edmentum astronomy
Discuss what nodes are and how they relate to both total solar and total lunar eclipses.
Nodes are two points where the moon's orbit crosses the sun's plane. This passage is the reason that we get eclipses.
What is nuclear fusion? Why is this process important to stars?
Nuclear fusion is the process in which the nuclei of two atoms are brought close enough together that they fuse together, releasing huge amounts of energy. This energy powers the Sun and all other stars.
elliptical galaxy
Can range in size from 10% of the Milky Way to millions of light years across Can contain more than ten trillion stars Contain very little gas and dust Tend to be much older galaxies
What is the difference between a supermassive black hole and an ordinary black hole?
Ordinary black holes are left behind by a star after it goes supernova. Supermassive black holes are far larger and more massive.
What effect does dark energy have on the universe?
Dark energy is an unknown force that scientist believe is causing the universe's expansion to accelerate, rather than being slowed by gravity.
How is the static from CSMR used by cosmologists?
estimating the age of the universe
What are two of the three major parts of a black hole?
event horizon and singularity
How often does Earth complete a revolution?
every 365 days
Which type of scientific investigation involves testing variables that are manipulated, controlled, or measured in order to gather evidence to support or disprove your hypothesis?
experimental
theories
explain why the natural world behaves the way it does. Why do planets orbit their Sun's in elliptical patterns, as Kepler noticed in the 1600s? One theory that was developed in the late 1600s by Isaac Newton relates to the respective gravitational forces that interact between the Sun and planets that cause an elliptical orbit.
Both spiral galaxies and elliptical galaxies contain nebulae; however, irregular galaxies do not.
f
Those in mission control roles spend about 75 percent of their time actively communicating and controlling active space missions.
f
Which metaphor most closely describes the nature of spacetime?
fabric
The statement "Earth is the third planet from the sun" is an example of a:
fact
Postdocs refer to degrees that you gain after 10 years as a tenured professor.
false
If someone looks far enough into space, they should be able to see the beginning of the universe.
True
When Earth is positioned directly in between the Sun and the Moon, the shadow of the Moon is cast upon Earth, casting a lunar eclipse.
False
How many TB of data does the Hubble Space Telescope capture each year?
10
If it were possible to shine a flashlight from the outer edge of our galaxy, how long would it take for that beam of light to travel through the galactic web of stars, through the center, and out to the opposite side?
100,000 years
How large is the black hole at the center of the Milky Way?
15 million miles in diameter
What is the difference between an adjunct teacher and a tenured teacher?
1st one
Which of the following is a typical measurement of mass?
2000 kg
What principles of science (like facts, laws, and theories) might help explain why similar investigations conducted in many parts of the world could result in the same outcome?
A principle of science that explains why similar experimental investigations conducted in different parts of the world could result in the same outcome is referred to as reproducibility. Repetition is a key principle of the scientific method because if you don't/can't repeat an experiment your outcome will become inadmissible for scientific research. And for acceptance, your experiment must be reproducible in many parts of the world.
What does the H-R diagram represent?
A star's absolute magnitude and temperature
When following the scientific method, why would asking a subjective question be an inappropriate part of the procedure?
A subjective question deals with opinions, morals, and emotions and is not suited for science.
open universe
A theory of the fate of the universe that predicts that the universe will expand forever.
Closed Universe
A theory that predicts that all the matter in the universe will eventually collapse and contract again
Imagine that you are graduating from college and are choosing a profession in the aerospace industry. Which do you choose, and where do you see yourself professionally in five years? Ten years? Why?
Aerospace engineering. In five years I'd hope to be beginning to work at a private space company, and in ten I would hope to have created or helped create something to better space travel.
Jaden is interested in learning more about the basics of astronomy and looking more closely at the sky all by himself. He wants to get a basic, starter telescope to help him with this endeavor and his teacher suggests an organization that might be able to help him with this. What organization is Jaden's teacher likely referring to?
Astronomers Without Borders.
Which statement is most subjective?
Astronomy is the most important science.
Why is astrology referred to as a pseudoscience?
Because it fails to adhere to scientific processes.
Why are black holes important to study?
Because they can tell us about the beginnings of our universe, as well as what we can expect in the future.
Robert is looking at four galaxies: an irregular galaxy the he calls "Calliope"; a spiral galaxy that he calls "Medea"; an elliptical galaxy that he calls "Minerva"; and a lenticular galaxy that he calls "Ariadne"; Which of these four is the youngest?
Calliope
What is the geocentric model of the solar system?
Earth is the center of the universe.
Other ways that Gaia mapping is being used outside of astronomy-related endeavors
GAIA is also used to track objects within our own solar system, like asteroids and comets. This provides valuable data which could one day be used to prevent an impact.
What did GAIA originally stand for?
Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics
What is significant about John Michell's contribution to the study of black holes?
He was the first to mention black holes in his writings.
What is Ghez's favorite star? Do you have a favorite star? Why or why not?
Her favorite star is SO-2. I don't have a favorite star because most of them look the same.
Mr. Cabenes asks his students to record the Moon phases each night but only while it is waxing. What does he mean by this?
His students should record the Moon phases while they appear to be getting larger.
With all the questions that still exist in regard to our universe, galaxies, stars, planets, and more, there are tons of questions that have yet to even be asked. What questions do you have about the universe and astronomy? Choose two of the top questions that you have and explore various possibilities for how they could be answered.
How many stars are there in the Universe?-measure integrated quantities like the number and luminosity of galaxies. Are we alone?- observe the universe's habitable planets for any sign of intelligent life.
Which one of the theories about the Moon's creation do you most agree with? Why?
I most agree with the giant-impact theory. In this theory, the Moon supposedly formed during a collision between the Earth and another small planet, about the size of Mars. Then debris from the impact was collected in an orbit around Earth to form the Moon. This is not the first time a crash was theorized to create a planet, it just makes the most sense to me out of all of them.
What is the largest galaxy that has been discovered in the observable universe?
IC 1101
What aspect of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope are astronomers most excited about?
It will house one of the world's largest cameras.
An astronomer notes that the celestial object they are observing is exhibiting a blueshift. What does this mean?
It's moving towards the astronomer.
As a planet forms in space, which of the following makes its gravitational pull increase?
Its mass increases.
Caleb has become interested in outer space, so his aunt and uncle are planning a trip to Florida for him to visit one of the most recognizable space centers in the country. Which space center would Caleb be visiting?
John F. Kennedy Space Center
Which event in the history of black holes happened after Einstein's theory of general relativity was published in 1915?
Karl Schwarzschild correctly analyzed the relationship between the size of a black hole and its mass.
Claudette is creating a high-level list of safety protocols to include for all scientific endeavors being performed in a facility. Which of the following items can she leave out, since it's not part of common safety protocol practices?
Keep all tools and instruments organized
What causes us to perceive objects in three dimensions?
Light bouncing or reflecting off an object in different ways.
Why can't we see anything past the event horizon?
Light helps us see things and no light can escape out of—or be present in—a black hole.
Which agency has contributed the most in modern times to our understanding of the universe?
NASA
Do some quick online research and find the name of a spiral galaxy in your constellation. We will study galaxies in more detail later in the course, but for right now, what can you say about their angular momentum based on the information in this unit?
