In the night sky: Orion

In the night sky: Orion

Contents

Introduction
1.1 Map of the night sky
- 1.1.1 Meeting Orion
- 1.1.2 Where is Orion?
- 1.1.3 Finding Orion
- 1.1.4 Who was Orion?
1.2 What are constellations?
- 1.2.1 Patterns in the sky
- 1.2.2 Orion in 3D
- 1.2.3 Moving constellations
- 1.2.4 Signs of the Zodiac
- 1.2.5 Name a constellation
- 1.2.6 Navigating by the stars
- 1.2.7 Finding your longitude
1.3 Mapping the stars
- 1.3.1 Gaia mission
- 1.3.2 Behind the scenes with Gaia
1.4 Week 1 quiz
Summary of Week 1
Introduction
2.1 What is a star?
- 2.1.1 Luminosity of a star
- 2.1.2 What is a nebula?
- 2.1.3 How far away is the Orion nebula?
- 2.1.4 Size of a nebula
- 2.1.5 Trapezium cluster
- 2.1.6 Birth of a star
- 2.1.7 The Orion nebula
- 2.1.8 Protostar
- 2.1.9 Photographing Orion
2.2 The life of a star
- 2.2.1 Types of star
- 2.2.2 Mass, luminosity and temperature
- 2.2.3 Nuclear fusion
2.3 The death of a star
- 2.3.1 Planetary nebula
- 2.3.2 Supernovae
- 2.3.3 Beautiful supernovae
- 2.3.4 Cosmic onion
- 2.3.5 Supergiant stars
- 2.3.6 Exploding supernova
- 2.3.7 The final remnants
- 2.3.8 Neutron stars
- 2.3.9 Black holes
- 2.3.10 Black hole cannibal
2.4 Week 2 quiz
Summary of Week 2
Introduction
3.1 The Big Bang
- 3.1.1 Open or closed universe
- 3.1.2 Particle formation
- 3.1.3 Evidence of expansion
- 3.1.4 Hubble Ultra Deep Field
- 3.1.5 Photographing Orion
3.2 What is a galaxy?
- 3.2.1 Different types of galaxy
- 3.2.2 Merging galaxies
- 3.2.3 Colliding and merging galaxies
- 3.2.4 Galaxies gone wild!
- 3.2.5 The Milky Way
- 3.2.6 The Local group
- 3.2.7 Galaxy Zoo
- 3.2.8 Dark matter
- 3.2.9 Dark energy
3.3 The electromagnetic spectrum
- 3.3.1 Objects at different wavelengths
- 3.3.2 Observing the stars
- 3.3.3 Telescopes in space
- 3.3.4 Behind the scenes with Monica Grady
3.4 Week 3 quiz
Summary of Week 3
Introduction
4.1 Habitable zone
- 4.1.1 The right type of star
- 4.1.2 Lifetime of a star
- 4.1.3 The right type of galaxy
- 4.1.4 Where we are
- 4.1.5 Photographing Orion
4.2 Protoplanetary discs
- 4.2.1 Protoplanetary disc formation
- 4.2.2 Collapse of a nebula
- 4.2.3 Planetesimals
- 4.2.4 The Solar System
- 4.2.5 The asteroid belt
- 4.2.6 Comets
- 4.2.7 Philae lander
- 4.2.8 A comet’s tail
- 4.2.9 Where do comets come from?
4.3 What is an exoplanet?
- 4.3.1 Exoplanet encyclopedia
- 4.3.2 Planet hunting – identification and observing techniques
- 4.3.3 Gliese 581
- 4.3.4 Transit experiment
- 4.3.5 Other information from transits
- 4.3.6 Protoplanetary disc example
- 4.3.7 Life beyond the Solar System
4.4 Week 4 quiz
End-of-course summary
Tell us what you think
Where next?
Further Reading
Acknowledgements

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