A TCNJ CCS ProgramA TCNJ CCS Program

• Class 1: From Astrology to Class 1: From Astrology to Astronomy Astronomy ––The history of looking up at the The history of looking up at the sky.sky.

• Class 2: A Trip Through the Solar Class 2: A Trip Through the Solar System System – – Planets, Moons, and Comets. Oh Planets, Moons, and Comets. Oh My!My!

• Class 3: The Big Bang and the Class 3: The Big Bang and the Universe – Universe – The history of everythingThe history of everything

• Class 4: Space ExplorationClass 4: Space Exploration– – Spaceflight and a visit to the planetarium.Spaceflight and a visit to the planetarium.

• The ancients The ancients believed that the believed that the sky was the realm sky was the realm of the gods.of the gods.

• They knew the They knew the sky well. With no sky well. With no TV or Internet TV or Internet there was nothing there was nothing else to watch at else to watch at night!night!

• Define terms:Define terms:• Astrology : Astrology : A belief A belief

system that the system that the positions of the stars positions of the stars and planets provide and planets provide information about information about personality, human personality, human affairs, and other affairs, and other earthly matters.earthly matters.

• Astronomy: Astronomy: the the scientific study of scientific study of celestial objects celestial objects (such as stars, (such as stars, planets, comets, planets, comets, and galaxies) and and galaxies) and phenomena that phenomena that originate outside originate outside the Earth's the Earth's atmosphere.atmosphere.

Astronomy vs. AstrologyAstronomy vs. Astrology• Astronomy and Astronomy and

Astrology were largely Astrology were largely the same thing.the same thing.

• Many cultures believed Many cultures believed that the heavens were that the heavens were the realm of the gods the realm of the gods who controlled men who controlled men destinies.destinies.

• Observing the heavens, Observing the heavens, however, also had very however, also had very practical applications.practical applications.

• Many ancient cultures had a highly Many ancient cultures had a highly developed art of astronomy.developed art of astronomy.

• This included the Chinese, Arabs, This included the Chinese, Arabs, Greeks, Babylonians and Mayans.Greeks, Babylonians and Mayans.

• Had a 360 day calendar Had a 360 day calendar from earliest times.from earliest times.

• Used movement of stars Used movement of stars and sun to predict Nile and sun to predict Nile flood.flood.

• Religious festivals timed Religious festivals timed with moon, stars, sun.with moon, stars, sun.

• Temples built base on Temples built base on alignment with sky.alignment with sky.

• Pyramids Pyramids aligned with aligned with Polaris, the Polaris, the North Star.North Star.

• Temple Amun-Temple Amun-Re at Karnak Re at Karnak has a passage has a passage that is only that is only illuminated by illuminated by the mid-winter’s the mid-winter’s rising sun.rising sun.

• The ancients noticed The ancients noticed that stars always rose that stars always rose at the same point.at the same point.

• Other objects like the Other objects like the Sun and Moon would Sun and Moon would vary with the time vary with the time and season.and season.

• Monuments like Monuments like Stonehenge were Stonehenge were built aligned to built aligned to certain days of the certain days of the year and could act as year and could act as calendars.calendars.

• Do not rise Do not rise and set at and set at the same the same place over place over each day.each day.

• But the But the stars do!stars do!

• Sunrise alignment and a tomb.Sunrise alignment and a tomb.

• Sun was the god Sun was the god ReRe

• Moon was Troth Moon was Troth god of wisdom.god of wisdom.

Ancient ConstellationsAncient Constellations• A grouping of stars is A grouping of stars is

a constellation.a constellation.• Different ancient Different ancient

cultures had different cultures had different constellations.constellations.

• The afterlife god The afterlife god Osiris shares most of Osiris shares most of the same stars with the same stars with our modern our modern constellation Orion.constellation Orion.

• Capricorn (the goat) – Draco (the Capricorn (the goat) – Draco (the dragon)dragon)

• All noticed that All noticed that the stars seemed the stars seemed to be fixed on a to be fixed on a giant sphere that giant sphere that turned about the turned about the earth (The “Starry earth (The “Starry Vault”)Vault”)

• The sun and The sun and moon moved moon moved across the sphere across the sphere on similar path.on similar path.

