Source: http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/Cyberia/NumRel/GravWaves.html
What are gravity waves?
Disturbances in the curvature of space time caused by the motions of matter.
How do we try detect them?
Although these waves are really tough to track, the idea is that if something is giving off gravity waves then it has to be decreasing in mass.
Why are gravity waves important?
Unlike electromagnetic waves gravity waves don't change through space. They travel through everything unharmed, which means they could help alter the way the universe is currently mapped out.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Astro Top100
Source: astronomytop100.com
#1 Big Bang Theory (1927-1931: Lemaître
#2 The Theory of Relativity (1905/1915)
#3 The Discovery of Galaxies (1923-1926: Edwin Hubble)
#4 Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion (1609) - The New Astronomy (Astronomia Nova) and (1619) - Harmonies of the World (Harmonices Mundi)
#5 Newton’s Laws [Universal Law of Gravitation; Escape Velocity] (1687) - The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica)
#6 Man Landing on the Moon (Apollo 11 – 1969)
#7 Heliocentric Theory – Copernican Revolution (1543) - On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres (De revolutionibus orbium coelestium)
#8 Earthrise (Picture taken by Apollo 8)
#9 Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
#10 Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
My View:
It seems that people, no matter who you are or where you're from can get a bloated head about their accomplishments. Although their findings may be very important it is still very important to keep your humbleness because you never know when your theory will be proven wrong. With that said I felt it was necessary to put humans at the bottom, like Mr. Einstein. The next level up are the actual theories and they are ranked by how famous or how often mentioned or discussed. Also the more basic theories/ events are closer to the top.
#1 Big Bang Theory (1927-1931: Lemaître
#2 The Theory of Relativity (1905/1915)
#3 The Discovery of Galaxies (1923-1926: Edwin Hubble)
#4 Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion (1609) - The New Astronomy (Astronomia Nova) and (1619) - Harmonies of the World (Harmonices Mundi)
#5 Newton’s Laws [Universal Law of Gravitation; Escape Velocity] (1687) - The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica)
#6 Man Landing on the Moon (Apollo 11 – 1969)
#7 Heliocentric Theory – Copernican Revolution (1543) - On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres (De revolutionibus orbium coelestium)
#8 Earthrise (Picture taken by Apollo 8)
#9 Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
#10 Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)
My View:
It seems that people, no matter who you are or where you're from can get a bloated head about their accomplishments. Although their findings may be very important it is still very important to keep your humbleness because you never know when your theory will be proven wrong. With that said I felt it was necessary to put humans at the bottom, like Mr. Einstein. The next level up are the actual theories and they are ranked by how famous or how often mentioned or discussed. Also the more basic theories/ events are closer to the top.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The 3 Astro-zines....
Sky & Telescope- This magazine seemed to be more for real astronomers, amateur or professional. Someone who has a good background in Astronomy would be very inclined to this magazine because it almost skips the basics and jumps right into the pudding. Something also very obvious because of the name of the magazine is the detail they go into about the telescopes and how certain telescopes are better for viewing certain things.
Mercury- This magazine was very interesting because it had different ideas to bring people closer to space. It also had a teacher vibe going on because it had so many thick articles. This magazine is definitely for the folks who love to read about space. The reading is also somewhat advanced based on their lingo used.
Astronomy- This was my absolute favorite magazine because the articles grabbed you. Also the images and pictures were very attracting. This magazine is easy to read and breaks things down so someone who isn't very seasoned can understand. I think this magazine would be perfect for people like to read up on astronomical events in their spare time as a hobby.
Mercury- This magazine was very interesting because it had different ideas to bring people closer to space. It also had a teacher vibe going on because it had so many thick articles. This magazine is definitely for the folks who love to read about space. The reading is also somewhat advanced based on their lingo used.
