Episode 1 Flashcards
What is our cosmic address in the universe?
Cosmic Address: Earth Solar System Milky Way Galaxy (30,000 light years from the centre) The Local Group Virgo Supercluster Observable Universe
What is the scientific method?
TEST ideas by experiment and observation BUILD on those ideas that pass the test REJECT the ones that fail FOLLOW the evidence wherever it leads QUESTION everything
What devastating effect has commenced on earth but is extreme on Venus?
The Greenhouse effect
Where is the largest asteroid belt in our solar system?
Between Mars and Jupiter
How many moons does Jupiter have?
4 giant moons and at least 63 smaller moons
What is unique about Jupiter’s mass?
Jupiter has more mass than all other planets in our solar system combined
What is Jupiter’s Red Spot?
Jupiter’s Red Spot is a hurricane 3 times the size of our own planet
What fairly recent discovery was made regarding planets and stars?
The planets outnumber the stars
What is a Rogue Planet?
A rogue planet is a planet without a sun. Rogue planet’s are molten at the core and frozen at the surface. The flowing waters could hold potential forms of life!
What is the name of our neighbouring galaxy?
Andromeda. The milky way and Andromeda form The Local Group.
Who was Copernicus?
A Polish astronomer and priest who was the first to claim that the earth is not the centre of the universe with all other cosmic entities orbiting us.
Who was Giordano Bruno?
A young dominican monk who pursued knowledge and understanding of the heavens. He read books that were banned by the church including the works of a roman named Lucrecious who presented the idea of an infinite universe.
What was Lucrecious’ theory of an infinite universe?
Lucrecious proposed the universe must be infinite by using the metaphor of standing on a wall in space and firing an arrow. There are only 2 possible outcomes, A. the arrow continues forever never hitting anything proving the universe is infinite. or, B. the arrow hits something which has provided a new surface for you to stand and fire an arrow beyond the obstacle. This process could also continue forever proving the universe is infinite.
Give a brief overview of Giordano Bruno’s life
He was banned from the church for reading books that were forbidden. It was the last steady job he would ever have. At thirty whilst sleeping under the stars he had a vision of being in a dome which was his mental representation of the known universe, overcoming an overwhelming feeling of fear he went beyond the dome where the ground fell away from his feet and he flew through the heavens where there was no up or down and no centre. After this vision he became an evangelist (infinite creation believers) and was outcast by many churches and authorities around the world. When presented the opportunity to lecture at oxford he proposed Copernicus was right, he pleaded for people to reject antiquity, tradition, faith and authority and begin a new by doubting everything that had been “proven” or was “known”. He was then taken into custody during the Spanish inquisition and tortured by the church. He refused to abandon his belief in an infinite universe and was burned at the stake for not repenting. 10 years later Galileo looked through the first telescope and proved Bruno right. Bruno gave others a target to aim at even if only to disprove it.
How old (roughly) is the universe?
13.8 Billion Years Old