NGC 5866 is a spiral galaxy located in Draco. It has an angular momentum of 910 +/- 8 km/s.
Fiona is trying to describe the location of some of the brightest set of stars in the Northern Sky, Betelgeuse and Rigel, to a friend. What could she have her friend look for to help find the stars?
NOT Sirius's dog collar
Which of the following items is the largest?
NOT galaxy
Towards the end of her Ted Talk, Ghez says, "it's actually like looking at a pebble at the bottom of a stream." What is meant by this?
She means that the atmosphere is fluid, and the movement of it makes looking at celestial bodies difficult as they appear warped.
How do astronomers prove that there is a lot of mass inside a small volume? How does Ghez show this during her talk?
She shows this with a slideshow on adaptive optics. You can tell that black holes are massive by the effect of gravitational lensing.
Which of the following BEST describes the gravitational binding of galaxies?
They are found in clumps called clusters or superclusters.
Why have many universities begun hiring more adjunct professors?
They are more cost-effective to hire than full-time professors because they are given fewer benefits, like health insurance.
How do scientists know that dark matter exists?
They observe gravitational lensing bending the light of other objects in space.
How does the life cycle of a star compare to that of a human?
They both have stages where they are born and die.
Begin
Unit 2
WIMPS
Weak Interacting Massive Particles located within the dark matter of the universe.
What is Andrea Ghez specifically interested in studying and why?
Whether or not there is a really massive, what we like to call "supermassive" black hole at the center of our galaxy. It gives us an opportunity to prove whether or not these exotic objects really exist and understand how these supermassive black holes interact with their environment, and to understand how they affect the formation and evolution of the galaxies which they reside in.
The unit and the video both mention the International Space Station. Compare and contrast the information that we obtain about the ISS as it pertains to both space and Earth from the video and the unit. What are some of the factors that are collectively holding us back from fully benefitting from the technologies developed for space as they apply to life on Earth?
While the ISS is in space and experiences no gravity, it is due to the station being in free-fall around Earth rather than a lack of gravity altogether. Water filtration systems are used on the ISS, and this technology has been spread around the world for greater use.
A group of scientists have just found a new object that looks like a star that emits extreme amounts of energy and appears as a large jet bursting from above and below a black object in space. What is this an example of?
a quasar
Is the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram still a valid instrument in studying stars, given that it is over 100 years old?
Yes, as long as it shows important relationships between the size and color of stars, age wouldn't affect observation.
Javier is a navigator for the navy. His ship has just lost all power in the middle of the ocean, including access to your GPS. Which astronomical tool would be MOST helpful in this situation?
a sextant
universe
a space in which all matter exists, including all matter and energy in space
Someone who is pursuing a nautical career wants to work:
sailor
How long does it take light to travel from the Sun to Earth?
about eight minutes
How old is the universe?
abt 14 billion years old
The Earth is about 91.55 million miles away from the Sun. How long does it take sunlight to reach the earth?
abt 8 mins
What is dark energy doing in the universe?
accelerating the expansion of the universe
What process involves gravity gradually pulling matter, in a spiraling manner, into a central source or core?
accretion.
What term refers to what occurs when the moon is farthest from the Earth?
apoapsis
Imagine that humans achieve interstellar travel and are able to move from solar system to solar system. What would change about the stars for these space travelers?
apparent magnitude
What were sextants, which used celestial bodies like stars to plot courses of movement and exploration, used for?
astronavigation
What term refers to the imaginary vertical line that shifts Earth to a 23.5° tilt?
axis
Imagine that someone is immersed under a beautiful cosmic meteor shower. Which instrument would BEST help them view the largest portion of the sky?
binoculars
How do ships on the ocean judge minute shifts in the navigational path?
by referencing locations of stars
The CAPCOM acronym gets its name from which combination of words?
capsule communication
Jose is studying atomic particle physics and wants to focus on particles that are found outside of the nucleus of an atom. Which particles should he focus on?
electron
Which of the following types of particles is the smallest?
electron
Which particle type has a negative charge?
electron
Laws
descriptions of patterns that happen in the natural world. They tell us what we can expect under certain circumstances. For example, German astronomer Johannes Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion states that planets orbit the Sun in elliptical orbits, but this law does not explain why this is the case. In order to discover why planets orbit the Sun in elliptical patterns, we would need to generate and test a hypothesis (which we will discuss more later.)
Akbar saw a shooting star and wrote down details of the time, possible length, brightness, and location it was in the sky. What type of scientific investigation was Akbar conducting?
descriptive
What is the outermost edge of a galaxy called?
disk
What does a light-year measure?
distance
What is parallax used to measure?
distance
Australians, like many other countries, celebrate Christmas in December. How is Australian Christmas different than Christmas in America?
during summer
What is the geocentric model of the solar system?
earth is the center of the universe.
The _____ layer of a star is very dense and hot, while the _____ layer of a star is much cooler and less dense.
inner; outer
Jamal would like to alter the wavelength of a particular beam of light for an experiment. What would he need to change to cause this effect?
introduce a material for it to pass through
Greek mythology includes a group of seven nymphs called the Pleiades. Maia was the oldest, Merope was the youngest. What naming pair would make the MOST sense for a celestial body?
irregular galaxy
How are black holes typically classified?
mass
unit 1 quiz
is below
unit 2 quiz
is below
Phrenology
is the study of the measurements of human skulls and cranial dimensions in order to (supposedly) predict a person's intellectual capacity or aspects of their personality.
How would cosmologists describe the overall content of the universe?
isotropic
A large university says that it has several satellite campuses. What does this mean?
it has many small campuses in the area around the main campus
Sonya says her interest in reality competition shows is waning. What is the state of her interest in these shows?
it's in decline
Astronomers have just discovered a new object that has appeared to "bend" space. What aspect of the object is responsible for the effect the object has on the fabric of space?
its gravitational force
"The moon's gravitational force causes high and low tides on Earth." This statement is an example of a:
law
What is one major difference between a law and a theory?
laws are descriptions and theories are explanations
Why would poor clusters of galaxies be more likely to have irregular shapes than rich clusters?
less mass
What do optical telescopes collect and focus?
light
We know about the existence of dark matter because of the interaction between which two elements?
light and gravity
Shooting stars aren't actually stars; what are they?
meteors
Based on its Latin roots, you could infer that the word "lactation" refers to:
milk
Jolie is staring at the Moon with her brother and comments that it looks "gibbous." What does Jolie mean by this?
moon looks rounded on both sides
What term refers to a large cloud of dust and gas that contracts under the force of gravity and breaks apart to create stars?
nebula
"Clouds" in space can begin as what celestial object?
nebulae
Who first said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"?
neil armstrong
What could nebulae be considered?
nests for stars
According to international law, who owns the moon?
no one
What is the difference between objective and subjective claims?
objective statements can be proven true or false and subjective statements cannot
Steps of the Scientific Method
observation, hypothesis, experiment, conclusion
Facts
observations that have been confirmed by several different scientists and are generally accepted as true—for now at least!
What do we call a star's apparent shift in location?
parallax
Which of the following occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth?
periapsis
unit 3
quiz
Which type of telescope would an astronomer MOST likely use to try and search for a black hole?
radio telescopes
A group of scientists have just concluded that all cow meat contains a bacteria that is harmful and in some cases deadly to humans. They are determined to share this information so that consuming beef would no longer be allowed. What is this an example of?
science for policy.
