Page 1 of Stars and planets and stuff..

Are "stars" in the sky planets or suns? Are suns planets? If stars are suns like "ours" I`m guessing each star/sun has a few of it`s own planets like our solar system. That`s a lot of planets. Are all the stars we can see in our own galaxy? How many solar systems are there in our galaxy? How many galaxies are there in the universe then? That`s a lot of planets isn`t it.

julianf

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This item was edited on Wednesday, 31st October 2007, 00:37

Stars are suns, with planets in orbit about them.

Hence the recent Q on Smarter than a 10 year old, Whats the closest star to Earth?




I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

I hate answering the phone at work - It disturbs my sleep.

Quote:
Hence the recent Q on Smarter than a 10 year old, Whats the closest star to Earth?

What`s the answer then - the sun?

What`s that other question then where the answer is Alpha Centauri - I thought that was our nearest star, even though I don`t know what that means.

julianf

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This item was edited on Wednesday, 31st October 2007, 00:40

That`s closest to our solar system (ie, not including the Sun)

Technically, the sun is the closest star to the earth. It is approx 8 light minutes away from the earth. The other answer is Alpha Centauri and is 4.3 light years away, it does depend on the context of the actual Q.

Excluding our sun\solar system, what is the closest star to Earth?

or

What is the closest star to Earth?

Sun is perhaps best described as a "local term" for the star that the planet your on revolves around.




I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

I hate answering the phone at work - It disturbs my sleep.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 31st October 2007, 00:51

Oh! Come on!. Everyone knows that the Sun revolves around the Earth.

MANCHESTER UNITED PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2006/2007

....and that the hottest part of the Sun is page 3. :/

I`ll get me coat. ;)

The Jackal

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MANCHESTER UNITED PREMIERSHIP CHAMPIONS 2006/2007

How long is a light year/light minute in our time?
Juls

A light year is really a measure of distance - it`s the distance a `beam` of light will travel in a year. When you consider that light travels at 186,000 miles per second, that`s a fookin` long way! (a light beam could circumnavigate the Earth 7.5 times each second) :B

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