Author Archives: thomasridgway

What’s in store for the future?

The field of astronomy is fascinating; there is much that we have yet to learn. This semester in Astro 201 …

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Extraterrestrial Detection

Perplexed by the lack of communication by extraterrestrial beings, Freeman Dyson proposed a new tool for searching for intelligent life. …

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Avoiding Asteroids

We currently do not have any way of deflecting asteroids coming dangerously close to us. Although there aren’t any predicted …

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Life on Europa?

Europa is proposed to be a top contender in the possibility of having extraterrestrial life. Under the ice, the oceans …

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Reversing Mars

We’ve all at one time or another thought about how fantastic it would be to inhabit another planet and to …

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Telescopes and Turbulence

    There are many problems that earth-based telescopes must cope with. Besides light pollution, the largest one is dealing …

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The Doppler Effect

Have you ever heard an ambulance fly by you and noticed that the pitch changes as it approaches you, and …

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Historical Astronomers in Context: Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 – 15 November, 1630) was known for his incredibly influential three laws of planetary motion. When …

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