Introduction to Astronomy
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of astronomy?

  • Study of black holes
  • Study of stars
  • Study of the universe (correct)
  • Study of planets
  • The Milky Way Galaxy is a type of elliptical galaxy.

    False

    Who was Al Biruni?

    An Iranian polymath and astronomer.

    The ________ is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way.

    <p>Andromeda Galaxy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following galaxies to their descriptions:

    <p>Cigar Galaxy = Known for its elongated shape Sombrero Galaxy = Distinctive hat-like structure Sunflower Galaxy = Spiral galaxy with bright arms Cartwheel Galaxy = Unique ring structure around a central core</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of data do space probes collect?

    <p>Temperature, light, and elemental composition data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Black holes have so much gravity that even light cannot escape from them.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event in space exploration occurred in the 1950s?

    <p>The start of sending space probes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _______ shape of galaxies can become distorted when they collide.

    <p>spiral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a component of the universe?

    <p>Trees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What percentage of the universe is made up of dark matter?

    <p>25 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dark matter can be directly observed with telescopes.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the High Definition Space Telescope?

    <p>To observe astronomical phenomena with a larger mirror than the James Webb Telescope.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dark matter is thought to account for approximately ______ percent of the universe.

    <p>25</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following telescopes has a mirror that is almost twice the size of the James Webb Telescope?

    <p>High Definition Space Telescope</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following celestial objects with their respective descriptions:

    <p>Solar System = Includes planets orbiting a star Galaxy = A massive system of stars, dust and dark matter Star = A luminous celestial body made of plasma Dust = Tiny particles found in interstellar space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of infrared light in astronomy?

    <p>Infrared light allows astronomers to detect cooler celestial objects and observe through dust clouds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Celestial objects in space make up more than 10 percent of the total matter in space.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Most of the gravity in the universe is thought to be produced by ______.

    <p>dark matter</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event occurred for Voyager 1 in 2021?

    <p>Exited the heliosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Data from the Voyager spacecraft takes about 20 minutes to reach Earth.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the photo taken by Voyager 1 that shows Earth from a great distance?

    <p>Pale Blue Dot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Satellites gather climate data, weather patterns, and detect __________.

    <p>air quality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following telescopes with their main features:

    <p>Hubble Telescope = Gathers data on other galaxies James Webb Telescope = Uses infrared light Voyager 1 = Exited the heliosphere Voyager Golden Record = Communication attempt with potential extraterrestrial life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phenomenon do satellites monitor that affects flight patterns?

    <p>Volcanic eruptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    There are approximately 3400 active satellites orbiting Earth as of 2020.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major consequence of climate change on coral reefs?

    <p>Less coral presence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Aral Sea has been nearly destroyed due to __________ for cotton crops.

    <p>irrigation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of waves do satellites send out for gathering data?

    <p>Radio waves and lidar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Astronomy!

    • Astronomy is the study of the universe and everything in it
    • Astronomy is the study of the universe and its components. Biruni (973-1043 AD) was a significant Iranian polymath, astronomer, etc.
    • Learning goals include knowing the major components of the universe.

    Definitions

    • Astronomy is the study of the universe.
    • An astronomer is a person who studies astronomy.
    • The universe is everything that exists, including stars, dust, and galaxies. The universe is made up of the elements found on the periodic table.

    Parts of the Universe

    • The universe contains galaxies.
    • Galaxies contain billions of stars and planets.
    • Examples of galaxies mentioned are the Cigar Galaxy, Sombrero Galaxy, Sunflower Galaxy, Cartwheel galaxy, and Andromeda Galaxy (the next closest galaxy to ours).

    The Milky Way Galaxy

    • Our galaxy is spiral-shaped.
    • The Milky Way contains Sagittarius A* (a black hole) in the middle.
    • Black holes have immense gravity, not even light can escape them
    • Spiral galaxies can be distorted when they collide or get too close to each other.
    • Merging galaxies may create supermassive black holes.
    • The sun is in the Milky Way galaxy.

    Heliocentric Solar Systems & Galaxies

    • Galaxies have billions of stars in them.
    • Stars have solar systems (planets, asteroids, and dust) orbiting them, these are heliocentric.

    Gathering Data

    • Space Probes are unpiloted devices sent from Earth into space.

    • They can land on or float in space.

    • They primarily transmit information by radio.

    • Probes must be able to handle extreme environments.

    • Examples like Voyager 1 & 2, Pioneer 10 & 11, New Horizons, Juno, Cassini, and Galileo have explored the outer planets.

      • Voyager 1 & 2 launched in 1977, initially for four years but still operating.
    • Exited the heliosphere (region of the Sun's influence).

    • Data transmission time to Earth varies depending on the target.

    • Some have golden records for communication with other life forms.

    • Satellites orbit planets, gathering data about weather, climate patterns, clouds and military information. Data is gathered by sensors sending out radio waves (radar) or laser light (lidar).

    • Satellites detect air quality, fires, clouds, smoke, and vegetation cover

    Telescopes

    • Hubble Telescope (1990): A satellite orbiting Earth collecting data on other galaxies.
    • James Webb Telescope (2021): Hubble's successor, has a significantly larger gold mirror, enabling detection of infrared light. Webb utilizes infrared light to observe older galaxies.

    Dark Matter

    • Dark matter is invisible material in the universe.
    • It doesn't emit or absorb light, making it undetectable by telescopes.
    • It composes roughly 25% of the universe.
    • Most of the gravity in the universe is from dark matter.

    Practice Questions

    • Organize vocabulary words (solar system, dust, galaxy, universe, star, planets) in order from largest to smallest.
    • Describe the functions of satellites.
    • Compare and contrast Hubble and James Webb telescopes using a Venn diagram.
    • Explain dark matter and how it's detected.
    • Explain the importance of infrared light in astronomy.

    Space Summative

    • Review all the gathered information.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamentals of astronomy, including the universe's components, major galaxies, and key figures like Al Biruni. Learn about the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy and concepts like black holes and galaxies. Test your knowledge on the vastness of the universe.

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