The Universe

The Universe contains everything that exists. It is thought to have been created in a huge explosion called the Big Bang about 15 billion years ago. It contains all matter, space and time and extends as far as the largest telescopes can see - at least 10,000 million light years.

Stars

A star is a mass of hot gasses emitting energy waves. The waves are mostly light, which result from nuclear reactions inside the star.  Stars form in nebulae (clouds of gas and dust within galaxies). The nebula shrinks inwards under its own gravity until eventually the density and temperature of the gas at the centre becomes high enough for nuclear reactions to begin. The object then becomes a true star, generating its own heat and light. Eventually the core of all stars will collapse. The Sun, which was formed about 5,000 million years ago, is about half way through it life-cycle.

Constellations

The sky has been divided into areas by astronomers to create a spherical map. The 88 areas that have been created are called constellations. Click Here to learn more about the meanings and mythology of all 88 constellations.

The Solar System

The Solar System consists of nine planets, all of which orbit the Sun. The Earth is the third planet from the Sun. The four planets nearest the Sun - Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are all small, rocky planets. After Mars comes the four 'gas giants' - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. The ninth planet, Pluto, is the smallest and is made of rock and ice.