Podcast
Podcast
Podcast
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Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers
What is the universe?
What is the universe?
The totality of all space, time, matter, and energy.
What is astronomy?
What is astronomy?
Branch of science dedicated to the study of everything in the universe that lies above Earth's atmosphere.
What is a light-year?
What is a light-year?
The distance that light, moving at a constant speed of 300,000 km/s, travels in one year; one is about 10 trillion kilometers.
What is a theory in scientific terms?
What is a theory in scientific terms?
What is a theoretical model?
What is a theoretical model?
What is the scientific method?
What is the scientific method?
What are constellations?
What are constellations?
What is the celestial sphere?
What is the celestial sphere?
What is rotation in an astronomical context?
What is rotation in an astronomical context?
What is a celestial pole?
What is a celestial pole?
What is the celestial equator?
What is the celestial equator?
What is a solar day?
What is a solar day?
What is a sidereal day?
What is a sidereal day?
What is revolution in astronomy?
What is revolution in astronomy?
What is the ecliptic?
What is the ecliptic?
What is the zodiac?
What is the zodiac?
What is the summer solstice?
What is the summer solstice?
What is the winter solstice?
What is the winter solstice?
What is a season?
What is a season?
What is the autumnal equinox?
What is the autumnal equinox?
What is the vernal equinox?
What is the vernal equinox?
What is a tropical year?
What is a tropical year?
What is a sidereal year?
What is a sidereal year?
What is precession?
What is precession?
What is a phase of the Moon?
What is a phase of the Moon?
What is a sidereal month?
What is a sidereal month?
What is a synodic month?
What is a synodic month?
What is an eclipse?
What is an eclipse?
What is a lunar eclipse?
What is a lunar eclipse?
What is a partial eclipse?
What is a partial eclipse?
What is a total eclipse?
What is a total eclipse?
What is a solar eclipse?
What is a solar eclipse?
What is umbra?
What is umbra?
What is penumbra?
What is penumbra?
What is an annular eclipse?
What is an annular eclipse?
What is an eclipse season?
What is an eclipse season?
What is triangulation?
What is triangulation?
What is the cosmic distance scale?
What is the cosmic distance scale?
What is a baseline in astronomy?
What is a baseline in astronomy?
What is parallax?
What is parallax?
Questions and Answers
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Flashcards
Flashcards
Universe
Universe
All of space, time, matter, and energy considered as a whole.
Astronomy
Astronomy
The branch of science which deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.
Light-year
Light-year
The distance light travels in one year.
Scientific method
Scientific method
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Theory
Theory
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Theoretical model
Theoretical model
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Constellations
Constellations
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Celestial sphere
Celestial sphere
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Rotation
Rotation
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Revolution
Revolution
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Solar day
Solar day
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Sidereal day
Sidereal day
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Celestial equator
Celestial equator
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Celestial poles
Celestial poles
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Seasons
Seasons
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Summer solstice
Summer solstice
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Winter solstice
Winter solstice
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Vernal equinox
Vernal equinox
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Autumnal equinox
Autumnal equinox
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Tropical year
Tropical year
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Sidereal year
Sidereal year
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Precession
Precession
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Phase of the Moon
Phase of the Moon
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Eclipses
Eclipses
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Lunar eclipse
Lunar eclipse
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Solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
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Total eclipse
Total eclipse
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Partial eclipse
Partial eclipse
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Triangulation
Triangulation
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Cosmic distance scale
Cosmic distance scale
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Flashcards
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Study Notes
Study Notes
Universe and Astronomy
- Universe encompasses all space, time, matter, and energy.
- Astronomy focuses on celestial phenomena beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Measurements and Definitions
- A light-year equals approximately 10 trillion kilometers, representing the distance light travels in one year at 300,000 km/s.
- The scientific method involves continuous testing and modification of scientific laws.
Theories and Models
- A theory is a framework for explaining observations and predicting real-world outcomes.
- Theoretical models mathematically explain physical processes and make testable predictions.
Celestial Mechanics
- Constellations are recognizable star patterns in the night sky, grouped by human perception.
- The celestial sphere is an imaginary construct where celestial bodies appear attached.
Earth’s Movements
- Rotation refers to an object's spinning around an axis, like Earth on its axis.
- Revolution is the orbital motion around another body, such as Earth around the Sun.
Time Measurement
- A solar day is the time from one overhead Sun position to the next.
- A sidereal day measures the interval between successive appearances of a star.
Celestial Geography
- The celestial equator is Earth's equator projected onto the celestial sphere.
- The celestial poles are projections of Earth's poles onto the celestial sphere.
Seasonal Changes
- Seasons arise from Earth's axial tilt relative to its orbital plane.
- The summer solstice occurs around June 21, marking the Sun’s highest point north of the celestial equator.
- The winter solstice occurs around December 21, marking the Sun’s lowest point south of the celestial equator.
Equinoxes
- The vernal equinox occurs around March 21, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving north.
- The autumnal equinox occurs around September 21, when the Sun crosses southward.
Orbital and Astronomical Periods
- A tropical year lasts from one vernal equinox to the next.
- A sidereal year is the time for constellations to return to their original positions in the sky.
Physical Phenomena
- Precession refers to the slow change in the rotation axis direction due to external gravitational influences.
- The phase of the Moon varies as its sunlit face appears from Earth during its orbit.
Lunar and Solar Eclipses
- Eclipses occur when one celestial body passes in front of another, blocking light.
- A lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow, while a solar eclipse occurs when the new Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth.
- Total eclipses completely obscure a celestial body, while partial eclipses block only part of it.
Measurement Techniques
- Triangulation uses geometry to determine distance via angles from separate locations.
- The cosmic distance scale employs various indirect methods for measuring cosmic distances.
- Baseline refers to the distance between two observation points used in triangulation; larger baselines improve measurement accuracy.
- Parallax gives an apparent motion perspective of an object as the observer’s viewpoint changes.
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