Author Archives: alcottastr2110

Final Post (Reflection)

Posted on May 1, 2018 by alcottastr2110

The Observable Universe (Thus Far) I learned quite a bit this semester and it definitely changes the way in which I look at the universe. Coming into the course I could name the planets of our Solar System and that is about it, so I basically had no previous astronomical knowledge. For the most part … Continue reading Final Post (Reflection) → Continue reading →

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Final Post (Reflection)

Posted on May 1, 2018 by alcottastr2110

The Observable Universe (Thus Far) I learned quite a bit this semester and it definitely changes the way in which I look at the universe. Coming into the course I could name the planets of our Solar System and that is about it, so I basically had no previous astronomical knowledge. For the most part … Continue reading Final Post (Reflection) → Continue reading →

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The “Archaeological-Form” of the Drake Equation

Posted on May 1, 2018 by alcottastr2110

  The Revised Equation   The Drake Equation is a very useful tool to speculate on one of the most intriguing questions of all time: are there other intelligent lifeforms out there in the universe? The equation helps to predict the odds of the existence of other civilizations. It is all still speculation, but recently … Continue reading The “Archaeological-Form” of the Drake Equation → Continue reading →

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The “Archaeological-Form” of the Drake Equation

Posted on May 1, 2018 by alcottastr2110

  The Revised Equation   The Drake Equation is a very useful tool to speculate on one of the most intriguing questions of all time: are there other intelligent lifeforms out there in the universe? The equation helps to predict the odds of the existence of other civilizations. It is all still speculation, but recently … Continue reading The “Archaeological-Form” of the Drake Equation → Continue reading →

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Extrasolar Planets and the Search for Life

Posted on April 9, 2018 by alcottastr2110

Kepler 22-b Extrasolar planets are planets that orbit a star other than our own. Being in another star system, these worlds are very hard to observe since they are so far away and the light they produce pales in comparison to that of the stars they orbit. Because of this, although their existence had already … Continue reading Extrasolar Planets and the Search for Life → Continue reading →

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The Bighorn Medicine Wheel

Posted on February 12, 2018 by alcottastr2110

Bighorn Medicine Wheel (View from above)   It is very interesting to think about ancient cultures that studied astronomy hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Among these cultures were the Native American tribes. Native Americans built structures, now known as medicine wheels, in places across what is now the US. One of the most … Continue reading The Bighorn Medicine Wheel → Continue reading →

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James Webb Space Telescope

Posted on February 11, 2018 by alcottastr2110

Because of the nature of light, it is evident that the key to learning the secrets of the past is through the use of telescopes. As of right now I believe the most powerful telescope in the world is the Hubble telescope. However, that is set to change in 2019 with the launch of the … Continue reading James Webb Space Telescope → Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 5, 2018 by alcottastr2110

Galileo made many contributions to astronomical discovery. Though he was not the original inventor of the telescope, he was able to build his own for observation purposes. After experimenting a bit, Galileo was able to create a telescope that was more powerful than others at the time. Using his invention, he was able to make … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context → Continue reading →

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