Astronomy Simplified (#1): Basics of Time and Distance

Here's a little opener on the topic of Astronomy. Being a much more intuitive way of grasping the things that happen to us in our own universe,

our own planet, distances in the universe and some basic and useful arguments that are very intuitive and very powerful against ignorance and

closed-minded arguments.

Links for the lecture:

The Electromagnetic Spectrum:
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/emspectrum.html

Pictures of the Sun (shrink/grow):
http://solar.physics.montana.edu/YPOP/Classroom/Lessons/Eccentricity/sunpix.html

Definition of a planet (from the International Astronomical Union):
http://www.iau.org/iau0603.414.0.html

The story behind Pluto's reconsideration as a planet:
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4459

Measuring the distance to the sun (Defining Astronomical Units):
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~soper/Sun/distance.html
http://www.badastronomy.com/mad/1996/au.html

Measuring Speed of Light:
http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/spedlite.html

Nice Speed/Distance Space calculator:
http://janus.astro.umd.edu/astro/distance/

Please send me your notes; i am only human, and if I am inaccurate about something, I want to know about it so I can correct myself. Don't

hesitate to correct me on anything scientific.

Enjoy,

~moo

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• atheism
• creationism
• astronomy
• science
• lecture
• knowledge
• argument
• debate

[runawayloco]

to correct you on one thing.

the twinkling of stars is because the dose of light is never the same at any given time. this irregularity of light causes the twinkle we see. since planets don't emit their own light they don't twinkle. the dose of light is regular due to the fact that its reflected light. so simplely put "stars" that twinkle are actually stars, and "stars" that don't twinkle are actually planets. but you had it very close!! you remind me of myself lol. you know your shit!!

[mooeypoo]

Hey runawayloco :)

Actually, a question about your correction -- I thought (as far as I read, and I have to admit, I am not sure about this) -- that the twinkling of stars is more due to 'stuff' in the way of the light than the actual star 'twinkling'.

For that matter, if I were to get close to one of those stars -- would i see it twinkle (or - would I have any sort of change in light intensity) as opposed to planet's reflection of the same light?

[mooeypoo]

Also - the planet reflects the light of the star, so if the star 'twinkles' -- wouldn't the reflection twinkle too?

Again, in this subject, I humbly admit, I am not too well versed, and not too sure at all. Any info would be welcome :) thanks!

[lesonen1]

IS THIS A GIRL OR A BOY? I AM CONFUSED........

[Timmymtd]

Sorry but you sound seriously uninformed. I've seen classmates bullshit stuff so similar to this it makes me think that you are also. Also, you regard creationists as if we are aliens or something. Annoying!

[ncbookz]

how do you even know time is a linear function? rediculous! man has no idea! were you their at creation? were you there at big bang? no! man does not even know how water works much less creation,, mysteries in front of us they cant explain much less 6000 years ago

[chfireball]

@runawayloco

Stars twinkle because of turbulence in the atmosphere of the Earth.

[yourteendreamgirl15]

@ernie5229 thats quiet obviously a woman

[yourteendreamgirl15]

i can't decide whether to be a doctor or an astronomer :((

[junior1984able]

goor video!

[junior1984able]

you are hot

[ernie5229]

are you a dude or a chick?

[biggee316]

What planet do you know that emits it's own light? A planet always reflects light, cus if it emits light it stops being a planet, cus only suns can emit their own light.