What are often attached to telescopes to measure distances between celestial bodies in real-time?
sextants
Which of the following candidates would be most prepared for a career in academia?
sharon
Which part of a black hole is most like the core of the Earth?
singularity
Which part of a black hole most resembles the image we have of the big bang—as a small, focused consolidation of immense mass?
singularity
Annular and penumbral refer, respectively, to which phenomenon?
solar and lunar eclipses
Which two astronomy terms are related, but opposites?
solstice and equinox
Through astronomical terms, what could Erika infer when an astronomer describes a sculpture as having a "halo" of light?
that there is an aura around the entire central mass
isotropic
the condition of the universe; the universe appears the same in all directions, regardless of where it is viewed from space
What can we discuss better by using the theory of electromagnetism?
the different types of light, both visible and invisible
What is the aging process of a star referred to as?
the evolution
NASA has discovered several exoplanets that lie in the distance from a star where temperatures could allow for liquid water to exist on the surface. What is this area referred to as?
the habitable zone
What is the dark age, cosmologically speaking?
the light-dominated years right after the Big Bang
Humans are part of the natural world.
true
cosmology
the study of the formation, organization, and evolution of the universe
When the Earth is on one side of the sun, a star's location is recorded. In six months, when the Earth is on the other side of the sun, the same star is observed and the distance between the first observation and the second is calculated. What is this an example of?
trigonometric parallax
What are spiral galaxies with loosely wound spirals and tiny nuclear bulges classified as?
type c
Objective
unbiased or impersonal and refers to things that do not factor in personal preference or feeling.
Imagine, if you can, that you are traveling toward a black hole. When is time dilation likely to occur?
when you approach the event horizon
Thanks to GAIA, the new diagrams created have helped scientists to learn to spot the difference in types of white dwarfs, discovering that some are dominated by which two elements?
hydrogen and helium
A star is mainly made of hydrogen gas, but most classes of stars include other elements such as helium, calcium, and other heavier elements and molecules.
true
After the summer solstice, the number of daylight hours steadily decreases until the winter solstice.
true
All matter, energy, and time exists in the universe.
true
Binoculars can be quite strong; in fact, some binoculars have the ability to magnify objects 100x more than what could be viewed with the naked eye.
true
Once anything passes through the event horizon, from the perspective of that object, nothing would change.
true
Scientists discover new black holes by observing the effects they have on space around them, rather than viewing black holes themselves.
true
When energy and matter are paired with light, they are one in the same.
true
What is an example of a question that could be answered using cosmological models?
what stars are made of
Dr. Hutchinson looks up into the sky to search for constellations. Which Step of the scientific method would this be considered?
1
How long do graduate degrees typically take (per degree)?
1-2
If someone were to be researching and studying similarities between our sun and a neighboring star, what kind of scientific investigation would they be conducting?
comparative
What will happen when the Andromeda galaxy and the Milky Way galaxy collide sometime in the next five billion years?
they will merge to create one super galaxy.
When approximating the mass of a nebulae, what reference system is MOST appropriate?
thousands of times the mass of our Sun
What are the four main parts of a spiral galaxy?
A halo, bulge, dish, and arms.
If a kiloparsec (kpc) is equal to 1000 parsecs, how many light years is a kiloparsec equal to?
3, 260 light years
How many radio galaxies can be seen in the image that Walker shares? Describe these galaxies and what they look like in the image?
300,000. At their distance they look just like stars.
How many commands does mission control typically send per day to power and run the International Space Station?
80,000
Today, what types of degree do MOST astronomy positions require?
A PhD or a masters
galaxy
A large gathering of stars, gas, and dust bound together by the force of gravity; Earth is located in the Milky Way galaxy
Give an example of a question that can be answered by science and a question that could be better answered by philosophy.
A scientific question is "How does something happen" and a philosophical question is "Why does something happen"
Based on what you learned in the unit and the video, discuss what you know about solar eclipses.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is between the Earth and Sun, partially blocking out the Sun's rays. You can damage your eyes by looking directly at a solar eclipse without any eye protection and they occur sporadically with a few every year. Also, a solar eclipse is harder to see than a lunar eclipse as it's only visible in some areas and typically lasts a few minutes whereas a lunar eclipse is visible from all places and lasts for a few hours.
How would cosmologists describe the amount of matter in the universe?
All matter that exists is all there ever will be.
How is an AU different from a solar mass?
An AU is the distance from Earth to the sun, and a solar mass represents a measurement equal to the mass of our sun.
Big Bang theory
An explosion that took place approximately 14 billion years ago, creating all space, time, matter, and energy, in which the universe was created
singularity
An object, before the big bang, where all matter in the universe was compressed into a tiny, infinitely dense, and hot state.
As we learned, astrology and phrenology are considered pseudosciences because they are either not testable or cannot be verified objectively. Think of one other discipline that could be considered a pseudoscience and explain why the content would not be testable or able to be verified objectively.
Another discipline that could be considered a pseudoscience is, for example, numerology or tarot. Where both try to explain in some way something, but in neither, we can actually perform an experiment to test how true these are.
What is another metaphor (aside from the fact that a piano can only produce certain notes) that could help someone understand energy quantization at the atomic level? Explain your answer.
Another metaphor that could help someone understand energy quantization at the atomic level is the number of teams at different stages in the FIFA World Cup tournament. Where each stage represents a given amount of energy gained by the teams at that stage. Just as each team has a specific energy level at each stage of the world cup and there can not be any energy value that is an intermediate value of the energy of the teams each at each stage, at the atomic level particles within the atom and therefore the atom itself can possess only specific quantum of energy values in a given level or state.The number of teams in the group stage = 32, Energy per team = 1. The number of teams in the round of 16 stage = 16, Energy per team = 2. The number of teams in the semi-final stage = 8, Energy per team = 4. The number of teams in the quarter-final stage = 4, Energy per team = 8. The number of teams in the semi-final stage = 2, Energy per team = 16. The number of teams that win the World Cup = 1, Energy of the team = 32.
Why are black holes so difficult to study? Explain.
Black holes are difficult to observe directly, since no light can escape from within the event horizon.
Why are black holes important to our universe?
Black holes are laboratories for testing fundamental theories that explain how the Universe works on the largest and the smallest scales.
Do black holes fascinate you, scare you, or both (or do you have a different reaction to them)? Explain your answer.
Black holes are very interesting to me. I think it is fascinating how they're formed and how they can swallow things whole forever.
Why is it important for us to understand what a black hole is? Discuss and explain, in your own words, why it is important to understand what a black hole is and the simple definition of what black hole is.
Black holes as objects containing a singularity, an infinitely small and dense point in space, where anything nearby will be drawn in by its gravitational influence. It is important to understand these objects because they open the door to understanding the origins of the universe, specifically the Big Bang, as it is theorized that the universe began from a singularity much like the ones in black holes.
Why are black holes considered the "destroyers and creators" of life?
Black holes play a role in the formation of galaxies that contain stars, which help planets form and (at least for Earth) support life; but they also can subsume celestial bodies and destroy life that passes the event horizon.
Which of the following causes quasars to be formed?
Black holes suck in matter too quickly.
