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Details

astr 201 Final
n/a
202
Astronomy
Undergraduate 2
04/29/2009

Additional Astronomy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Number of Stars in Milkyway Galaxy
Definition
100 billion
Term

Cosmic Adress: order of magnitude.

big to little

 

Definition

Universe

Local Supercluster

Local Group

Milky Way galaxy

Solar system

Planet

 

Term

How do we know universe is expanding

 

Definition

Telescopic observatins. Average distances between galaxies is growing

Term
How old is universe
Definition
14 billion years old
Term
How do stars generate energy
Definition
Nuclear Fusion
Term
Death of A star is caused by
Definition
Star runs out of usable fuel. No more stuff to nuclearly fuse. Star dies in a huge explosion called a supernovae.
Term
Cosmic Recycling
Definition
Material From dead stars turns back in other stuff
Term
Speed of Light
Definition
300,000 km meters per second
Term
How long does it take light form sun to reach earth
Definition
About 8 min
Term
How big is one light year
Definition
10 trillion kilometers, 6 trillion miles
Term
Diameter of Milky Way Galaxy
Definition
100,000 light years
Term
Distance to alpha centari
Definition
4.4 light years away
Term

Galatic rotation:

Time it takes earth to make one rotation around Center and distance from center

Speed our solar system as we orbit center

Definition

Time: 230 million years

Distance: 28,000 Light years

speed: 800,000 km per hour(500,000 mph)

 

Term
Most of the galaxy is made up of? where is this located?
Definition
Dark matter. outside of visible disk
Term
age of our solar system
Definition
4.5 billion years
Term
about how many galaxies are in observabel universe
Definition
100 billion atleast
Term
Constellation
Definition
Region of the sky with well define borders
Term
Parts of Celestial Sphere
Definition
Celestial north and south pole. zenith. horizon. Direction. Altitude
Term
Angular size of moon and sun
Definition
1/2 degree
Term
Degree Estimation
Definition

fist 10 degrees

Hand spread 20

finger 1

 

Term
More precise atronomical measurements than degrees
Definition

Arcminutes

Arcseconds

 

Term
Circumpolar
Definition
Stars that remain perpetually above the horizon. Never rise or set, rather then makes counterclockwise circles around the north celestial pole.
Term
Latitude longitude
Definition

Longitude ~ Up down lines of map

(measure east and W)

Latitude ~ Across lines

(measure north south)

Lat equator = 0

Term
Prime Meridian
Definition
longitude 0
Term
Determining your latitude
Definition

The north celestial pole(polaris) lies the same degree in the sky as your latitude. if its 40 in sky your at 40 N

Term
Zodiac
Definition
12 constellations that lie along the ecliptic
Term
What constellation are we in
Definition

Constellation - Earth- Sun- Constellation we are in.

 

The constellation that we cannot see is the constellation were in

Term
Equinox
Definition
Daytime equal to nightime
Term
Approximate dates of Equinoxs/solstices
Definition

Sum Sol: june 21

win sol: december 21

Spring Eq: march 21

fall eq: september 22

Term
Solstice
Definition
Moment where a hemisphere receives its most or least sunlight
Term
Why does orbital distance affect our seasons
Definition
Most land is in northern hemisphere.
Term
Precession
Definition
a gradual wobble that changes the orientation of Earths axis in space cycle takes about 26,000. caused by gravities affect on a tilted rotating object that is not a sphere
Term
New Moon Hours
Definition

6am rise

highest noon

6am set

u dont see it its between us and sun

Term
Full moon
Definition

6pm rise

midnight highest

6am set

Sun earth moon

Term
Progression of moon
Definition

3 hour changes

New-Waxing Crescent(light on right)-First Quarter(half)- Waxing gibbous- Full Moon Waning Gibbous(light on left)- third quarter - waning crescent

Term
Average earth moon distance
Definition
about 380,000 km
Term
time from one new moon to the next
Definition
29.5 days
Term
View from MOon
Definition
You always see earth in a phase opposite the one you are in
Term
Lunar Eclipse vs Solar Eclipse
Definition

