Lesson 1 What is the Universe
The universe is all the matter and energy that exists through time and space
Stars are giant spheres that are made of superheated gas that produce energy through
nuclear fusion
Planets are spheres of matter that orbit stars
Black holes are massive stars that have ended its life by collapsing upon itself to become the
most dense object that we know of in the universe and has a gravitational field so strong
that it bends space and time so that nothing - not even light - can escape
Nebulas are made up of gas and dust (mostly hydrogen and other atoms). This gas and dust
is slowly collapsing together under the force of gravity to form brand new stars. The
remaining gas and dust from nebulas will form into planets
Distances:
Astronomical Average distance 150,000,000 km Useful for distances in the
Unit (AU) between the Earth and solar system
the Sun
Lightyear Distance light travels in a 9,460,700,000,000 km Useful for distances to
year other stars in the Milky
Way
Parsec One parsec corresponds 30,857,000,000,000 km Useful for distances to
to the distance at which other galaxies
the radius of the Earth's
orbit subtends an angle
of one second of arc.
Parts of our cosmic address:
1. Planet Earth
2. Solar system
3. Oort cloud
4. Local interstellar cloud
5. Local cavity
6. Orion arm
7. Milky way
8. Local group
9. Virgo supercluster
10. Laniakea supercluster
11. The universe
Lesson 2 Indigenous Astronomy
Scientists believe Stonehenge was able to map out the movements of the sun throughout
the year. Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago
Some aboriginal people used the sky as a calendar to tell them when it's time to move to a
new place and a new food supply. The Wurdi youang seemed to map the different setting
positions of the sun throughout the year. That would show the changing of the seasons
allowing the people to identify when certain foods were availa ble, like an ancient calendar.
Australian Indigenous peoples are considered the first astronomers as they have created
many dreaming stories that explain tides, eclipses, the rising and setting sun and moon and
the changing positions of rising stars and planets throughout the year
The universe is all the matter and energy that exists through time and space
Stars are giant spheres that are made of superheated gas that produce energy through
nuclear fusion
Planets are spheres of matter that orbit stars
Black holes are massive stars that have ended its life by collapsing upon itself to become the
most dense object that we know of in the universe and has a gravitational field so strong
that it bends space and time so that nothing - not even light - can escape
Nebulas are made up of gas and dust (mostly hydrogen and other atoms). This gas and dust
is slowly collapsing together under the force of gravity to form brand new stars. The
remaining gas and dust from nebulas will form into planets
Distances:
Astronomical Average distance 150,000,000 km Useful for distances in the
Unit (AU) between the Earth and solar system
the Sun
Lightyear Distance light travels in a 9,460,700,000,000 km Useful for distances to
year other stars in the Milky
Way
Parsec One parsec corresponds 30,857,000,000,000 km Useful for distances to
to the distance at which other galaxies
the radius of the Earth's
orbit subtends an angle
of one second of arc.
Parts of our cosmic address:
1. Planet Earth
2. Solar system
3. Oort cloud
4. Local interstellar cloud
5. Local cavity
6. Orion arm
7. Milky way
8. Local group
9. Virgo supercluster
10. Laniakea supercluster
11. The universe
Lesson 2 Indigenous Astronomy
Scientists believe Stonehenge was able to map out the movements of the sun throughout
the year. Stonehenge was built around 5,000 years ago
Some aboriginal people used the sky as a calendar to tell them when it's time to move to a
new place and a new food supply. The Wurdi youang seemed to map the different setting
positions of the sun throughout the year. That would show the changing of the seasons
allowing the people to identify when certain foods were availa ble, like an ancient calendar.
Australian Indigenous peoples are considered the first astronomers as they have created
many dreaming stories that explain tides, eclipses, the rising and setting sun and moon and
the changing positions of rising stars and planets throughout the year
