Questions tagged [astronomy]
The science dealing with objects and phenomena located beyond Earth. In particular, this applies to observations and data. At its core, astronomy is the physically informed cataloging and classifying of the contents of the universe in order to better understand what is out there.
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What possible science could we do during the 2012 Venus transit? [closed]
I had previously asked about how useful everyday solar physics data is to other astronomers ... But about a year from now, we will have another Venus transit, where Venus will pass between the sun and ...
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Recommend good book(s) about the "scientific method" as it relates to astronomy/astrophysics?
I am interested in astronomy/astrophysics, but I am not science major (I am a computer science graduate). Facts and results of the field are presented to the public without showing how these facts/...
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How would the night sky appear at the edge of the galaxy?
In Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, there is a planet named Terminus which is believed to be the planet farthest from the galactic center.
There are almost no visible stars in its sky, only the ...
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Does the Moon's core still contain significant heat?
On earth, using earth-sheltering techniques can significantly reduce the temperature fluctuations on a structure. Would the same statement be true as well on the Moon? Does the Moon's core still ...
Walter
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What do the colors in false color images represent?
Every kid who first looks into a telescope is shocked to see that everything's black and white. The pretty colors, like those in this picture of the Sleeping Beauty Galaxy (M64), are missing:
The ...
Patches
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Cameras in Voyager probes
I've always wondered about the cameras in the space probes, especially in the Voyagers.
1) What kind of cameras do they have? Digital? (Electronic - what kind of sensor and megapixel count?) Analog? (...
Andres
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Why can't you see meteors, but you can see comets from the moon?
Why can't you see meteors from the moon and why can you see comets?
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How many earth-sized planets have been discovered outside the solar system?
How many earth-sized planets have been discovered outside our solar system? Is there a combined registry of them anywhere? Where might I look for more information?
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How do astronomers measure the distance to a star or other celestial object?
How do scientists measure the distance between objects in space? For example, Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light years away.
user230
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How are newly discovered objects (stars, planets, galaxies...) named?
When a new astronomical object (star, planet, galaxy, comet, etc.) is discovered, what is the official procedure to name it? Who decides about the name of it? Can they be changed in time?
Extra ...
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
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Are solar physics images of use to the night-time community?
I'm actually interested in cases of cross-discipline data re-use.
I know that the SOHO/LASCO coronographs are used for comet finding, that solar telescopes were used to get information about Venus's ...
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What is the most distant object from the Earth that a spacecraft has visited to date?
What is the most distant object from the earth that a spacecraft visited has visited so far? What was the mission and when did it happen?
Mehper C. Palavuzlar
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Calculations of apparent magnitude
I was attempting to do some calculations of apparent magnitude to help solidify my understanding of the topic, but have been running into some confusion.
According to Wikipedia, the apparent ...
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What latitude is needed before you can reliably see Omega Centauri?
What latitude is needed before you can reliably see the globular cluster Omega Centauri, say it reaches 20 degrees above the horizon? What about if you are up on a hill looking down, what's the ...
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