Topic
Observational Astronomy
4 questions tagged Observational Astronomy — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
what
What is a planetary transit?
A planetary transit is when a planet passes in front of its star from our viewpoint, causing a tiny dip in brightness.
SpaceObservational Astronomy
which
Which telescope first directly imaged an exoplanet?
The first widely recognized direct image of an exoplanet was obtained in 2004 with the Very Large Telescope in Chile. The planet was 2M1207b, orbiting a brown dwarf.
AstronomyObservational astronomy
why
Why do stars twinkle more near the horizon?
Near the horizon, starlight passes through more turbulent atmosphere, which bends the light more unpredictably. That makes the star’s brightness and position seem to shimmer.
StarsObservational astronomy
where
Where is the Lockman Hole located in the sky?
It is a patch of sky in the constellation Ursa Major with unusually little hydrogen gas and dust. Astronomers use it to observe deep into the distant universe.
SpaceObservational Astronomy