Reflection

Why study Astronomy?

The study of the stars and the sky has been going on for quite a long time. New inventions have allowed us to understand the cycles of the sun, earth, moon, stars, planets, and galaxies. All of these aspects affect our lives in many ways. For example the sun, it provides our energy to live, and the radiation powers our atmosphere and weather. The solar flares on the sun can cause communication difficulties on earth. The Earth's spin gives us day and night, while its axial tilt gives us the seasons. One revolution of the earth provides our annual calendar. We have also learned much information about the moon. The moon has different stages including the new moon, 1st quarter, full moon, 3rd quarter,gibbous moon, waxing crescents and waning crescents. The moon and the sun cause the tides on earth.



Why seperate science and religion?

We separate science and religion for several reasons. Science is the systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation. Examples of topics studied by scientists include evolution,climate change, global warming, and big bang theory. These topics are based on data and can be backed up by evidence. Religion on the other hand, is a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Examples of topics studied by religious believers include creationism, ESP, and the Bible. These things cannot be backed up by data or evidence.
Sometimes, science and religion overlap. One example of this is horoscopes. Horoscopes use positions of stars in the sky to interpret life order. These beliefs have been passed down from ancestors, but cannot be backed with hard evidence. Another example of an overlap is astrology. Astrology uses stars to interpret YOUR life and it's meaning. A third example of the overlap is tarotcards. These cards supposedly "tell your future".


What will you remember?
There are many things I have learned about this class that I plan to remember for a very long time.

* WE ARE NOT GOING TO DIE IN 2012!!!
* The stars have been studied for a LONG time, starting with Aristotle who was born in 384 B.C.. Other famous astronomers have brought much knowledge to the field of astronomy. These include Galileo Galilei, Kepler, Isaac Newton, Annie CAnnon, Eswin Hubble and Albert Einstein.
*Galaxies look like spheres in the sky and include millions of stars.