Some Astronomical Misconceptions

ALL THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE FALSE

(If you think of any others, we'll add them to the list.)

Earth; rotation and revolution

• The Earth is a perfect sphere.
• Latitude and longitude exist only at sea.
• The Sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west every day.
• Stars and constellations do not rise or set.
• There are an exact number of days in a year.
• Water goes down the drain in different directions in different hemispheres.
• North, south, east, and west are exact places on Earth.
• We experience seasons because of the Earth's changing distance from the Sun.
• Winter is cold because of "indirect" heating by the Sun.
• The Earth is the center of the Solar System.
• Everyone on the Earth shares the same seasons on the same dates.

Moon and its phases

• The Moon can only be seen during the night.
• The Moon does not rotate on an axis.
• The phases of the Moon are caused by shadows cast on its surface by Earth or by other objects in the Solar System.
• We see all sides of the Moon.
• The far side of the Moon is always in darkness

Constellations

• All the stars in a constellation are near one another.
• All stars are the same distance form the Earth.
• The constellations form patterns clearly resembling people, animals, etc.
• The constellations consist of only the stars making the patterns.
• The North Star is the brightest star in the sky.
• Stars leave the sky during the daytime.
• Stars really twinkle.
• Constellations, especially those of the Zodiac, have magical powers

Gravity and space travel

• There is no gravity in space.
• The space shuttle acts as a gravity shield so astronauts don't feel gravity inside.

The Solar System

• The Solar System is very crowded.
• The Solar System contains only the Sun, Moon, and planets.
• Meteors are falling stars.
• Comets sweep across the sky like meteors.
• Comet tails stream behind the comet as the comet moves.
• Comets are burning.
• Planets are close together or are large compared with the distances between them.
• The planets are always arranged in a straight line away from the Sun.
• Alignments of planets are dangerous and can affect the Earth.
• Your personality and future are determined by the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets.
• Planetary orbits are circular.
• Mercury is hot everywhere on its surface.
• Giant planets have solid surfaces.
• Saturn is the only planet with rings.
• Jupiter and Saturn are made of gas.
• The Sun is made of molten lava and is solid in parts.
• The asteroid belt is crowded and dangerous.

Stars and the Universe

• The galaxy is very crowded.
• All stars are the same size.
• Stars are all white and have no colors.
• Stars live forever.
• Black holes are huge vacuum cleaners in space, sucking up everything.
• The redshift of galaxies is caused by the Doppler effect.
• The Big Bang is just a theory; there is no real evidence supporting it.
• Alien life visits us on a regular basis.