Author Archives: mattj3

Blog 8: My Newly Formed Perspective

Posted on May 5, 2021 by mattj3

It’s weird to think about how this will be the final assignment for our astronomy class. Throughout the semester, my understanding of the vast universe we exist in has deepened, further changing my perspective of our world and humanity’s role within it. In this class, we studied the basic processes of the universe, from itsContinue reading “Blog 8: My Newly Formed Perspective” Continue reading →

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Blog 7: Extremophiles

Posted on May 4, 2021 by mattj3

Extremophiles are organisms that thrive within severe abiotic environments while maintaining the ability to grow and reproduce. These organisms inhabit areas of extreme temperature, pressure, salinity, acidity, and radiation, surviving through environmentally defined adaptations. Extremophilic organisms are based within both prokaryotic and eukaryotic life, meaning their existence ranges throughout all domains of life. Through theContinue reading “Blog 7: Extremophiles” Continue reading →

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Blog 6: Huygens’s Descent to Titan

Posted on April 17, 2021 by mattj3

The Cassini orbiter, initially launched on October 15, 1997, traveled seven years with the objective to relay observations of Saturn and its satellites. Attached to this spacecraft was also the Huygens probe, designed to enter the atmosphere and land on the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. On January 14, 2005, Huygens executed its mission;Continue reading “Blog 6: Huygens’s Descent to Titan” Continue reading →

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Blog 5: Is there life on Europa?

Posted on April 17, 2021 by mattj3

The moon Europa orbits Jupiter alongside three other unique satellites described as “Jupiter’s Galilean moons”; these moons although similar in size to our moon (especially Io and Europa) display geological activity very different from what is observed on our own. Europa in particular, after telescope observation and satellite missions such as Voyager 1 and 2,Continue reading “Blog 5: Is there life on Europa?” Continue reading →

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Blog #4: Saturn Losing it Rings

Posted on March 22, 2021 by mattj3

Saturn’s iconic rings, the largest and most apparent in the solar system, are disappearing. Data produced from the Voyager One and Voyager Two missions observe its rings, rings synonymous with the image of the planet, disappearing at an extremely fast rate.  Saturn’s rings are formed from water ice ranging from microscopic dust to boulder size.Continue reading “Blog #4: Saturn Losing it Rings” Continue reading →

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Blog Post #3 Climate Change and Its Effects On Sea Level

Posted on March 22, 2021 by mattj3

Climate change or global warming is understood (or should be) as an environmental issue with serious and concerning human implications relating to both the causes and consequences of the process. The effects of climate change are observed through the emission and build-up of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Air pollutants and greenhouse gases, like waterContinue reading “Blog Post #3 Climate Change and Its Effects On Sea Level” Continue reading →

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Blog #2: Archaeoastronomy at El Castillo

Posted on February 27, 2021 by mattj3

El Castillo, also known as The Temple of Kukulcan, is a ceremonial structure in service to the Mayan deity of Kukulcan, ” the feathered serpent god”. The mesoamerican temple is the central architectural structure of the Chichen Itza archeological site located in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, and was constructed by the Maya around 800Continue reading “Blog #2: Archaeoastronomy at El Castillo” Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 17, 2021 by mattj3

Sir Isaac Newton, born December 25, 1642 and died March 20, 1727, significantly influenced the fields of mathematics, science, and mechanics. Of his greatest scientific contributions was his formulation of the laws of motion, theories pertaining to the effects of external forces applied on objects in motion. The construction of these laws would contribute toContinue reading “Historical Astronomers in Context” Continue reading →

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The Cosmic Calendar

Posted on February 8, 2021 by mattj3

How long the universe has existed is often difficult to understand, especially when its duration vastly surpasses our human history. As a whole, we understand through experiences collected in our lives, using these to mark and scale information. However, the measure of the universe is something unfathomable next to our comparatively short lives. Its lengthContinue reading “The Cosmic Calendar” Continue reading →

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Introduction

Posted on February 1, 2021 by mattj3

Hey, this my introductory blog post. I am currently a sophomore at Vanderbilt University studying in the College of Arts and Science, and planning to major in Econ. I’m looking forward to exploring our solar system and learning more interesting information through this course. Also, here’s a link to spacex, because it seems relevant. Continue reading →

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