Category Archives: Historical

The Pleiades Myth

Posted on April 9, 2014 by haydenwalling

In Greek Mythology the pleiades are seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the nymph Pleione. They were said to be extremely beautiful and served as companions to the goddess Artemis. When their father was forced to carry the weight of the world for all eternity the great hunter Orion began to pursue them. Orion […] Continue reading →

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The definition of “planet”

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Drew Hamilton

Ever since the IAU gathered in Prague in 2006 and published a new scientific definition of “planet”, there has been debate on how well they did, and whether they were right to “demote” Pluto from planet to the new “dwarf planet” classification. I aim here to critique the IAU’s definition of a planet. First, here… Continue reading →

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The Largest body not to get the planetary nod

Posted on April 8, 2014 by haydenwalling

Ganymede is the largest body in the solar system not to receive the distinction of being a planet ranking at number 9 in size for the solar system. Larger than even mercury, Ganymede is approximately 41.3% the radius of Earth yet strangely is comprised out of only 2.5% its mass. The ultra light moon lacks […] Continue reading →

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NASA’s Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities Initiative

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Leigh

NASA has had a lot of success with their commercial space flight initiatives, and so is looking to branch out and extend offers to work with US private enterprises to offer more, new commercial space experiences. NASA is looking for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The Tunguska Asteroid

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Leigh

On June 30, 1908 an asteroid about 120 feet across entered Earth’s atmosphere and exploded above the Podkamennaya Tunguska River in Siberia. At an elevation of about 28,000 feet, the combination of pressure and heat made the space rock explode … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Science Fiction to Science Fact

Posted on March 30, 2014 by jblubin

It has always been the fantasy of science fiction writers to mine an asteroid for its precious materials. Stories such as Catch that Rabbit by Isaac Asimov, The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein, and the Heechee stories by Frederik Pohl are among hundreds that feature futuristic mining camps on asteroids. But now humanity has … Continue reading Science Fiction to Science Fact → Continue reading →

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Edmond Halley: Proving Newton

Posted on March 29, 2014 by jblubin

Newton was the first to provide a mathematical construct to describe the effects of planetary motion around the Sun. But then the question arose, how could we find evidence for the theory? Stepping up to the plate was the prominent astronomer Edmond Halley. Born in the English countryside on November 8, 1656, Halley was a … Continue reading Edmond Halley: Proving Newton → Continue reading →

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Major discovery in astrophysics announced 3/17/14

Posted on March 17, 2014 by haydenwalling

http://www.space.com/25090-big-bang-gravity-waves-discovered-video.html Today an astrophysicist team based in antarctica claimed they have found the first tangible evidence for gravitational waves from the beginning of the universe. These waves provide a convincing argument for the inflating universe and the big bang theory in ways previously not thought possible. Gravitational waves are a phenomenon predicted by Einstein’s relativity […] Continue reading →

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Voyager 1 Spacecraft has Left the Solar System

Posted on March 17, 2014 by haydenwalling

http://www.space.com/22752-voyager-1-goes-interstellar-solar-system-boundary-passed-video.html As of August 25th 2012 the human race pushed one of its own creations beyond the range of the solar system. The 36 year long journey of the probe has brought it beyond anything else that has ever intentionally come from our planet. Scientists confirm this occurence using plasma data STILL being sent from […] Continue reading →

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Voyager 1 Spacecraft has Left the Solar System

Posted on March 17, 2014 by haydenwalling

http://www.space.com/22752-voyager-1-goes-interstellar-solar-system-boundary-passed-video.html As of August 25th 2012 the human race pushed one of its own creations beyond the range of the solar system. The 36 year long journey of the probe has brought it beyond anything else that has ever intentionally come from our planet. Scientists confirm this occurence using plasma data STILL being sent from […] Continue reading →

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