Question 1

What is astronomy?

Accepted Answer

Astronomy is the study of stars, planets, and everything else in space. It's like being a space detective, discovering how the universe works.

Question 2

What is a star?

Accepted Answer

A star is a giant ball of hot gas that shines in the sky. Our Sun is a star, and it's the closest one to Earth.

Question 3

What is a planet?

Accepted Answer

A planet is a big, round object that travels around a star. Earth is a planet, and it's where we live.

Question 4

What is the universe?

Accepted Answer

The universe is everything we can see, touch, and imagine in space. It includes all the stars, planets, galaxies, and more.

Question 5

What is the Solar System?

Accepted Answer

The Solar System is our neighborhood in space. It has the Sun at the center, with eight planets, including Earth, going around it.

Question 6

Why is the sky blue?

Accepted Answer

The sky looks blue because of the way sunlight gets scattered by the air in the atmosphere. This makes the blue colors spread out more than the other colors.

Question 7

Why do stars twinkle?

Accepted Answer

Stars twinkle because the light they send us gets bent by the air in Earth's atmosphere. That bending makes them look like they're sparkling.

Question 8

What is a galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A galaxy is a huge group of stars, gas, and dust all held together by gravity. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.

Question 9

Can we see other planets from Earth?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can see some other planets from Earth, like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They look like bright stars in the sky.

Question 10

What is a comet?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a ball of ice, rock, and dust that travels through space. Sometimes it has a glowing tail when it gets close to the Sun.

Question 11

What does a telescope do?

Accepted Answer

A telescope helps us see things far away in space by making them look bigger and clearer. It's like a magic window into the universe.

Question 12

What is a black hole?

Accepted Answer

A black hole is a spot in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape it. They're kind of like invisible vacuums in space.

Question 13

Why do we have day and night?

Accepted Answer

We have day and night because Earth spins around. When our part of Earth faces the Sun, it's day; when it's turned away, it's night.

Question 14

What is the Moon?

Accepted Answer

The Moon is a big ball of rock that moves around Earth. It lights up at night by reflecting sunlight.

Question 15

Why does the Moon change shape?

Accepted Answer

The Moon looks like it changes shape because it's always moving around Earth. Different parts are lit up by the Sun at different times.

Question 16

What does gravity do?

Accepted Answer

Gravity is a force that pulls things towards each other. It's why we stay on the ground and why planets and moons orbit stars.

Question 17

What is an asteroid?

Accepted Answer

An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun. Most of them are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Question 18

Why are there seasons?

Accepted Answer

We have seasons because Earth's axis is tilted as it moves around the Sun. This means different parts of Earth get more or less sunlight at different times of the year.

Question 19

What makes a planet 'a planet'?

Accepted Answer

For a space rock to be a planet, it needs to orbit a star, be big enough to be round, and clear out its path in space. That's why Pluto isn't considered a full planet anymore.

Question 20

What is the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

The Milky Way is the galaxy where our solar system lives. It's full of billions of stars, including our Sun.

The Basics of Astronomy: Understanding Our Universe - 20 FAQs Explained Simply