Why is CAPCOM significant? Explain your answer, citing details from at least one space mission.
CAPCOM means CAPSULE COMMUNICATION. This is a strategic role in the mission and control team for Space missions. The person is responsible for conveying the decision-making of the director of a space agency to the command module pilot and also relaying information from the astronaut to mission control. CAPCOM is significant because is the channel of communication between the astronauts and the director of a space agency. An important example of CAPCOM was on Oct. 22, 2013, when astronaut Cady Coleman monitors communications involving the brawl and docking of the Cygnus cargo ship from NASA's International Space Station.
What are two ways that celestial navigation/astronavigation and navigation by GPS differ? Do they have anything in common?
Celestial navigation is older and less accurate than GPS while GPS is newer and more accurate. Their methods of navigation also differ. Celestial navigation uses the sun, moon, stars, and planets. While GPS refers to the navigation system that's space-based and is important for broadcasting accurate navigation pulses to the users. The similarity between them is that they are both ways of locating a particular thing since they're used for navigation.
What are some of the challenges that you might face if you wanted to observe and study stars from Earth?
Clouds, Earth's position, lack of technology, distance.
Waves that make up light have peaks and valleys just like the ocean. What are the scientific terms for peaks and valleys?
Crests and troughs.
When Walker decides that she wants to explore beyond the Milky Way, what does she find?
Huge jets of radio waves coming off of a local galaxy's central black hole.
Hubble's Law
Devised by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s, Hubble's law is a mathematical law that explains the rate of the expansion of the universe
Irregular Galaxy
Do not have a particular shape Full of gas and dust Tend to be very bright Have a lot of star formation occurring within them
Based on your research and the website that you used, how would you describe the way your constellation moved over time? Use cardinal directions of North, South, East or West in your answer.
Draco is a constellation that rests in the northern hemisphere's sky. It is circumpolar, meaning it never sets. Gamma Draconis: 1.55x10^17 units of energy Eta Draconis: 2.29x10^17 units of energy Draco is always visible in the northern hemisphere, and as such, its movement could be described as a circumnavigation from east to west.
How was Hubble important to our understanding of galaxies?
Edwin Hubble was important in advancing our understanding of galaxies because he discovered that there are other galaxies in the universe. Hubble was also able to classify spiral galaxies based on their tightness and nuclear bulge size.
The unit explained that scientists often use estimation when studying and learning about the universe and astronomy. What other industries likely rely on estimation? On the flip side, what industries would likely not be able to use or rely on estimation and why? Explain.
Estimates are made to fill a probable space in a variable or incognite, so we often see that in science models that include estimates are used. In biology specifically in inheritance for example, estimates could also be used in geography. In areas where estimates cannot be used, they are those where one depends on a variable or measurement, such as engineering or architecture, because if accurate measurements are not used, some failure can lead to losses
Galaxies are distributed in a random pattern throughout the universe.
False
A basic explanation of what GAIA mapping is
Gaia mapping is the process by which stars are mapped by a satellite in an orbit around the sun; more specifically, the L2 Lagrangian point, located 1.5 million km past Earth's orbit.
How are galaxies created?
Galaxies are thought to begin as small clouds of stars and dust swirling through space. As other clouds get close, gravity sends these objects careening into one another and knits them into larger spinning packs.
Edwin used a telescope from the 1920s and observes fuzzy blobs of light off in the distance. What is Edwin seeing?
Galaxies.
What evidence can you present for the possibility of time travel?
General relativity. Time travel to the past is theoretically possible in certain general relativity spacetime geometries that permit traveling faster than the speed of light, such as cosmic strings, traversable wormholes, and Alcubierre drives.
If we want to reach the planet PSR B1620-26 b, explain why we will need to make some big "wrinkle in time" discoveries or find ways to live much, much longer?
Given the information that PSR B1620-26 b is the oldest planet in the Milky Way, it is estimated to be about 13 billion years old, the planet is approximately 12,390 light-years away from Earth, this means that it would take 460,908,000 years to arrive at the ancient planet. If we want to reach this planet, we are going to need to make some gig "wrinkle in time" discoveries, or find ways to live much longer, considering that the current lifespan of humans is only 79 years.
Hannah is interesting in learning more about the constellations in the celestial sphere. What are some easily accessible technological applications that Hannah could use to find and identify constellations?
Google Sky Maps or Pocket Universe
How do gravity and dark matter shape the galaxies and affect their environment?
Gravity and dark matter cause galaxies to take different shapes: spiral, elliptical, and irregular.
What makes gravity a vital factor within our universe? How does it influence the universe?
Gravity is a vital factor within our universe because it keeps moons in orbit around their planets and keeps planets in orbit around the Sun. Without gravity, the Earth would not stay a proper distance from the Sun to get the necessary light and heat. It is summer and your friend Michelle, who lives in Michigan, tells you that
Syrus has always done well in school and enjoys science, but every year when it is time to choose classes he struggles. He fears he will pick the wrong classes and miss out on something amazing! How might going to college and pursuing a science major help Syrus?
He won't have to pick his classes as they will be laid out for him.
Imagine that time travel really is possible, and you get to meet Albert Einstein. As you talk with him, you summarize what you think you understand about his theory of relativity as follows: "Space, being represented by a three-dimensional sphere, can be curved inward under an object with mass." How would you expect Einstein to react to this summarization?
He would correct you that space is actually represented by a flat grid.
Which concept is most closely related to blueshift and redshift?
Hubble Flow.
Which name refers to one of the largest space telescopes that gives astronomers clear views of the universe in visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light?
Hubble Space Telescope
In recent years, there has been a lot of chatter about climate on Earth. In fact, some scientists believe that climate change is affecting and altering the traditional concept of the four seasons we have now. After reading the article, do some research on your own. Do you think climate change is affecting our seasons? Why or why not? Share the links you found that support your theory
I do think that climate change is affecting our seasons, honestly, I think it's naive to believe that it isn't. The increase in temperatures is shortening seasons such as spring and fall and eventually may leave us with just summer and winter. The winters are warmer with less snow and the summers are hotter with more bugs due to the warmer winters. https://www.smartenergy.com/how-does-climate-change-affect-the-seasons/
After learning about Walker and her love of and exploration of galaxies, what questions do you still have? What do you want to know more about?
I have questions about what more you could find with different kinds of telescopes that detect different waves.
Of all six technologies that Wood identifies, which do you find the most interesting, useful, or pertinent to your own life? Discuss.
I think the concept of an inflatable satellite tower is really unique. The fact that you can set one up pretty much anywhere is incredibly useful when assisting disaster or poverty-stricken areas.
What questions do you still have about supermassive black holes after watching this Ted Talk? Do you feel that you have a deeper understanding of what they are and why they are important, like was asked of you in the third question? Explain and discuss.
I wonder if the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies will ever consume the galaxies themselves. I do feel like I have a better understanding.
This seems like a good time to ask the basic question, "How's it going in class?" Feel free to offer constructive feedback about the course. Anything you like about the course so far? Please present at least one paragraph.
I'm enjoying the class and learning different things about our universe. However, some labs and activities I feel are either unnecessary or incompletable. The main ones being where we were asked to observe a star, the sun, and the moon and track their movement. This was difficult as it's winter and the skies aren't exactly clear and I was having a hard time with the tracking itself.
