FAQs
The Problem with Stellar Distances
So you are reading a post or article about a celestial object, and you notice that the distance to the object stated in the post or article is different from the same value stated for […]
FAQs
FAQs
Do the Stars Change Position Each Year?
If you were look up at the position of the stars on any particular day of the year from the same location on Earth, and compared them to the same day a year earlier, you […]
FAQs
How Many Naked Eye Stars Can Be Seen in the Night Sky?
The night sky is filled with stars of different colors that astronomers rank in order of their luminosity, the brightest of which is Sirius in Canis Major, a blue-white star 8.611 light years distant with […]
Astronomy History
Who Discovered the Sun is a Star?
Introduction In ancient Greece during the 7th century BC, scientists like Thales of Miletus (624-546 BC) started to realize that the Sun was not the deity Helios (Apollo) driving his chariot around the Earth, but […]
FAQs
What are Star Magnitudes?
In astronomy, the magnitude of a star refers to its measure of brightness, and while absolute magnitude relates to the star’s intrinsic brightness, apparent magnitude, on the other hand, is a way of measuring how […]
FAQs
Could Dead Astronauts Create New Life on Distant Planets?
We’ve all seen sci-fi movies and read books where it’s revealed that visitors from another world were responsible for sparking life on Earth. But, would they theoretically have been able to spread life to our […]
FAQs
How were the Planets of our Solar System Discovered?
In ancient times, astronomers were able to distinguish between those stars which seemed to maintain a fixed position relative to one another, and the so-called wandering stars which changed their positions in the sky slightly […]
FAQs
How Long Would a Spacecraft Take to Reach Proxima Centauri?
In science fiction movies, we see crews being frozen in cryogenic chambers so that they can make long trips across the universe. The crew being placed in an induced state of hibernation at the start […]
Astronomy History
How do Astronomy and Astrology Differ?
Introduction Because their similarity doesn’t just end with the way they sound, the disciplines of ‘astronomy’ and ‘astrology’ often confuse many people! Indeed it is pertinent to mention that they both share a deep connection […]
FAQs
Which Constellations Can Be Seen Along The Milky Way?
When describing those constellations that can be seen along the Milky Way, it is important to realize that we are referring to those constellations that can be seen by Earthbound observers looking in the direction […]