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Category Archives: Observables
We Already Have a Time Machine
People say time traveling doesnt exist. They are skeptical we are able to break every law of physics we grew up learning. But, if we really think about it, we have a time machine right in front of us: a telescope. What is a light year? Don’t be confused with the word ‘year’ being in […] Continue reading
Posted in Class, Observables
Tagged astro2110, blog1, light-years, telescope
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Blog 1 – The “Great American Eclipse” Experience
Back in 2017, my school allotted class time for observing the total solar eclipse that (conveniently) passed through Nashville. Many of my classmates (including me) didn’t fully realize how significant this was until our observation. The brief two and a half minutes of totality was awe inspiring. What struck me most was the terrestrial reaction […] Continue reading
The Scale of the Universe and Us
Reading the graphic in the textbook called “Our Cosmic Address”, I got a sense for the first time of how small of a planet we live on. Earth is a typical planet rotating by a typical star we call the Sun which is only one of billions of stars in the Milky Way which is […] Continue reading
Minutes and seconds of arc
Similar to a light-year, an arcminute can be mistaken for a unit of time. An arcminute is 1/60th of a degree and an arcsecond is 1/60th of an arcminute. For example, “12 degrees, 50 arcminutes, and 29 arcseconds” is written as 12° 50′ 29”. As units of angular measurement, arcminutes and arcseconds allow for more […] Continue reading
Solar Eclipses 😱😎
(Eclipse over Jackson, Wyoming by Ronan Donovan via NatGeo) In August 2017 a total solar eclipse was witnessed by many, cutting across the United States. My family, here in Nashville, TN, was able to see it! Even though it was a Monday, and I should have had classes, my school was cancelled for the day […] Continue reading
Blog One – Night Sky Observing
In my first post, I briefly mentioned the international dark sky association. This association advocates for the protection of the night sky by leading the fight against light pollution through their efforts at the grassroots up to the international level. Although cultures around the world have looked up at the night sky for millennia, in […] Continue reading
Posted in Class, Observables, Public Policy, Stars
Tagged astrophotography, blog1, Constellations, Milky Way, night sky, observing
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Legitimate and Illegitimate Cases of Exceeding Light Speed
This image of CERN provided by TIME was taken at the peak of the 2012 craze over the facility’s discovery of neutrino particles breaking light speed. Since the barrier of light speed has been such an insurmountable rock and cornerstone of physics, the neutrino’s clocked speed increase of 0.0025% was groundbreaking. Although I was only […] Continue reading
Identifying Jupiter and Mars
Last night, I was looking up at the night sky while walking to dinner. I noticed a few constellations, as well as two brighter points of light that I was pretty sure were Mars and Jupiter. Normally, I can identify them, but for some reason Mars didn’t look as red to me as it normally […] Continue reading
Posted in Class, Jovians, Observables, Sun, Terrestrials
Tagged astro2110, blog1, jupiter, Mars, motion, Solar System
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The Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse
One year, two months, and eighteen days: this is the time from the writing of this blog until a total solar eclipse will occur in North America. I’ll save you from doing the math, the date of this solar eclipse is April 8, 2024. The sky along the path of totality will become dark for […] Continue reading
Posted in Class, Observables
Tagged astro2110, blog1, earth, eclipse, Moon, Solar System: Moons
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Moon Phases in the Southern Hemisphere
While reading Chapter 2 in the textbook, I realized how much of a difference living in the southern hemisphere would affect the way you view space. I think we generally tend to think of things as being similar if not the same in the southern hemisphere, especially something as universal as the stars in the […] Continue reading
Posted in Moons, Observables
Tagged astro2110, blog1, Moonphases
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