Lunar: Sun - Earth- Moon

solar: sun - moon -earth

Term
Conditions of a Eclipse
Definition

Moon orbits at 5 deg tilt therefore it only passes through ecliptic twice per cycle. these passing are called Nodes.

two conditions: Moon must be full moon(lunar) New Moon (solar)

New or full must occur during one of the periods when the nodes of the moons orbit are aligned with sun and earth

Term
Umbra
Definition
Where sun is completely blocked eclipse
Term
penumbra
Definition
where sun is only partially blocked
Term
How did astronomy benefit ancient society
Definition

Calendars

wet seasons/crops

clock

 

Term
Thales
Definition
Proposed first model of universe that did not involve supernatural forces
Term

Ptolemy and Ptolemaic Model

whats wrong

Definition

Synthesis of Geocentric Model

geocentric, and believe as planets orbited earth they did small circles

 

Term
Copernicus Copernican revolution
Definition
Spurred the developement of virtually all modern science. he was able to use geometry to calculate orbital periods of planets making him beleieve in was a heliocentric
Term
Tycho
Definition
He was convince planets must orbit sun but believed earth was stationary
Term
Kepler
Definition
discovered orbits were elipses. two foci. laws of planetary motion
Term
Keplers Laws #1
Definition

1) orbit of each planet around the sun is and elipse. with the sun at one focus. closest point perphelion, fartherest aphelion.

 

Term
Keplers Laws #2
Definition
2) As a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times
Term
Keplers 3rd Law
Definition
the more distant a planets orbit at slower speeds. p2=a3
Term
Galileo How he solidified copernican revolution
Definition
dismissed aristotles bullshit
Term
Order of Early Astronomers
Definition
Aristotle, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, Galileo
Term
Hall Marks of Science
Definition

1) Modern Science seeks explanations for observed phenomena that rely solely on natural causes

2) Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature that explain the observations as simply plausible

3) A scientific model must make testable predictions about naturable phenomena that would force us to revise or abandon the model if the predictions do not agree with observations

Term
 diameter of earth roughly
Definition
10,000 km
Term
Newtons Laws
Definition

An object at moves at constant velocity if there is no net force acting upon it

F= m times acceleration

For every force there is an equal and opposite reaction force

Term
3 basic energy types
Definition
kinetic, radiative, potential
Term
Momentum
Definition
Mass times velocity
Term
How newtons laws changed shit
Definition
showed that the same physical laws that operate on earth also operate in the heavens. this allows us to study physical laws on universe here on earth.
Term
 Conservation of angular momentum
Definition
a planets rotation cannot change unles it transfers angular momentum to another object
Term
Bound and Unbound orbits
Definition
newton proved orbital shapes can be unbound parobolas or hypebolas.
Term
How does gravity and energy together allow us to understand orbits
Definition
an object cannot change its orbit unles it gains/loses orbital energy. (grav eng+ kinetic eng).
Term
Power in relation to light
Definition
ipower is the rate of energy transfew, measured in watts. 1 watt = 1 joule. the color of light contains a great deal of information about the matter which it has interacted
Term
What is light
Definition
Light is an electromagnetic wave, but also comes in peices called photons. each photon has a percise wavelength frequency and energy.
Term
Energy of light how to tell
Definition
The shorter the wave length, the higher the frequency and energy
Term
What is the electromagnetic spectrum
Definition

In order of decreasing wavelength.

Radio waves, microwaves, infared, visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma rays

Term

Isotopes of an element

 

Definition
have same number of protons but diff number of neutrons.
Term
Molecules
Definition
2 or more atoms combined
Term
Sublimation
Definition
solid into gas
Term
Plasma
Definition
Ionized gas. occurs at very high temps when high temps strip strips electrons from atoms
Term
Energy levels info (transitions)
Definition

electrons can exist only in particular energy levels within an atom.

