Monthly Archives: April 2013

In Conclusion…

Posted on April 29, 2013 by CJ Jeon

  As the semester comes to a close and my first semester taking an astronomy class ends on Monday, I can say that I was not expecting to learn half of the topics we read about. I’m just completed confounded by all the information that we learned about our Universe and our solar system. From […] Continue reading →

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The Meaning of the Drake Equation

Posted on April 29, 2013 by rtjobe

The Drake equation was originally created by (and is named after) astronomer Frank Drake. Given the values of a number of variables, his equation may be used to estimate the number of species in the galaxy capable of interstellar communication. Drake’s proposed equation is as follows: N = R * fp * ne * fl […] Continue reading →

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The Drake Equation – A Scientific Shot in the Dark

Posted on April 28, 2013 by marknshirleyvu

The Drake Equation is an incredibly interesting topic of discussion.  Obviously, determining the number of communicating civilizations in our galaxy is a monumental task.  Because of the sheer size of the problem, the fact that a simple equation can bring us anywhere close to a reasonable guess is in itself very impressive.  As impressive as […] Continue reading →

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The NASA Warp Drive

Posted on April 28, 2013 by brendanfeeley

In class last week, Dr. Grundstrom mentioned that NASA may be developing a warp-drive.  I’ve done a little research and here’s what I’ve found. Last September, NASA engineer Harold White spoke briefly at a conference in Houston about the possibility of creating and using a Warp Drive, which would allow faster-than-light travel.  He made a […] Continue reading →

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Optimistic Astronomy

Posted on April 28, 2013 by juliettealper

I have always been interested in Astronomy and the concept that Earth is only a very small part of the rest of the Universe. After learning all of the in depth detail about planet formation, moon cycles, the physics behind it all, and the rest of the topics we covered in class- I have gotten […] Continue reading →

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Voyager 1

Posted on April 28, 2013 by juliettealper

Voyager 1 launched in 1977 in order to collect data and research the outer planets of our solar system. Currently, 11.5 billion miles from Earth, scientists are having some difficulty determining when exactly the Voyager is going to leave the solar system. It has completed its mission of surveying the outer planets, such as Saturn, […] Continue reading →

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Terrestrial Planets around Metal Poor Stars?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by brendanfeeley

In our book, we learned that it is unlikely for planets to form around a star that is deficient in heavy metals.  In order to form terrestrial planets, you need a second-generation star to form from the nebular ashes of another star that produced heavy elements in its final moments. However, new research from studying […] Continue reading →

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My Favorite Parts of the Semester

Posted on April 28, 2013 by AlanL

I learned a lot about the universe in this class, but what really stuck out at me throughout the semester was how principles that I had previously learned in physics are used to discover new planets or what they’re made of. For example, I learned about the Doppler Effect in my 7th grade science class […] Continue reading →

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The Perks of Infinity

Posted on April 28, 2013 by ibrahim2016

The good thing about the universe is that there a lot of things. It has got something for everybody. Take a look at these artworks: What I ultimately learned from this course was that, somewhere out there, these places have to exist. They better do. Image and Image and Image and Image and Image and […] Continue reading →

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Astronomy Past and Future

Posted on April 28, 2013 by williamcpower

After completing this course in Astronomy I think the two most lasting impressions I have are the sheer magnitude of the Universe, and a better understanding of the importance of Astronomy. So much has been discovered and there is so much more left to be discovered and understood. It is through this process of discovery […] Continue reading →

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