Space Exploration and Astronomy
Public flashcard deck about Space Exploration and Astronomy. 8 cards.
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What is the primary goal of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)?
To observe the universe in infrared light, allowing it to see farther back in time than Hubble and study the formation of the first stars and galaxies, exoplanet atmospheres, and objects within our solar system.
Explain the concept of a 'light-year' in astronomy.
A light-year is a unit of astronomical distance, representing the distance that light travels in one year. It is approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers (5.88 trillion miles).
What is the significance of the Kepler Space Telescope's mission?
Kepler's primary mission was to discover Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars (exoplanets) in the habitable zones of their stars, using the transit method.
Describe the difference between a star and a planet.
A star is a massive, luminous celestial body composed of plasma that generates its own light and heat through nuclear fusion in its core. A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star, is massive enough for its gravity to make it round, and has cleared its orbital neighborhood of other objects.
What is the 'habitable zone' (or 'Goldilocks zone') around a star?
The habitable zone is the region around a star where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet. It's not too hot, and not too cold.
What is a black hole, and what is its defining characteristic?
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. Its defining characteristic is the event horizon, the boundary beyond which escape is impossible.