Electrons can only make energy level transitions when electron gains or loses a specific amount of energy

Term
Continuous Spectrum
Definition

Looks like a rainbow of light. hot light source through prism

Term
Emission line spectrum
Definition
warm gas clouds emit light at only specific wavelengths. produces abunch of colored lines when passed through prism.
Term
Absorption line spectrum
Definition
Hot light source goes through cooler cloud of gas then through prism. dark absorption lines where the cloud has absorbed light of specific colors.
Term
thermal radiation
Definition
emitted by most objects. most common type of continuous spectra. we can determine temp from these spectra because hotter objects emit more total radiation per unit are and emit photons with a higher average energy.
Term
Doppler effect (blueshift vs redshift)
Definition
this tells us how fast an object is moving toward or away from us. Psectral lines are shifted to shorter wavelengths(a blueshift) in objects moving toward us and to longer wavelengths(red-shift). in onjects moving away from us.
Term
Doppler effect and rotation
Definition
dopler effect broadens spectral lines of rotating objects. the faster the rotation, the wider the spectral line.
Term
How your Eye works and Parts
Definition
Your eye brings paralell rays of light to a focus on your retina. Glass lenses work similarily, so distant objects form an imagine that is in focus on the focal plane.
Term
How do we record images
Definition
we record images with a detector such as photographic film or a ccd. recorded images are more reliable than just seeing by eye and can record more light if we use a long exposure
Term
Two most important parts of a telescope
Definition
Light collecting area(how much light it gathers) and angular resolution(how much detail)
Term
Two types of telescopes how they work(be able to draw)
Definition
A refracting telescope forms an image by bending light through a lens. reflecting telescope forms an image by focusing light with mirrors
Term
Three primary uses of a telescope
Definition
Imaging, spectroscopy, timing(brightness changing over time)
Term
Things from earth that affect ground based telescopes
Definition
light pollution. atmospheric turbulence makes shit twinkle.
Term
Adaptive Optics
Definition
technology that can overcome turbulence
Term
Telescope in space why?
Definition
turbulence, light pollution. telescopes in space can view all wave lengths. on ground only visible radio and some infared.
Term
The Sun (features)
Definition
108Rearth. 98% hydrogen. Contains more than 99.9% of solar systems mass.
Term
Mercury(features)
Definition
Terrestrial. .4 Rearth. Rocks and metals. Hot and cold extremes 0 atmosphere. Unusual rotation pattern. rotates exactly 3 times for every 2 times in circles sun. 425 C during day. Wrinkles indicate planetary shrinking. Cratered.
Term
Venus (features)
Definition
.95Rearth. rocks metals. Average surface temp 740K(hotter than mercury). No moons. No oxygen. Sulfuric rain. runaway greenhouse. volcanoes.
Term
Earth (features)
Definition
Yeah...
Term
Mars(features)
Definition
.53 earth radius. average surface temp 220k. .11 mass of earth. 2 moons small.
Term
Jupiter Features
Definition
1st Jovian Planet. 11.2 Earth Radius. Moons atleast 63. 318 earth masses. Know four moons. moslty hydrogen and helium.
Term
Saturn Features
Definition
9.54 Au. 9.4Rearth.
Term
Saturn Features
Definition
9.54 Au. 9.4R earth. 95.2Mearth. mostly hydrogen and helium. atleast 60 moons. lower density than jupiter. Know Titan.
Term
Uranus
Definition
19.2 AU. 4Rearth. Mass 14.5Earth. Hydrogen, Helium. 60K. 27 moons. Tipped on side caused by collision? Extreme seasons. 42 year nigth 42 yr day on north pole.
Term
Neptune Features
Definition
30.1 AU. 3.9EarthR. 17.1Earth Mass. Moons 13. Largest moon Triton larger than pluto. Has a moon that orbits its moons backwards. Triton was probably independant.
Term
Pluto and other dwarfs features.
Definition
.18Rearth. ice rock. 3 moons. 40AU
Term
3 things that provide clues to how solar system was formed
Definition

1) Sun, planets, and large moons generally rotate and orbit in a very organized way.

