Astronomy
Knowledge Skill
Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, astronomy studies everything that originates beyond Earth's atmosphere. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole.
Astronomy DC Examples
| DC | Task Difficulty | Example Task |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Easy | Identify common constellations and their stories. |
| 8 | Easy | Determine cardinal directions using celestial navigation. |
| 10 | Simple | Recognize major planets visible to the naked eye. |
| 12 | Moderate | Plot the movement of a celestial object over a night. |
| 15 | Challenging | Calculate the distance between two stars or planets. |
| 18 | Difficult | Identify and analyze the characteristics of distant galaxies. |
| 20 | Formidable | Predict upcoming astronomical events like meteor showers. |
| 22 | Heroic | Develop a star chart for navigation in unfamiliar territory. |
| 25 | Legendary | Discover a new celestial object or phenomenon. |
| 28 | Mythic | Propose and explain a groundbreaking astronomical theory. |
| 30 | Impossible | Unlock the secrets of an ancient celestial artifact or construct a device to manipulate celestial bodies. |