Thanks to astronomical observations we know how the Earth and the other planets of the Solar System move and also where we are in our galaxy and with respect to the rest of the galaxies in the Universe.

The study of the motions of the planets and other objects has also made possible the determination of laws of motion that describe how all bodies move under the effect of a force, such as gravity, or in the absence of it.

Introduction

Which are these laws of motion? How were they obtained? What information can we obtain by studying planetary motions? Find the answers to these questions in this unit.

Download here the INTRODUCTION.

Activities

Do you want to test the laws of planetary motion and calculate by yourself the mass of our star, the Sun, or the mass of Jupiter? We offer you two activities with which you can put your knowledge into practice and work with real images obtained with the Liverpool Telescope, just as professional astronomers do.

Activity Data

Concepts: The origins of Astronomy. The Laws of Motion. Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. The Titius-Bode Law.

Tools used in the activities: Brightness and distances.

Estimated time: 4 hours.

Authors: Oswaldo González, Nayra Rodríguez, Alfred Rosenberg, Inés Bonet, Alejandra Goded.

Materials for educators: Teacher’s guide