Author Archives: forestcsharp

Astrobiology and Cinema: The Europa Report

Posted on April 28, 2014 by forestcsharp

  Just last year, a film was released that questioned the viability of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa. Barring too many spoilers, the crew and their ship face several non-biological roadblocks on their quest for life in a film whose … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Vikings and Astronomy

Posted on April 28, 2014 by forestcsharp

This link details how the ancient Vikings were themselves keen astronomers. As the article details, the Vikings utilized the ever-popular Polaris as a guiding light during sea travel. They would measure the angle relative to Polaris to determine cardinal directions for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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A terrifying gravitational encounter!

Posted on February 18, 2014 by forestcsharp

image via Wired This is a video of astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson discussing our impending gravitational encounters with Apophis, an asteroid roughly the size of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. In this video, Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains that Apophis … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The Physics of Star Systems: Kerbal Space Program

Posted on February 17, 2014 by forestcsharp

This video, via Scott Manley, shows an interesting spaceflight simulator/game known as Kerbal Space Program, which is shown in the above photo from gameSkinny.com. I’ve found this game to be incredibly useful to understanding escape velocities, gravitational encounters, and Kepler’s three … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 10, 2014 by forestcsharp

My Chosen Astronomer: Johannes Kepler Picture via NASA Johannes Kepler was born in 1571 and died in 1630. Historical Events During Kepler’s Life In 1580, Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the globe. In 1605, Cervantes’s ‘Don Quixote de la … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Solar Eclipse Myths

Posted on January 28, 2014 by forestcsharp

via National Geographic As astounding and rare as they are, it’s no surprise that many cultures possess their own mythology regarding solar eclipses. Imagine an ancient civilization watching in awe as the warmth and light of the sun are blocked … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Neil deGrasse Tyson: In Defense of the Big Bang Theory

Posted on January 27, 2014 by forestcsharp

Video Source: Youtube  One of the most confusing yet also the most interesting events on the “Cosmic Calendar” is that of the origin of our Universe. One of the most popular theories for the origin of our Universe is that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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A Picture to Describe Me

Posted on January 14, 2014 by forestcsharp

  That’s not Mission Control! That is in fact a musical instrument. Continue reading →

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