Astronomers and Telescopes
Astronomers are scientists who study stars, planets, and outer space. They often make use of very powerful telescopes.
What is a telescope?
A device which helps us to see, and learn more about, far-away objects. Simple telecopes use glass lenses to focus light. Astronomers may use this type of telescope, or sometimes a different type of telecope which collects different forms of radiation from a great distance away
A simple telescope uses two glass lenses to magnify a distant object
More Information!
You could become an astronomer! There are several astronomy societies in Wales, such as the one in Swansea:
Find Out More >This is one of the radio-telescopes at Jodrell bank, near Manchester, which astronomers can use to study objects in outer space
Mike Peel; Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester
What Astronomers Know
Research Activity
Read the information on the NASA website at: http://mars.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/facts/ and answer the following questions.
1
Which is the bigger planet: Earth or Mars?
2
Is it hot or cold on Mars? What is the average temperature on the planet surface in degrees Celsius?
°C
3
A year on Earth is 365 days. How long is a year on Mars?
days
4
Is the force of gravity on Mars greater or smaller than on Earth?
greater than on earth (but not by much)
smaller than on earth (less than half of the value on Earth)
greater than on earth (by a lot)
smaller than on earth (but only by a tiny bit)
What do scientists think the layers present within the planet Mars are like, and how does this compare to Earth?
There is a crust, mantle and core - this is similar to Earth, though we don’t yet know what the core is like on Mars.
If the force of gravity on Earth is 10m/s2, what is the value on Mars?
On Mars, gravity is 62.5% less than on Earth, which is 62.5/100 x 10 = 6.25 m/s2 less. So, force of gravity on Mars is 10 - 6.25 = 3.75 m/s2