ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Guide Star Catalog

Imagine you want to find your way to a new place but you don't know the directions. It can be hard, right? It is the same for scientists who want to study the stars in the universe. There are so many stars up there, and it can be challenging to figure out where each of them is, let alone study them.

To make it easy to find and study stars, scientists have created a guide star catalog, which is like a map of the stars. A guide star catalog is a collection of information about millions of stars in the universe that tells scientists where each star is, how bright it is, and what color it is.

Scientists use different types of telescopes to study the stars. The guide star catalog is like a massive directory, helping them navigate the sky, knowing where the stars are located, and evaluating how to position their telescopes.

Think of it this way: the guide star catalog is like a giant phone book, and each star is like a phone number in that book. Just like you use a phone book to find someone's address or number, scientists use the guide star catalog to find specific stars in the sky and study them.

In conclusion, a guide star catalog helps scientists map out the stars and navigate the universe by providing information about where each star is located, how bright it is, and what color it is. It is like a giant phone book for the stars!