Category Archives: Observables

things we can see from Earth using our eyeballs or telescopes

Blog 6 – Planet Nine

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Solar Flares and the Carrington Event

We heard a little bit about the Carrington Event in class, and I wanted to know more about it. A solar flare is essentially a burst of energy on the Sun which sends electrified gas and subatomic particles toward Earth. In 1859, there was an abnormally large solar flare caused two geomagnetic storms known as […] Continue reading

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Retrograde… what the heck

(Diagram showing Ptolemy’s early explanation of retrograde motion) Understanding retrograde can get a little confusing. Before taking astronomy, I’d only ever heard the term used by the astrology girlies. I thought maybe it was another “constellations are not real” scenario- but retrograde is real! Early astronomer Ptolemy (c. AD 100), as he observed the night […] Continue reading

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Blog2: Telescopes of all kinds

There are many different types of telescopes, each designed for a specific purpose. Here are some of the most common types: Conclusion Each type of telescope has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice of which one to use depends on the specific observing goals and requirements of the astronomer. Continue reading

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