The UniverseThe Universe

How old? 15 billion years How old? 15 billion years old?old?

I. Definition of the I. Definition of the UniverseUniverse

All matter that exists now, All matter that exists now, in the past and in the in the past and in the future.future.

Everything in space and Everything in space and time.time.

There is only one universe.There is only one universe. Anything that exists is part Anything that exists is part

of the universe.of the universe.

II. Measuring The II. Measuring The UniverseUniverse

A.A. Light year (ly)Light year (ly) Distance light travels in one yearDistance light travels in one year 1 ly = 6 trillion miles (6.0 x 101 ly = 6 trillion miles (6.0 x 101212) ) Light travels 3.0 x 10Light travels 3.0 x 1088m/s or 186,000 m/s or 186,000

mi/smi/s Used for distance between stars, Used for distance between stars,

galaxiesgalaxies Closest star (after the sun) – Alpha Closest star (after the sun) – Alpha

Centauri (aka Proxima Centauri)- 4.3 Centauri (aka Proxima Centauri)- 4.3 lyly

B.B. ParallaxParallax the the apparentapparent

shift of an shift of an object object against a against a background background

due to a due to a change in change in observer’s observer’s position position

Sun/Stars vs PlanetSun/Stars vs Planet

Suns are starsSuns are stars Stars give off energy (light and heat) Stars give off energy (light and heat)

due to nuclear fusion, planets do not due to nuclear fusion, planets do not (NOT ENOUGH MASS)(NOT ENOUGH MASS)

Nuclear fusion is the process of hydrogen Nuclear fusion is the process of hydrogen fusing to form Helium and other fusing to form Helium and other elements…this process is the life cycle of elements…this process is the life cycle of stars. When fusion starts, stars are born, stars. When fusion starts, stars are born, when it stops, stars die.when it stops, stars die.

III. Contents of The III. Contents of The UniverseUniverse

A.A. GalaxiesGalaxies Collection of millions, billions, etc. of stars Collection of millions, billions, etc. of stars

held by gravityheld by gravity Between stars, interstellar matter (clouds Between stars, interstellar matter (clouds

of dust, gas)of dust, gas) Andromeda – 2 million lyAndromeda – 2 million ly Types of galaxies:Types of galaxies:

1. Spiral1. Spiral

2. Elliptical2. Elliptical

3. Irregular3. Irregular

1. Spiral Galaxies1. Spiral Galaxies

arms arms containing containing gas and dust gas and dust

stars form in stars form in armsarms

young stars young stars are blueare blue

central bulgecentral bulge

The Milky Way – spiral galaxyThe Milky Way – spiral galaxy Our Solar System is in an armOur Solar System is in an armSee video – structure of Milky WaySee video – structure of Milky Way

2. Elliptical2. Elliptical

Spherical or egg shaped

Older galaxies, older stars

Less gas and dust

3. Irregular Galaxies3. Irregular Galaxies

No well defined shapesNo well defined shapes

Vary in age and activityVary in age and activity

III. Contents of The III. Contents of The UniverseUniverse

B.B. Stars – balls of hot gas that emit Stars – balls of hot gas that emit lightlight

The Sun is the closest star to usThe Sun is the closest star to us

1.1. Multiple Star SystemMultiple Star System most stars that we see in the sky are most stars that we see in the sky are

parts of multiple star systems parts of multiple star systems revolve around each other. revolve around each other. two stars = two stars = binary star systembinary star system. . exex. Algol, eclipsing binary. Algol, eclipsing binary

B. StarsB. Stars

2. 2. Star ClusterStar Cluster

Group of stars held together by Group of stars held together by ________.________.

Open and globularOpen and globular

Pleides, 7 sisters 47 Tucana, second brightest

B. StarsB. Stars

3. 3. NovaNova a star that spits out some of its a star that spits out some of its

material and becomes brighter in material and becomes brighter in the process the process

B. StarsB. Stars

4. 4. ConstellationsConstellations Stars create apparent shape in Stars create apparent shape in

Earth’s sky called constellationEarth’s sky called constellation Why were they used?Why were they used?

SeasonSeason NavigationNavigation entertainmententertainment

Naming the StarsNaming the Stars(this slide is just for fun)(this slide is just for fun)

Proper names are often a literal Proper names are often a literal description of the star’s location in the description of the star’s location in the constellation:constellation: Betelgeuse – “Shoulder of the giant”Betelgeuse – “Shoulder of the giant” Rigel – “Foot”Rigel – “Foot” Deneb – “Tail”Deneb – “Tail” Procyon – “Before the dog”Procyon – “Before the dog” Algol – “Eye of the ghoul”Algol – “Eye of the ghoul”

Star proper names also sometimes Star proper names also sometimes describe the star.describe the star. Sirius – “Scorching”Sirius – “Scorching” Antares – “Rival of Mars”Antares – “Rival of Mars” Kochab – “Star”Kochab – “Star”

Bayer Letter NamesBayer Letter Names (this slide is just for fun)(this slide is just for fun)

Nearly every star with a proper name Nearly every star with a proper name also has a Bayer Letter Name (alpha – also has a Bayer Letter Name (alpha – brightest star in galaxy, etc.)brightest star in galaxy, etc.)