2) The first eight planets from the sun divide clearly into two groups Jovian and terrestrial

3) the solar system contains huge numbers of asteroids and comets

4) there are some notable exceptions to these patterns

Term
Exceptions in solar system
Definition
Uranus on Its Side.Triton orbits backwards. Venus spins clockwise
Term
Types of Robotic Explatory Space Craft
Definition
Flyby, orbiter, lander/probe, sample return.
Term
Nebular Theory
Definition
stars and planet formed from a nebular cloud. stuff condensed.
Term
Why close encounter theory is wrong
Definition
doesnt account for observed orbital motions, or the division(jovian terrestrial) far too improbable.
Term
Explain HEating Spinning Flatening Idea
Definition

Heating: temp of solar nebular increased as it collapsed. such heating represents energy conservation. cloud collapsing, these particles collapsed into one another. kinetic energy, Sun formed at center where energy was highest and densest.

Spinning: solar nebula spin faster as shrunk. conservation of ang momentum. this ensured not all material collapsed to center. Greater ang momentum more spread out.

Flattening: nebula flattens into a disk. particle collision causes cloud to be flatter

Term
Solar Recycling Planets?
Definition
Hydrogen converted to other elements these elements bunch up to form planets
Term
Composition of solar nebula
Definition

Hydrogen 98%

H compounds 1.4%

Rock .4%

metal .2%

Term
Condesing of solar nebula peices
Definition
gases do not condense. h compounds icy solidification, rock high temp same with metal
Term
Frostline
Definition
point where hydrogen compounds can freeze then condense
Term
accretion
Definition
process of how planetary seeds grow into planets
Term
Solar Wind
Definition
a streamed of charged particles. it contiually blown outwar in all directions from the sun. blows away gas
Term
How does solar wind seal fate of planets
Definition
it blows away gases that might have otherwise condensed into ice
Term
Explain suns slow rotation why not fast
Definition
angular momentum. transfered energy to winds.
Term
Kuiper Belt
Definition
asteroids comets outside jovian planets
Term
Total mass of asteroids in asteroid belt
Definition
fraction of any terrestrial planet
Term
Heavy Bombardment
Definition
massive collisions between planets and planetesimals
Term
Captured moon
Definition
hard to break from an unbound orbit to a bound one unless is somehow loses orbital energy. Friction from the gases in early solar system may have caused this
Term
Where did our moon come from
Definition
a massive collision with a mars size planetesimal
Term
Mercury High Density
Definition
caused by an impact that blasted away outer layers
Term
How carbon dating works
Definition
comparing amount of one element compared to element in decayed into
Term
Inside of terrestrial PLanets
Definition
Core, mantle, and crust. Crust and part of mantle make up lithosphere
Term
Main source of heat in terrestrial planets today
Definition
radioactive decay
Term
What three things are needed for a planetary magnetic field
Definition

1) interior layer of electrically conducting fluid

2) convection of that fluid

3) rapid rotation

 

Term
What is major factors contributed to a planets geological history
Definition
Size determines volcanism, tectonics
Term
What cause planet surface erosion
Definition
size, distance from sun, rotation rate
Term
Lunar Maria
Definition
vast darm lava plains on moon
Term
why does moon not have erosion
Definition
no atmospher
Term
why does mercury have tectonic cliffs
Definition
planet cooled and shrunk
Term
Why Venus shows little erosion
Definition

slow rotation = no wind

no rain

Term
Why venus shows no tectonics
Definition
heat may have baked out moisture in lithosphere making it harder than earths
Term
Evidence of Plate Tectonics
Definition
continents fit together. new crust creation on sea floor. compositional differences between seafloor and continental crust.
Term
subduction zones
Definition
stuff goes under
Term
What do S waves tell us about core of Planet
Definition
that it is partialy liquid
Term
3 major heat sources for planet interiors
Definition

