Monthly Archives: April 2014

Life from Earth, elsewhere

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Drew Hamilton

In class, we have discussed the possibility that life on Earth did not originate on Earth, but came to Earth on an asteroid or other impactor. But another idea is that the inverse is true: Later impacts on Earth sent life to other locations in the Solar System. Recent simulations suggest that some of the… Continue reading →

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The origins of life and the Drake equation

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Drew Hamilton

In using the Drake equation to discuss and estimate the probability of non-Earth life in our universe, one factor we estimated was the probability of life developing on a given planet in the habitable zone. The problem with making such an estimate as students in an Astronomy 201 course, of course, is that we all… Continue reading →

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Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jblubin

“We are a way for the Cosmos to know itself,” said Carl Sagan.  Astronomy is not only the oldest science, but also a window through which mankind peers through in attempt to glimpse the fleeting answers to our deepest and most fundamental questions. As a direct result of the this class, I find myself looking … Continue reading Standing on the Shoulders of Giants → Continue reading →

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Are We Alone?

Posted on April 28, 2014 by jblubin

The famous science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke was quoted as saying, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” A truer statement is hard to come by. Yet quote also sparks tremendous debate and intrigue among those whose ears come across it for the … Continue reading Are We Alone? → Continue reading →

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What is Next?

Posted on April 28, 2014 by katiew

Learning about the solar system and our entire universe has made me more curious about astronomy. At the beginning of the semester, I had trouble wrapping my head around the vastness of the universe. The number of stars, planets, and galaxies is unbelievable, especially because there is still so much that we don’t know. Although […] Continue reading →

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Another Earth?

Posted on April 28, 2014 by hindsolar

One of the biggest questions we have grappled with in the latter portion of class is whether or not there are any earth-like planets. Well, we now have a planet that may be quite similar to Earth. This has been given the name Kepler-186f. It is the same size as Earth, and has temperatures that […] Continue reading →

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You live where?!?!

Posted on April 27, 2014 by hindsolar

    Extremophiles are organisms that live under extreme conditions. There are several different categories for extremophiles, but the category I find most fascinating are extremophiles. Can you imagine living in an environment that is over 250 degrees Fahrenheit? I cannot. However, these organisms can. These organisms were discovered at Yellowstone National Park in 1966. […] Continue reading →

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Technology in Astronomy

Posted on April 27, 2014 by efb28

On of the most interesting parts of taking astronomy has been learning about current and future technology that can be used to observe the universe. Probably the coolest example is technology that could make interstellar travel possible. Such a thing isn’t feasible in the near future, but just knowing it is conceptually possible is mind […] Continue reading →

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Extremophiles

Posted on April 27, 2014 by efb28

The presence of extremophiles makes the possibility of life off Earth way more likely. In our solar system alone, there are many places humans could not live but extremophiles could. Even on Venus it is possible that extremophiles could live in the upper atmosphere (though that’s about it for Venus). Unfortunately, finding life in the […] Continue reading →

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My Changing Perspective of the Universe

Posted on April 27, 2014 by joshkphilips

Image Source Prior to my enrollment in this class, I rarely thought about the Universe around me. Furthermore, I never truly comprehended the vastness of the Universe. In fact, although I do have a better understanding about the immense size of the cosmos, I feel as though I still cannot fathom the true size of […] Continue reading →

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