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Category Archives: Class
Climate Change
We have all heard of climate change but what does it really mean? Climate change can be explained by the change in temperature and weather patterns that are occurring over long periods of time. Humans are at fault for climate change because we continue to burn fossil fuels like oil and coal. Burning fossil fuels […] Continue reading
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Tagged astro2110, blog3, climate change, climatechange
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The Expanding Universe
The Universe is expanding – and expanding at a rate that is accelerating. Based off simple knowledge of physics, one would assume that this would be the opposite. The Universe should be shrinking over time as gravity slowly pulls billions of galaxy clusters, galaxies, stars, and solar systems towards each other on an inevitable collisionContinue reading “The Expanding Universe” Continue reading
Star Fuel – Nuclear Fusion
The sun has been around for 4.603 billion years, about one third of the entire duration of the universe. With a mass 330,000 times greater than Earth and a radius 108 times larger (source), the sun is a very massive object (though not that large when compared to other stars). Have you ever wondered whatContinue reading “Star Fuel – Nuclear Fusion” Continue reading
Rock Samples from Mars
Mars has been of interest because of evidence that it may have once supported life. NASA’s latest rover, Perseverance, has been sent to Mars to look for signs of ancient life. A big part of this endeavor is sending samples from Mars back to Earth for m… Continue reading
Posted in Class, Instruments, Space Travel
Tagged astro2110, blog3, Mars, Solar System: Terrestrials
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Nuclear Fusion For Rocket Propulsion
Nuclear fusion-where the nuclei of two atoms combine to establish a new atom-serves as the primary process that powers main sequence stars (like our Sun). For stars, nuclear fusion most commonly occurs with two hydrogen atoms fusing to form a helium atom. The result of such fusion processes is the output of great amounts of […] Continue reading
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Tagged astro2110, blog3, nuclear fusion, propulsion, rocketry
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White Holes
Most people by now are familiar with the term “black hole”- a body of high mass with a gravitational pull so strong that nothing which enters can escape from it. The idea of a black hole was born from Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Also born from Einstein’s mathematical equations, however, is the much lesser-knownContinue reading “White Holes” Continue reading
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Tagged astro2110, Black Holes, blog4, general relativity, white holes
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Theories of Moon Formation
In class we discussed one potential theory of the moon’s formation that is the favorite within the scientific community: the giant impact hypothesis. The theory states that a Mars-sized body (Theia) crashed into the Earth ejecting pieces of a young Earth’s rocky crust into space. Gravity from the remainder of Theia’s core drew these particlesContinue reading “Theories of Moon Formation” Continue reading
Born from the Stars
It may be hard to believe, but in all technicality, everything in the solar system, including humans, are born from star dust. Let’s start at the beginning, at the big bang. The matter released from the big bang made up the first generation of stars, only containing the elements hydrogen and helium. Eventually, when the …
Posted in Class, SolarSystem
Tagged astro2110, blog4, Class, Solar System, solarsystem, spacedust
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Unmanned Spacecraft and AI
There are 4 types of unmanned space craft that are used to collect data: flybys, orbiters, landers, and sample return mission spacecraft. Flybys simply pass by a celestially object, and are generally the cheapest as they usually require no fuel propulsion after leaving Earth’s orbit. Flybys mostly observe through the use of telescopes and other …
Posted in Class, Space Travel
Tagged astro2110, blog3, spacecraft, technology
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Northern Lights
The Northern lights are one of the most sought after views that light up the night sky. There is a burst of colors of greens, blues and purples that dance across the sky. But what exactly causes this astonishing sight? Many ancient civilizations have been observing this celestial phenomenon long before us, and have come […] Continue reading