Lesson 8


Lesson 8 Part 1

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Wow! What a beautiful decoration this is!
But I wonder why you don’t celebrate Tanabata on July 7.
That’s because the original date of Tanabata was based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar, which is about a month behind the Gregorian calendar. So, we celebrate Tanabata on a few days around August 7.
How interesting it is! Can we see the lover stars this year?
If we’re lucky enough to be under a dark starry sky on a moonless night, we can find Orihime, Hikoboshi, and Amanogawa, which separates the two lovers. But the sky seen from here is so bright that we can hardly see the stars.

Lesson 8 Part 1-1

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Wow! What a beautiful decoration this is!

Lesson 8 Part 1-2

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But I wonder why you don’t celebrate Tanabata on July 7.

Lesson 8 Part 1-3

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That’s because the original date of Tanabata was based on the Japanese lunisolar calendar.

Lesson 8 Part 1-4

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Which is about a month behind the Gregorian calendar.

Lesson 8 Part 1-5

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So, we celebrate Tanabata on a few days around August 7.

Lesson 8 Part 1-6

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How interesting it is! Can we see the lover stars this year?

Lesson 8 Part 1-7

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If we’re lucky enough to be under a dark starry sky on a moonless night.

Lesson 8 Part 1-8

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We can find Orihime, Hikoboshi, and Amanogawa, which separates the two lovers.

Lesson 8 Part 1-9

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But the sky seen from here is so bright that we can hardly see the stars.

Lesson 8 Part 2

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How can we find Orihime and Hikoboshi?
As they’re very bright, it’s easy to find Orihime – its scientific name is Vega – and Hikoboshi, or Altair. But it is not so easy to find Amanogawa between the two stars, especially if you’re in an urban area.
What is Amanogawa?
It is just what is called the Milky Way in English.
I see. But I don’t know exactly what the Milky Way is.
What you see as the Milky Way is a band of stars that belong to the Milky Way Galaxy. According to astronomers, the Milky Way Galaxy is disk-shaped and it’s approximately 100,000 light years in diameter.
100,000 light years!
Astronomers say that the Milky Way Galaxy contains at least 100 billion stars of various sizes and brightness. Our solar system is part of the galaxy.

Lesson 8 Part 2-1

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How can we find Orihime and Hikoboshi?

Lesson 8 Part 2-2

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As they’re very bright, it’s easy to find Orihime – its scientific name is Vega – and Hikoboshi, or Altair.

Lesson 8 Part 2-3

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But it is not so easy to find Amanogawa between the two stars.

Lesson 8 Part 2-4

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Especially if you’re in an urban area.

Lesson 8 Part 2-5

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What is Amanogawa?
It is just what is called the Milky Way in English.

Lesson 8 Part 2-6

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I see. But I don’t know exactly what the Milky Way is.

Lesson 8 Part 2-7

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What you see as the Milky Way is a band of stars that belong to the Milky Way Galaxy.

Lesson 8 Part 2-8

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According to astronomers, the Milky Way Galaxy is disk-shaped.

Lesson 8 Part 2-9

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And it’s approximately 100,000 light years in diameter.

Lesson 8 Part 2-10

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100,000 light years!

Lesson 8 Part 2-11

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Astronomers say that the Milky Way Galaxy contains at least 100 billion stars of various sizes and brightness.

Lesson 8 Part 2-12

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Our solar system is part of the galaxy.