What part of the Solar System are you most interested in learning about? Why?
I'm interested in learning more about black holes. How they form, how long they're open, how they close, how big they are, etc. Black holes have always been interesting to me it's even more interesting how many unanswered questions there are about them.
If dark energy were to significantly increase or decrease, what outcome could this have on the universe?
If dark energy were to decrease over time the acceleration it causes on the expansion of the universe would turn to deceleration. If our universe were denser, this reversed expansion could cause a collapse of galaxies and our solar system. This theory is called the Big Crunch. On the other hand, if dark energy increased the universe would expand at a faster rate, if this continued the universe could fall victim to something referred to as the Big Rip. This is theorized to happen when the amount of dark energy is too strong and the universe tears itself apart.
You are standing outside when the sky goes dark. You are experiencing some type of eclipse but aren't sure which kind. What information would you look for to determine whether or not you are in the middle of a lunar or a solar eclipse? In your answer, be sure to mention each type of lunar and solar eclipse and how to differentiate between them.
If the sky goes dark, you are experiencing a Solar Eclipse. This can be determined by the way in which the moon seems to block out the sun's light, it is when the moon is positioned between the Earth and Sun. A Lunar Eclipse happens when the Earth is positioned between the Moon and Sun. Lunar Eclipses happen during a full moon and can be easily identified if the moon appears to have an orange or reddish hue to it. There are 3 types of solar eclipses: annular, partial, or total. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is farthest from Earth and not able to completely block out light from the Sun, and a thin ring of Sun appears around the Moon's outer edge. A partial (solar) eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth, and the Sun is only partially covered by the Moon (partial solar eclipses are more common than total solar eclipses). A total eclipse of the Sun will occur when the Moon is closest to the Earth, the Moon seems to be the same size as the Sun, and the Moon appears to completely cover the surface of the Sun. (Although the Sun is completely blocked, one can still see a circle of light around the Moon, which is the outer atmosphere of the Sun called the corona.) There are also 3 types of lunar eclipses: a penumbral eclipse, a partial eclipse, and a total eclipse. A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes only through Earth's shadow that is slightly blocking some of the sunlight, causing the full moon to look dimmer and slightly sun reddish in color. When a part of the Moon's surface passes through Earth's shadow, we see a partial eclipse. A total eclipse of the Moon occurs when the Moon travels completely into the Earth's shadow that is blocking sunlight.
What might happen if you were able to travel closer and closer towards a black hole?
If you flew a space ship close to a black hole, you could remain safely in orbit around the black hole so long as you flew outside of the event horizon. However, if you went too close and passed inside the event horizon, there would be no escape
Choose a time period from history. Which one of the four solstice/equinoxes would have been the most important to this time period? Why?
In Ancient Egypt, the summer solstice corresponded with the rise of the Nile River. The ancient Egyptians believed that the summer solstice may have helped to predict annual flooding.
Global warming has been in the foreground of politics and science for quite some time. There have been numerous studies conducted on the effects of global warming and what we might do to mitigate any threats. Why do you think some policy makers are wary of the findings and some can trust that the conclusions are sound?
In politics, it can be hard to find ulterior motives for actions policymakers make. This is definitely a factor for why some accept or reject findings on protection from global warming. They may stand to gain or lose support/money based on whether or not they promote the scientific findings, it is up to the individual to decide which is more important. On the other hand, not everyone has the same views on certain issues so if there is no ulterior motive involved in a policymakers decision to accept or reject findings on global warming, the reason could simply be a difference of opinion.
How do you think the concept of the speed of light helps astronomers study the universe? Is the speed of light in a vacuum the same regardless of where an observer stands? Explain your answer.
It helps astronomers essentially look into the past, as light from distant objects is actually depicting the object as it was potentially millions or billions of years ago. The speed of light is the same regardless of the presence of a vacuum.
Which hypothesis would NOT be considered falsifiable?
Jupiter is the best planet in our solar system.
In your opinion, what would be the most exciting aspect of being an astronaut?
Just seeing space, floating in the spaceship, and seeing or going to other planets.
What is dark matter made of?
MACHOS and WIMPS
What are some of the factors that are collectively holding us back from fully benefitting from the technologies developed for space as they apply to life on Earth?
Many satellite services are far too expensive/not avaliable for use by the common person.
MACHOS
Massive Compact Halo Objects that make up the dark matter of the universe.
cosmological model
Models developed by cosmologists using the laws of math and nature to describe and predict the characteristics of the universe.
Which is the correct order for the steps in the formation of a black hole?
NOT The star collapses in on itself, heavier elements are created, stars emit radiate converting millions of tons of hydrogen into helium, helium burns off, chemical reaction takes place in a star, the star uses all its hydrogen. OR The star uses all its hydrogen, the star collapses in on itself, heavier elements are created, stars emit radiation converting millions of tons of hydrogen into helium, helium burns off, chemical reaction takes place in a star.
You are watching a movie about a space mission. The current scene is showing groups of two or three people in the mission control room all convening around their stations and talking for 10 or 15 minutes. What is MOST LIKELY happening in this scene?
NOT The workday hasn't even begun yet.
What does an astronomer need to understand the fundamentals of to be able to calculate the age of the universe?
NOT how matter decays over time
Which type of telescope is known to be difficult to keep aligned?
NOT refracting, prolly reflecting
What are Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)?
NOT the byproduct chemicals the come from sun rays prolly chemicals produced by the energy from dying stars
After learning about confidence intervals, what areas of your life could you apply this concept to? Explore possible situations, scenarios, or aspects of your life where confidence intervals might be useful in helping you feel fairly confident about results.
On average, how many students get to school on time?
How do galaxies change over time?
Over the past several billion years, many galaxies in clusters have changed from spiral to a smooth, or "lenticular," disk shape. The disks thicken as they age.
What makes the peer-review process important to our society? Explain your answer.
Peer review is defined as a process that involves subjecting the author's scholarly work and research to the scrutiny of other experts in the same field to check its validity and evaluate its suitability for publication. This is important because it prevents flawed research and false claims from being published.
Explain the technique known as radio astronomy.
Radio astronomy is the use of large radio dishes which can see through gas, and absorb a much larger band of light.
While the unit explored the impact that scientific research has on our society and on our understanding of space, this Ted Talk explores the way that space technologies and space research specifically can impact our society and current lives on Earth. Discuss the similarities and differences between these two topics. Compare and contrast the usefulness of scientific research on our society with the usefulness of space research on our lives on Earth.
Research, in general, is an extremely important activity in our society, as it promotes the necessary progress and evolution to keep human life active and efficient. In this case, we can say that both scientific research and space research are similar, because they allow for improvements in the knowledge, equipment and management of all the sectors we know. Scientific research presents improvements in a more direct way, presenting essential things for our life, such as improvements in health, food, education, agriculture, among others. Space research, on the other hand, presents improvements, also important for humans, but more focused on the creation of equipment and objects that improve and facilitate human life.
What is the likelihood that black holes exist in our galaxy? Explain your response.
Roughly one out of every thousand stars that form is massive enough to become a black hole. Therefore, our galaxy must harbor some 100 million stellar-mass black holes. Most of these are invisible to us, and only about a dozen have been identified.
