Astronomy 1021 Study Guide - Comprehensive Midterm Guide: Celestial Equator, March Equinox, Ganymede (Moon)

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 1021
• Professor: Robert Cockcroft

Document Summary

September 13, 2016: egyptians could see 5 planets with the naked eye, names of stars/planets came from early times. Cygnus latin word for swan & named after zeus: beta cygni: albireo. Part of summer triangle with vega and altair: cygnus x-1. First detected object believed to be black hole: kepler space telescope. Looks at extra solar planets (outside our solar system) Looks at light levels from the stars. Star: a spherical object that emits light and generates energy through nuclear fusion (ex. H he: sun is our closest star, next closest is proxima centauri, 1000"s stars visible in sky, lots of variety, stars twinkle. The space station when astronauts are floating : we are protected from the sun by the heliosphere. Planet: a spherical object that orbits a star; dominates its orbit; reflects light; can be made of rock, ice, or gas: eight in our solar system, 1000"s of exoplanets (other solar systems)