Basics of Astronomy

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CHAPTER 30

• Basics of Astronomy

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Basic Vocabulary

• Calendarsa means of keeping track of all the
  days in a year
• Mayans (2000 BC) and Chinese (1300 BC) were the
  first to calculate the correct length of a year
  (365.25 days)

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The Lunar Cycle

• The phases occur because of the different
  positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun
• Orbit is the path the moon moves around the
  Earthit orbits in a counterclockwise direction
  (same direction that the Earth orbits the sun.
• New moon moon is between Earth and Sun (cycle
  takes 29.5 days to complete)
• Full moon moon is on the opposite side of Earth
  and Sun

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Moon Phases
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Days / Months / Years

• Axis imaginary line that connects the North and
  South poles
• Rotation is Earth spinning on its axisone
  rotation is one day
• Revolution is the movement of one object around
  anotherone year is the time it takes for one
  revolution around the sun

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The Seasons

• Are caused because of how the Earth orbits around
  the sun.
• The axis that the Earth rotates on stays the same
  (23.5 degrees).
• Here is a diagram that will explain the seasons

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The Seasons
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Lunar and Solar Eclipses

• Solar eclipse occurs when the moons shadow falls
  on the Earth
• Lunar eclipse occurs when the Earths shadow
  falls on the moon.
• A lunar eclipse can be either a total eclipse or
  a partial eclipse

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Lunar and Solar Eclipses
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Objects in space

• Universe is all matter and energy
• Star is a sphere of gas that has gone through
  fusion (fuse together)example would be the North
  Star or the Sun
• Planet is a large, spherical piece of matter that
  revolves around a star
• Galaxy is a collection of gases, dust, and
  billions of starsexample is the Milky Way
• Satellite is an object that orbits around another
  objectexample the Moon

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Telescopes

• Galileo (1600s) was the first to use a telescope
• Telescope is a device that makes objects far away
  appear closer
• Refracting telescopes use lenses
• Reflecting telescopes use mirrors

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Common Telescopes
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Space Shuttles

• Shuttle is a manned spacecraft that can be reused
• Parts of a shuttle
• Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)
• Fuel Tank (store liquid hydrogen and oxygen)
• Orbiter (the shuttle)

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Space Shuttle Parts
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Flight Path of a Shuttle