Do you think time travel is possible through black holes? If so, explain why. If not, explain what you think may be on the other "end" of a black hole. Support your answer with arguments from the text.
Sadly no, I don't think time travel is possible through black holes. I can't understand how it could be if you can't even get close to one without disappearing.
Why do scientists study galaxies? What can we learn from studying them?
Scientists study galaxies in order to understand the nature and history of the universe and show us how the matter in the universe is organized on large scales. Through studying galaxies, we can learn about their evolution, the history of the universe, and the fundamental processes regulating the formation of stars.
It is summer and your friend Michelle, who lives in Michigan, tells you that she is a morning person and functions best when the sun wakes her up early in the morning. She is looking to take a vacation to a location where the sun rises earlier in the day. Where (with respect to Michigan) should she be looking? Explain why she should look in this area, by explaining how the tilt of the Earth's axis affects the seasons. Finally, suggest two specific locations that would meet Michelle's needs.
She should be looking North. The further north you go, the sun rises earlier and sets later due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. Two towns that suit her needs are Resolute and Inuvic.
spiral v elliptical
Similarities: Are usually very old Differences: Spiral galaxies can contain a bar, while elliptical galaxies do not
elliptical v irregular
Similarities: Both contain gas for star formation Differences: Spiral galaxies are much larger than irregular galaxies
spiral v irregular
Similarities: Both contain gas for star formation Differences: Spiral galaxies are much larger than irregular galaxies
Which details about what it takes to become an astronaut are most important and why?
Some NASA requirements to become an astronaut include being a U.S. citizen, possessing a master's degree in a STEM field ( engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics), completing at least two years of related professional experience obtained after degree completion, or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft, and passing the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical. I think the most important requirements are those revolving around education and the physical preparation for space travel.
When might a space lawyer be useful and why?
Space lawyers are responsible for drafting these treaties and laws and they advise lawmakers on whether or not to enter into international space treaties. Space Lawyers are useful for the following reasons: they help in drafting international space treaties and laws, they help in the preservation of the space and Earth environment, they assist in the settlement of disputes, they assist in the rescue of astronauts, they play important roles in sharing of information about potential dangers in outer space.
Consider some of the widespread global issues that we face here on Earth and briefly describe them. Then, choose one of the space research technologies discussed in the unit OR that you find online through some brief research (but may not be one discussed in the video) and explore how it could help us research, learn more about, or address this particular issue (similar to how Wood did in the video) in one to three paragraphs.
Space technology can help stop terrorism. Satellites with the ability to see in infrared or visible light allow intelligence agencies to spot dangerous activity and better plan a retaliation. Furthermore, having the ability to send satellites into space in the first place provides a measurable advantage over any group who may be seeking to enact harm. It allows for a near-permanent bird's eye view over the battlefield, which in turn can help stop attacks before they happen.
How do we know that some galactic bodies have interacted with each other?
Spallation caused particle exchange.
What will irregular galaxies eventually form into before transitioning into something else billions of years later?
Spiral galaxies.
Scientists currently know of nothing faster than the speed of light.
T
How is the amount of education related to jobs and careers in the aerospace industry?
The Aerospace Industry is quite competitive because it seeks to absolve the best brains and minds. Usually, a person may be well-positioned to secure employment or drive a career in the Aerospace industry after obtaining relevant educational qualifications in STEM areas such as engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Physical sciences, or biological sciences. Furthermore, the person may need to attend institutions and schools specifically designed to train astronauts and aeronautical engineers.
How the ESA is using Gaia mapping and the purpose of the ESA Gaia Mission
The ESA is using GAIA mapping to map the entire celestial sphere and track the movement of each celestial body. Its purpose is to create a near-complete rendering of the visible universe.
How does the Milky Way compare with other galaxies within the universe?
The Milky Way is brighter than most galaxies that we have been able to see. Second, the Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy; unlike typical spiral galaxies, barred spiral galaxies have flat discs in their centers.
How are stars important to the Milky Way?
The Milky Way is made up of approximately 200 billion stars. Our sun is an average star and the center of our solar system. Stars provide light and heat, and are a source of matter. They continuously recycle from dust and gas in the Milky Way.
Why is the Murchison Radio Observatory such an ideal place to build radio telescopes? Explain.
The Murchison Radio Observatory such an ideal place to build radio telescopes because it is warm, dry, and clear, and there are no interfering radio waves. This is helpful because it allows the dishes to require less maintenance and the images to be sharper.
Consider the Earth, Moon, and the Sun as a system. Which of the three is the strongest force in this system? Support and explain your answer.
The Sun is the strongest force in the system. The name "solar system" implies that the Sun has the most important role. The planets in our universe need the Sun for heat and light and its gravity to remain in orbit.
What is a Schwarzchild radius and what does it have to do with a black hole? Explain.
The Swarzchild radius is essentially a measurement of how much you would need to compress an object to turn it into a black hole. Bigger objects have bigger radii, and vice versa.
dark ages
The age of the universe between the time of the big bang and the first star formation.
The unit talks about various astronomical tools, but satellites don't make the list—why? Explain how satellites help us learn more about the Earth from space and analyze whether they can also help us learn more about space.
The bird's-eye view that satellites have allows them to see large areas of Earth at one time. This ability means satellites can collect more data, more quickly, than instruments on the ground.
spiral galaxy
The bulge in the center is thought to contain a supermassive black hole We live in a spiral galaxy ⅔ of spiral galaxies contain a bar structure Contains a spherical halo of some of the oldest stars in the universe
Cosmic microwave background radiation
The cooled-off radiation leftover from the explosion during the Big Bang; this radiation is used as evidence as to the age of the universe
Douglas Adams was an irreverent science fiction author; his most famous work is the five-book "trilogy," the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The second novel is titled The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. If we pretend that the restaurant was located at the end of the universe, after which there was nothing but empty space, what would Douglas Adam's version of the universe be opposing?
The cosmological principle
What changes in space result from the death of massive stars?
The deaths of massive stars are called supernovas. After a supernova, one of two permanent outcomes can occur. Either the newly dead supermassive star becomes a neutron star or it becomes a black hole.
How is time related to light?
The faster the relative velocity, the greater the time dilation between one another, with time slowing to a stop as one approaches the speed of light
Why does summer receive more daylight hours than winter?
The hemisphere of Earth is tilted more toward the Sun.
Atomic theory
The idea that all matter is made of small units of matter that are made of a nucleus, orbited by electrons, and combine to form various substances.
The cosmological principle
The idea that matter is distributed uniformly throughout the universe on very large scales, meaning that the universe has neither a center nor an edge.
Why are concerns like safety and recycling important in astronomy, even though the research is often not conducted in a traditional lab?
The importance of safety and recycling in astronomy is due to the fact that astronomers can handle fragile objects and need to use safety precautions and the recycling of dying stars in space can help us better understand how materials are reused and transferred in the universe.
How has the knowledge and perception of the universe changed over the past century?
The knowledge and perception of the universe has changed over the past century because 100 years ago the universe was viewed as unchanging and eternal. Now we understand that our universe is constantly changing.
Why doesn't the moon turn black during a total lunar eclipse? Explain your answer.
The moon doesn't turn black during a total lunar eclipse because of the refraction of light in the Earth's atmosphere, if the Earth didn't have an atmosphere, the moon would be completely black.