Astronomy- This was my absolute favorite magazine because the articles grabbed you. Also the images and pictures were very attracting. This magazine is easy to read and breaks things down so someone who isn't very seasoned can understand. I think this magazine would be perfect for people like to read up on astronomical events in their spare time as a hobby.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sunspot 1029
Links
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=26&month=10&year=2009
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm
This sunspot group has been very dull for a while and finally is having some real activity. The sun has not been having any exciting activity as far as sunspots and for one to flare up is very exciting. The deep solar minimum is somewhat like the stock market for the sun. There was 'crash' or all time low of activity in 2008 and no one thought that it could any lower but it has which makes this newly active sunspot so exciting.
http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=26&month=10&year=2009
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm
This sunspot group has been very dull for a while and finally is having some real activity. The sun has not been having any exciting activity as far as sunspots and for one to flare up is very exciting. The deep solar minimum is somewhat like the stock market for the sun. There was 'crash' or all time low of activity in 2008 and no one thought that it could any lower but it has which makes this newly active sunspot so exciting.
IYA International Year of Astronomy 2009
link: astronomy.org/2009
The IYA, which is sponsored by International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO, was established to help humans appreciate the skys and what they have done for us. The year 2009 marks the first time a telescope was ever used to observe the sky. Galilean nights is named after the first person to use the telescope, Galileo. Galilean Nights is a world wide event where everyone can participate in big star parties and gaze at the sky. There are 148 countries that are apart of the IYA.
This project is very much worth while because anything that spends time trying spread knowledge should be pushed into society. Astronomy is an under rated area that needs to be kept alive because there are so many things to learn about yourself and the things around just by looking in the sky.
The IYA, which is sponsored by International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO, was established to help humans appreciate the skys and what they have done for us. The year 2009 marks the first time a telescope was ever used to observe the sky. Galilean nights is named after the first person to use the telescope, Galileo. Galilean Nights is a world wide event where everyone can participate in big star parties and gaze at the sky. There are 148 countries that are apart of the IYA.
This project is very much worth while because anything that spends time trying spread knowledge should be pushed into society. Astronomy is an under rated area that needs to be kept alive because there are so many things to learn about yourself and the things around just by looking in the sky.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Great Worldwide Star Count
http://www.darkskiesawareness.org/gwwsc.php
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/starcount/
October 9-23, 2009 (The dates in which the actual event occurs.)
These two websites provide important information for those who want to participate in the Star Count. It also gives a little backround on why the Star Count was started.
The Great Worldwide Star Count was started mainly to make people more aware of how light pollution really affects how many stars you can see at night. Another reason is to get people more involved in astronomy. Since we live in the Northern Hemisphere we are asked to observe Cygnus, the swan. I live 42.447697 North and -82.904884 West.
I can't wait for a clear night to participate.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/starcount/
October 9-23, 2009 (The dates in which the actual event occurs.)
These two websites provide important information for those who want to participate in the Star Count. It also gives a little backround on why the Star Count was started.
The Great Worldwide Star Count was started mainly to make people more aware of how light pollution really affects how many stars you can see at night. Another reason is to get people more involved in astronomy. Since we live in the Northern Hemisphere we are asked to observe Cygnus, the swan. I live 42.447697 North and -82.904884 West.
I can't wait for a clear night to participate.
"They bombed the Moon!!!"
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/LCROSS_impact.html
October 16, 2009
The article talks about the instruments and how they captured images and other data right up until the last second of impact. They also talk a bit about their predictions about impact and data collection.
The LCROSS and LRO spacecrafts were sent out into space in which they did a series of orbits around the moon to map out safe landing areas to crash. After deciding to land near the south pole of the moon it then completed its last orbit and proceeded to 'bomb' the moon. The entire purpose for crashing on the moon is to create a huge debris cloud. The debris cloud will then be analyzed to see if there is frozen water on the moon. The existence of water on the moon is crucial because it will further advance the project of living on the moon.
The fact that we've crashed the moon seems totally insane however once the entire process is broken down it doesn't seem so unethical. Its actually a bright idea to start moon colonies for the simple fact that the entire world population is sky rocketing. Less people on earth means less pollution, less supply and demand issues, and even less sickness because things won't be so crowded for disease and infections to occur. This moon crashing stuff is definitely alright with me.
October 16, 2009
The article talks about the instruments and how they captured images and other data right up until the last second of impact. They also talk a bit about their predictions about impact and data collection.
The LCROSS and LRO spacecrafts were sent out into space in which they did a series of orbits around the moon to map out safe landing areas to crash. After deciding to land near the south pole of the moon it then completed its last orbit and proceeded to 'bomb' the moon. The entire purpose for crashing on the moon is to create a huge debris cloud. The debris cloud will then be analyzed to see if there is frozen water on the moon. The existence of water on the moon is crucial because it will further advance the project of living on the moon.
