Space Distance

hubble-perfect-storm-jpg

Speed measures the distance traveled in a certain amount of time. Scientists use the metric system, thus the speed of light is 300,000 km per sec. This is read as three hundred kilometers per second. Try This! * Say the words “One thousand and one.” It takes about one second to say these words. During [...]

Sun Shadows

Using a Sundial

Astronomy Project Ideas About Shadows Facts about Sun Shadows Because of the rotation of the Earth, the Sun appears to move across the sky from east to west. In the morning when the Sun rises above the eastern horizon, it is at a low altitude (height above the horizon), shadows are long. Sunrise is when [...]

Telescopes and Binoculars

telescope-objective

Telescopes and binoculars are called optical instruments. These instruments increase the power of human vision. Telescopes and binoculars help you see thing that are at a distance from you. The part of the telescope or binoculars you look through is called the eye piece. The opposite end is called the objective end. The size of [...]

The Big Race

moon-movement1

I found a great astronomy site, THE CURIOUS SKY WATCHER. The diagram shown is from this site. For more information about the position of the celestial bodies described on this page, check out this site. The Sun, Moon, and planets appear to be in a never ending race from east to west across the southern [...]

Acceleration: Newton’s Second Law of Motion

astronomy-fek1

ANY UNBALANCED FORCE CAUSES ACCELERATION as long as the force continues to be applied to the object. When the force stops being applied, the moving object continues to move at a constant speed as long as no force acts on it. The boy will apply a force on the ball when he throws it. * [...]

Pluto Demoted

pluto-symbol

Pluto has been demoted from being a planet to being a dwarf planet. On Aug. 24, 2006 , the International Astronomical Union (IAU) gave a description for dwarf planets. A dwarf planet is a celestial body that: orbits a sun has enough mass to give it a nearly round shape is not a satellite of [...]