Our Universe

Our galaxy is known as the

Milky Way.
There are thousands of other
galaxies in our universe.
Other galaxies in our
universe have many
similarities to our
Milky Way.
Other galaxies of
our universe
appear to have
the same
elements (like
those found on
our Periodic
Table of the
elements).
They also appear to have
the same kinds of forces,
such as gravity.
 And they appear to have
similar energy sources –
such as energy from stars
(like our sun), and internal
heat energy within large
bodies (like our planets).
Most of what we know about our
vast universe so far has been
discovered using tools and
technology such as the Hubble
Space Telescope.
 How vast is vast?
The farthest thing ever
observed by humans is a
quasar 12 billion light years
away.
 Since a light year is the
distance light travels in a
given year, 12 billion light
years is how far light
would travel in 12 billion
years.
How big is a billion?
 It would take about 32
years to count to one
billion if you count one
number per second and
NEVER stop or pause at all!
 Light travels
300,000 kilometers
per second!
 So 12 billion light
years is a very long
way!
 Scientists estimate that the
universe is approximately 15
billion light years across. That
means it would take 15 billion
years traveling at the speed of
light (something we can’t do
yet) to reach the edges of the
universe!
 There are many more things to
discover about our universe, but
because it is so vast, it will take a
long time for scientists to develop
more ways to explore it.
The name of the galaxy in which you
find our solar system is the

A: Black Hole
B: Double Spiral
C: Andromeda
D: Milky Way
How many galaxies are in our
universe?

A: thousands
B: hundreds
C: ten
D: just ours
 The same elements found in our
Periodic Table of the elements can be
found in stars and celestial bodies
throughout the universe.

A: True
B: False
The force of gravity is only found
within our solar system.

A: True
B: False
 Celestial bodies throughout the
universe get their energy from our
sun.

A: True
B: False
Most of the information we have
discovered about the distant
universe has come from

A: the Hubble Telescope.

B: the Apollo program.
C: space travel.
D: the International Space Station
(ISS).
The farthest object ever observed by
humans is a quasar that is

A: 12 billion miles away.

B: 4 billion kilometers away.
C: 12 billion light years away.
D: 10 million kilometers away.
 A light year is

A: the distance between the Earth

and the sun.
B: the time it takes to travel to the
moon.
C: the distance light travels in one
Earth year.
D: 365 days.
It would take 32 years to travel to
the end of the universe in a space
ship.

A: True
B: False
You are looking into the night sky and notice
a particular star. You research the star and
find out it is 5,000 light years away. Which of
the following is true?

A: the star is 5,000 years old

B: the light you see from that star today
began its travel 5,000 years ago
C: the star will explode and die within 10
years from now
D: none of the above