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There are many interesting things to learn about our Viewable Sky. Here are ten facts to think about.
There are many interesting things to learn about our Viewable Sky. Here are ten facts to think about.
(1) When you look at the Andromeda galaxy (which is 2.3 million light years away) the light you are seeing took 2.3 million years to reach you. Thus you are seeing the galaxy as it was 2.3 million years ago.
(1) When you look at the Andromeda galaxy (which is 2.3 million light years away) the light you are seeing took 2.3 million years to reach you. Thus you are seeing the galaxy as it was 2.3 million years ago.
(2) Light from the sun takes 8 minutes to reach us, thus we see the sun as it was 8 minutes ago.
(2) Light from the sun takes 8 minutes to reach us, thus we see the sun as it was 8 minutes ago.
(3) Jupiter is heavier than all the other planets put together.
(3) Jupiter is heavier than all the other planets put together.
(4) Even on the clearest night, the human eye can only see about 3,000 stars. There are an estimated 100,000,000,000 in our galaxy alone!
(4) Even on the clearest night, the human eye can only see about 3,000 stars. There are an estimated 100,000,000,000 in our galaxy alone!
(5) It's estimated that the number of stars in the universe is greater than the number of grains of sand on all the beaches in the world! On a clear night, we can see the equivalent of a handful of sand.
(5) It's estimated that the number of stars in the universe is greater than the number of grains of sand on all the beaches in the world! On a clear night, we can see the equivalent of a handful of sand.
(6) If you could travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) it would take 100,000 years to cross our galaxy!
(6) If you could travel at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) it would take 100,000 years to cross our galaxy!
(7) Only one side of the moon ever faces Earth. The moon's period of rotation is exactly the same as it's period of orbit.
(7) Only one side of the moon ever faces Earth. The moon's period of rotation is exactly the same as it's period of orbit.
(8) Betelgeuse, the bright star on Orion's top-left shoulder, is so big that if it was placed where the sun is, it would swallow up Earth, Mars and Jupiter!
(8) Betelgeuse, the bright star on Orion's top-left shoulder, is so big that if it was placed where the sun is, it would swallow up Earth, Mars and Jupiter!
(9) Jupiter acts as a huge vacuum cleaner, attracting and absorbing comets and meteors. Some estimates say that without Jupiter's gravitational influence the number of massive projectiles hitting Earth would be 10,000 times greater.
(9) Jupiter acts as a huge vacuum cleaner, attracting and absorbing comets and meteors. Some estimates say that without Jupiter's gravitational influence the number of massive projectiles hitting Earth would be 10,000 times greater.
(10) Saturn is not the only planet with rings - Neptune has it's own ring system.
(10) Saturn is not the only planet with rings - Neptune has it's own ring system.
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