GCSE Astronomy

Have you ever wondered how many stars you can see in the night sky? Did you know that the number you can see depends on where you are?

An Orrery is a moving, mechanical model of the Solar System. It shows how all of the planets orbit around the Sun.

Comets are large balls of ice, rock and dust but you can think of them as large dirty snowballs that travel through the Solar System. 

A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth and Moon line up with the Sun.

A satellite is an object which orbits another. An orbit is the curved path that an object in space takes around another object.

The Sun is a constant presence in our life on Earth. It gives us the heat and light we need to survive. But it is not a stable place. The Sun is a ball of hot plasma which is constantly changing.

Have you noticed that the Moon doesn't always look the same. Sometimes we can see the full face of the Moon and it becomes the brightest object in the night sky. At other times, it appears as a just small sliver in the sky.

You have probably seen the Moon in the sky but have you ever studied it in detail?