Which one of the theories about the universe do you most support: the open universe theory or the closed universe theory?
The open universe theory makes the most sense initially. Though the closed universe theory seems more scientifically realistic. As the universe expands it becomes denser and scientists have calculated a critical density at which the Big Crunch would happen.
spectroscopy
The process by which astronomers study distant objects by dissecting and examining the spectrum of light the object reflects
What does space technology have to do with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations? Identify specific instances or ways that the two are related and explain.
The road map for their mission comes from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. A few space technologies that help pursue Sustainable Development Goals are communication satellites, which can help in disaster recovery, positioning satellites can help track endangered wildlife, and earth observation satellites take pictures and measurements to help us better understand what's going on in our environment.
redshift
The shifting of wavelengths of light that appear red in color when an object in space is moving away from another object; Edwin Hubble discovered that the redshift of galaxies is caused by the expansion of the universe.
What is the Outer Space Treaty? What idea that Wood discusses does this treaty help to illustrate? How? Explain.
The treaty says "The exploration and use of outer space should be carried on for the benefit of all peoples, irrespective of their level of economic or scientific development."
In the unit and the video, we learned about the types of shadows that are cast on Earth and on the moon. Explain the two types of shadows and where they occur.
The two types of shadows that are cast on Earth and on the moon come from two different types of eclipses. One of these eclipses is the penumbral eclipse which happens when the moon falls into the penumbral (outer) shadow of the Earth. In this case, the moon appears darker in some areas than others. The second is a partial eclipse, this occurs when part of the moon enters the umbra, which is the darkest shadow of the Earth where there is no radiation from the Sun.
What is the visible spectrum? What are the two problems with using visible light to explore the sky?
The visible spectrum is the assortment of light that our eyes can see. The problems with that are that it's only a small slice of what the universe has to offer, and that many important discoveries can be made on what you can't see.
For a long time, astronomers believed that the Milky Way had four main spiral arms named Perseus, Cygnus, Centaurus, and Sagittarius. However, what was revealed thanks to improvements in technology, like better telescopes and star-counting software?
There are actually only two major arms, Perseus and Centaurus.
What does the motion of the stars around the center of the Milky Way tell astronomers?
There is a black hole there.
Which of the following is the weakest hypothesis for the question, "Is there evidence of water on Mars?"
There might have been water but it's difficult to tell.
Scientists have found things that suggest the stars in the disc and halo of the Milky Way are different ages. What has this led scientists to suspect?
There were possibly two different formations in the beginning, rather than just one.
Why do astronomers have difficulty locating black holes and use observations of stars to detect their presence?
They do not give off light.
Given the nature of the plant nicknamed "Methuselah" by astronomers, what could you guess about the mythical figure named Methuselah?
They were incredibly old.
During her presentation on exoplanets, Johana explains to the class that while Proxima-b and TRAPPIST-1e may potentially be able to support life, with each of these planets, one side of the planet always faces the sun, making that side perpetually hot and the dark side eternally cool. What term does Michelle use to describe this?
Tidally locked.
A doctor who is monitoring the health of astronauts in space has just received a signal that indicates one of the astronauts may be experiencing low blood sugar. The mission control personnel that would communicate this to the astronaut on board the space craft is CAPCOM.
True
A megaparsec (Mpc) is equal to 1,000,000 parsecs or 3,260,000 light years.
True
What do scientists believe may be the fate of the universe? Which theory do you feel is the better explanation of what may happen? Why?
Two theories predict the fate of the universe. The first theory is the Open Universe Model, which explains that the expansion of the universe will never end. This expansion will result in all matter becoming so far apart from each other that it can no longer interact; everything will be surrounded by darkness. Matter and energy will start decaying and disintegrating radioactively so that only dark matter and dark energy exist. The second theory is the Closed Universe Model, which explains that gravity will eventually stop the universe from expanding and force it to contract until it goes back to a singularity; the reverse of the Big Bang. I think that the Closed Universe Model is more theatrical and popularized; however, I think the Open Universe Model is more likely because scientists have discovered the universe is accelerating its expansion. If gravity is not slowing the expansion now, I do not understand how it would ever be able to slow the universe if it continues to accelerate.
What two things did Walker learn while she was completing her PhD? How did this impact her studies? Why was one of these things unfortunate? How would you feel if you were in her shoes? Explain.
Two things Walker learned while she was completing her PhD are that she wouldn't be piloting a starship anytime soon and that the universe is strange, wonderful, and vast. The fact that she wouldn't be physically going to space is unfortunate because that is something she wanted to do. I would be disappointed if I found that I couldn't follow through with my life's dream.
dark energy
Undetectable energy that is hypothesized to override the force of gravity and cause the universe to expand outwards.
dark matter
Undetectable matter in the universe that is dark and different from ordinary matter.
Which three countries originally signed the Outer Space Treaty?
United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union
Why don't we see a total solar eclipse once a month? Explain your answer.
We don't see a total solar eclipse once a month because the Earth's tilt needs to be at the right angle and the moon needs to be at the right latitude and longitude in the sky.
If you had the opportunity to interview an experienced scientist at NASA who has been involved in numerous space explorations, what would you want to know? Identify at least three specific questions that you would ask this scientist and briefly explain why you would ask these particular questions.
What food were you craving the most upon return home after eating space food? - I would ask because they don't get the regular everyday food we have on earth, I know I'd be craving food and it's very interesting to hear their answers. 2. How did you feel physically after returning to earth? And has it been hard readjusting? - After a long period of time in space, I feel like it'd be very hard to adjust back into the way we live and I'm intrigued to hear about how it felt and what they did in order to adjust. 3. What do you think while on the launchpad about to launch? - I feel like it'd be very scary for me but everyone has a different way of feeling. I'd love to hear about their thoughts during this process.
What is one question you still have about space? Suggest a possible answer and justify your response.
What's inside a black hole? I know that if something is near a black hole then it is inevitable that it will be sucked into it, but where does it go? Since nothing comes back out of a black hole there is no way to look inside and find out. Additionally, once something goes into a black hole, where does it go? Once the hole closes where did the things that went into it go? I suppose once something has been sucked into a black hole it would just float or possibly become immobile. Then when the hole closes, and I'm still not entirely sure how it does, maybe there's some sort of pocket dimension everything that was in the black hole goes to and just stays there forever. Sort of like the universe got a paper cut and once the cut heals everything remains under where the black hole opened. Or maybe anything that goes into a black hole eventually dies. I find it both unnerving and incredibly interesting how there is literally no way to be sure.
Which of these statements BEST summarizes what the Earth and Moon have in common?
Which of these statements BEST summarizes what the Earth and Moon have in common?
What is the question Ghez and her graduate students are still trying to answer? Explain.
Why are there so many young stars and so few old stars. Since the universe is 13.8 billion years old, there should be lots of old stars.
Have you ever had to estimate something for which there wasn't an exact answer? What was it? What tools did you use to make your estimation? Discuss.
Yes, estimation of a population of plant species in a given area. The tool I used was a QUADRAT. Plants in a small area are easy to count and their distribution is recorded on a map or scale diagram for the area. For larger areas, quadrats are used to obtain a fairly accurate estimate.
Do you agree that the flight director has the most important job on the mission team? Why or why not?
