"Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena."
Introduction to basic concepts in astronomy like celestial mechanics, electromagnetic radiation, spectrometry, planetary formation, and evolution.
Celestial objects: This includes stars, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies.
The universe: This topic covers the structure, formation, and evolution of the universe, including the Big Bang Theory and the expanding universe.
Solar System: This includes the planets, their moons, and other objects in the Solar System, such as asteroids and comets.
Exoplanets: The discovery and study of planets outside our Solar System. This field is rapidly evolving and advancing with new discoveries constantly being made.
Planetary systems: The study of the systems of planets and their hosts, including the formation and evolution of these systems.
Stellar properties: This includes the characteristics of stars, including their temperature, size, and composition.
Stellar evolution: The study of how stars form, how they evolve, and how they end their lives as supernovae, black holes, or neutron stars.
Galaxies: The study of galaxies as systems of stars, gas, and dust, their formation, and their evolution.
Cosmology: The study of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe at large scales, including the study of dark matter and dark energy.
Observational techniques: This includes techniques such as telescopes, spectroscopy, and imaging to observe and collect data from celestial bodies.
Data analysis: The study of how to interpret and analyze astronomical data, including statistical analysis and computer simulations.
Astrobiology: The study of the potential for life beyond Earth, including the search for extraterrestrial life and habitable exoplanets.
Astrophysics: The application of physics to understand astronomical phenomena, such as the study of stars and black holes.
Astrochemistry: The study of chemical processes in space, including the formation of stars and planets.
Astronomy history: The history of astronomy and how it has evolved through time.
Exoplanet detection methods: Techniques used by astronomers to detect exoplanets, including the radial velocity method, the transit method, and the direct imaging method.
Exoplanet atmospheres: Studies of the characteristics and composition of exoplanet atmospheres, including measurements of temperature, pressure, and atmospheric components.
Exoplanet habitability: Investigations of the properties of exoplanets that make them potentially habitable, including their distance from their star, their atmosphere, and the presence of water.
Exoplanet formation: Studies of the process by which exoplanets are formed, including observations of protoplanetary disks and computer simulations of planet formation.
Exoplanet diversity: Investigations of the different types of exoplanets that have been discovered, including gas giants, super-Earths, and rocky planets.
Exoplanet orbits: Studies of the orbits of exoplanets, including their eccentricity, inclination, and stability.
Exoplanet atmospheres and climate: Investigations of how exoplanet atmospheres affect the climate on the planet.
Exoplanet demographics: Studies of the distribution and abundance of exoplanets throughout our galaxy.
Exoplanet migration: Investigations of how exoplanets migrate through their planetary system over time.
Exoplanet habitability zones: Studies of the range of distances from a star where liquid water could exist on an exoplanet, known as the habitable zone.
Exoplanet characterization: Investigations of the physical properties of exoplanets, including their mass, density, and composition.
Exoplanet evolution: Studies of how exoplanets change over time due to factors such as their star's evolution or collisions with other planets.
Exoplanet astrobiology: Research that examines how the study of exoplanets can inform our understanding of the emergence and evolution of life in the universe.
Exoplanet exobiology: Studies of how the potential presence of life on exoplanets would affect their characteristics and composition, and how we might detect life on other worlds.
"In the past, astronomy included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars."
"Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, meteoroids, asteroids, and comets."
"Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation."
"Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole."
"The early civilizations in recorded history made methodical observations of the night sky. These include the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas."
"Professional astronomy is split into observational and theoretical branches."
"Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects."
"This data is then analyzed using basic principles of physics."
"Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena."
"These two fields complement each other. Theoretical astronomy seeks to explain observational results and observations are used to confirm theoretical results."
"Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which amateurs play an active role."
...such as finding new comets.
"It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution."
"Amateur astronomers have helped with many important discoveries, such as finding new comets."
"More generally, astronomy studies everything that originates beyond Earth's atmosphere."
"Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole."
"These include the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas."
"Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, meteoroids, asteroids, and comets."
"Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation."