Question 1

What is astronomy?

Accepted Answer

Astronomy is the study of the stars, planets, and everything in outer space. It helps us understand what the universe is like and how it all fits together.

Question 2

Why is the sky blue?

Accepted Answer

The sky looks blue because sunlight gets scattered in all directions by the air around us. Blue light scatters more than other colors, so we see a blue sky!

Question 3

What is a star?

Accepted Answer

A star is a huge ball of hot gas that shines in the sky. Our sun is a star and it gives us light and warmth.

Question 4

Why do stars twinkle?

Accepted Answer

Stars twinkle because the air over Earth moves and bends the light from stars. This makes the light dance around, which looks like twinkling.

Question 5

What is a planet?

Accepted Answer

A planet is a big round object that goes around a star. Our planet, Earth, travels around the Sun, which is our closest star.

Question 6

How many planets are in our solar system?

Accepted Answer

There are eight planets in our solar system. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Question 7

What is the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system. It is made up of billions of stars, and from Earth, we can see it as a milky band across the sky.

Question 8

What is the moon?

Accepted Answer

The moon is a big, round rock that travels around the Earth. It changes shape in the sky as it moves around us, creating phases like full moon and crescent.

Question 9

Why does the moon change shape?

Accepted Answer

The moon looks different because of how the sun lights it up as it orbits Earth. We see different parts of the lit-up side, making it look like it changes shape.

Question 10

What is a solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A solar eclipse happens when the moon comes between Earth and the Sun, blocking some or all of the Sun's light. This makes the day briefly seem like night.

Question 11

What is a black hole?

Accepted Answer

A black hole is an area in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape. They can form when huge stars collapse at the end of their life.

Question 12

What are constellations?

Accepted Answer

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky that look like pictures. People have made up stories about them for thousands of years.

Question 13

What is a comet?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a space object made of ice, rock, and dust. When it gets close to the Sun, its ice melts, forming a glowing tail we can sometimes see in the night sky.

Question 14

How big is the universe?

Accepted Answer

The universe is so big, nobody knows for sure how large it is! It's full of stars, galaxies, planets, and other amazing things.

Question 15

What does a telescope do?

Accepted Answer

A telescope makes faraway things like stars and planets look closer and clearer. It's like a super powerful pair of glasses for looking at the sky!

Question 16

What is the difference between a star and a planet?

Accepted Answer

A star makes its own light, while a planet does not. Planets go around stars and reflect the star's light, which is why we can see them.

Question 17

Why can't we see stars during the day?

Accepted Answer

The stars are still there, but the Sun is so bright that it makes it hard to see them. At night, when the Sun is down, the stars become visible again.

Question 18

What is gravity?

Accepted Answer

Gravity is the force that pulls things towards each other. It keeps us on the ground and makes the planets go around the Sun.

Question 19

Can we live on other planets?

Accepted Answer

Right now, Earth is the only planet where we know people can live. Scientists are studying other places, like Mars, to see if people might live there in the future.

Question 20

What is a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A galaxy is a huge collection of stars, dust, and gas bound together by gravity. There are billions of galaxies in the universe, and our home galaxy is called the Milky Way.

The Basics of Astronomy: Exploring the Universe - 20 FAQs Explained Simply