http://www.solarviews.com/eng/titan.htm
Titan is a moon of Saturn but is larger than some of the planets in our solar system. It has an environment said to be similar to Earth when it began forming life which is why it is suspected that Titan is capable of forming life. The air holds amino acids which were essential in forming life on Earth. Even their air is made of mostly Nitrogen like the earth. Although Titan has an atmospheric pressure of 1.6 bars it hold seas of liquid ethane. It may seem unpractical to have life form from ethane when water is so important and ethane is actually fatal to us but this may essential for that certain type of life to form. Their climate is very cold also which means that the water their is frozen.
There was a mission sent in 1980 to take pictures of Titan but the craft couldn't seep through the thick, cloudy atmosphere. There have been other crafts to go but still couldn't penetrate through the atmosphere. They are still trying to figure out way to go about exploring this moon of Saturn.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Spirit Gets Stuck, and Discovers!
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/02dec_troy.htm?list46156
Author: Dauna Coulter | Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
This article was about the Mars rover Spirit roaming in a area named after a the Grecian city of Troy. Spirit got stuck and by trying to get out found sulfates which indicate that steam was once present o Mars. They even found evidence that suggests that it snowed on Mars.
I chose this article mainly because its very interesting to see all the little things that we find that are on day going to turn into a huge epiphany for astronomers and even society everywhere. Every time something is found we are one step closer to reaching something big. Also we continue to find things that suggest that we aren't alone, or was once not alone, which is very exciting. Its almost like seeing evolution happen with your own eyes.
My Question: In the article it mentions that sulfates suggests that steam once existed, which suggests that life could have formed. What type of life could have formed, as far as structure?
Author: Dauna Coulter | Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
This article was about the Mars rover Spirit roaming in a area named after a the Grecian city of Troy. Spirit got stuck and by trying to get out found sulfates which indicate that steam was once present o Mars. They even found evidence that suggests that it snowed on Mars.
I chose this article mainly because its very interesting to see all the little things that we find that are on day going to turn into a huge epiphany for astronomers and even society everywhere. Every time something is found we are one step closer to reaching something big. Also we continue to find things that suggest that we aren't alone, or was once not alone, which is very exciting. Its almost like seeing evolution happen with your own eyes.
My Question: In the article it mentions that sulfates suggests that steam once existed, which suggests that life could have formed. What type of life could have formed, as far as structure?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
~~~~Gravity Waves~~~~
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.
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.
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.
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