The fact that we've crashed the moon seems totally insane however once the entire process is broken down it doesn't seem so unethical. Its actually a bright idea to start moon colonies for the simple fact that the entire world population is sky rocketing. Less people on earth means less pollution, less supply and demand issues, and even less sickness because things won't be so crowded for disease and infections to occur. This moon crashing stuff is definitely alright with me.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Egg-Equinox Thing
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/03/19/its-the-eggquinox/
Article Date: March 19th 2009 by Phil Plait
The article explains how standing an egg on its end on the equinox is a hoax. It actually doesn't have to be an equinox to stand an egg on its end, it just takes a lot of time, good balance and a steady hand.
A hoax is something similiar to a superstition or almost a trick. This hoax was actually something weird because an egg is already hard to stop rolling on its side, so having equal day and night hours would be a little ilogical to justify an egg balancing. Another famous hoax or superstition is if you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Question: I wonder what other astronomy hoaxes exist?
Article Date: March 19th 2009 by Phil Plait
The article explains how standing an egg on its end on the equinox is a hoax. It actually doesn't have to be an equinox to stand an egg on its end, it just takes a lot of time, good balance and a steady hand.
A hoax is something similiar to a superstition or almost a trick. This hoax was actually something weird because an egg is already hard to stop rolling on its side, so having equal day and night hours would be a little ilogical to justify an egg balancing. Another famous hoax or superstition is if you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck.
Question: I wonder what other astronomy hoaxes exist?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
‘Isn’t She Purrrty?’ The new Hubble Space Telescope
Article Date: September 9, 2009
Link: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/sep/HQ_09-205_New_Hubble_Images.html
The Hubble Telescope under went a lot of changes. It gained parts, lost parts and some parts got repaired. Some of the new parts include the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Cosmic Origins Spectograph. Parts that were repaired consist of the Advanced Camera for Surveys which was repaired at circuit board level and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph which was also repaired at circuit board level. The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer were both bought back into operation during calibration and testing. Scientists and engineers at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Goddard Hubble servicing mission astronauts were the leaders in the renewal of the telescope.
One of my favorite pictures that Hubble took was a snapshot of the dying Nubula NGC 6302. Its similarly shaped like a butterfly and has some the most beautiful shades of fuschia, red and grey. Hubble definitely worked hard for its repair taking picutres as precious as these. I hope to continue to see this telescope getting better upgrades and taking better pictures.
Summary: The scientists who had the opportunity to repair the telescope were absolutely ecstatic about doing it. The article has many different comments from the engineers and scientists who fought for the telescope's repair. This telescope is so unique, genuine and excellent that getting it repaired and updated was undoubtedly a yes as expressed by the team members who worked on it.
Picture to Nebula NGC 6302:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/multimedia/ero/index.html
Link: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/sep/HQ_09-205_New_Hubble_Images.html
The Hubble Telescope under went a lot of changes. It gained parts, lost parts and some parts got repaired. Some of the new parts include the Wide Field Camera 3 and the Cosmic Origins Spectograph. Parts that were repaired consist of the Advanced Camera for Surveys which was repaired at circuit board level and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph which was also repaired at circuit board level. The Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer were both bought back into operation during calibration and testing. Scientists and engineers at the Space Telescope Science Institute and Goddard Hubble servicing mission astronauts were the leaders in the renewal of the telescope.
One of my favorite pictures that Hubble took was a snapshot of the dying Nubula NGC 6302. Its similarly shaped like a butterfly and has some the most beautiful shades of fuschia, red and grey. Hubble definitely worked hard for its repair taking picutres as precious as these. I hope to continue to see this telescope getting better upgrades and taking better pictures.
Summary: The scientists who had the opportunity to repair the telescope were absolutely ecstatic about doing it. The article has many different comments from the engineers and scientists who fought for the telescope's repair. This telescope is so unique, genuine and excellent that getting it repaired and updated was undoubtedly a yes as expressed by the team members who worked on it.
Picture to Nebula NGC 6302:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/multimedia/ero/index.html
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