Heat of Accreation impacts turn to heat

Heat of differentiation~ light float dense sink grav potential to kinetic

Radioactive decay

Term
what four processes shape planets surface
Definition

Impact cratering

Volcanism

Tectonics

Erosion

Term
Huge High Volcanoes
Definition
Stratovolcanoes
Term
Wide but not steep volcanoes
Definition
shield volcanoes
Term
Large terristial planets have?
Definition
Warm interior mantle convection. Tectonic volcanic interior. outgassing produces atmosphere gravity holds on to it. (core can also be molent producing magnetic field if rotation is fast enough)
Term
Rapid rotation is necessary for
Definition
magnetic field and wind
Term
What is Atmosphere?
Definition
layer of gas that surrounds world. absorbes scatters light, creates pressure, wind weather, interacts with solar wind to create magnetosphere, greenhouse effect
Term
Layers of atmosphere closest to fartherst
Definition
troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
Term
Troposphere
Definition
where most greenhouse warming occurs.
Term
Stratosphere
Definition
where ozone absorbs ultraviolet light
Term
thermosphere
Definition
where solar x rays are absorbed
Term
exosphere
Definition
low density outer layer of atmosphere
Term
Coriolis effect
Definition
Term
what has caused longterm climate changes
Definition
change in axis tilt. changes in reflectivity. chnages in greenhouse gas abundance.
Term
loss processes for atmosphere
Definition
condensation, chemical reactions with surface materials, blasting away by impacts, stripping of gas by solar winds, thermal escape
Term
how atmosphere is created
Definition
sandblasting, outgassing, evaporation or sublimation,
Term
how did mars lose atmosphere
Definition
solar wind. planet cooled. lost atmosphere. and magnetosphere
Term
runaway greenhouse effect
Definition
gets too hot to have liquid ocean. it evaporates. no ocean to disolve carbon dioxide. no rocks to put compress carbonate.
Term
what stabalizes climate on earth
Definition
carbon dioxide cycle. feedback system.
Term
why did earths temp end up so diff
Definition
oceans to dissolve co2,temps were right for outgased water vapor to condense into oceans. o2 and ozone produced by photosynthesis.
Term
Jupiters Magnetosphere
Definition
20,000 stronger than earths. Can occur because jupiter has an electrically conducting fluid region that is made of metallic hydrogen + rapid rotation. Io contributes alot of charged particles to magnetosphere.
Term
Moons of Jupiter Imp
Definition
Io, Europa, Ganymede, Calisto
Term
Moons of Saturn
Definition
Titan
Term
neptune moons
Definition
triton
Term

Two Largest Jovian Moons

(larger than mercury)

Definition

Saturns Titan

Jupiters Ganymede

Term
How are the large jovian different from Terrestrial planets
Definition
Differ in compositions b/c they formed in the cold out solar system which contains alot of ice in addition to rock and metal
Term
How were most of these moons formed (jovian)
Definition
Accretion within jovian disks. this explains their rotation. they always keep face toward planet
Term
What is weather like on jovian planets
Definition
Storms layers of clouds with different stuff in them gives them different colors.
Term
Why are jupiters galilean moons so geologically active
Definition
Io most active. INteriors kept hot by tidal heating. this occurs on io because lose orbit is made elliptical by orbital resonacnes with other moons. Europa (maybe ganymede) have oceans under ice also thanks to tidal heating. Callisto least geologically active no orbital resonance or tidal heating.
Term
What is remarkable about titan and other major moons in outer solar system
Definition
Past and present volcanism or tectonics. titan has thick atmosphere caused by ongoing erosion of liquid methane. Triton was apparentyl captured by neptune geologic activity too.
Term
WHy are small icy moons more geologically active then rocky planets
Definition
Ice deform and melt at much lower temps. allowing icy volcanism and tectonics at low temps. some jovian moons also have tidal heating
Term
most volcanically active world in solar system
Definition
IO
Term
Galilean moons small to large
Definition
europa, io, callisto, ganymede
Term
What is an Asteroid
Definition
rocky leftover from era of planetry formtion (total mass of all of them less than ay terrestrial planet)
Term
Why is there an Asteroid Belt
Definition
Orbital resonances from jupiter fucked up the orbits of planetesimals. this prevented them form forming planet. many ejected some remain in what is known as asteroid belt.
Term
Primitave meteorites
Definition
are remnants of the solar nebula. intermixed rocks and flakes. some are rich in carbon compounds.
Term
Processed Meteorites
Definition
are fragments of larger asteroids and theefore can be metallic like a planets core or rocky like its mantle
Term
What are comets like
Definition
icy leftover from planet formation. if comet approaches sun its nucleus heats up and its ice sublimates into gas. this escape gas and dust create what is know as the comet coma nd two tails.
Term
What are the two tails of a comet
Definition

