Category Archives: Observables

things we can see from Earth using our eyeballs or telescopes

The Dwarf Planet Debate

Posted on April 8, 2023 by araceal

(picture of the colorization of Pluto) We all know the controversy that Pluto causes. Should it be a planet? Should it not be one? Why should or shouldn’t it be?  Although astronomers and other scientists claim that Pluto should not be considered a planet, some researches believe that this decision was unfair and incorrect and […] Continue reading →

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Halley’s Comet

Posted on April 7, 2023 by sydneyastr2110

I used measurements from Halley’s Comet for the impact homework, so I wanted to learn more about it. It certainly has name recognition, but I wanted to learn more about it. I found some great information from NASA that I figured I would share. Halley’s Comet is named after an astronomer by the name of […] Continue reading →

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comets

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Emma Williams

The terms ‘asteroid’ and ‘comet’ are often used interchangeably, but in reality there are important differences between the two! The primary difference is in their composition; asteroids are rocky because they formed in the inner Solar System, and comets are more icy because they formed beyond the frost line! Comets are visible every few years […] Continue reading →

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Blog 6 – Planet Nine

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Melanie Marszal

Unfortunately, “Planet Nine” does not refer to Pluto. However, its potential existence could explain the interesting movement of some objects in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers at Caltech have found mathematical evidence of a large planet far out in our Solar System, which has been named Planet Nine. This hypothetical planet would be about the same […] Continue reading →

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The Planets Inspiring Art

Posted on March 8, 2023 by 88bw

Planets have always been a large source of inspiration for classical music composers, and there is probably no larger example than Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite. This work’s popularity has also reached the masses, and his music is known to have significantly influenced John Williams in his compositions for his film scores. What I find interesting […] Continue reading →

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Visiting Chicago Anytime Soon? Visit Adler Planetarium

Posted on March 7, 2023 by thisisntzenon

For many students growing up in Chicago, the Adler Planetarium is staple in the field trip rotation. Having attended multiple times a year for years and even going to their summer camp at one point, Adler Planetarium is something I am proud of as a Chicago native. As of March 2023, Adler has 12 different […] Continue reading →

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Creation and Structure of the Milky Way

Posted on March 6, 2023 by araceal

Our Solar System, the Milky Way, was created from a dense could of interstellar dust and gas that collapsed and turned into a swirling, spinning nebula.  This nebular is made up of hydrogen and helium, and a little amount of other elements, which combined together and reacted in order to create other materials which in […] Continue reading →

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The Moon Illusion

Posted on March 5, 2023 by sydneyastr2110

We saw a really cool picture of the Moon during class that was taken when it was near the horizon with an ancient Greek temple in front of it. The Moon looked unusually large, and I wanted to know more. The reason for the Moon appearing much larger when it is rising and setting is […] Continue reading →

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All About Aurorae

Posted on March 5, 2023 by 7smessier45

As the title suggests, our topic for today is Earth’s aurorae (pronounced auh-ror-eye). These stunning displays generally occur in two symmetrical oval rings about the planet’s far northern and southern regions–Earth’s magnetic north and south poles. When they happen in the north, aurorae are often referred to as the northern lights or Aurora Borealis. Likewise, […] Continue reading →

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M45 – The Seven Sisters

Posted on February 28, 2023 by 7smessier45

Hey, y’all, and welcome back!  Today, we’re taking a quick jaunt outside our solar system to visit the Pleiades. This grouping of stars–commonly referred to as Messier 45 (M45)–is one of my favorite observables and can be best viewed in January–but the cluster is easily visible from late fall through the winter. The cluster is […] Continue reading →

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