What is astronomy?
Q: What is astronomy?
A: Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial bodies, such as stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and nebulae. It also includes the study of supernovae explosions, gamma ray bursts and cosmic microwave background radiation.
Q: What are the main topics studied in astronomy?
A: Astronomy concerns the development, physics, chemistry, meteorology and movement of celestial bodies. The big questions are the structure and development of the universe.
Q: How does astrophysics relate to astronomy?
A: Astrophysics is an important part of astronomy. It involves studying physical processes that occur in space and how they affect astronomical objects.
Q: Is astronomy related to astrology?
A: No, astronomy is not related to astrology which is a belief that the motion of stars and planets can influence human lives.
Q: What are two types of astronomy?
A: There are two main types of astronomy - observational and theoretical. Observational uses telescopes and cameras to observe stars etc., while theoretical explains what we see by making predictions about what might happen based on observations.
Q: What is cosmology?
A: Cosmology is a related subject to astronomy which studies the universe as a whole including its evolution over time.
Q: Is it possible to do day-time astronomy?
A: Yes it is possible to do day-time astronomy although looking directly at the Sun without proper shields or equipment can be dangerous as it can burn your eyes causing permanent blindness. However some bright stars or planets can be seen during daylight hours through a telescope or powerful pair binoculars.