You can use the names to make a guess You can use the names to make a guess as to how bright the star is relative to its as to how bright the star is relative to its neighbors in the constellation:neighbors in the constellation: Alpha Orionis = BetelgeuseAlpha Orionis = Betelgeuse Beta Orionis = RigelBeta Orionis = Rigel Alpha Canis Majoris = SiriusAlpha Canis Majoris = Sirius Alpha Canis Minoris = ProcyonAlpha Canis Minoris = Procyon Alpha Geminorum = CastorAlpha Geminorum = Castor Beta Geminorum = PolluxBeta Geminorum = Pollux Alpha Scorpii = AntaresAlpha Scorpii = Antares Beta Persei = AlgolBeta Persei = Algol

III. Contents of The III. Contents of The UniverseUniverse

C.C. Planets – bodies that do not emit Planets – bodies that do not emit lightlight

There are eight true planets in our There are eight true planets in our solar system.solar system.

There are planets outside our solar There are planets outside our solar system.system.

There are other solar systems.There are other solar systems.

III. Contents of The III. Contents of The UniverseUniverse

D.D. Asteroids, Asteroids, Comets, Comets, Meteors Meteors 1. 1. AsteroidsAsteroids – – large space large space rocksrocks

Eros was visited by the NEAR Shoemaker probe, which orbited it, taking extensive photographs of its surface, and, on February 12, 2001, at the end of its mission, landed on the asteroid's surface using its maneuvering jets.

2. Comets - Small, icy celestial body is made up of: a nucleus (solid, frozen ice, gas and dust), a gaseous coma (water vapor, and other gases) and a long tail (made of dust and ionized gases). The tail develops when the comet is near the Sun.

I. The UniverseI. The Universe3. Meteroid – rock or metal traveling

through space

4. Meteor – meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere

5. Meteorite - A rock of extra-terrestrial origin found on Earth.

See video on meteors, then asteroids

Barrington Crater in Arizona, 0.8 Barrington Crater in Arizona, 0.8 milesmiles

See video, damage Earth Collison, protecting EarthSee video, damage Earth Collison, protecting Earth

E.E. NebulaNebula clouds of gas and dust in spaceclouds of gas and dust in space some are illuminated by some are illuminated by

nearby stars (bright nebulae)nearby stars (bright nebulae) others remain dark and are others remain dark and are

only seen if they obscure a only seen if they obscure a brighter object (dark nebulae)brighter object (dark nebulae)

Witchhead in near Rigel, OrionWitchhead in near Rigel, Orion Trifid nebulaTrifid nebula

Planetary Planetary nebulanebula

F.F. Quasar Quasar Most distant object in universeMost distant object in universe "quasar'' means "quasi-star'' "quasar'' means "quasi-star'' produce more light each second produce more light each second

than an entire galaxy of stars than an entire galaxy of stars doesdoes

G. Dead Star RemnantsG. Dead Star Remnants

Black holesBlack holes Neutron starsNeutron stars White dwarfWhite dwarf

IV. Creation of The IV. Creation of The UniverseUniverse

A.A. Big Bang TheoryBig Bang Theory Theory: started as a small, dense Theory: started as a small, dense

mass that exploded, matter sent in mass that exploded, matter sent in all directions, forming the universeall directions, forming the universe

Can never be proven.Can never be proven.See video –big bangSee video –big bang

IV.IV. Creation of The Creation of The UniverseUniverse

(do not copy)(do not copy)

Singularity – point when Singularity – point when all matter contained in all matter contained in small point.small point.

Explosion – created Explosion – created space, time, matter, and space, time, matter, and four fundamental forcesfour fundamental forces

Forces: strong nuclear, Forces: strong nuclear, weak nuclear, gravity weak nuclear, gravity and electrostaticand electrostatic

IV. Creation of The IV. Creation of The UniverseUniverse

B.B. SupportSupport11. . The Doppler EffectThe Doppler Effect, Red Shift, Red Shift

Doppler Effect - when motion changes a wave's Doppler Effect - when motion changes a wave's perceived frequency perceived frequency

Starlight shifts to red and of rainbow spectrumStarlight shifts to red and of rainbow spectrum Supports the big bang theory (universe is Supports the big bang theory (universe is

expanding)expanding)

You are Here

Galaxies move away

From us…shift to red

2. 2. Cosmic Background RadiationCosmic Background Radiation – – microwave radiation detected microwave radiation detected throughout the Universethroughout the Universe

C.C. Future: The Universe will….Future: The Universe will….1.1. Continue to (open universe)Continue to (open universe)

2.2. Stop expanding and hang out (closed Stop expanding and hang out (closed universe)universe)

3.3. Begin to collapse and ‘reexplode’ (the Begin to collapse and ‘reexplode’ (the big crunch)big crunch)