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Astro Notes

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Astro Notes

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william.m.wright.2
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Astronomy Class Notes

Date: November 2, 2024

Introduction to Astronomy

● Definition: The study of celestial objects, space, and the universe as a whole.
● Main Branches:
○ Observational Astronomy: Collecting data on celestial objects using telescopes and other instruments.
○ Theoretical Astronomy: Developing models and simulations to explain astronomical phenomena.

The Solar System

● Planets:
○ Inner (terrestrial) planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars — rocky and smaller.
○ Outer (gas giants and ice giants): Jupiter, Saturn (gas giants); Uranus, Neptune (ice giants).
● Dwarf Planets: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres.
● Asteroids & Comets:
○ Asteroids: Rocky objects, mostly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
○ Comets: Icy bodies from the outer solar system; develop tails when close to the Sun.

Stars and Stellar Evolution

● Types of Stars: Classified by size, color, and temperature (O, B, A, F, G, K, M — hottest to coolest).
● Life Cycle of a Star:
○ Formation: Stars form from clouds of gas and dust (nebulae) due to gravitational collapse.
○ Main Sequence: Stars spend most of their lives fusing hydrogen into helium.
○ Red Giant/Supergiant: After hydrogen is depleted, stars expand as they fuse heavier elements.
○ End Stages:
■ White Dwarf: For smaller stars.
■ Supernova: Explosion of massive stars.
■ Neutron Star/Black Hole: Results from the collapse of massive stars.

Galaxies and the Universe

● Types of Galaxies:
○ Spiral Galaxies: e.g., Milky Way, Andromeda.
○ Elliptical Galaxies: Older, redder, and lack star-forming regions.
○ Irregular Galaxies: No defined shape; often result from galactic collisions.
● Expansion of the Universe:
○ Discovered by Edwin Hubble; galaxies are moving away from each other.
○ Big Bang Theory: Prevailing model of the origin of the universe; occurred ~13.8 billion years ago.

Celestial Observations

● Telescopes:
○ Optical Telescopes: For visible light observations.
○ Radio Telescopes: For radio wave observations (e.g., Arecibo Observatory).
○ Space Telescopes: Operate above Earth’s atmosphere (e.g., Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space
Telescope).
● Phases of the Moon:
○ New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter,
Waning Crescent.
Key Concepts in Modern Astronomy

● Dark Matter: Invisible mass that exerts gravitational pull; accounts for about 27% of the universe.
● Dark Energy: Mysterious force causing the accelerated expansion of the universe.
● Exoplanets: Planets orbiting stars outside the solar system; potential sites for discovering extraterrestrial life.

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