Introduction
Universe
Solar System
Planets
Major Stars
Asteroids
Comets
Nebulae
Constellations
Zodiac Costellations
Sky map
Key Concepts
major events
Equipment
Seeing Conditions
My Journey
UNIVERSE
Universe is a name given to all the matter around us. It includes all of space, matter and energy the space contains. We are
included in this. The universe is also called the COSMOS. It is possibly infinite without spatial edges.
The observable universe is a spherical region of the universe consisting of all matter that can be observed from earth with the aid
of technology. It can be considered as a bubble with earth as its centre.
The universe comprises of Planets, solar system, galaxy and the universe itself. Our solar system forms part of Milky way galaxy.
The Solar System is the gravitationally bound system of the Sun and the objects that orbit it. It formed about 4.6 billion years ago
when a dense region of a molecular cloud collapsed, forming the Sun and a protoplanetary disc. Astronomers classify it as a G-
type main-sequence star.
The largest objects that orbit the Sun are the eight planets. In order from the Sun, they are four terrestrial planets (Mercury,
Venus, Earth and Mars); two gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn); and two ice giants (Uranus and Neptune). All terrestrial planets have
solid surfaces. Inversely, all giant planets do not have a definite surface, as they are mainly composed of gases and liquids.
There is a strong consensus among astronomers that the Solar System has at least nine dwarf planets: Ceres, Orcus, Pluto,
Haumea, Quaoar, Makemake, Gonggong, Eris, and Sedna. There are a vast number of small Solar System bodies, such as
asteroids, comets, centaurs, meteoroids, and interplanetary dust clouds. Some of these bodies are in the asteroid belt (between
Mars's and Jupiter's orbit) and the Kuiper belt (just outside Neptune's orbit). Six planets, seven dwarf planets, and other bodies
have orbiting natural satellites, which are commonly called 'moons'.
The planets and other large objects in orbit around the Sun lie near the plane of Earth's orbit, known as the ecliptic. Smaller icy
objects such as comets frequently orbit at significantly greater angles to this plane.
Most of the planets in the Solar System have secondary systems of their own, being orbited by natural satellites called moons. All
of the largest natural satellites are in synchronous rotation, with one face permanently turned toward their parent. The four
giant planets have planetary rings, thin discs of tiny particles that orbit them in unison.
As a result of the formation of the Solar System, planets and most other objects orbit the Sun in the same direction that the Sun is
rotating. That is, counterclockwise, as viewed from above Earth's north pole.
There are exceptions, such as Halley's Comet. Most of the larger moons orbit their planets in prograde direction, matching the
direction of planetary rotation; Neptune's moon Triton is the largest to orbit in the opposite, retrograde manner. Most larger
objects rotate around their own axes in the prograde direction relative to their orbit, though the rotation of Venus is retrograde.
each object travels along an ellipse with the Sun at one focus, which causes the body's distance from the Sun to vary over the
course
of its year. A body's closest approach to the Sun is called its perihelion, whereas its most distant point from the Sun is called its
[Link] the exception of Mercury, the orbits of the planets are nearly circular, but many comets, asteroids, and Kuiper
belt objects follow
All planets and ther bodies orbit the sun but at different speeds.
The gas giants Jupiter & Mars and Ice giants like Uranus & Neptune rotate faster than other terristial planets.
The fastest spinning planet is Jupiter and the slowest is
A day in Planet Earth Period
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Uranus
Neptunr
FACTS about planets
MERCURY: Closest to the sun. It is the smallest Planet.
1 yr = 88 Earth days.
VENUS: Hottest & Brightest Planet. Temperature goes upto 450 *C.
1Yr = 225 Earth days.
EARTH : Only planets that sustains life.
1 Yr = 365 Days.
Mercury on average is the closest planet to earth.
eptune is the farthest planet.
MARS : Red Planet.
Has the tallest mountain, OLYMPUS in the solar system. It is 21 km high and 600 km in diameter.
1Yr = 687 Earth days.
JUPITER : Largest & fastest spinning planet.
The great Red spot is a storm raging for atleast 186 Yrs.
1 Yr = 12 Earth years.
SATURN : Known for its Rings.
Furthest planet that can be seen from earth with a naked eye.
A gas giant.
It has 150 moons and smaller moonlets. The largest moons are Titan & Rhea.
1 Yr = 29.4 Earth years.
URANUS : It is an ICE Giant & Coldest planet.
Orbits lying on its side.
1 Yr = 84 Earth years.
NEPTUNE : Farthest planet from the Sun.
Windy Planet (1200 mph winds).
