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 (by a lot)
smaller than on earth (less than half of the value on Earth)
greater than on earth (but not by much)
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