Learning about science should never be boring. Travelling through the expanse of the universe you would discover just how much SPACE there is in Space.

How big is space? That is a question man has been asking since the beginning of time. When your grandparents were in school it was thought that the Universe was very small perhaps only 5,000 light years across. Five hundred years ago it was thought that the Universe was only a little bit bigger than the Earth. In modern times with the power of technology we are finally starting to grasp the immense size of the Universe, and it is much bigger than anyone could have ever imagined.

Scientists cannot stretch a measuring tape from the Earth to a nearby star, so how do they know how far away they are? Scientists use something called Parallax. Parallax means simply that they look at how much the stars move in the sky back and forth throughout the year as the Earth circles the Sun. This is not something unfamiliar to you. In fact if you stretch out your hand in front of you and look at your thumb, while covering one eye, and than the other, your thumb will appear to move back and forth. Stars do the same thing, but our eyes are much too close to see the difference. However, if we take a picture while on one side of Earth’s orbit and then take another when we get to the opposite side of the orbit, then we have a large enough distance that we can see the stars parallax, and determine how far away they really are.

Is there wind on the Moon?

The footprints left by Apollo astronauts will last for centuries because there is no wind on the Moon. The flag the Americans left on the Moon is held out by a metal bar because there is no wind to make it fly.

The Moon does not possess any atmosphere, so there is no weather as we are used to on Earth. Because there is no atmosphere to trap heat, the temperatures on the Moon vary dramatically over the course of a day, from 100°C at noon to -173°C at night. The Moon has no rain or earthquakes to wear away or break down the craters, so they have remained the same for millions of years.

The Moon does not produce its own light, but it looks bright because it reflects light from the Sun. Think of the sun as a light bulb, and the Moon as a mirror, reflecting light from the light bulb. The lunar phase changes as the Moon orbits the Earth and different portions of its surface are illuminated by the Sun.

Fact File

Sometimes the moon appears orange. This occurs when there is a lot of dust, smoke or pollution in the atmosphere. The size of those particles will determine what you see. Sometimes the Moon will look red, orange… even blue.

Become a skilled observer

In spite of the fact that the sky presents a different view every night, there is a rhythm to it.

Tools you might need

You already have the two most important tools you will need on your journey: your mind and your eyes. However, there are some other things that might help you along the way including computer software, books and other web sites.

Buying a telescope

Telescopes can offer a very thrilling view of the night sky, but there are lots of things to think about before taking the plunge.

Buying a telescope is something that most people who get interested in astronomy would like to do. It is thrilling to see the Moon and the planets through your own telescope, but there are lots of things to consider before running out and spending your hard-earned money.

The web sites of other major telescope manufacturers can give you more technical information about telescopes than you probably want, so spend some time and visit these sites so that they can guide you through some of the practical aspects of buying a telescope. It's a big decision, and you need to make sure that you think it through carefully before going ahead.

Some final thoughts

The most important thing to keep in mind is that a telescope is a significant investment of both time and money. A good telescope can bring the wonders of the sky into your eyes any time there are clear skies. If you live in a moderate climate with pretty good viewing conditions, you will always have something to do in the evening.

http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/beginners/buytelescope.html