Monthly Archives: January 2018

Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale

Posted on January 22, 2018 by jacobfinesastroblog

The Universe is an unbelievably vast entity. Earth’s radius is about 6.4*106 meters. In overwhelming contrast to this, the radius of the observable universe is approximately 4.4*1026  meters. That is a difference of 20 orders of magnitude. If the earth’s radius, and the universe as a whole, was scaled down such that the earth was the size of … Continue reading Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale → Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Universe | Tagged , | Comments Off on Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale

Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale

Posted on January 22, 2018 by jacobfinesastroblog

The Universe is an unbelievably vast entity. Earth’s radius is about 6.4*106 meters. In overwhelming contrast to this, the radius of the observable universe is approximately 4.4*1026  meters. That is a difference of 20 orders of magnitude. If the earth’s radius, and the universe as a whole, was scaled down such that the earth was the size of … Continue reading Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale → Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Universe | Tagged , | Comments Off on Earth Measured Relative to the Cosmic Scale

Proxima b

Posted on January 22, 2018 by evanjmiranda

We’ve alluded to exoplanets and habitable zones in class, but you may be wondering just how similar these planets are to Earth – and if we can even get there. Proxima b is a rocky mass larger than Earth that orbits our Sun’s closest neighbor, Proxima Centauri. Astronomers have determined that Proxima b lies in … Continue reading Proxima b → Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Exoplanets, Physics, Universe | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Proxima b

2017 Solar Eclipse

Posted on January 22, 2018 by maxflorsheim

My junior year at Vanderbilt University began in the most spectacular way – witnessing a total solar eclipse through a skylight within Nashville airport, immediately upon arrival. Surrounded by a gathering of fellow traveller’s experiencing this magical moment, the moment in which the Sun was reduced to a radiant ring wrapped around the black outline […] Continue reading →

Posted in Light, Observables | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 2017 Solar Eclipse

Space is Faster than Light (Blog 1)

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Taylor Matalon

One facet of the universe that always left a bad taste in my mouth was the ostensible “speed limit” set by the speed of light (around 300,000 km/s). If the Universe is so vast, why is there a limit set by something that, for all we know, is not what makes up the Universe? I … Continue reading Space is Faster than Light (Blog 1) Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Space is Faster than Light (Blog 1)

Axial Precession and its Affects on Astrology

Posted on January 22, 2018 by aquarianastronomy

As the modern individual is likely well aware, the earth rotates in two very fundamental ways which affect our daily lives: it rotates every day and orbits the sun every year, forming these important means by which we keep track of time. However, one of the most interesting and confusing ways that the earth rotates […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Physics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Axial Precession and its Affects on Astrology

Taylor’s Intro Post (Blog 0)

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Taylor Matalon

Hey y’all, just making an introductory blog post for my site. Attached is a picture of the New York City. I am originally from New York, and plan to live there for my adult life. I do not only have a nostalgic or geographic attachment to the city, however. NYC represents efficiency, innovation, and nocturnality, … Continue reading Taylor’s Intro Post (Blog 0) Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , | Comments Off on Taylor’s Intro Post (Blog 0)

Time Travel

Posted on January 22, 2018 by natsastronomy

Time travel has always been intriguing to me. Right now, the only way it seems possible is through relativity. That is, when we go fast enough (at a speed approaching the speed of light), time around us actually slows down. This would mean that we could travel into the future, but with that method, there … Continue reading Time Travel → Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , | Comments Off on Time Travel

Time Travel

Posted on January 22, 2018 by natsastronomy

Time travel has always been intriguing to me. Right now, the only way it seems possible is through relativity. That is, when we go fast enough (at a speed approaching the speed of light), time around us actually slows down. This would mean that we could travel into the future, but with that method, there … Continue reading Time Travel → Continue reading →

Posted in Class | Tagged , | Comments Off on Time Travel

What’s Your Sign?

Posted on January 22, 2018 by therestisstardust

Ok… I’ll admit when I was younger I was really into astrology. It was a fascination fed partly by my mom, who kept around a copy of “The Secret Language of Birthdays” and would consult it regularly, nodding in solemn agreement with the book’s judgement of character. I had a horoscope app on my first […] Continue reading →

Posted in Stars | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What’s Your Sign?