Category Archives: Observables

things we can see from Earth using our eyeballs or telescopes

The Largest Telescope in the World

Posted on February 7, 2018 by maxflorsheim

Wikipedia Commons In order to allow for astronomers to observe far into space, there are numerous gigantic telescopes laid out globally. None larger than the Gran Telescopio Canarias, located on the island of La Palma in the Spanish Canary Islands. As an infra-red telescope, the telescope seeks to explore questions such as the mystique surrounding […] Continue reading →

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Solar Eclipse: When and Why

Posted on January 22, 2018 by haleytopper04

In honor of the solar eclipse that happened in late august, I thought I’d talk about the phenomenon. A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets between the earth and the sun, and the moon casts a shadow. It should be known that the fact that solar eclipses can happen at all is a total … Continue reading Solar Eclipse: When and Why Continue reading →

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2017 Solar Eclipse

Posted on January 22, 2018 by maxflorsheim

My junior year at Vanderbilt University began in the most spectacular way – witnessing a total solar eclipse through a skylight within Nashville airport, immediately upon arrival. Surrounded by a gathering of fellow traveller’s experiencing this magical moment, the moment in which the Sun was reduced to a radiant ring wrapped around the black outline […] Continue reading →

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Precession: How Will Life on Earth Differ With Summer in January?

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Michael Natinsky

Precession is often referred to as “orbital variation.” An easy demonstration of precession is a top spinning. As a top spins on a surface, it moves around in a circular or elliptical path. But while it moves, the direction of its tilt is also changing. The same is true for planets as they orbit stars. … Continue reading Precession: How Will Life on Earth Differ With Summer in January? → Continue reading →

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Super Blue Blood Moon Blue Snow Super Blood Blue

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Xave

Or something like that. Wow! On January 31st, 3 lunar events will coincide for the first time since March of 1866 resulting in the Moon appearing bigger, redder, and also bluer? This is what cool scientists call a “Super Blue Blood Moon.” When the Moon is at its perigee, the closest point to Earth in … Continue reading Super Blue Blood Moon Blue Snow Super Blood Blue → Continue reading →

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No Mars After All?

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Paolo Dumancas

Humans have long dreamt to venture to Mars, and NASA fueled those dreams, especially in recent years. With the Space … More Continue reading →

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Deep Impact: Mission to a Comet

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Paolo Dumancas

Exactly twelve years ago on July 4th, 2005, a NASA Spacecraft called the Deep Impact landed on Comet Temple 1, … More Continue reading →

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Alien Life Closer to Home

Posted on April 27, 2017 by elliottlifeastronomy

Although intelligent life has yet to make its debut for us, extraterrestrial life may be a little closer that we typically think of- specifically Martian life.  No, no, not little green men or facehugger kind of Martian life, but microbial life.  And not just on Mars either!  The three likeliest candidates for elementary life in […] Continue reading →

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Tardigrades: Powers of the “Water Bear”

Posted on April 23, 2017 by josiezd

Hot, cold, dry, wet, and even the vacuum of space – somehow, the tardigrade can survive them all. Continue reading →

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Personal Space

Posted on April 4, 2017 by elliottlifeastronomy

Some 13,000 light-years away, in the Camelopardalis, or giraffe, constellation lies a rather unique binary star.  Two young, massive, blue stars are orbiting each other so quickly that they make a full revolution in a mere 28 hours.  In fact, the two stars of the MY Camelopardalis system are orbiting one another so closely that […] Continue reading →

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