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| What is the difference between astronomy and astrology? Believe it or not, this is the most asked question I have encountered. Astrology is the ancient practice of using the locations of the planets to look into a person's personality or predict the future. This is a totally non-scientific field that does not involve science. By contrast, astronomy is the scientific study of the universe. Astronomers observe the objects in the night sky to try to determine their origins and learn more about the origin and structure of the universe. |
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| Do I need an expensive telescope to enjoy astronomy? The answer to this question is no. The only thing you really need to enjoy the night sky is your eyes, a dark viewing location, and some patience. To get a better look things, a pair of binoculars can provide a really good view. Many people will be surprised how many more stars and objects they an see with only a good pair of 10X binoculars. The collect much more light than the human eye and will bring much dimmer objects into view. A simple camera tripod to steady the binoculars is also a good idea, since your arms can get tired very quickly. |
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| Can you see the flag on the Moon? This is another question I get asked a lot. The equipment left behind by the Apollo missions is tiny in comparison to the size of the Moon. Ground-based telescopes, especially those owned by amateur observers, are not capable of resolving objects this small at such extreme distances. |
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| How old is the universe? This is a question that has puzzled astronomers for many years. The most recent estimates put the age of the universe at between 13 and 20 billion years. However, as new discoveries are made with the Hubble space telescope and other new technologies, these numbers may continue to be revised. |
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| How old is the Solar System? Most astronomers believe that our solar system was formed from a cloud of gas about 5 billion years ago. The Sun is an average-sized star with a life span of about 10 billion years. It should continue to burn for another 5 billion years. |
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| How far away is the closest star? This is actually a trick question. The closest star to the Earth would be the Sun, at a distance of about 93 million miles. The closest star outside our solar system would be Proxima Centauri at about 4 light-years from Earth. |
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| What is the largest planet in the Solar System? The largest planet in out solar system is the giant planet Jupiter. Jupiter is over a thousand times larger than the Earth, and is composed mostly of hydrogen gas. The famous giant red spot is twice the size of the Earth. |
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| More to Come.... |
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