Astronomy Questions and Answers (June-July 2001)- EnchantedLearning.com

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Enchanted Learning
All About Astronomy

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Our Solar System							Stars	Glossary	Printables, Worksheets, and Activities
The Sun	The Planets	The Moon	Asteroids	Kuiper Belt	Comets	Meteors	Stars	Astronomers	Printables, Worksheets, and Activities

Zoom Astronomy Questions and Answers (June-July 2001)

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Don't forget to scroll down to find the answer to your question - they're in reverse order by the date they were asked.

Zoom Astronomy Questions
Current Questions November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 June-July 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001

Q: what is the difference between gaseous planets, terestrial planets, giant planets, and jovian planets?
from luis h, miami, fl, united states; July 24, 2001

A: Gaseous planets are large, low-density planets (called gas giants) - they are made of gases and liquids and may or may not have a solid core. In our Solar System, the gas giants (also called the Jovian planets) are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. (The name Jovian comes from the word Jupiter - the Jovian planets are similar in structure to Jupiter.) Terrestrial (or rocky) planets have a rocky (solid) surface and have a structure similar to that of Earth) - in our Solar System, the rocky planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Pluto.

Q: does a blue moon refer to blue-coloured moon?
from tamzen, london, surry, great briten; July 10, 2001

A: No, a blue moon generally refers to the second full moon in one month. For more information, click here.

Q: who was the first 2 people to walk on the moon?
from fart, new york, america, ?; July 10, 2001

A: Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first two people to walk on the moon.

Q: "When was this sight produced?"
from PM, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA; June 25, 2001

A: Zoom Astronomy was put online in 1998, but is updated and expanded regularly. The copyright notice on each page tells when that page was written.

Q: how old is the sun?
from elf b., idaho, b.c., Canada; June 13, 2001

A: The Sun is about 4.5 billion years old.

Q: which planet is visible to the naked eye?
from row, tagbilaran city, bohol, philippines; June 8, 2001

A: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are visible (at various times) to the naked eye.

Q: Why do we have seasons on earth? (PLEASE RESPOND, THIS IS FOR A MAJOR SCIENCE PROJECT)
from Emily F., Williamsville, New York, Unied States; June 3, 2001

A: We have seasons because we are tilted on our axis as we revolve around the Sun. For more information, click here.

Q: WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON IN SPACE?
from BRANDON G., MARSHALL, VA, NONE; June 1, 2001

A: Yuri Gagarin was the first person in space. Gagarin piloted the Vostok 1 (vostok means East in Russian) mission, which launched April 12, 1961, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. His flight lasted 108 minutes and orbited the Earth one time. The capsule traveled at an altitude of 112 to 203 miles (180-327 km) above Earth, at a speed of 27,400 km/hr. Flight was controlled from the ground. The spacecraft was recovered later that day in the Saratov region of the Soviet Union.