We were sitting outside tonight looking at the stars and my son asked me why we call the stars 'stars' when they are actually suns in other solar systems. I know a few are planets in our solar system, like Mars and Venus. But I can't explain to him how scientists got the name/word 'star' for all those suns out there.
Can anyone give me some insight to this? Do you know a good website that I can have my son go to to learn about the universe at a child's level? Thank you!
2007-06-13 20:22:05 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The word "star" comes from the Old English "stoerra", which itself is related to the ancient Greek "aster".
The fact is that the lights in the sky were called "stars" before anyone knew that they were suns in their own right or, indeed, planets and galaxies, etc.
In fact, the planets were known as "wandering stars" before it was realised they were planets in our solar system.
Try the website below.
2007-06-13 20:37:50 · answer #1 · answered by the_lipsiot 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The terminology "sun" and "star" are not really important. The important idea discovered by scientists is that the stars we see in the night sky, and the sun we see in the daytime are the same things. One is just much closer to us, the others vastly further away.
I don't know how old your son is, but when he's around 10 years old, you could do him a big favor (and probably instill a lifelong interest in astronomy and science) by buying for him the TV show "Cosmos", by Carl Sagan. I don't think anybody has ever explained the structure of the universe in such a compelling and clear manner before or since.
2007-06-14 03:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually stars and suns were called so before scientists realized that the stars are actually suns. Humans are animals of habits. So even after the discovery, everyone continued to call these suns as stars. Twinkle twinkle :)
2007-06-14 03:28:00 · answer #3 · answered by Rajesh K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well stars were names stars before we knew they were suns. many centuries ago. people looked at the sky, and thought, well that little dot looks a bit different from the sun, so lets give it an other name.
as for the word star itself, it is hundereds of years olf (from aprox 900ad accourding to my dictionary) it comes from the old english word Steorra. mostlikely meaning the same as star, a dot of light in the sky.
it seems silly to rename something after 1100 years because you find out its not exactly like you thought it was.
2007-06-14 03:43:13 · answer #4 · answered by mrzwink 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think because a long time ago, people worshipped the sun. The Egyptians, the Mayans, and many other groups worshipped the sun, so the sun had it's own name.
2007-06-14 03:29:06 · answer #5 · answered by Phillies 2008 WS Champions! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sir its actually like, we have named the a star of our solar system as the sun.... not suns as stars.... there are other stars in the universe like proxima centauri, rigel,altair and all... sun is just a name given to one of the stars by us..
2007-06-14 03:33:41 · answer #6 · answered by Maverick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually, the sun is a star and not vice versa.
2007-06-14 03:32:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
even sun is a star...................each star has been given a name by the scientists..........our star has been given the name SUN
2007-06-14 04:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by sportyfun 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some of those are acutally galaxies too.
2007-06-14 03:27:18 · answer #9 · answered by J w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.star.com
2007-06-14 03:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