AS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Celestial Spheres, Astronomical Unit, Local Group
Document Summary
As101- lecture 1- from solar system to galaxy to universe. The study of astronomy gives us a sense of where we are in the universe, with a respect to surrounding galaxies, stars, clusters, and other phenomena. To study distances we must understand where we are in the universe. We must also understand how time and distance are related. The earth is the reference point for studying time and distance. Time and human civilization link together in the history of the universe. What we perceive might not be the truth- so we must persist to deepen our understanding. Looking back into space is like looking back into time- they are interrelated. Laws of physics and why they are important to the study of astronomy. To understand the universe we must understand the laws of physics. They don"t tell us why things are here. We can understand how a laser beam works, but not the essence of the laser beam.