The WanderersThe Wanderers• Another group of objects Another group of objects

moved across the sky in moved across the sky in the same path as the sun the same path as the sun and moon.and moon.

• These did not always These did not always move in a consistent move in a consistent direction but wandered direction but wandered forward and back.forward and back.

• We call this objects We call this objects planetsplanets after the ancient after the ancient Greek word for wanderer.Greek word for wanderer.

• Comets were Comets were planet-like objects planet-like objects with long tails that with long tails that appeared at appeared at random times.random times.

• They were often They were often associated with associated with important important (sometimes evil) (sometimes evil) events (death of a events (death of a king, etc.).king, etc.).

• In 1066 the In 1066 the appearance of appearance of Halley’s Comet Halley’s Comet was considered was considered an omen of the an omen of the death of Harold II death of Harold II of England who of England who died at the Battle died at the Battle of Hastings later of Hastings later that year.that year.

• The constellations the sun, moon and The constellations the sun, moon and planets moved through were often planets moved through were often considered special.considered special.

• Today we call this group the Zodiac.Today we call this group the Zodiac.

• Different Different cultures had cultures had different different zodiacs zodiacs because because their their constellatioconstellations were ns were different.different.

• The Greek Zodiac has The Greek Zodiac has 12 constellations:12 constellations:

• AriesAries, the ram; , the ram; TaurusTaurus, , the bull; the bull; GeminiGemini, the twins; , the twins; CancerCancer, the crab; , the crab; LeoLeo, the , the Lion; Lion; VirgoVirgo, the Virgin; , the Virgin; LibraLibra, the scales; , the scales; ScorpioScorpio, , the scorpion, the scorpion, SagittariusSagittarius, , the archer; the archer; CapricornCapricorn, the , the goat; goat; AquariusAquarius, the water , the water bearer; and bearer; and PiscesPisces, the , the fish.fish.

• Aristotle believed Aristotle believed that the earth was that the earth was at the center of a at the center of a number of number of sphere’s.sphere’s.

• On the outermost On the outermost sphere were the sphere were the stars.stars.

• Inner spheres Inner spheres contained the sun, contained the sun, moon and planets.moon and planets.

• A planetary system A planetary system with Earth at the with Earth at the center like Aristotle center like Aristotle proposed wasproposed was geocentricgeocentric. The . The Greek word Greek word geogeo means “Earth.”means “Earth.”

• Most ancient Most ancient astronomers used a astronomers used a geocentric system.geocentric system.

• Around 100 BC Around 100 BC Claudius Ptolemy took Claudius Ptolemy took Aristotle's system and Aristotle's system and put math to it.put math to it.

• He published this in a He published this in a massive book called massive book called the the Almagest.Almagest.

• It was the authority for It was the authority for astronomy for almost astronomy for almost the next 1000 years.the next 1000 years.

• The old The old geocentric geocentric system had system had hard time hard time explaining the explaining the motion of the motion of the planets. How planets. How could they could they make these make these strange loops?strange loops?

• A few ancient scholars, A few ancient scholars, however, came up with the however, came up with the idea that the Sun, not the idea that the Sun, not the Earth was the center of the Earth was the center of the solar system (Such as solar system (Such as Aryabhata a 5th century Aryabhata a 5th century Indian astronomer).Indian astronomer).

• A planetary system with the A planetary system with the sun in the center is known sun in the center is known as a as a heliocentricheliocentric system. system.

• From the Greek word From the Greek word Helios, Helios, which means “Sun.”which means “Sun.”

• Around 1530 the Around 1530 the Polish scholar Polish scholar Nicholas Copernicus Nicholas Copernicus published a book published a book On On the Revolutions of the Revolutions of the Celestial the Celestial SpheresSpheres proposing a proposing a heliocentric system.heliocentric system.

