Astronomy For Beginners

Chapters in this book include: Introduction All about what astronomy actually is, and the role it has played in people's lives throughout history - from navigating the seas, to worshipping gods in the skies. Where are we? Earth's place in the universe is in the solar system, orbiting the Sun, along with seven other planets, countless space rocks and lumps of ice, and a whole load of junk. All we can see Astronomers have found out a LOT about the universe by looking through huge telescopes on earth - and by sending probes and telescopes into space. More than meets the eye Stars and planets give off radiation. By studying it, astronomers can find out all sorts of things - from the temperature of a star and the chemicals it contains, to the shape of a planet's surface. Explaining it all To explain how the universe works, astronomers come up with theories. These are then backed up by evidence from telescopes., lab experiments, or complicated models run on supercomputers. The universe The universe expanded from a tiny dot, in a mind-blowing event called the Big Bang. But what shape is the universe? How might it end? And could there be more than one? Gravity Gravity holds the universe together, interacting with space and time. Black holes are the regions where gravity is strongest. What would happen if you fell into one? Is anybody out there? Searching for aliens starts with a search for water, because all life we know depends on it. At the same time, people listen out for alien signals, as well as planning their own adventures in space. Astronomy and you Get stuck into astronomy from your own home, or choose your ideal astronomy career. Also, find out about the everyday technology given to us by astronomy.