Where are we in the Universe?

Question 1

What is a star?

Answer 1

A star is a large, glowing ball of gas that generates light and heat through nuclear fusion in its core. The sun is a star.

Question 2

What is a planet?

Answer 2

A planet is a moderately large object that orbits a star and shines primarily by reflecting the light of its star.

Question 3

What are the three criterion of a star?

Answer 3

1. It orbits a star
2. Is large enough for its gravity to make it round.
3. has cleared most objects from its orbital path.

Question 4

What is a dwarf planet?

Answer 4

This is a planet that has satisfied the first two but not the last criterion of being a planet. An example of this is Pluto.

Question 5

What is a moon?

Answer 5

This is an object that orbits a planet. It also referred to as a satellite.

Question 6

What is a satellite?

Answer 6

A satellite is an object that orbits another object.

Question 7

What is an asteroid?

Answer 7

An asteroid is a relatively small and rocky object that orbits a star.

Question 8

What is a comet?

Answer 8

A comet is a relatively small icy-rich body that orbits a star.

Question 9

What is a small solar system body?

Answer 9

A small solar system body consists of an asteroid, a comet or any other objects that orbits a star but is too small to qualify as a planet or a dwarf planet

Question 10

What is a solar system?

Answer 10

A solar system consists of the sun and all other material that orbits it including planets, dwarf planets, and small solar system bodies.

Question 11

What is a star system?

Answer 11

A star system consists of a star(s) and any planets and any other materials that orbit it.

Question 12

What is a galaxy?

Answer 12

A galaxy is a great island of stars that are held together by their own gravity and orbit a common centre with a total mass that is equal to millions, billions and even trillions of stars.

Question 13

What is a cluster of galaxies?

Answer 13

A cluster of galaxies is collection of galaxies found together by gravity.

Question 14

What is a group of galaxies?

Answer 14

A group of galaxies is a small collection of galaxies that are held together by gravity.

Question 15

What is a supercluster of galaxies?

Answer 15

A supercluster of galaxies is a gigantic region of space where many groups and clusters of galaxies are packed more closely together than elsewhere in the universe.

Question 16

What is the universe?

Answer 16

The universe is the sum total of all matter and energy. That is, all galaxies and everything within them.

Question 17

What is the observable universe?

Answer 17

The observable universe is the portion of the entire universe that can be seen from earth. It is probably only a small portion of the entire universe.

Question 18

What is an Astronomical Unit?

Answer 18

This is the average distance between the earth and the sun. It is about 150 million kilometres. it is also the measurement of the semi major axis of the earth’s orbit.

Question 19

What is a light year?

Answer 19

A light year is the distance that light can travel in one year. It is about 10 trillion kilometres (more precisely 9.46 trillion kilometres).

Question 20

What is rotation?

Answer 20

This is the spinning of the earth around its axis. For example, earth rotates once each day around its axis.

Question 21

What is an orbit? What is another name for it?

Answer 21

This is the orbital motion of one object around another due to gravity. For example, earth orbit the sun once each year.

Question 22

What is the expansion of the universe?

Answer 22

This is the increase in the average distance between galaxies as time progresses.

Question 23

What is an axis?

Answer 23

This is an imaginary lines that connects the north and south poles.

Question 24

How old is the universe?

Answer 24

The universe is about 14 billion years old.