ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Observational astronomy

Observational astronomy is when scientists use special tools and equipment to study stars, planets, galaxies and other celestial objects by looking at them from Earth. Imagine you're sitting outside at night and you see a lot of bright, shining dots in the sky. What you're seeing are stars!

Scientists who study astronomy use special tools like telescopes to get a closer look at these stars and other objects in space. A telescope is a special tube-shaped device that helps us see things that are very far away. It gathers light from the stars and other objects and brings it into the telescope so we can see it better.

Scientists can also use other tools like cameras, sensors, and computers to help study these celestial objects. They can measure the distance from Earth to different stars, figure out how fast they're moving, and even study what they're made of.

Observational astronomy is really important because it helps us learn more about the universe and how it works. We can learn about the early universe, how stars form, how planets move, and much more. All of this new knowledge helps us understand our place in the universe and how we can take better care of our planet.