WELCOME TO ASTRONOMY

1
(No Transcript)
2
WELCOME TO ASTRONOMY
JANUARY 2006
3
TOPICS

• An Ancient Science
• Tools to Study Space
• Our Solar System
• Stars, galaxies

4
WHAT IS ASTRONOMY?

• Its roots lie in Ancient astrology.
• Astrology tries to explain peoples future and
  events based on the movement of stars and planets
  and their influence on the world.
• Astronomy The study of the universe and the
  objects in it.
• Astronomers study the universe (including all
  the objects in it) and the earths place in it.

5
An Ancient Science

• Oldest branch of Science
• First observers were the ancient Egyptians,
  Aztecs, and Mayans.
• They observed the skies and accurately predicted
  the location of different objects in space.
• They made decisions based on their observations.
  

6
An Ancient Science

• Early observers named different objects they saw
  in the sky.
• Wanderers planets
• Retrograde motion apparent looping motion
• Constellations and stars.
• Symbols were used to represent some of these
  objects.
• Astronomical Symbols

7
Early Observers

• Aristotle (384-322 BC)
• Greek philosopher and scientist
• Components of things fire, earth, air and water
  
• Geocentric model of the universe
• Eight spheres revolved around the Earth
• Seven first Moon, Sun and five planets
• Eighth sphere tiny lamps (stars)

8
Early Observers

• Aristarchus of Samus (310 230 BC)
• Philosopher, geometry master
• Used math and observations to propose a theory
• Heliocentric model
• Sun in the center of the universe
• Earth and other planets revolve around the sun
  causing day and night
• Earth rotates on its axis
• Measured the distance to the sun and the Moon
• The sun is farther and larger
• Stars are very far away
• Not accepted and forgotten for 2000 years.

9
Early Observers

• Ptolemy (85AD 165AD)
• Observations in Alexandria, Egypt
• Taught Astrology (Egyptian and Babylonian beliefs
  that the position of the planets and stars
  controlled everything on earth)
• Named over 1000 stars
• Geocentric model
• Earth is in the center of the universe (static)
• Tried to explain the retrograde motion of planets
• Planet revolves around the Earth
• Planets have a small revolution on their own.

10
Class work and Homework

• CLASSWORK
• Turn to page 388- 390
• Work on Exploration No.2
• Answer the questions under each observer
• Answer thinking further 1,2,3,4.
• Write your answers on a piece of paper
• Turn your work in by the end of the period.