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in partnership with the Dill Faulkes Educational Trust

 

In astronomy, measurement helps us learn about the size, distance, and brightness of objects in space.

Without careful measurements, it would be difficult to compare stars, planets, and galaxies.

Astronomers cannot use rulers or scales in space. Instead, they use different methods to measure objects from Earth.

 

Image
Illustration with the title 'Measurement' showing various tools and symbols associated with measuring, including a ruler, protractor, balance scale, telescope, and electronic measuring device, set against a starry background with a galaxy image
Credit
This work by The Schools' Observatory is licensed under All rights reserved

Each type of measurement tells us something important.

  • Distance: Knowing how far away an object is helps us understand its true size and how much energy it produces.
  • Angles: Measuring angles helps us work out where objects appear in the sky and how large they look.
  • Brightness: Studying brightness shows how much energy stars and galaxies give off.

 

By combining these measurements, astronomers can build a clearer picture of space and the Universe.

Explore each topic to learn how astronomers measure space and why these measurements matter.