1 Yr = 165 Earth years.
PLANETS
SATURN
Dist from Sun -9.58AU
Dist from Earth - 70.9 LM
Orbit - 29.5 Yrs
Magnitude
JUPITER
Dist from Sun -5.2AU
Dist from Earth - 35LM MARS
Orbit - 11.9 Yrs Dist from Sun -1.52AU
Magnitude Dist from Earth - 4.4 LM
URANUS Orbit - 687 Days
Dist from Sun -19.2AU SUN
Magnitude
Dist from Earth - 151.4 DFM -8.3 LMMERCURY
Orbit - 84 Yrs Dist from Sun -0.387AU
Magnitude VENUS Dist from Earth - 5.1LM
Dist from Sun -0.722AU Orbit - 88 Days
Dist from Earth - 2.3 LM Magnitude
Orbit - 224.7 Days
Magnitude
EARTH
Dist from Sun -1AU
Orbit - 365 Days
Magnitude NEPTUNE
Dist from Sun -30.1AU
Dist from Earth - 241.9 LM
Orbit - 164.8Yrs
Magnitude
DWARF PLANETS
MAKEMAKE CERES
PLUTO HAUMEA Year of Discovery - 1801
ERIS Year of Discovery - 2003 Year of Discovery - 2005
Year of Discovery - 1930 Orbit ( Earth Year) - 4.6
Year of Discovery - 2003 Orbit ( Earth Year) - 281.9 Orbit ( Earth Year) - 305.34 Distance from Sun - 2.8
Orbit ( Earth Year) - 561.4 Orbit ( Earth Year) - 247.9 Distance from Sun - 45.3
Distance from Sun - 39.5 Distance from Sun - 43.1 Rotation Period - 9.1 Hrs
Distance from Sun - 68 Rotation Period - 3.9 Hrs Rotation Period - 22.5 Hrs Moons - 0
Rotation Period - 25.9 Hrs Rotation Period - 6.39 Earth days Moons - 0
Moons - 5 Moons - 2
Moons- 1
According to International Astronomical Union Dwarf
Planets are defined as a celestial body which orbits
the sun,has enough mass to assume a nearly round
shape,has not cleared the neighbourhood around its
orbit and is not a moon.
In 2006 Pluto was classified as a dwarf planet.
Eris is the biggest Dwarf Planet with Pluto of similar size.
Haumea & Makemake are third & fourth. Ceres is the smallest dwarf planet.
Eris,Pluto, Haumea & Makemake lie in the distant Kuiper Belt.
Ceres lies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
MOONS
Moons are natuarry formes bodies that orbit the planets. They are also called natural satellites.
They are generally solid bodies and few have atmosphere.
The earth moon is used to measure the months.
There are 171 moons orbiting the planets in our solar system.
The details are :-
Earth - 1
Mars - 2
Jupiter - 66
Saturn - 62
Uranus - 27
Neptune - 13
The following is a list of some of the major
planetry moons, including those of Dwarf planet Pluto.
Earth - Moon
Mars - Deimos, Phobos
Jupiter - Amalthea, Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, Io
Saturn - Dione, Enceladus, Hyperion, Iapetus, Mimas, Phobe, Rhea, Tethys, Titan
Uranus - Arieal, Miranda, Oberon, Titania, Umbriel
Neptune - Nerid, Triton
Pluto - Charon
The largest moon in the solar system is Ganymede which orbits the Jupiter. Its maximum distance across is App 5262 Kms.
It is larger than mercury.
Earth moon is lemon shape.
CONSTELLATIONS & ASTERISM
In 1928, the International Astronomical Union divided the sky into 88 official constellations following geometric boundries
with all stars within them. 42 depict animals, 29 depict inanimate objects and 17 depict humans or mythological characters.
Any additional new selected groupings of stars or former constellations are often considered as Asterisms.
However distinction between ‘Constellation’ and ‘asterism still remains ambiguous.
Asterisma are not constellations as per defination, but are used by the observers to navigate the night sky. Asterisms
may be several stars within a constellation, or they may share stars with more than one constellation e.g. Teapot within
constellation Sagittarius or the Big Dipper in Ursa Major.
The Major constellations are
Andromeda Antlia Apus Aquarius Aquila Ara Aries Auriga
Bootes Caelum Camelopardalis Cancer Canes Venatici
Canis Major Canis Minor Capricornus Carina Cassiopeia
Centaurus Cepheus
ZODIAC CONSTELLATIONS
MAJOR STARS
ASTEROIDS, COMETS & NEBULAE
Astronomy, a childhood interest has finally taken
shape and got me into studying concepts, stargazing
and astro photography.
It was difficult to decide on the starting point. I searched
through internet and hardly came across anyone
who could guide me. I was influenced upto some extent by
Web threads on Cloudy Nights & a blogger by
the name of Astro biscuit. Finally I decided to start from scratch.
I used to look up in the sky and click randomly pictures of moon
with my cell phone. The effects were disastrous.
In 2023 I purchased my first pair of Binoculars,
Celestron 15 x 70 Astromaster.
Beginning.......
23 June 24
2238H
Moon
Iphone 15 & Celestron Astromaster 15 x 70 Binoculars
Moon 28jun24 1208am
Moon 21jul 24-0846pm
Moon 21aug24 - 1037pm
Saturn 26 Aug 24 0839pm
ISS 20 SEP 24 0643PM
sTARTRAIL 21SEP 24 0826PM
jupiter with four moons 7ct 24 1040pm
Mars 7oct 24 1045pm
mars & jupiter 7 oct 24 1049pm
venus 8 oct 24 0610pm
moon 9 oct 24 7.26pm
saturn 9oct 24 752pm
jupiter 14oct 24 1110pm
moon saturn conjunction 14 oct 24 1121pm
moon 17 oct 24 0656pm
moon 18 oct 24 0637pm
venus 07nov24 0555pm
venus 12 dec 24 0607pm
jupiter 12 dec 24 0628pm
Aldebaran 12 dec 24 0635pm
Betelgues 13dec24 0810pm
Rigel 13 dec 24 0816pm
Orions Belt 13 dec 24 0840pm
Mars 14 dec 24 0935pm
Sirus 14 Dec 24 0947pm
Venus & moon conjunction 03 jan 25 0655pm
MARS
17 Jan 25 08820pm
POLLUX
Orion Constellation
21-1-25 0831pm
ORIONS BELT
25 JAN 25 0700PM
ORIOS SWORD
25 JAN 25 0630PM
ORION NEBULA
25jan25 0639pm
ORION NEBULA
PROCYON STAR
26jan25 0643pm
26 JAN 25 0652PM
SIRIUS STAR
26 JAN 25 0700PM
