Orbit

Dorothy Vaughan

Dorothy Vaughan
Credit: Unknown author

Occupation: Mathematician and Human Computer

Year born: 1910

Research Areas: Computer Programming

Tycho Brahe

Occupation: Astronomer

Year born: 1546

Research Areas: Astronomy, Supernovae, Mechanics

Johannes Kepler

Occupation: Astronomer, Mathematician, Scientist, Teacher

Year born: 1571

Research Areas: Planetary motion, optics, geometry

Nicolaus Copernicus

Occupation: Astronomer, Mathematician, Clergyman

Year born: 1473

Research Areas: Planets, Mechanics

Sophia Brahe

Occupation: Astronomer and Writer

Year born: 1556

Research Areas: Astronomy, Genealogy

Centre of Mass

Earth and Moon taken by
the Galileo Spacecraft
Credit: NASA

The mass of an object tells us the amount of ‘stuff’ or matter it is made of. An object’s mass remains the same wherever the object is.

Orbital Demonstration

Start Animation

Elliptical Orbits

Elliptical Orbit
Credit: Horvath and Rubber Duck

Solar Eclipse Animation

This animation show what happens during a total and partial solar eclipse.

Can you see that the sky gets darker when the Moon passes through our view of the Sun? Did you notice it gets much darker during a total eclipse than during a partial one?

Lunar Eclipse

An eclipse is when an object passes through the shadow of another. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves through the shadow cast by the Earth.