Monthly Archives: April 2019

The Quest to Inhabit Mars

Posted on April 20, 2019 by kylebward

As a species, we need multiple paths to survival. One of which is living in space. With this in mind, companies like SpaceX have plans to colonize Mars. But why Mars? It is the next most habitable planet after Earth. It contains water, temperatures that are not too hot nor too cold, enough sunlight, ability … Continue reading The Quest to Inhabit Mars → Continue reading →

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Electric Propulsion

Posted on April 20, 2019 by kylebward

A propulsion method I was unaware of is electric propulsion (EP). An EP system consists of thruster components, propellant components, power components, and an optional pointing mechanism. Essentially, electric and magnetic fields react to charged particles in the rocket’s exhaust which accelerates charged particles that make up propellant. This requires less energy than chemical rockets … Continue reading Electric Propulsion → Continue reading →

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Hello Powehi

Posted on April 20, 2019 by Jiayu Kang

In the center of the galaxy M87, stars seem to orbit an invisible object. By observing the path of the stars, scientists concluded that there is a supermassive black hole that is dense enough to cause these motions. Although the black hole itself is invisible, we can still observe the ring of light bended by … Continue reading Hello Powehi → Continue reading →

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What Is Life?

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Jiayu Kang

While talking about the search for extraterrestrial life, you may notice the difficulty in drawing a line between the living and nonliving. Bacteria are considered life forms, but viruses are not. Artificial Intelligence is able to do a lot of things that human beings can do, but it is not viewed as life by the … Continue reading What Is Life? → Continue reading →

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Fermi Paradox

Posted on April 19, 2019 by dillonplageman3

What is the Fermi Paradox? In the most basic sense, the Fermi Paradox addresses the contradiction for the high likely hood of extraterrestrial intelligent life and the absence of any communication with our planet. Physicist Enrico Fermi asks the extremely thought-provoking question, “Where is everybody?”. While there are a number of interesting theories and possibilities … Continue reading Fermi Paradox → Continue reading →

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Future Exoplanet Research

Posted on April 10, 2019 by kylebward

The future of exoplanet research means not just the discovery of more exoplanets, but characterizing them. To do so, the European Space Agency (ESA) is launching the Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS), the PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars mission (PLATO), and the Atmospheric Remote-Sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey mission (ARIEL). CHEOPS will observe bright stars with … Continue reading Future Exoplanet Research → Continue reading →

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exo… moons?

Posted on April 10, 2019 by justinrstevens

What are exomoons? Well, we have already studied exoplanets (short for extra-solar planets) which are planets that are not from our star system.  Accordingly, exo-moons are moons that orbit planets that orbit stars that aren’t the Sun.  Sounds pretty cool, right?  Well exomoons get even more interesting.  In fact, exomoons are currently the subject of…

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The Great Red Spot

Posted on April 7, 2019 by dillonplageman3

What’s so great about a red spot? Well, the size of this spot, a massive storm in Jupiter’s atmosphere, is even larger than twice Earth’s diameter and is the largest of our solar system. Not only is it the largest, it has been consistently present for the duration of our usage of telescopes in observing … Continue reading The Great Red Spot → Continue reading →

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1950 DA, The (not so) Friendly Neighborhood Asteroid

Posted on April 7, 2019 by jordyn27

1950 DA is an asteroid that was discovered in 1950 (hence the name) by Carl A. Wirtanen. After it was first discovered, it was lost after 17 days of observation because the period was too short to determine the asteroid’s future location. It was rediscovered in December 2000 and recognized as 1950 DA in January … Continue reading 1950 DA, The (not so) Friendly Neighborhood Asteroid → Continue reading →

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Never Tell Me The Odds

Posted on April 7, 2019 by JSpin

One of the best getaway scenes in movie history is in The Empire Strikes Back, when Han Solo navigates the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field, with TIE Fighters in hot pursuit. The scene starts with the Falcon getting hit by two asteroids. The asteroid field appears to have thousands of asteroids all flying around … Continue reading Never Tell Me The Odds → Continue reading →

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