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What is Astronomy?

Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (), "star" and -nomy from nomos (), "law") is the scientific study of celestial objects (such as stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside the Earth's atmosphere (such as the cosmic background radiation).

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Observational Astronomy
1. Radio astronomy 2 .Infrared astronomy 3 .Optical astronomy 4 .Ultraviolet astronomy 5 .X-ray astronomy 6 .Gamma-ray astronomy

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Basic Observations in Astronomy

Positions of the Sun, Moon, Stars and distant Galaxies, Nebulas and Quasars. Motion of objects

with respect to you, the observer - with respect to other objects in the sky

Changes in Daily Motion, Seasons and progressions Appearance of objects (phases of the moon, etc.) Special events (eclipses, transitions, etc.)

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MILKY WAY GALAXY

EAGLE-NEBULA
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Whats up in the night sky?

The Celestial Sphere A Geocentric model (Earth Centered Universe)

Axis through Earths north and south pole goes through celestial north and south pole Earths equator Celestial equator
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Celestial Coordinates
Earth: latitude, longitude

Sky:

Declination (dec) (Latitude) [from equator,+/-90] Right Ascension (RA) (longitude) [from vernal equinox, 0-24h; 6h=90]

Examples: Westerville, OH 40.1N, 83W

Betelgeuse ( Orionis) dec = 7 24 RA = 5h 52m

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Whats up for you?

Observer Coordinates

Horizon the plane you stand on

Zenith the point right above you

Meridian the line from North to Zenith to south

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Constellations of Stars

About 5000 stars visible with naked eye About 3500 of them from the northern hemisphere Stars that appear to be close are grouped together into constellations since antiquity Officially 88 constellations (with strict boundaries for classification of objects) Names range from mythological (Perseus, Cassiopeia) technical (Air Pump, Compass)
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The Zodiac throughout the Year

(Heliocentric)

In Winter sun in Sagittarius, Gemini at night sky

In Summer sun in Gemini, Sagittarius at night sky

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Constellations of Stars

Orion as seen at night

Orion as imagined by men

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Constellation Orion Distances

Stars in a constellation are not connected by relative distances.

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Vibhor Jajoo www.jajoovibhor.co.nr

All planets move in same plane except Pluto

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Formation of Planets
Orbiting dust planitesimals Planitesimals collide Different elements form in different regions due to temperature Asteroids Remaining gas

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Motion of the Moon

Moon shines not by its own light but by reflected light of Sun Moon revolves around the Earth period of revolution = 1

month

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Eclipses

One celestial object hidden by other or in the shadow of another Solar eclipse: sun hidden by the moon Lunar eclipse: moon in earths shadow (sun hidden from moon by earth) Also: eclipses of Jupiters moons, etc. Most spectacular because moon and sun appear to be the same size from earth

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Solar Eclipses

Umbra region of total shadow Penumbra region of partial shadow Totality lasts only a few minutes! Why isnt there a solar eclipse every month?
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Solar Corona

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Why isnt there an eclipse every month ? Answer: because the Moons orbit is inclined with respect to the ecliptic

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Lunar Eclipses
Moon moves into earths shadow

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Thank You
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