to 50 AU from the Sun containing many small icy bodies. It is now considered to be the source of the short-period comets.

Comet’s From The Oort Cloud

Comet’s From The Oort Cloud

The Oort Cloud is a spherical cloud of comets believed to lie roughly 50,000 AU, or nearly a light-year, from the SunOort Cloud objects were formed closer to the Sun than the Kuiper Belt objects.

The Oort Cloud is a spherical cloud of comets believed to lie roughly 50,000 AU, or nearly a light-year, from the SunOort Cloud objects were formed closer to the Sun than the Kuiper Belt objects.

Near Earth ObjectsNear Earth Objects

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/spotlights/200702-neo.cfm

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/spotlights/200702-neo.cfm

That’s All For Now…