Rourke’s World of Science Volume 7 ASTRONOMY AND SPACE By Tim Clifford Editorial Consultant Debbie Ankiel rourkeeducationalmedia com
TABLE OF CONTENT S What is Astronomy 4 Key Events in the Early History of Astronomy 6 Views of the Universe 8 How People Used the Skies 9 The Solar System 12 The Origins of Our Solar System 15 The Sun 16 Mercury 18 Venus 20 Earth 22 Earth’s Moon 24 Mars 25 Jupiter 28 Saturn 31 Uranus 34 Neptune 36 The Dwarf Planets Pluto Ceres and Eris 38 Asteroids Meteoroids and Comets 40 Stars 42 What is a Star 42 Types of Stars 44 The Life Cycle of a Star 46 Galaxies 48 Types of Galaxies 48 The Milky Way 49 Other Galaxies 50 The Universe 52 Origins of the Universe 53 Possible Ends of the Universe 55 Space Exploration 57 Telescopes 57 Space Probes 58 Humans in Space 60 A History of Manned Spaceflight 61 A History of the United States Space Shuttle Program 61 People Who Study Space 62
4 W H A T I S A S T R O N O M Y ASTRONOMY SPACE What Is Astronomy Have you ever wondered what exists beyond our planet Or looked up in the night sky and wondered what it would be like to live on another planet in our solar system Do people or other beings live there already Astronomy is the study of the universe or outer space and can help you find the answers to all these questions and more Sun
