Andrea Ghez — Questions and answers

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What was the main challenge in figuring out what was at the center of our Milky Way galaxy?

Choices

  1. Finding enough stars to study closely.
  2. Seeing through many light-years of thick gas and dust. ✓
  3. Understanding how stars move in a chaotic dance.
  4. Building telescopes powerful enough to see very far.

Answer: Seeing through many light-years of thick gas and dust.

From page 1

Why couldn't astronomers use regular visible light to see the center of the Milky Way?

Choices

  1. The center was too far away to see any light.
  2. Thick gas and dust blocked and absorbed visible light. ✓
  3. Visible light travels too slowly across space.
  4. There weren't enough stars at the center to glow brightly.

Answer: Thick gas and dust blocked and absorbed visible light.

From page 3

What did Andrea Ghez and her team carefully track for many years to study the galactic center?

Choices

  1. The brightness of the Keck telescopes.
  2. The temperature of the cosmic dust.
  3. The individual movements of stars. ✓
  4. The shape of the Milky Way galaxy.

Answer: The individual movements of stars.

From page 5

What major award did Andrea Ghez receive in 2020 for her work?

Choices

  1. The Galactic Discovery Award.
  2. The Star Observation Medal.
  3. The Nobel Prize in Physics. ✓
  4. The Best Telescope User Award.

Answer: The Nobel Prize in Physics.

From page 8