Astronomy Concepts and Facts

The lecture provides an overview of the universe's scale, starting from Earth and moving outward to the edge of the universe. It covers the Earth-Moon system, the solar system's scale, nearby stars, the Milky Way galaxy, and the structure of galaxies, clusters, and superclusters. The lecture emphasizes the vast emptiness of space, illustrating the distances between celestial bodies and the structure of the universe, including filaments and voids.

What is a unique feature of Earth compared to other planets in our solar system?

• It has a solid core.

• It has the most moons.

• It has liquid water on its surface.

• It is the largest planet.

What is the term for the point when the Moon is closest to Earth?

• Apogee

• Perigee

• Equinox

• Eclipse

Why is it difficult to compare the sizes of planets in our solar system?

• Because they are all the same size.

• Because the distances between them are vast.

• Because they are too close together.

• Because they are all made of gas.

Which planet is located beyond Neptune?

• Pluto

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Venus

What is the nearest star system to our Sun?

• Sirius

• Polaris

• Betelgeuse

• Alpha Centauri

How far across is our galaxy, the Milky Way?

• 10,000 light years

• 50,000 light years

• 120,000 light years

• 200,000 light years

Which galaxy is the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way?

• Triangulum Galaxy

• Andromeda Galaxy

• Whirlpool Galaxy

• Sombrero Galaxy

What is the Virgo Cluster?

• A planetary system

• A type of nebula

• A cluster of galaxies

• A group of stars

What do superclusters of galaxies form?

• Asteroid belts

• Solar systems

• Filaments

• Black holes

If the Sun were the size of a basketball, how far would Earth be?

• 1,000 feet away

• 100 feet away

• 10 feet away

• 50 feet away