Yes, the flight director is deemed very important in space programs. They lead the planning and coordination of all activities in the space program and give approval for any procedure which ultimately leads to the protection of the space station and crew.
Describe and explain what can be seen by using the Parkes Radio Telescope, affectionately known as "The Dish." Be sure to explain what synchrotron radiation is.
You can see through the gas in the Milky Way and into the brightness of the center. The brightness is synchrotron radiation, which is formed when electrons spiral around cosmic magnetic fields.
What characteristic may make you likely to pursue a career in space publishing?
You enjoy both the subject matter of space science but also the research around the audience that reads this work and what topics will interest them.
Imagine that you are approaching a black hole in a spacecraft. What would you see? What would happen to you?
You would start to orbit around the center
Which of the following everyday activities MOST illustrates the concept of accretion?
a dough mixer forming a "ball" from ingredients
What is the Schwarzschild radius?
a measurement of how small a celestial body's radius would have to be in order to become a black hole
What does an astronomer know about a star if they know its classification in the Morgan-Keenan Spectral Classification system?
a method of classifying stars by their temperatures and compositions
When distances become so incredibly large, such as with the IC 1101 galaxy, what special unit of measurement is used?
a parsec
What is a cluster of galaxies containing very few galaxies known as?
a poor cluster
What is the Sun?
a star
sextant
a tool sometimes used in navigation and astronomy that helps measure distances between objects.
What is the scientific method?
a way scientists answer questions and solve problems
Which industry deals with both commercial and government vehicles that fly within Earth's airspace?
aerospace
Which industry deals with both commercial and government vehicles that fly within Earth's airspace?
aerospace industry
When is an astronaut typically assigned to a mission?
after completing a two-year training
What kind of motion does a star have when it appears to be moving across the sky and night progresses?
apparent motion
unit 1 flashcards
are below
Natale is describing a group of stars that are located between Polaris and the Northern Hemisphere horizon to her class. She explains that because of Earth's rotation, these stars appear to move around Polaris. What is she talking about?
circumpolar constellation
In addition to science courses like physics and chemistry, what other types of courses are becoming increasingly relevant to space science careers?
computer science
Isaac has a general rule he follows when making decisions: as long as he is at least 75% sure that something good will happen if he says "yes" to a proposition, he will say "yes." For Isaac, what scientific concept does this rule most closely represent?
confidence interval
Waves that make up light have peaks and valleys just like the ocean. What are the scientific terms for peaks and valleys?
crests and troughs
When making bread, the wet elements (usually water) are largely responsible for holding together the dry elements (like flour). What celestial force provides the function MOST similar to the wet elements?
dark matter
What could an astronomer deduce if they know the type of light being emitted by a star?
elements that it absorbs
What term refers to the elongated, closed-curved path that the Earth travels on as it orbits the Sun?
ellipse
Tomas discovers a new galaxy: a spherical cluster of stars with extraordinary brightness and little dust and gas. What kind of galaxy did he discover?
elliptical galaxy
Alejo is a high school senior who is set to graduate at the top of his class. He has excellent test scores, holds various positions of leadership in groups and clubs, and despite his impressive achievements is still known for being a compassionate communicator who is calm under pressure and can lead a team to victory. Which space career might Alejo be best suited for?
flight director
In order to decide whether to change the timing of a traffic signal, a city sends a worker to count the number of cars that pass through the intersection over the course of an hour. What is the worker measuring, similar to how scientists measure light waves?
frequency
What is it referred to when one galaxy collides with another?
galactic cannibalism
What are redshifts?
galaxies that are moving farther apart
What are irregular galaxies mostly filled with?
gas and dust
Neutron stars have been overtaken by what?
gravity
What force binds a galaxy together?
gravity
Which ancient society first coined the word astronomy and contributed important early work in this discipline?
greeks
What concept does Hubble's Law most concern?
growing distance between galaxies
The small amount of missing mass that occurs when _____ atoms fuse to form helium atoms is converted into energy in the form of heat and light.
hydrogen
Imagine astronomers identified a new galaxy even further away from Earth than GN-z11. Logically, what will be true about this new galaxy?
older
Subjective
on the other hand, describes observations that may differ from person to person depending on their world view, emotions, or personal moral philosophy.
pseudoscience
or a practice that bears some resemblance to the scientific process but is actually mistakenly interpreted as science.
Imagine you wanted to fly a very fast spaceship to the moon, a trip that would take less than a day. During which event would such a trip be the most efficient?
periapsis
A(n) _____ occurs when Earth is closest to the Sun, while a(n)_____ occurs when Earth is farthest from the Sun.
perihelion; aphelion
What do light bulbs emit to produce light?
photons
Which concept is most important to the way plants feed themselves?
photosynthesis
Carly mentions to her friends that her new scented oils have been helping heal her headaches. With no scientific evidence that this "aromatherapy" actually works, her friends should caution her and tell her to be careful. What do Carly's friends think she may be diving into?
psuedoscience
Anastasia is trying to identify which among a set of stars has the coldest temperature. What color should she be looking for?
red
Nisha has been a journalist all her life, mostly covering space missions and news, but has recently had twins and is looking for a career change. For this season of life, she's more interested in working with other people's writings and getting them in front of readers. Which career path might be a good fit for Nisha right now?
space publishing
On which process does looking for substances like beryllium as a "cosmic clock" rely?
spallation
What can lanes of young stars, gas, and dust that wind outward from the central region of spiral galaxies be identified as?
spiral arms.
How do astronomers classify galaxies with tightly wound spiral arms and fat nuclear bulges?
spiral type-a
What would happen if the black hole in the center of the Milky Way suddenly disappeared?
spread and dissipate
What is the best description of the function of stars?
stars are the recycling centers of the universe
A black hole with an estimated mass of 15.65 solar masses, M33 X-7, is an example of a:
stellar-mass black hole.
What type of star may appear brighter than an entire galaxy for days?
supernova
When the Milky Way was in its earliest ages, hydrogen, helium and other common elements were the only ones around.
t
Clifford is an astronomer who studies the movement of stars. What types of tools does Clifford likely have in his office that help him study the movement of stars?
telescopes and cameras
Elias just was hired on to work at the Johnson Space Center. Which state will he move to?
texas
Tabitha knows the redshift value of a particular celestial object. What can she use this information most directly to find out?
the age and distance of the object
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different masses. What must be different across isotopes?
the number of neutrons
the scientific method involves...
the scientific method involves asking questions, measuring, collecting, and analyzing data and evidence, and coming to a conclusion to support or disprove your hypothesis, or educated guess that proposes an answer to your research question. Let's dig a bit deeper into the steps of the scientific method.
Imagine that SpaceX also invented a way for your spacecraft to travel inside of a black hole and come back again, and to prove it, they wanted to build a tool—like a super-powerful telescope—for your friends and family to view your journey into and out of the black hole from their homes on Earth. From your family and friends' perspective, as you approached the black hole's event horizon, what would they see?
the spacecraft frozen for all eternity
Which statement below is LEAST objective?
the sun is bright
When studying mythology, Jaalib reads a description that says a particular figure is "vernal." What can he guess about the figure?
they are related to spring
Mikel's teacher asks him to describe what happens to stars as they undergo nuclear fusion and process hydrogen into helium. What does Mikel say?
they become hotter and denser.