Below are just a few of the facts kids learn in Experience Astronomy. Do you know…
1. Why does Passover always fall on the Full Moon?
2. How many “dwarf planets” are officially recognized in the solar system?
3. What planet does Jesus liken himself to in Revelation 22?
Are your stumped? Read the answers below.
1. Why does Passover always fall on the Full Moon?
The Hebrew calendar is a “lunisolar calendar”: months are determined by moon phases; a New Moon always marks the first day of a new month. In the Bible, God says the Passover should be celebrated on the evening of the 14th day of the 1st month (Exodus 12:18). Fourteen days after a New Moon is around the time of the Full Moon.
Since Passover always falls 14 days after the beginning of the month, the Passover is always on a Full Moon.
2. How many “dwarf planets” are officially recognized in the solar system?
There are five dwarf planets currently recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Pluto is the most famous, but there are four others: Ceres (which is located in the astroid belt between Mars and Jupiter), Haumea, Makemake, and Eris (which are out beyond Neptune’s orbit).
Dwarf planets are much like planets except they have not cleared their orbits of other objects. It is estimated there could be a hundred more dwarf planets in the solar system we have yet to classify.
Right now NASA’s probe New Horizons is near Pluto and sending back brand new information about it!
3. What planet does Jesus liken himself to in Revelation 22?
Jesus likens Himself to the planet Venus. Jesus’ parting words in the Bible are these: “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star…Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:16b, 20). In ancient times and still today, “morning star” is a way of referring to the planet Venus, which for 263 days in a row can be seen as a bright object in the East before sunrise (on clear mornings).
Why is this? Bible teacher Randy Alcorn explains:
I think it relates to hope and his immanent second coming. When Venus rises, it means the sun will follow very soon (in a morning, usually within an hour or two, sometimes just a matter of minutes). Christ’s coming—and in a broad sense this could apply to both his first and his second coming—means/will mean God’s light is about to shine forever on the universe, making all wrongs right, wiping away all tears, and fulfilling Revelation 21-22, with the creation of the new heavens and new earth. On a long dark night, the appearance of the morning star means daybreak is imminent. In the long dark night of suffering on earth, Jesus being seen as the morning star means the eternal morning is about to dawn. Hence, Christ as the morning star is a picture of great promise and hope.
These are just some of the facts kids learn in the e-course Experience Astronomy! Learn more about the course and watch the first two video lessons for free.
Image credit: legin101 on Flickr