plasma (ionized gas) tail

dust tail

Term
Where do comets come from
Definition
Kuiper belt or Oort Cloud
Term
Have we discovered any earth size planets
Definition
NOPE
Term
why is it so difficult to detect stars around other plnets
Definition
the great distances to stars nd the fat tht typical stars are  billion times brighter than the light reflected from any of their planets makes it very difficult to detect extrasolar planets.
Term
What is the astrometric Technique
Definition
looks for planets gravitational effect on its star. which looks for small shifts in stellar position
Term
Doppler technique for finding planets
Definition
looks for back and forth motion of stars revealed by doppler shifts
Term
For methods for finding other planets
Definition

Astrometric technique

doppler technique

looking for transits and eclipses

Term
technique most effective for finding other planets
Definition
doppler technique
Term
characteristics of extrasolar planets
Definition
more massive than earth. close to there stars, large orbital eccentricies. little info on size or compositions. consitent that the planets jovian in nature
Term
why do these extrasolar planets have low denisites compared to our jovians
Definition
orbit close to the sun puffs them up hot jupiters.
Term
Explain the surprising orbits of extrasolar planets
Definition
probably formed like our jovians but some other force made them move in. migration caused by waves in gaseous disk they formed in or encounters with other objects, or resonances of other planets
Term
why was the suns source of energy such a mystery
Definition
before we knew how far away it was we did not know its output of energy. Enstein.
Term
Why does sun shine?
Definition
Gravitational equilibrium keeps the core hot and dense enough to release energy through nuclear fusion. the core originally became hot trhough the release of energy caused by gravitational contraction.
Term
Parts of Suns interior layers
Definition

Core, radiation zone, convection zone, photosphere inside

chromosphere corona outside.

Term
how does nuclear fusion occur in sun
Definition

Hot and dense enough that hyrdogen can be converted in helium 4. proton-proton chain reaction whihc acts like a thermostat

 

Term
how long does it take energy from core of sun to reach photosphere
Definition
100,000 + years
Term
Process of how energy moves from cor to surface of sun
Definition
radiative diffusion
Term
How do we know whats going on inside sun
Definition
we can study neutrinos and solar vibrations
Term
What causes solar activity
Definition
Convection combined with the rotation of the sun faster at equator than pole gas motions stretch and twist suns magnetic field.
Term
Types of Solar Activity
Definition
sunspots, flares, prominences, coronal mass injections
Term
how solar activity affect humans
Definition
it jams satelite and radio
Term
Sunspot cycle length?
Definition
Magnetic field flip flops every 11 yrs. 22 year magnetic cycle.
Term
What is life 6 things
Definition

Order

reproduction

growth and developement

energy utilization

respond to enviroment

evolutionary adaptation

Term
HOW OLD IS LIFE
Definition
3.5-3.85 bil
Term
3 things needed for life
Definition
water, nutrients, fuel/energy
Term
Why arent big stars good for life
Definition
die quicker
Term
Star conditions for life
Definition
relatively small, Not huge. Have stable orbits. planets in a habital zones.
Term
Star Spectral types
Definition
Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me
Term
Spectral types that could have life
Definition
Kill Fucking Gundstrom
Term
Rare earth arguments
Definition

Galatic constraints(too far out not enough heavy metals, too far in supernovae).

Impact rates

Climate Stability(we have Moon and tectonics

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