Universe
Cosmology = Study of the Universe.
Universe includes galaxies, stars, planets, satellites, nebulae, asteroids, comets, etc.
Astronomy
Science that deals with celestial bodies.
Celestial bodies include: Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, Satellites, Comets, Asteroids,
and Galaxies.
Types of Celestial Bodies
Luminous Bodies- Celestial bodies that produce their own light.
Ex- Sun, Stars
Non-Luminous Bodies- Celestial bodies that do not produce their own light.
They shine by reflecting the light of stars.
Ex- Planets, Moon, Satellites, Asteroids, Comets, Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites
Big Bang Theory
Most accepted theory regarding the origin of the Universe through the Big Bang.
Proposed by Georges Lemaitre in 1927.
Universe originated from a highly dense and hot point called a singularity.
Big Bang occurred about 13.8 billion years ago.
After the explosion, the universe started expanding and is still expanding today.
Expanding Universe Theory
Firstly, Edwin Hubble proved that galaxies are moving away from each other.
This discovery showed that the universe is constantly expanding.
Based on Hubble's Law.
Steady State Theory (1948)
Given by Fred Hoyle and Hermann Bondi and Thomas Gold.
Universe is constantly expanding but at the same average density remain constant.
Speed of = 3 × 10⁸
Light m/s
1 = 149.6 million
AU km
1 Light = 9.46 × 10¹²
Year km
Milky Way Galaxy (आकाश गंगा).
A galaxy is a huge collection of stars, planets, dust, gases, and other celestial bodies
bound by gravity.
Our Solar System (Sun) is located in the Orion Arm (Orion Spur)
It is a Spiral Galaxy
Diameter ≈ 1 lakh Light Years
Contains more than 100 billion stars
Nearest major galaxy: Andromeda Galaxy
Center lies in the direction of → Sagittarius
Galaxy - A group of billions of stars and celestial bodies.
Constellation (Tara Mandal) - A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern.
Total recognized constellations = 88
Used for locating stars and navigation.
Ursa Major → Great Bear / Saptarishi
Ursa Minor → Contains Pole Star (Dhruva Tara)
Orion → Hunter
Cassiopeia → W-shaped constellation
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun, 8 planets, their satellites, asteroids, comets,
meteoroids, and other celestial bodies bound together by the Sun's gravitational force.
Age of Solar System = 4.6 billion years
Formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust called the Solar Nebula.
This theory given by Laplace (1796) & Immanuel Kant (1755)
Components of Solar System
Star
Sun
Center of the Solar System.
Nearest star to Earth.
Largest object in solar system.
Source of heat and light.
Contains 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System, Remaining 1% or 2 %
Carbon+Oxygen+Iron
Composed mainly of Hydrogen (≈73%) and Helium (≈25%)
Distance from earth is 150M km / 1500 lakh km
All planets revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits. By (Copernicus)
Planets (Order from Sun)
Mercury → Venus → Earth → Mars → Jupiter → Saturn → Uranus → Neptune
Mercury – Nearest to Sun | Smallest planet (Dia 4900km) | No Satellite, Moons, Atmosphere
| Highest temp variation | Fastest revolution (88 days)
Venus - Hottest planet | Earth's Twin | Morning & Evening Star | No satellite, Moons | Dense
CO₂ atmosphere | Rotates East to West (Retrograde rotation) 243 day | Brightest Planet |
Closest to earth size
Earth - Blue Planet | One natural satellite (Moon) | 71% water | Highest Density | Rotates
West to East
Mars - Red Planet (Due to iron oxide) | 2 Moons (Phobos & Deimos) | Olympus Mons (largest
volcano & Tallest mountain) | Possible past water evidence
Jupiter - Largest planet | Largest no of moons | Great Red Spot | Fastest rotation (~10 hrs) |
Gas Giant
Saturn - Ringed Planet | 2nd largest planet | Least density | Many known moons including
Titan | Gas Giant
Uranus - Rotates on its side | Blue-green (Due to methane) | Rotates East to West | Coolest
planet | Ice Giant
Neptune - Farthest from Sun | Strongest winds | Blue due to methane | Slowest revolution
165 year | Ice Giant
Classification of Planets
Inner Planets Outer Planets Inferior Planets
(Terrestrial) (Jovian) (Orbit inside Earth's
Mercury Jupiter orbit)
Natural Satellites
Moon
Moon is Earth's only natural satellite.
Moon has no light of its own; it reflects sunlight.
Moon's gravity is about 1/6th of Earth's gravity.
There is no significant atmosphere on the Moon.
There is no sound on the Moon due to the absence of atmosphere.
Moon is the nearest celestial body to Earth.
Average distance between Earth and Moon = 384,400 km.
Rotation period = Revolution period = 27.3 days.
Since rotation and revolution periods are equal, the same face of the Moon is always
visible from Earth.
Time between two Full Moons (Lunar Month) = 29.5 days.
First person on Moon = Neil Armstrong (1969).
First human Moon landing mission = Apollo 11 Moon Landing.
First Indian lunar mission = Chandrayaan-1 (2008).
Water ice has been found near the Moon's poles.
Moon is a non-luminous celestial body.
Small Celestial Bodies
Asteroid
Small rocky bodies revolving around the Sun.
Mostly found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Largest asteroid → Ceres (now classified as a dwarf planet).
Comet
Made of ice, dust, and gases.
Famous comet → Halley's Comet
Revolves around the Sun in highly elliptical orbits.
Develops a tail when near the Sun.
Halley's Comet appears every 76 years.
Meteoroid (In Space)
Small rocky or metallic body moving in space.
Smaller than asteroids.
Present in outer space before entering Earth's atmosphere.
Meteor (Burning in Atmosphere)
A meteoroid that enters Earth's atmosphere and burns due to friction.
Commonly called a Shooting Star.
Meteorite (Reaches Earth)
Part of a meteor that reaches Earth's surface without completely burning up.
Rotation (घूर्णन)
Rotation is the movement of a celestial body on its own axis.
Earth completes one rotation in about 24 hours.
Causes Day and Night.
Revolution (परिक्रमण)
Revolution is the movement of a celestial body around another celestial body in its
orbit.
Causes Seasons.
Earth's revolution period = 365¼ days
Leap Year occurs every 4 years due to the extra ¼ day.
Pluto (1930) - Not a planet now, it is reclassified as a Dwarf Planet in 2006.
It is member of Kuiper belt.
Solar eclipse – When moons comes between Earth & Sun.
Total Solar eclipse – Visible outer atmosphere of sun, called (Corona)