Author Archives: connorrobbwilcox

A New Hope (For Alien Life)

Posted on May 4, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Astronomy 2110 has been a real pleasure of a class to attend. Not only have I learned so much about Earth, but also about the rest of the solar system. I have discovered the secrets of our planet, the planets that are our neighbors, and our incredible star that I would have never known ifContinue reading “A New Hope (For Alien Life)” Continue reading →

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Life on Europa?

Posted on May 4, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

There is life in all forms throughout the world. Even in the most remote places with the most extreme conditions we have seen life not only survive but thrive. This makes us wonder, could there be life on possible habitable worlds? NASA put this to the test by conducting an infrared (IR) signature of oneContinue reading “Life on Europa?” Continue reading →

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Plutonium: Not Just a Power Source in “Back to the Future”

Posted on April 17, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Did you ever wonder how spaceships and shuttles have the power to take off and travel through that big black expanse we call space? Or ever thought about how these rockets survived with the limited technology we had in the 1950s, 60s and 70s during the Space Race? Well the answer has to do withContinue reading “Plutonium: Not Just a Power Source in “Back to the Future”” Continue reading →

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Living on Titan

Posted on April 17, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Titan is the largest moon of Saturn. It is an icy world with an atmosphere thicker and denser than Earth’s (1.5 times the atmospheric pressure of Earth) that has clouds of smog that coat it in a large, cloudy golden haze. So how could scientists think it could be a habitable substitute for Earth forContinue reading “Living on Titan” Continue reading →

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No sunspots on the Sun?

Posted on March 21, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Have you ever seen pictures of the Sun and noticed that it has dark spots on its surface? These sunspots are cooler than the other regions on the Sun, but they also represent the beginning of new solar cycles. In fact, some signs point to the next cycle, Cycle 25, having a much smaller numberContinue reading “No sunspots on the Sun?” Continue reading →

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The Carrington Event: What would happen today?

Posted on March 21, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

The Carrington Event, named due to astronomer Robert Carrington observing that the phenomenon derived from the Sun, was an extremely powerful geomagnetic storm occurring on September 1-2, 1859. Earth’s magnetosphere was hit by a solar coronal mass ejection, or CME, from sunspots, causing auroras to light up Earth’s sky, telegraph and other communication to fail,Continue reading “The Carrington Event: What would happen today?” Continue reading →

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The Tides of Mont-Saint-Michel

Posted on February 27, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

As many know, the Moon causes the tides to occur all over our planet. But those same people may not know the place that has the largest change in high and low tides. Said place is an islet and commune called Mont-Saint-Michel. Off the coast of Normandy, France, it has an accessible walkway to itsContinue reading “The Tides of Mont-Saint-Michel” Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context: Nicolaus Copernicus

Posted on February 17, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Nicolaus Copernicus (February 19, 1473 – May 24, 1543) was a huge contributor to the world of astronomy. Not only is he viewed as the father of modern astronomy, he created the heliocentric theory and model of the universe. He was the first scientist in the modern era to propose that Earth traveled around theContinue reading “Historical Astronomers in Context: Nicolaus Copernicus” Continue reading →

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The Milky Way in Other Cultures

Posted on February 6, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

The Milky Way Galaxy was named not from the candy bar, but from the intriguing way it appears, looking like a river of spilled milk on the dark background of space. Where this name came from however is equally as intriguing, and, many cultures have various names for the Milky Way. But, each one hasContinue reading “The Milky Way in Other Cultures” Continue reading →

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Introductory Post

Posted on February 1, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

Hi everybody, I’m Connor Robb-Wilcox and I’m a freshman from Salt Lake City, UT. I am currently undecided but am planning on studying Economics with a Business minor. Here is a description of the award I’m holding in the picture: <a href=”https://www.utahtennis.com/awards-descriptions“>Annual Awards</a> Continue reading →

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