Our Place in the Universe

Our Place in the Universe

Cosmology -- the study of the origin,
evolution, and eventual fate of the
Universe.
Universe -- All matter and energy,
including the Earth, the galaxies, and
the contents of intergalactic space,
regarded as a whole.

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Solar System the Sun and all the
objects that orbit it.

Star System consists of a star

(sometimes more than one star) and all
the objects that orbit it.

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Alpha Centauri the Suns closest neighboring stars.

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Galaxy A huge collection of anywhere from

a few hundred million to more than a trillion
stars, all bound together by gravity and
orbiting a common center.

Where are we right now?

Where are we right now?

Local Group -- the group of about 40 galaxies
to which the Milky Way Galaxy belongs.

Where are we right now?

Nearly every spot of light in this photograph is a galaxy containing billions of stars.

Where are we right now?

Nearly every spot of light in this photograph is a galaxy containing billions of stars.

TWrT

Where are we right now?

Nearly every spot of light in this photograph is a galaxy containing billions of stars.

TWrT
1) How many stars do you think are
in the Universe?

Where are we right now?

Nearly every spot of light in this photograph is a galaxy containing billions of stars.

TWrT
1) How many stars do you think are
in the Universe?
2) How many Earth-like planets do
you think exist in the Universe?

Where are we right now?

Nearly every spot of light in this photograph is a galaxy containing billions of stars.

TWrT
1) How many stars do you think are
in the Universe?
2) How many Earth-like planets do
you think exist in the Universe?
3) What do you think the probability
is that there might be another planet
in the Universe that has life on it?

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Length Scales in the Cosmos

384,000 km

Length Scales in the Cosmos

5,906,000,000 km

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Length Scales in the Cosmos

950,000,000,000,000,000 km

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Speed of light 2.98 x 108 m/s

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Speed of light 2.98 x 108 m/s
Light second the distance light
travels in 1 second (2.98 x 105 km)

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Speed of light 2.98 x 108 m/s
Light second the distance light
travels in 1 second (2.98 x 105 km)
Light year the distance light travels
in 1 year (9.46 x 109 km)

Length Scales in the Cosmos

Speed of light 2.98 x 108 m/s
Light second the distance light
travels in 1 second (2.98 x 105 km)
Light year the distance light travels
in 1 year (9.46 x 109 km)

Note: Light seconds & light years are not time

scales. They are distances!

Length Scales in the Cosmos

1.25 light seconds

Length Scales in the Cosmos

100,000 light years

Length Scales in the Cosmos

28,000 light years

100,000 light years

Length Scales in the Cosmos

2.5 million light years

Length Scales in the Cosmos

TWrT

Length Scales in the Cosmos

TWrT
1) Why did astronomers decide to
invent the light year?

Length Scales in the Cosmos

TWrT
1) Why did astronomers decide to
invent the light year?
2) In light years, how large do you
think the Universe is?

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Planet -- A moderately large object that

orbits a star and shines primarily by
reflecting light from its star.

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Moon -- An object that orbits a planet.

Satellite -- Any object that orbits

another object.

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Star -- A large, glowing ball of gas that

generates heat and light through nuclear
fusion in its core.

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

Size in the Cosmos

TWrT

Size in the Cosmos

TWrT
1) Come up with an analogy to make
your younger brother (sister, cousin,
etc.) understand how small we are
compared to super-massive stars.

Size in the Cosmos

TWrT
1) Come up with an analogy to make
your younger brother (sister, cousin,
etc.) understand how small we are
compared to super-massive stars.
2) Come up with an analogy to
describe how small we are compared
to the whole Universe.

Size in the Cosmos

Bibliography for photos:
http://billtammeus.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834515f9b69e20148c7bf8673970c-800wi
http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsletter/images/jupiter-etc.jpg
http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsletter/images/sun-etc.jpg
http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsletter/images/arcturus-etc.jpg
http://www.co-intelligence.org/newsletter/images/antares-etc.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Earth_moon_position_and_scale.jp
g
http://justicediwan.org/uploads/home_pic/1_4bf0deaf03ffe.jpg
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/image/planetary/earth/gal_indian.jpg
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/9801/earthmoon_near_big.jpg
http://burro.astr.cwru.edu/Academics/Astr222/Galaxy/Environ/LocalGroup.jpg
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0504/hercules_misti_big.jpg
http://d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/earth.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/EIA9wbw70dw/TykunnDx4hI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Io5Sa_c1kSY/s1600/From+Sun+to+Alpha+Ce
ntauri.jpg
http://d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/milkywaymap.jpg
http://light-years.net/resources/a+Sun+in+Milky+Way.jpg
http://freemars.org/jeff/planets/Luna/Luna5a.jpg