Intro to Astronomy, Part 3: the Sun and Stars

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Question 1: Are there stars in the sky during the daytime?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. We cannot see them from Earth during the daytime (except during a Solar eclipse) but they’re there.  

Does sunlight make the atmosphere blue?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. That’s why the air is blue during the day but clear at night.

Can we see stars during the daytime during a total solar eclipse?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. This proves that stars are always in the sky, even during the daytime.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Some stars can only be seen in January. Is that because they go behind the Earth at other times?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. The stars are stationary throughout the year. The night sky changes because the Earth orbits the Sun, and the night sky is always in the direction away from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Is the Sun a star?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. It's an average sized star with an average amount of brightness. It seems bigger and brighter than other stars because it's so close to us.

Do sunspots come and go on a 100-year cycle?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. They come and go on an 11-year cycle.

Can solar wind make Northern lights, Southern Lights and interfere with radio reception?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. They can do all of these.

Does the Sun burn like a gigantic fire (using a chemical reaction)?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. The Sun uses a process called nuclear fusion which releases 3 million times more energy than a chemical reaction (such as burning fire wood).

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1