Astronomy: Introduction

Teacher: Professor Polgara

• Astronomy is the study of our universe, celestial objects (and the physics, chemistry and evolution of those objects) and space.
• Earth is located within the Milky Way galaxy.
• Eight planets travel around the Sun in an elliptical rotation.
• Planets move in a counter-clockwise direction, but they each go at their own place.
• The Sun orbits the galactic centre.
• The Inner Solar System: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
• Outer Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
• The Asteroid Belt is located between Mars and Jupiter.
• The Asteroid Belt consists of over 7,000 asteroids.
• A star is a ball of hydrogen and helium that has enough mass to maintain nuclear fusion at its core. It’s the nuclear fusion that makes the star luminous in our night sky. 
• Constellations are a group of stars forming a recognisable pattern.
•  In 1929, the International Astronomical Union officially recognized 88 constellations. (These are the only “official” constellations.)
• Twelve of these constellations are, more or less, in a line along the equator, and because of their position, were picked out from all the other constellations to make up the Zodiac.
•  It is important to note that the study of these signs in relation to determining one’s fortune or characteristic is astrology or astromancy, and is completely unrelated to astronomy.

• Reach for the Stars Quiz
• My Favourite Constellation (extra credit)