Author Archives: lauryn28

Life on Earth

Posted on May 4, 2021 by lauryn28

In my last blog post I would like to discuss some of the things I’ve found most interesting in the course of the semester. As this class has come to an end, I’ve found myself more and more astounded by how our Solar System formed than ever before, specifically the ability of Earth to sustainContinue reading “Life on Earth” Continue reading →

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The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter

Posted on May 4, 2021 by lauryn28

According to Kardashev scale, proposed by astronomer Nikolai Kardashev, there are three types of civilizations. Type I has the ability to use the energy of their planet, Type II can use the energy of their host star and Type III can access an amount of power comparable to an entire galaxy. Based on the extremely largeContinue reading “The Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter” Continue reading →

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Deflecting Asteroids Headed to Earth

Posted on April 17, 2021 by lauryn28

While the chances of a deadly asteroid hitting Earth are low, the damage that one could produce could result in a cataclysmic event. While it may seem that stopping an asteroid en route to Earth is impossible, there are actually certain technologies that could possibility lessen the damage. The most important thing to do isContinue reading “Deflecting Asteroids Headed to Earth” Continue reading →

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Ceres

Posted on April 17, 2021 by lauryn28

Ceres is a dwarf planet discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801. Its mass is only .015 percent of Earth’s and it is actually small enough to be classified as both a dwarf planet and an asteroid. Moreover it is sometimes referred to as the largest asteroid in the solar system. Ceres is round, though itContinue reading “Ceres” Continue reading →

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Is Buying Land on the Moon a Real Possibility?

Posted on March 19, 2021 by lauryn28

I’m sure many people have seen companies offering an acre of land for sale on the moon (here’s an example). Many people, celebrities included, have bought into this and have purchased acres of land. However, how real is this claim to land on the moon? The reality of the subject is that no one canContinue reading “Is Buying Land on the Moon a Real Possibility?” Continue reading →

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Surface Features of Mercury

Posted on March 19, 2021 by lauryn28

Mercury is a terrestrial planet, though it is quite different in appearance than Earth. It’s grey rocky surface more resembles that of the moon, however unlike the moon Mercury has a liquid iron core and is much denser. Moreover, Mercury’s surface features paint an interesting story of past geological occurrences. Mercury formed around 4.6 billionContinue reading “Surface Features of Mercury” Continue reading →

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Tides

Posted on February 26, 2021 by lauryn28

In 1687 Sir Issac Newton discovered that the tides of the ocean on Earth are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Moon. This idea was supported by his universal law of gravity that asserts that any piece of matter in the universe will attract any other with a force varying directly asContinue reading “Tides” Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 17, 2021 by lauryn28

  Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer born December 27, 1571, in Weil der Stadt, Germany. He is well known in the field of astronomy for his three laws of planetary motion. He found that planets orbit on an ellipse rather than a perfect circle, that the planet and the sun sweep out equal areasContinue reading “Historical Astronomers in Context” Continue reading →

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The Cosmic Calendar

Posted on February 7, 2021 by lauryn28

It’s difficult to fully comprehend just how long the universe has existed and how little humans have been around in comparison. Our human lifespans are a mere blink an an eye in the context of our universe, often making is difficult to see an accurate view of the formation of our solar system and galaxy.Continue reading “The Cosmic Calendar” Continue reading →

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Get to Know the Author: Introduction Post

Posted on February 1, 2021 by lauryn28

Hi everyone! My name is Lauryn and I’m and freshmen at Vanderbilt University. Though I’m currently undecided, I’m thinking about majoring in Earth and Environmental Sciences. I find the idea of space and the study of planets super interesting so I’m very excited to learn more about astronomy. Here’s a link to learn more aboutContinue reading “Get to Know the Author: Introduction Post” Continue reading →

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