A stellar or globular cluster are a group of stars that are physically close to one another in space. They are created by the collapse of the same gas cloud. Stellar clusters can contain 100,000 to 1,000,000 in a region 30-100 light years across. The stellar clusters form as a result of gravitational attraction.
Remember that a Light Year (ly) is 9.4 x 10^15m. This is the distance travelled by light in one year.
The Astronomical unit is 1 AU =1.5 x 10^11m. This is the distance between the Sun and Earth.
The Astronomical unit is 1 AU =1.5 x 10^11m. This is the distance between the Sun and Earth.
A constellation is a pattern of starts formed as a result of human imagination (and boredom...lol).
Constellations are usually featured in films as part of a guy's attempt to impress a girl he is attracted to. First, the guy will point towards the sky, tracing out the stars forming one of the 88 constellations. He will then proceed to hold the girl's hand, helping her point towards the sky while moving closer to her. At this point, the two look into each other eyes, perhaps making a few romantic comments about how he or she like a shining star, while the camera pans towards the starry night sky.
Exactly, good call cameraman, we don't care about what happens to the couple, we're more interested in the astrophysics of the starry night.
Oh look! Its a shooting star!
Oh no wait its an asteroid.
Asteroids exist between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars and can range from dust particles to chunks of rock hundred of kilometers in radius.
Its usually featured in sci-fi films when the protagonist is escaping a fleet of evil ships:
Star Wars Episode 1
Well look what we have here: it goes up to like Star Wars Episode 6
ZOMG its even in Star Trek!
Okay so now the girl starts arguing with you and says that it can't be an asteroid because its too far from Earth (its between Jupiter and Mars...Many Virgins Eat Monkey - asteriods located here - Jelly So Uncles Nibble)
She now explains that it is actually a comet, a small orbiting body that is made up of loose particles of ice and rock that are blown off by solar wind, forming a tail.
Holy, she's smart. Is your arm still around her. Yes. Lol.
Astrophysics connects people =D
Hanoi - please upload the photos :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone reading this post may think it is rather romantic otherwise!