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Earth's Place in the Universe
Notes for Unit 2 Lesson 3 test
16
Astronomy
Beginner
12/06/2018

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Cards

Term
Galaxy
Definition
A large collection of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity.
Term
Universe
Definition
Includes space and all the energy and matter in it.
Term
Which has fewer stars?
galaxy or universe
Definition
Galaxy
Term
Which has fewer stars?
galaxy or solar system
Definition
solar system
Term
Which galaxy are Earth and our solar system located in?
Definition
Milky Way
Term
What did William and Caroline Herschel determine by measuring relative distance of the stars in the Milky Way?
Definition
The shape of the Milky Way
Term
Globular clusters
Definition
Large groups of stars studied by Harlow Shapley.
Term
All the globular clusters Shapley studied were arranged in one large shape. What is the shape?
Definition
Sphere
Term
Were the globular clusters Shapley studied centered around our sun?
Definition
No, the globular clusters Shapley studies centered around a point in space far from Earth.
Term
After observing that the globular clusters he studied were centered around a point in space far from Earth, where did Shapley conclude our solar system must be located?
Definition
Outside the center of the sphere, within one of the outer spiral arms of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Term
What did Shapley conclude caused areas of space that did not seem to have any stars?
Definition
The stars were too dim to be seen with his telescope.
Matter, such as dust could be blocking light from the stars.
Objects are too far away from Earth to be seen.
Term
Light year
Definition
The distance light travels in one year.
Term
What unit do scientists use to measure distances in the universe?
Definition
Light years
Term
How far is it across the Milky Way?
Definition
100 light years
Term
How many stars are in the Milky Way?
Definition
100 Billion
Term
What do scientists use to identify the distance of stars from Earth?
Definition
the size of the star
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