Our Modern View of the Universe

with Dr. Tony Crider

Student Learning Objectives

• Define “AU” and “ly.”

• Watch Powers of Ten.

• Determine our address.

galaxy staruniversesolar system

A

C

B

D

Which of these is the largest?

1 AU =

1 ly =

1.495979 x 1011 m

9.46053 x 1015 m

average distance between the Earth and the Sun

distance that light travels in one year

Proxima Centauri SunMoonPluto

A

C

B

D

Which of these is 4.2 light-years away?

Proxima Centauri SunMoonPluto

A

C

B

D

Which of these is 1.3 light-seconds away?

8 light-secondsA

C

B

D

How far away is the Sun?

8 light-minutes

8 light-hours 8 light-years

What is our address?

SOLAR SYSTEM

SOLAR SYSTEM

SOLAR SYSTEM

GALAXY

GALAXY

GALAXY

CLUSTER

CLUSTER

SUPERCLUSTER

SUPERCLUSTER

UNIVERSE

Powersof

Ten

14 thousand yearsA

C

B

D

How old is the Universe?14 hundred years

14 million years 14 billion years

Student Learning Objectives

• Define “AU” and “ly.”

• Watch Powers of Ten.

• Determine our address.

Lecture Notes: The Scale of the UniverseBad Astronomy: Star Naming for Dummies

MasteringAstronomy: Scale of the Universe