GENERAL SCIENCE & ABILITY

UNIVERSE: Astronomy is the study of the universe and the celestial

bodies, gas and dust within it. Astronomy includes observations and
theories about the solar system, the stars, the galaxies and the general
structure of space. The vast empty space around us that consists of
stars, solar system, galaxies etc. is called Universe. The universe can
also be defined as “ the totality of everything that existes, including all
matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies and the contents of
intergalactic space”.
ASTRONOMICAL SYSTEM OF UNITS: It was adopted by the
international Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1976. The astronomical
system of units is a tri-dimensional system, in that it defines units of
lenth, mass and time only.Astronomical Unit of time: The astronomical
unit of time is the day, defined as 86400 seconds. 365.25 days make up
one julian year. The symbol D is used in astronomy to refer to his unit.
Astronomical Unit of Mass: The astronomical unit of mass is the solar
mass. The solar mass, 1.98892×1030 kg, is a standard way to express
mass in astronomy, used to describe the masses of other stars and
galaxies. It is equal to the mass of the sun. Astronomical units of
length: The average distance between the earth and the sun and it is
approximately 150 million kilometres. Astronomical unit, light year
and persec are the units for measuring huge distances. Light year is the
distance that light can travel in one year in a vacuum which is about
63,240 AU.
ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE: “The problem of the origin of the universe
is a bit like the old question: which came first, the chicken, or the egg.
In other words, what agency created the universe? And what created
that agency? Or perhaps, the universe, or the agency that created it,
existed forever, anddidn’t need to be created.” (Stephen Hawking)