WHAT IS ASTRONOMY?

Astronomy is the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets, comets,

gas, galaxies, gas, dust and other non-Earthly bodies and phenomena. In
curriculum for K-4 students, NASA defines astronomy as simple the
study of stars, planets and space. Astronomy and astrology were
historically associated, but astrology is not a science and is no longer
recognized as having anything to do with astronomy. Below we discuss
the history of astronomy and related fields of study,
including cosmology.
Branches of Astronomy

Astrophysics branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the

universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as
their interactions and behavior. Among the objects studied are galaxies,
stars, planets, exoplanets, the interstellar medium and the cosmic
microwave background; and the properties examined include luminosity,
density, temperature, and chemical composition. The subdisciplines of
theoretical astrophysics are:
o Astrobiology studies the advent and evolution of biological systems
in the universe.
o Compact objects this subdiscipline studies very dense matter in
white dwarfs and neutron stars and their effects on environments
including accretion.
o Exoplanet studies various planets outside of the Solar System
o Physical cosmology origin and evolution of the universe as a whole.
The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
o Galactic astronomy deals with the structure and components of our
galaxy and of other galaxies.
o High energy astrophysics studies phenomena occurring at high
energies including active galactic nuclei, supernovae, gamma-ray
bursts, quasars, and shocks.
o Interstellar astrophysics study of the interstellar medium,
intergalactic medium and dust.
o Extragalactic astronomy study of objects (mainly galaxies) outside
our galaxy, including Galaxy formation and evolution.

o Stellar astronomy concerned with Star formation, physical

properties, main sequence life span, variability, stellar evolution and
extinction.
o Plasma astrophysics studies properties of plasma in outer space.
o Relativistic astrophysics studies effects of special relativity and
general relativity in astrophysical contexts including gravitational
waves, gravitational lensing and black holes.

Planetary Science study of the planets of the Solar System.

o Atmospheric science study of atmospheres and weather.
o Planetary formation formation of planets and moons in the context
of the formation and evolution of the Solar System.
o Planetary rings dynamics, stability, and composition of planetary
rings
o Solar physics Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar
System and interstellar space.
o Magnetospheres magnetic fields of planets and moons
o Planetary surfaces surface geology of planets and moons
o Planetary interiors interior composition of planets and moons
o Small Solar System bodies smallest gravitationally bound bodies,
including asteroids, comets, and Kuiper belt objects.

The subdisciplines of observational astronomy are generally made by the

specifications of the detectors:

Radio astronomy Above 300 m

Submillimetre astronomy 200 m to 1 mm

Infrared astronomy 0.7350 m

Optical astronomy 380750 nm

Ultraviolet astronomy 10320 nm

X-ray astronomy 0.0110 nm

Gamma-ray astronomy Below 0.01 nm

Cosmic ray astronomy Cosmic rays, including plasma

Neutrino astronomy Neutrinos

Gravitational wave astronomy Gravitons

General techniques for astronomical research are also convenient ways of

dividing the field:

Photometry study of how bright celestial objects are when passed through
different filters

Spectroscopy study of the spectra of astronomical objects

Astrometry study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of
position. Defines the system of coordinates used and the kinematics of
objects in our galaxy.

Other disciplines that may be considered part of astronomy:

Archaeoastronomy

Astrochemistry

What is the difference between geocentric and

heliocentric?

The geocentric and heliocentric models were simple representations of the

observed heavenly bodies during the Middle Ages. Both models factored in all the
known astronomical data at that time, and reliably estimated the future
placements of the major celestial objects.
The geocentric model was devised by Ptolemy, a Greek philosopher who
compiled the historical astral observations of the ancient Greeks and Egyptians,
which formed the framework for his theory. Ptolemy's model illustrated that the
Earth was stationary and that the Sun, Moon, planets and stars moved around it
in perfect circles at constant speeds. Aristotle, one of the most prominent Greek
philosophers, advocated the Ptolemaic geocentric model, which was widely
accepted until the heliocentric model emerged in the 1500s.

Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish cleric who debunked the Ptolemaic model by
proposing the heliocentric model. Copernicus argued that the Sun was motionless
and that all planets, including Earth, revolved around it. He further suggested
that the stars were stationary and that the Moon orbited Earth. Although initially
rejected by the public and the majority of the scientific community, the
Copernican theory garnered support from Galileo and was later proven by
Johannes Kepler.
CONTRIBUTIONS IN ASTROMONY OF:

ANAXIMANDER - He made important contributions to cosmology, physics,

geometry, meteorology and geography as well as to
Metaphysics. Anaximander was born in the Greek city of Miletus (on the
Ionian coast of modern-day Turkey) in about 610 B.C., the son of Praxiades,
but little else is known of his life.

Anaximenes - According to the surviving sources on his

life,Anaximenes flourished in the mid 6th century B.C.E. and died about
528. He is the third philosopher of the Milesian School of philosophy, so
named because like Thales and Anaximander,Anaximenes was an
inhabitant of Miletus, in Ionia (ancient Greece).
Aristotle (384322 B.C.E.) Aristotle is a towering figure in ancient
Greek philosophy, making contributions to logic, metaphysics,
mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture,
medicine, dance and theatre. He was a student of Plato who in turn
studied under Socrates.
COPERNICUS-The geocentric model is also called the Ptolemaic
model, after the Greek philosopher Ptolemy. Decades after he first
came up with the heliocentric theory, Copernicuspublished his
ideas in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (In English: On the
Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). It summarized the theory.
Galileo - Considered the father of modern science, Galileo Galilei
(1564-1642) made major contributions to the fields of physics,
astronomy, cosmology, mathematics and philosophy.

Brahe - A Danish nobleman, Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), made

important contributions by devising the most precise instruments available
before the invention of the telescope for observing the
heavens. Brahe made his observations from Uraniborg, on an island in the
sound between Denmark and Sweden called Hveen.
Ptolemy - One of those ancient, or classical intellectuals was Ptolemy, a
Greek-Egyptian mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer and
poet who lived from roughly A.D. 90-168. He resided and worked in
Alexandria, a major city in Egypt founded by Alexander the Great that was
part of the Roman Empire.

Pythagoras'- greatest contribution to the mathematical society of today

isPythagoras theorem. It is believed that the theory of a2+b2=c2 was known
to the Babylonians 1000 years before Pythagoras but it was he who was
able to prove it.

Assignment
in PHYSCI
102
Gayoso Jonah J.
3EED-1

Mrs. Librero