Professional astronomy is split into
observational and
theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects. This data is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. These two fields complement each other. Theoretical astronomy seeks to explain observational results and observations are used to confirm theoretical results.
Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which amateurs play an
active role. This is especially true for the discovery and observation of
transient events.
Amateur astronomers have helped with many important discoveries, such as finding new comets. (Full article...)
Image 9Segment of the
astronomical ceiling of Senenmut's Tomb (circa 1479–1458 BCE), depicting constellations, protective deities, and twenty-four segmented wheels for the hours of the day and the months of the year (from History of astronomy)
Image 10Artist conception of the
Big Bang cosmological model, the most widely accepted out of all in physical cosmology (neither time nor size to scale) (from Physical cosmology)
Image 12An amateur astrophotography setup with an automated guide system connected to a laptop (from Observational astronomy)
Image 13ALMA is the world's most powerful telescope for studying the Universe at submillimeter and millimeter wavelengths. (from Observational astronomy)
Image 22Overview of types of observational astronomy by observed wavelengths and their observability. (from Observational astronomy)
Image 23Comparison of
CMB (Cosmic microwave background) results from satellites
COBE,
WMAP and Planck documenting a progress in 1989–2013 (from History of astronomy)
Image 25Portrait of the Flemish astronomer
Ferdinand Verbiest who became Head of the Mathematical Board and Director of the Observatory of the Chinese emperor in 1669 (from Astronomer)
Image 32An image of the
Cat's Paw Nebula created combining the work of professional and amateur astronomers. The image is the combination of the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope of the La Silla Observatory in Chile and a 0.4-meter amateur telescope. (from Amateur astronomy)
Image 33Places like
Paranal Observatory offer crystal clear skies for observing astronomical objects with or without instruments. (from Amateur astronomy)
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Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (
formally designatedD/1993 F2) broke apart in July 1992 and collided with
Jupiter in July 1994, providing the first direct observation of an extraterrestrial
collision of
Solar System objects. This generated a large amount of coverage in the popular media, and the comet was closely observed by
astronomers worldwide. The collision provided new information about Jupiter and highlighted its possible role in reducing space debris in the
inner Solar System.
The comet was discovered by astronomers
Carolyn and
Eugene M. Shoemaker, and
David Levy in 1993. Shoemaker–Levy 9 (SL9) had been captured by Jupiter and was orbiting the planet at the time. It was located on the night of March 24 in a photograph taken with the 46 cm (18 in)
Schmidt telescope at the
Palomar Observatory in
California. It was the first active comet observed to be orbiting a planet, and had probably been captured by Jupiter around 20 to 30 years earlier. (Full article...)