Working scientifically

Over the past few hundred years, astronomers have discovered thousands of stars whose brightness goes up and down over time. These are known as variable stars. But what causes this to happen?

The ocean’s tides rise and fall every day, but have you ever wondered what causes them? The Moon and Sun both play a role in shaping the movement of water across the Earth. 

Galaxies are vast collections containing billions of stars, planets, and massive clouds of gas, dust, and ice. Understanding galaxies is a key part of astronomy. One important tool for studying them is classification—grouping them into a few different categories. 

How do we find asteroids?

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?

Impact craters are made when a space rock (called a meteorite or asteroid) hits a rocky planet or moon. The impact makes a round hole in the surface, called a crater.

In the UK, we experience 4 seasons each year. These are spring, summer, autumn, and winter. You may have noticed that the weather changes during each season. But have you noticed any other differences? 

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