Author Archives: kevkoppa123

Blog 8 – Changed View of Astronomy

Posted on April 21, 2023 by kevkoppa123

I’ve learned so much about the formation of star systems, planets, the physics and chemistry that sustain life, the different space missions that have pushed technology and engineering, and more. I have a much greater appreciation for missions that collect data from other planets and star systems now that I understand the level of technology, […] Continue reading →

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Blog 7 – Astrobiology

Posted on April 21, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Astrobiology is the scientific search of life in the universe. There are three major areas of astrobiology: studying the origin and evolution of life on Earth, finding worlds suitable for life, and finding evidence for life on other worlds. The first area teaches us about the necessary conditions for certain life to develop. Many researchers […] Continue reading →

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Blog 6 – Io

Posted on April 9, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Io is one of the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter and it is the most volcanically active body in our solar system, continually repaving its surface with volcanic eruptions. Consequently, there are no craters on Io, indicating that its surface is extremely young. The outgassing of sulfur dioxide from Io’s volcanoes strengthens Jupiter’s magnetosphere, creates […] Continue reading →

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Blog 5 – Pluto

Posted on April 9, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Pluto is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper belt with an orbit time of roughly 248 years, as it is about 40 AU from the Sun on average. Relative to the eight planets on our solar system, its orbit is much more elliptical and inclined to the ecliptic plane, allowing it to get closer […] Continue reading →

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Blog 4 – Geological Activity

Posted on March 7, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Geological activity encompasses the ongoing changes on the surface of terrestrial worlds. This activity is derived from a planet’s internal heat, which is largely attributed to three different processes: accretion, differentiation, and radioactive decay. Accretion occurred when planets were merely planetesimals and still gaining mass to become full planets. When other planetesimals collided with the […] Continue reading →

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Blog 3 – Nuclear Fusion

Posted on March 5, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Nuclear fusion is the process of combining, or fusing, two or more small nuclei into a larger one, creating energy as a byproduct. Stars like the Sun constantly emit energy through nuclear fusion because their cores are filled with high-speed, hot plasma. More specifically, the Sun’s extremely hot core of 15 million K allows for […] Continue reading →

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Blog 2: Retrograde Motion

Posted on February 12, 2023 by kevkoppa123

Due to Earth’s counterclockwise rotation, many objects in the sky like the Sun rise in the east and set in the west. However, planets such as Mars exhibit apparent retrograde motion, where they appear to reverse direction in the sky and move from west to east. This is a result of planets orbitting at different […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 2, 2023 by kevkoppa123

The astronomer Tycho Brahe was born on December 14th, 1546 in Knutstorp Castle, Scania, Denmark–Norway and died on  October 24th, 1601 (aged 54) in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Holy Roman Empire . You can find more info on him at the following website. During Brahe’s lifetime, Sir Francis Drake became a part of the third […] Continue reading →

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Blog 1 – Solstices/Equinoxes

Posted on January 22, 2023 by kevkoppa123

There are 2 solstices: the June and December Solstice. The June Solstice is the point on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic is farthest north of the celestial equator. Similarly, the December solstice is the point on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic is farthest south of the celestial equator. The June and December Solstice […] Continue reading →

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