Astronomy Flashcards
What was the main objectives of the Cassini mission and why was it important?
the mission focused on Saturn; study cloud properties and atmosphere, looked at the rings structure and composition, study the magnetosphere. It was important because it enabled us to observe weather and seasonal changes on another planet.
What was the Cassini’s top achievements?
- Landed on a moon in the outer solar system
- Saturn’s rings are active and dynamic
- The moons have a lot of detail; Titan has rivers, lake, rain and seas meaning it may be similar to Earth a long time ago
- Solved the mystery of why the is so many dual, bright-dark surfaces
- Discovered the rings mass
- Found Saturns gravitational and magnetic fields
How was the Cassini destroyed?
It fell close to Saturn’s clouds and burned up
What are the key concepts within the Steady State Theory?
The universe is infinite meaning NO BEGINNING OR END
Galaxies are evenly distributed through space - when the galaxies move away from each other, new ones would appear in the gaps
How is the Big Bang theory different from the Steady state theory?
The Big Bang describes the universe as expanding
It started from a singularity (cosmic egg)
What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation?
The light created during the Big Bang when photons were first released. This light hits Earth in a constant background signal. That is called the afterglow of the universe radiation.
List each epoch during the Big Bang theory and what occurs in each one.
Planck Epoch - universe is a singularity
Inflationary Epoch - universe starts to grow rapidly
Quark Epoch - energy turns into quarks and electrons
Nucleosynthesis - protons and neutrons bond in nuclei
Photon Epoch - photons are trapped by free electrons
Dark Epoch - nuclei and electrons bond into atom
How are larger particles able to form after the epochs if the universe is so hot?
Stars and galaxies were formed from cosmic dust. It is because after each epoch, the temperature of the universe decreases meaning that after the Dark epoch, larger particles can form.
Nearest galaxy to us.
Andromeda Galaxy
What is the purpose to the ISS?
The mission of the International Space Station is to enable long-term exploration of space and provide benefits to people on Earth. Premiere research facility in space, four times larger and more capable than any previous space station.
Who contributed to the Big Bang theory?
Einstein - theory of reletivity gave us a better understanding of gravity to an entrent of gravitational pull
Edwin Hubble - galaxies are moving apart from one another
Robert Wilson and Arno Penzias - cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) on accident