• It was a much It was a much simpler system then simpler system then Ptolemy’s.Ptolemy’s.

• Because both Because both Earth & other Earth & other planets are planets are orbiting the Sun orbiting the Sun they can appear they can appear to move to move backwards.backwards.

• Copernicus’ claim Copernicus’ claim was controversial.was controversial.

• Man and Earth not Man and Earth not center of center of universe.universe.

• Changed our Changed our understanding of understanding of man’s place in man’s place in universe.universe.

• One of the first One of the first astronomers to astronomers to adopt and adopt and defend defend Copernicus’ Copernicus’ sun centered sun centered system.system.

• Invented a Invented a basic refracting basic refracting telescope.telescope.

• Kepler’s Laws of Planetary MotionKepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion

• Kepler discovered Kepler discovered that the length of that the length of their orbit was a their orbit was a function of their function of their distance from the distance from the sun.sun.

• He also realized that He also realized that planets did not planets did not move in perfect move in perfect circular orbits, but circular orbits, but ellipses.ellipses.

• Did Did notnot invent the invent the telescope.telescope.

• One of the first One of the first persons to use it for persons to use it for astronomy.astronomy.

• Vocal supporter of Vocal supporter of sun centered sun centered system.system.

• Discovered mountains Discovered mountains on the moon in 1610.on the moon in 1610.

• Discovered four Discovered four moons of Jupiter in moons of Jupiter in 1610.1610.

• Discovered rings of Discovered rings of Saturn in 1610.Saturn in 1610.

• Discovered sunspots Discovered sunspots in 1613.in 1613.

• The church found the The church found the sun centered system sun centered system “false and contrary to “false and contrary to Scripture.”Scripture.”

• Galileo was warned Galileo was warned not to defend not to defend Copernicus’ system.Copernicus’ system.

• He was put on trial and He was put on trial and forced to recant his forced to recant his ideas.ideas.

• He spent the end of his He spent the end of his life under house arrest.life under house arrest.

• Has been called:Has been called:• Father of modern Father of modern

observational observational astronomyastronomy

• Father of modern Father of modern physicsphysics

• Father of Modern Father of Modern ScienceScience

• Stephen Hawking says, Stephen Hawking says, "Galileo, perhaps more than "Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was any other single person, was responsible for the birth of responsible for the birth of modern science.“modern science.“

• In 1992, Pope John Paul II In 1992, Pope John Paul II issued a declaration issued a declaration acknowledging the errors acknowledging the errors committed by the Church committed by the Church tribunal that judged the tribunal that judged the scientific positions of Galileo.scientific positions of Galileo.

• Isaac Newton born on Isaac Newton born on 4 January 1643.4 January 1643.

• Gravity: Gravity: Every Every object in the universe object in the universe attracts every other attracts every other object.object.

• The force is more The force is more powerful with more powerful with more mass involved.mass involved.

• The force weakens The force weakens over distance.over distance.

• We are 6 times We are 6 times heavier on the Earth heavier on the Earth than the moon than the moon because the Earth is because the Earth is more massive than more massive than the moon.the moon.

• If you weighed 100 If you weighed 100 pounds on Earth you pounds on Earth you would be 16.6 pounds would be 16.6 pounds on the moon and 236 on the moon and 236 pounds on Jupiter.pounds on Jupiter.

• One of the One of the weakest forces weakest forces in nature, but in nature, but also one of the also one of the most long most long range.range.

• Holds the Holds the planets in orbit planets in orbit around the sun.around the sun.

• Gravity vs. ElectromagnetismGravity vs. Electromagnetism

• Read “Comet Halley: Harbinger of Read “Comet Halley: Harbinger of Death?” for next class.Death?” for next class.

• Groups will work together to present Groups will work together to present on these topic on February 1on these topic on February 1stst..– Mars: Is there a possibility of Life on Mars: Is there a possibility of Life on

Mars?Mars?– What’s the Story with Pluto?What’s the Story with Pluto?– How does a telescope work?How does a telescope work?– What is SETI?What is SETI?