Tools of an Astronomer

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Tools of an Astronomer

• After School Astronomy Clubs
• Dorian Janney

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How do we know what is out there in space?

• We observe things in the night sky.
• We wonder about the things we observe.
• We design tools to use to learn about these
  things.
• As our technology improves, our tools get better
  too!

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Ancient Astronomers

• Observed and measured repeating patterns of Sun
  to create clocks and calendars
• Used such tools as astrolabes to determine the
  positions of stars and planets in the night sky
  and to determine the latitude of ships at sea

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Telescopes
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Space-based Telescopes

• Using space-based telescopes, we can see much
  further into space because we dont have to look
  through the Earths atmosphere.
• In 1990 the United States launched the first
  space telescope, called The Hubble Space
  Telescope

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Fly By Missions

• These are missions that simply fly past an
  object, or maybe several objects in a long period
  of time.
• Voyager 1 and 2, which were sent into space in
  1977, sent us detailed images from the four gas
  giants- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

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Orbiter Missions

• These missions are sent in orbit around a planet,
  and allow us to learn about the planet as a
  whole.
• They may stay in orbit for many years, and send
  us back so much information that we can create
  detailed maps of that planets surface.

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Lander Missions

• A lander does just that- it actually lands on the
  planet.
• What kinds of things might we be able to find out
  about a planet by landing on it?
• Why cant we send a lander mission to the Sun?
• Why dont we send people to other planets?

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Rover Missions

• With Rover missions, we arent stuck in one spot
  on a planet or moon.
• What do you think we might discover with a Rover
  mission that we couldnt with another type of
  mission?

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Future Space Missions
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International Space Station

• The International Space Station is the largest
  and most complex international scientific project
  in history.
• Led by the United States, the ISS draws upon the
  scientific and technological resources of 16
  nations Canada, Japan, Russia, 11 nations of the
  European Space Agency and Brazil

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What would you design?

• You will be our next generation of explorers!
• Imagine you are designing a spacecraft-
• What would you want to learn about?
• What type of spacecraft might you design?
• Where would you send your spacecraft?