Author Archives: mariah0407

Observing the Solar System

Posted on April 27, 2014 by mariah0407

I took this class because I wanted to learn more about the solar system.  Growing up, I really enjoyed learning about the planets and stars.  One of my favorite parts of the class was the observing.  I was able to see the difference between a red-shifted and blue-shifted star which before this class I wouldn’t […] Continue reading →

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Extremophiles

Posted on April 27, 2014 by mariah0407

The idea that there is life that does not live and survive the way we do is very interesting.  I think humans have come up with an idea of what they are looking for when defining “life.” Yet, these extremophiles prove many of these ideas wrong.  They live in places humans never could survive but […] Continue reading →

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Planetary System

Posted on April 9, 2014 by mariah0407

It amazes me how small Earth is.  I find it difficult to comprehend even the size of Earth alone.  Flying to other continents can take days.  Then I look at a scale model like the one below and I realize how small we are in comparison to the rest of the planets.  Jupiter and Saturn are […] Continue reading →

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Neptune

Posted on April 9, 2014 by mariah0407

When I was in elementary school, I had to do a project on a planet.  I chose Neptune!  I spent hours coming up with a presentation and making a model.  Sadly, I don’t remember a lot from that presentation, but I’ve decided to brush up on my knowledge.  Neptune is a bright blue color and has […] Continue reading →

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The Northern Lights

Posted on March 14, 2014 by mariah0407

  I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis.  I never understood what cause the bright colors in the sky until this class.  Upon reading the book I understood that the lights are simply the result of “charged particles trapped in the magnetosphere.”  It is fascinating to me […] Continue reading →

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Solar Flares

Posted on March 14, 2014 by mariah0407

Learning about solar flares in class has been one of the most interesting things to me.  I think it is amazing how unpredictable they are and how they can affect of Earth.  It is fascinating to me to think about how a solar flare can wipe out our electronic systems.  Our book explains that the […] Continue reading →

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Planetarium

Posted on February 17, 2014 by mariah0407

Growing up, one of my favorite things was going to the planetarium.  I was very eager to go learn about each of the planets and the universe.  I would spend lots of time trying to find the constellations, and my brother even got a star named for me! The star is located near Pegasus and […] Continue reading →

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Tides

Posted on February 17, 2014 by mariah0407

Having grown up near the ocean, I always found tides fascinating.  Until now though, I never quite understood what was happening. Moon tides are caused by the Moon’s gravity which creates two “bulges.”  Additionally, there are Sun tides, but these are not as strong due to how far away the Sun is. Recently, in the […] Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 10, 2014 by mariah0407

Tycho Brahe(1546-1601) There was a civil war in Scotland between 1562 and 1594.  This was due to the Catholic and Protestant divide in the country. France was also divided by religion and had the French Wars of Religion between 1562 and 1598. Michelangelo , born: 3/6/1475,  died: 2/18/1564 Michelangelo was an important artist who made the famous David […] Continue reading →

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Stellarium

Posted on January 27, 2014 by mariah0407

Learning about and using Stellarium has been great fun! I have always enjoyed looking at the stars.  As a child, I used to go to the planetarium numerous times a year.  Additionally, one year for my birthday, my brother got me a star through the International Star Registry.  Now that I have learned how to […] Continue reading →

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