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Category Archives: Historical
The Pock-Marked Sun God
Sunspots are areas on the Sun that appear darker compared to their surroundings because they are cooler than the areas around them. This does not mean that the spots are actually cold, but relative to the 5800K temperature of the rest of the Sun, sunspots are much cooler at 4000K. Magnetic fields prevent the hotter […]
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The Pock-Marked Sun God
Sunspots are areas on the Sun that appear darker compared to their surroundings because they are cooler than the areas around them. This does not mean that the spots are actually cold, but relative to the 5800K temperature of the rest of the Sun, sunspots are much cooler at 4000K. Magnetic fields prevent the hotter …
A Year in Space
Just last month Scott Kelly finished what many of us would deem unbearable: spending a year in space. For almost an entire year, Scott Kelly lived with fellow Russian Cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko on the International Space Station in order to see the effects that long durations in zero-gravity conditions have on the human body. Prior to […]
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Posted in Historical, Physics
Tagged astro2110, blog6, Solar System, spacetravel, Time
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Tennessee Tectonics
Although Tennessee is in the middle of North America, we are still affected by tectonic activity. There are earthquakes in this region from time to time, thanks to the New Madrid Fault. This Tectonophysics article helps us understand why there are earthquakes in Tennessee. North America began to rift, or break apart, in the Late […]
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Posted in Class, Historical, Science
Tagged astro2110, blog5, earthquake, geology
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Out of this World Symbols
Astronomers, like all scientists, love their symbols. Why spend ages written out full text when shorthand will do? Not only are the symbols for the planets convenient, they also have interesting stories behind them that tie into the planet’s history. Sun: The symbol for the sun is a circular shield with a dot in the […]
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Posted in Historical, Moons
Tagged astro2110, blog4, planets, Solar System
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We’re all attractive (by gravity!)
We like to think science has everything figured out—and it has in fact come very far to that end. But there are still many things in the world and the universe that has researchers scratching their heads. One of these phenomena is gravity, the force that attracts all objects. Sure, we know how to calculate […]
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We’re all attractive (by gravity!)
Images: Gravitational Field, Conic Sections We like to think science has everything figured out—and it has in fact come very far to that end. But there are still many things in the world and the universe that has researchers scratching their heads. One of these phenomena is gravity, the force that attracts all objects. Sure, […] Continue reading
Spectra Across Spectral Types
One of the beautiful aspects of the universe is that not every celestial object is exactly the same. The majority of stars spend their lives on the “main sequence” in which they have stable volume and continuously undergo hydrogen fusion. Astronomers use a classification system based solely upon the temperature of a star, assigning each […]
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Posted in Class, Historical, Observables, Stars
Tagged astro2110, blog3, spectra
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Gravity is Working Against Me
Gravity is arguably the most important aspect of our study of the universe and our solar system. Isaac Newton, famous for his three laws of motion, determined that the force of gravity could be expressed mathematically. This led him to create his universal law of gravitation. His law contains three key statements about the … Continue reading “Gravity is Working Against Me”
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Posted in Class, Historical, Science
Tagged astro2110, blog4, gravity, Solar System
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Mayan Astronomy
At the end of 2012, the whole world was abuzz with the news that on December 21st, the Mayan calendar would end. Some claimed this ominous event signaled the end of the world, while others simply suggested the Mayans would have likely extended their calendar if they were still around. Who Did It Better: […]
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Posted in Class, Historical, Instruments, Terrestrials
Tagged astro2110, blog3, venus
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