1ASTRONOMY: STUDY GUIDERice University1SCIENCE AND THE UNIVERSE: A BRIEF TOUR1.1THE NATURE OF ASTRONOMYAstronomyis described as the study of the things that exist beyond our planet Earth and themechanisms through which these objects interact.When we study the universe's history, we will see that the universe evolves; it changesdramatically over lengthy periods. For example, the cosmos provided the carbon, calcium, andoxygen required to build something as fascinating and complex as you.1.2THE NATURE OF SCIENCEThe final judgment is always what nature discloses via observations, experiments, models,and testing in science. Science isn't only a set of information; it's also a strategy for attempting tocomprehend nature and how it works. This approach starts with a large number of observationsover a long time.Much of astronomy is also a historical science, which means that everything we see in thecosmos has already happened, and we can't alter it. Similarly, a geologist cannot change thecourse of our planet's history, and a paleontologist cannot resurrect an extinct animal.1.3THE LAWS OF NATURECountless observations, ideas, and tests have been used by scientists throughout the ages toderive numerous scientific laws. In a way, these scientific principles are the "rules" of the gamethat nature plays. The fact that the same rules apply everywhere in the universe is a startling
