Unit 7: Discoveries About Our Solar System Flashcards
(73 cards)
What marked the beginning of major astronomical advancements in modern history?
The invention of the astronomical telescope.
What did the telescope help confirm about the solar system?
It solidified the heliocentric model as fact.
What were the known celestial bodies before the telescope era?
The Sun, Moon, and five visible planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
Who discovered Jupiter’s moons and initiated modern astronomy?
Galileo Galilei.
Who discovered Saturn’s moon Titan?
Christiaan Huygens in 1655.
Why were no new celestial objects discovered for about 100 years after 1655?
Telescopes weren’t yet strong enough to detect dimmer objects.
What technological shift improved telescope capability?
The shift from refracting to Newton’s reflecting telescope design.
Who were William and Caroline Herschel?
German-born siblings who became astronomers and musicians in England.
What parallel is often noted between music and astronomy?
Many famous scientists like Pythagoras, Einstein, and Kepler were also musicians.
What did William Herschel build that was significant in telescope history?
The largest telescope of his time with a one-meter primary mirror.
How long was the telescope tube of Herschel’s massive telescope?
40 feet long.
Why did Herschel build such large telescopes?
To collect more light and magnify celestial objects better.
How long was Herschel’s telescope the largest in the world?
About 50 years.
What did the Herschels do with their powerful telescopes?
They made detailed and deep observations of the sky, often all night.
What was Carolyn Herschel’s role in astronomy?
She was William’s assistant and later became a successful astronomer herself.
Which planet did William Herschel discover in 1781?
Uranus.
Why was the discovery of Uranus significant?
It was the first new planet discovered in recorded history, doubling the known size of the Solar System.
What was William Herschel originally searching for when he found Uranus?
Stellar parallax.
What is stellar parallax?
The apparent shift in position of nearby stars due to Earth’s movement around the Sun.
Why hadn’t stellar parallax been detected in Herschel’s time?
The stars are so far away that the shift is too small to detect with the telescopes of the time.
How did Herschel’s discovery of Uranus change his career?
He became a royal astronomer and was elected to the Royal Society.
What did Uranus initially look like through a telescope?
A non-point-like object, appearing as a small disk, unlike stars.
What did Herschel originally think Uranus might be?
A comet or a nebulous star.
How long did it take astronomers to confirm Uranus was a planet?
About two years, by 1783.
