The view of the moon through one of the telescopes at the observatory. |
After looking at Jupiter and the Moon, I moved onto the third and final telescope at the observatory which focused on the Orion Nebula.
The Hubble telescope provides this photo of the heart of the Orion Nebula. Photo Reference: nasa.gov |
This recent image of the entire Orion Nebula is thanks to Nasa's Hubble space telescope. It is one of the most detailed astronomical images ever composed. Photo Reference: nasa.gov |
Once I had made my way through the three telescopes, I stopped and observed the brightest and clearest big dipper I have ever seen. It was absolutely breathtaking. At the very end of the big dipper is the North Star (also known as the Polaris).
The North Star (Polaris) remains steady and bright in the centre, while other stars move around it. Photo Reference: space.com |
The Polaris is excellent for navigational purposes due to the fact that it remains entirely still in the sky, while other stars, planets, and galaxies move around it. How is this possible? Is there no gravitational pull that makes it move? Or does the gravitational pull that moves the other stars and planets come from the Polaris? Is there any gravitational pull at all or is it the Earth's rotation that is making the other stars appear as if they are moving? This is all very baffling and fascinating to me at the same time.
The Sirius star, as taken by the Hubble telescope. Photo Reference: universestoday.com |
I learned so much from visiting the observatory today and went home feeling very tiny.
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