73 questions and answers in this section

Natural Sciences » Astronomy

Explain why the moon changes shape every month?

Explain why the moon changes shape every month?

The Moon takes about 29.5 days to go through all its phases, which is called the lunar cycle. During this cycle, you can see different...

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Explain why the Mayans built pyramids astronomically aligned with the stars.

Explain why the Mayans built pyramids astronomically aligned with the stars.

For the Maya, the universe was a vast web connecting humans, gods, and celestial bodies. They believed that the sky reflected the earthly world and...

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Explain why the Assyrians considered the eclipse as an evil omen.

Explain why the Assyrians considered the eclipse as an evil omen.

Among the Assyrians, an eclipse was viewed as a major cosmic concern: it was believed that a demon or a hostile deity was literally attacking...

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Explain why the Great Bear is such a recognizable constellation?

Explain why the Great Bear is such a recognizable constellation?

The Big Dipper, also known by the nickname Great Casserole, owes much of its popularity to the surprisingly regular arrangement of its main stars. It...

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Explain why the night is dark despite the presence of billions of stars?

Explain why the night is dark despite the presence of billions of stars?

If the universe were infinite, eternal, and uniformly filled with stars, then every direction of the sky would be occupied by a star. The result? The night...

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Explain why does the rotation of the Earth influence the length of days?

Explain why does the rotation of the Earth influence the length of days?

The Earth spins like a top around its axis, an imaginary line connecting the North Pole to the South Pole. This rotation occurs towards the...

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Explain why the moon appears to follow our car when we drive?

Explain why the moon appears to follow our car when we drive?

When we drive and look at the Moon, it feels like it moves with us, even though it obviously doesn't really move alongside us. This...

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Explain why the sun is yellow while stars are white?

Explain why the sun is yellow while stars are white?

Stars are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, with a few other elements in small quantities, such as carbon, oxygen, or iron. This gaseous cocktail...

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Explain why does Halley's comet come back every 76 years?

Explain why does Halley's comet come back every 76 years?

Halley's comet orbits the Sun in a highly elongated elliptical path, somewhat like a stretched rugby ball. At its closest point to the Sun, the...

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Explain why the sun appears larger on the horizon?

Explain why the sun appears larger on the horizon?

The sun on the horizon passes through more of the atmosphere than when it is high in the sky. As a result, sunlight undergoes refraction, meaning it...

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