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Student Questions and Research
Want to know more about astronomy and other sciences? Need to research planets, stars, constellations, nebulae, or galaxies? How about moon phases, moons of Jupiter and Saturn, the geology of Mars, or space exploration and history? If you can't find out at Kid's Cosmos then ask your questions and I'll help you find the answers.
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Recent Cosmos Answers
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How come planets and moons orbit but stars don't?
-Makayla, grade 4
Astronomers believe that because of gravity space dust and gas in a nebula condenses to make stars. As part of the process a disk of material is formed that spins around the forming star. Some parts of the disk clump together to form planets and moons. They continue to orbit the star because of the motion they had when they formed. Sometimes two stars form and orbit each other as their planets orbit them. These stars are called binary stars. So some stars as well as planets and moons orbit.
In addition, stars are not within our solar system, but many light years away. They are not a part of our solar system, but are a part of a larger structure called a galaxy. These stars, as well as our sun, orbit the center of the galaxy. So, although the stars do not orbit our sun, they do orbit within the galaxy. Their great distance from us, as well as the fact that we are orbiting in the same sense they are, makes this motion undetectable. See also: Ask NASA about stars.
Just how many constellations are there?-Ryun, grade 4
Astronomers have divided the sky into 88 constellations. Instead of telling stories they are used to find areas of the sky like drawings of the states are used on a map of the USA. Just like you can find Spokane by knowing it is in Washington you can find objects like the Ring nebula in the constellation Lyra. Another way to look at it is like those 3 dimensional puzzles you see of buildings and castles. Imagine the constellations being puzzle pieces in a giant spherical puzzle with you inside. From 40 degrees latitude we can see 65 of the 88 constellations. Why not take a
Constellations Tour?
How do you know when you can see if they (Constellations) are in the summer or winter?
-Alexa, grade 4
Constellations are drawn on star maps. These maps can be flat like road maps, printed on a clear globe or on a wheel that turns within a calendar (known as a planisphere). By turning the wheel to the correct date and time you can see what constellations will be out. Check Sky and Telescope magazine and Astronomy magazine for current monthly maps showing what is up that month. In addition, several computer programs can show when a constellation will be visible.
How big are most of the things (patterns) the stars make?
-Chad H., grade 4
You can use your fist to estimate how large the patterns are. Make a fist with your thumb on top at the end of your outstretched arm. This is about 10 degrees in the sky. Test this by looking over your thumb starting straight out and counting fist on top of fist until you are looking straight up. From the horizon to straight up (zenith) is 90 degrees so you should have counted 9 fists. Most of the constellations are one to two fists wide or long. The two stars at the top of the bowl of the Big Dipper measures one fist. From the pointer stars to the North Star is about 3 fists. The Great Square of Pegasus is about two fists per side and Orion is just over a fist. What you are actually measuring is the angle in the Celestial Sphere. If you draw straight lines from the top and the bottom of your fist to your eye the angle between the two lines would be about 10 degrees.
Where did you learn about stars and planets?
-T. S., grade 4
Just like you would. I learned from books, astronomy magazines, educational TV and websites, computer programs, asking questions and by going out at night and looking for myself.. Our website has a list of books, websites and other sources under
Resources.
Do you know why the Greeks and Indians made up stories for how the stars got up there?
-Kayla, grade 4
People always try to explain how things work. As more is known the explanations change to fit what we see. This is the process of science. Remember, there were no TV's, radios, movies or books when these stories were first told. This was a way for the elders to pass on the culture of the society including religion, history and wisdom. You may want to read more about History and Star Stories.
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