AstronomersConstellations Experts

What’s an Astronomer?

• An Astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets moons and stars.

Galileo Galilei

• Inventor of the telescope• He used this telescope to make observations regarding the

earth’s rotation around the sun. • Up until his observations, people believed that the sun

revolved around the earth.• This rotation of the earth also impacts our constellations. • As the earth rotates, different constellations are visible to us

at different seasons in the year. • Thanks to Galileo, we now know this fact!

Edmond Halley

• Discovered Halley’s Comet

Sir Isaac Newton

• Researched the effect of gravity

Edwin Hubble

• Discovered that galaxies are constantly moving away from each other

Robert Goddard

• Launched the first modern rocket

Tools of Astronomers

• Astronomers use many tools in their job such as a telescope, binoculars, observatories, and planetariums.

Telescope

• A telescope is a special instrument (usually in the shape of a tube) that uses lenses and sometimes mirrors to make faraway objects closer.

Binoculars

• Binoculars is a portable magnifying device for viewing distant objects that consist of two little telescopes side by side, one for each eye.

Observatories

• An observatory is a laboratory, often high on a mountain, where scientists use telescopes and other tools to study stars.

Planetariums

• A planetarium is an auditorium type location where fellow astronomers can come and view the work and findings of other astronomers.

Constellations

• Astronomers study constellations. • A constellation is a group of stars that has

become associated with (and named after) an object, animal, or character.

• Most constellations have shapes that go along with them.

• There are 88 constellations total.

Constellations

• Astronomers use their tools to see the constellations in the night sky and learn more about them.

• Constellations move based on the time of year because of the earth’s rotation around the sun.

• Every constellation has a Greek myth associated with it.

• These stories have been retold for centuries and make remembering the constellations easier.