Topic 6 Review: Stars, Galaxies, & the Universe

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What is an Elliptical Galaxy?

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An elliptical galaxy is a type of galaxy characterized by its smooth, featureless light profile and an ellipsoidal shape. They contain older stars and have little to no new star formation.

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What is a Spiral Galaxy?

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A spiral galaxy is a type of galaxy that has a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas, and dust, along with a central concentration of stars known as the bulge. They often have spiral arms that extend outward.

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What is a Solar System?

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A solar system is a collection of celestial bodies, including a star and all the planets and other objects that are bound by gravity to that star. Our solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

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What is the Universe?

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The Universe is the vast, all-encompassing space that contains all matter, energy, planets, stars, galaxies, and the physical laws that govern them. It is estimated to contain billions of galaxies.

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What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation?

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Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) is the afterglow radiation from the Big Bang, filling the universe and providing evidence for the Big Bang Theory. It is uniform and isotropic, detected in all directions.

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What is the Big Bang Theory?

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The Big Bang Theory is the leading explanation for the origin of the universe, proposing that it began as a singularity approximately 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.

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What are the main components of a galaxy?

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The main components of a galaxy include stars, gas, dust, dark matter, and sometimes black holes. These elements interact through gravitational forces.

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What is dark matter?

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Dark matter is a form of matter that does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, making it invisible and detectable only through its gravitational effects on visible matter.

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What is a black hole?

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A black hole is a region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. They are formed from the remnants of massive stars after they collapse.

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What is a nebula?

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A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often serving as a nursery for new stars. Nebulae can be regions of star formation or remnants of dead or dying stars.