Understanding Our Place in the Milky Way

What was the initial belief about Earth's position in the universe?

• Earth was at the center of the universe.

• Earth was on the edge of the universe.

• Earth was part of a binary star system.

• Earth was outside the Milky Way.

What did William Herschel propose about the shape of the Milky Way?

• It is a disc-shaped structure.

• It is a spherical structure.

• It is a cluster of galaxies.

• It is a spiral galaxy.

What was Henrietta Swan Leavitt's significant contribution to astronomy?

• Discovering the planet Uranus.

• Mapping the stars of the Milky Way.

• Identifying the structure of the Andromeda galaxy.

• Finding a relationship between Cepheid variables' luminosity and pulsation periods.

What did the discovery of Cepheid variables allow astronomers to do?

• Measure the mass of stars.

• Determine the age of the universe.

• Predict solar eclipses.

• Calculate distances to faraway galaxies.

How did Edwin Hubble's findings change our understanding of the universe?

• He proved that the universe was static.

• He found that Earth was at the center of the universe.

• He discovered the Andromeda galaxy was outside the Milky Way.

• He confirmed the Milky Way was the only galaxy.

What did Harlow Shapley discover about globular clusters?

• They are only found in the Milky Way.

• They are mostly found near the galactic center.

• They are evenly distributed across the sky.

• They are younger than other stars.

What did early astronomers believe about the Milky Way's size?

• It was smaller than Andromeda.

• It was one of many galaxies.

• It was a cluster of stars.

• It was the entire universe.

What is the primary goal of the Gaia mission?

• To explore the outer planets.

• To map the entire universe.

• To create a detailed 3D map of the Milky Way.

• To study black holes.

How many stars is Gaia expected to survey?

• About 100 million stars.

• About 1 billion stars.

• About 1 million stars.

• About 10 billion stars.

What is the significance of Gaia's data for astronomy?

• It confirms the existence of parallel universes.

• It refines our understanding of the Milky Way's structure.

• It provides insights into the universe's expansion.

• It helps in understanding the solar system's formation.