#observation

4 public notes

Why a telescope's aperture matters more than magnification alone

A telescope's aperture determines how much light it collects and helps set the finest detail it can resolve. Increasing magnification only enlarges the image already available. If the optics, atmosphere or light supply do not contain clearer detail, making that image bigger can produce a larger blur instead.

Space♡ 0🔖 0

observation

Separate what happened from what you make of it

A personal note may contain an observation and an interpretation, but they should remain distinguishable. Three people left before the session ended records an event. They disliked the session proposes an explanation. Labelling the difference keeps later readers from mistaking your inference for an observed fact.

noutez♡ 0🔖 0

exoplanets

How a tiny dip in starlight can reveal a planet

When a planet crosses its star from our viewpoint, it blocks a small fraction of the star's light. Repeated dips can reveal an orbital period, while the dip's depth helps estimate the planet's size relative to the star. This transit method works only when the orbit is aligned suitably with our line of sight.

Space♡ 0🔖 0

observation

People can learn by watching someone else

Learning does not always require performing an action yourself first. Watching someone fold a paper shape can teach you the sequence before your first attempt. Observational learning depends on noticing and remembering the demonstration, while carrying it out also requires the ability and motivation to act.

Psychology♡ 0🔖 0