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INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY

LESSON 1:  THE BENEFITS OF UNDERSTANDING OUR UNIVERSE

PERFECT DISCUSSION FOR THE NEW UNIT

IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, EXPLAIN THE 5 WAYS IN WHICH WE NEED TO EXPLORE SPACE. 

FOR YOUR NOTEBOOK: (STARTING STRUCTURE)

Lesson 1:  Astronomy

Why study space? (Use the videos above to answer)

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Key Concepts:

  1. Astronomy- The study of celestial objects, space, and the universe as a whole.

  2. Celestial Objects- Something created naturally outside of the Earth.

    • Stars​​

    • Planets

    • Asteroids

    • Comets

    • Satellites (Objects that orbit planets) (Example:  Moon)

    • Meteors and Meteorites

    • Galaxies

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THE TIME TO READ:

FIND AN ARTICLE HERE OF INTEREST

Write a small paragraph about what you find interesting about the article.  Summarize it for us.

STARS

A HUGE BALL OF GAS HELD TOGETHER BY GRAVITY. THE GLOW IS FROM THE ENERGY RELEASE FROM THE MATERIAL.

PLANETS

AN ASTRONOMICAL BODY ORBITING A STAR OR STELLAR REMNANT THAT IS MASSIVE ENOUGH TO BE ROUNDED BY ITS OWN GRAVITY

COMETS

AN ICY, SMALL SOLAR SYSTEM BODY THAT, WHEN PASSING CLOSE TO THE SUN, WARMS AND BEGINS TO RELEASE GASES, A PROCESS CALLED OUTGASSING.

ASTEROIDS

A SMALL ROCKY BODY ORBITING THE SUN.

GALAXY

A SYSTEM OF MILLIONS OR BILLIONS OF STARS, TOGETHER WITH GAS AND DUST, HELD TOGETHER BY GRAVITATIONAL ATTRACTION.

METEORS AND METEORITES

METEORS ARE ASTEROIDS AS THEY BURN UP IN THE ATMOSPHERE

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METEORITES ARE METEORS THAT REACH THE SURFACE OF THE PLANET

SATELLITES

1. A CELESTIAL BODY ORBITING THE EARTH OR ANOTHER PLANET.

2. AN ARTIFICIAL BODY PLACED IN ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH OR MOON OR ANOTHER PLANET IN ORDER TO COLLECT INFORMATION OR FOR COMMUNICATION.

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