The History of Astronomy

Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects (like stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside Earth’s atmosphere. Its history spans millennia, from early observations of the night sky to modern space exploration. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Early Observations: Ancient civilizations made naked-eye observations, creating constellations and calendars. Geocentric vs. Heliocentric … Read more

Stellar Astronomy

Stellar astronomy is the branch of astronomy that focuses on the study of individual stars, their properties, evolution, and life cycles. It delves into the physics and chemistry of stars, examining their formation, internal structure, and eventual demise. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Stellar Classification: Stars are categorized based on their temperature, size, and luminosity … Read more

Space Science

Space science is the study of the universe beyond Earth’s atmosphere. It encompasses the exploration and understanding of celestial objects, phenomena, and processes. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Utilizes observation and data analysis from telescopes, satellites, and spacecraft. Focuses on the physical laws governing the cosmos. Includes subfields like astrophysics, cosmology, and planetary science. Involves … Read more

Planetary Science

Planetary science is the study of planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other objects in our solar system and beyond. It seeks to understand their formation, evolution, composition, and current states. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Formation and Evolution: Investigating how planets form from dust and gas, and how they change over time. Composition and Structure: … Read more

Plasma Physics

Plasma physics is the study of ionized gases, often called plasmas, and their behavior under the influence of electric and magnetic fields. It’s a complex field dealing with the collective motion of charged particles. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Ionization: Plasmas are characterized by a significant portion of their atoms being ionized, meaning they’ve lost … Read more

Cosmology

Cosmology is the scientific study of the origin, evolution, large-scale structure, and ultimate fate of the universe. It uses physics and astronomy to explore the universe’s beginnings, its composition, and its future. Cosmology seeks to understand the universe as a whole. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts The Big Bang theory: The prevailing cosmological model for … Read more

Astronomy

Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects (like stars, planets, comets, and galaxies) and phenomena that originate outside Earth’s atmosphere. It involves observing and interpreting the light and other radiation from these objects to understand their properties, origins, and evolution. Key Characteristics / Core Concepts Observation: Astronomy relies heavily on observation using telescopes and … Read more