Category Archives: Moons

Oxygen on Europa?

Posted on April 9, 2013 by mirandaskunz

Europa, which is one of the four largest moons orbiting Jupiter, is currently one of the top candidates for potential life. Europa’s surface is made of ice, but beneath all this ice, is an ocean of water. This water is likely due to tidal heating caused by Jupiter and is evidenced by the magnetic field […] Continue reading →

Posted in Aliens, Moons | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Oxygen on Europa?

Chemical Activity on Titan

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Will K

  Scientists at NASA now believe that Saturn’s moon Titan is much more chemically active than we previously thought. According to Astronomy Magazine, the found that the “complex organic chemistry that could eventually lead to the building blocks of life extends lower in the atmosphere than previously thought.” This is activity in the lower atmosphere […] Continue reading →

Posted in Moons | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Chemical Activity on Titan

The Galilean Moons of Jupiter

Posted on April 9, 2013 by staunesm

With the constant discovery of more and more objects in space, it is difficult to keep track of the planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and exosolar planets that we already know and love.  Therefore I am using this blog as an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Moons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Galilean Moons of Jupiter

Why is Europa so Awesome?

Posted on April 7, 2013 by fathomingthestars

A lot of the science community is excited about the possibility of life of Mars.  But, as we know, the vast majority of Mars’s atmosphere is composed of carbon dioxide and what water it does have is frozen in its polar ice caps.  An arguably much more exciting destination in our own Solar System is […] Continue reading →

Posted in Jovians, Moons | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why is Europa so Awesome?

GRAIL Maps the Gravity of the Moon

Posted on March 20, 2013 by JT McJunkins

  Twin NASA probes orbiting the moon for the Gravity Recovery and Interior Labority (GRAIL) mission have created the most highly detailed gravity field map of any celestial body. Pictured above, this map reveals an abundance of features includ… Continue reading →

Posted in Instruments, Moons, Space Travel | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on GRAIL Maps the Gravity of the Moon

Life On Titan?

Posted on March 17, 2013 by surujdeka

We may not have to look very far from our solar system for habitable worlds that can sustain life. We already know that Mars had conditions suitable for life in its early years and there is a possibility that Venus might have been the same way. But scientists are now excited about the possibility that […] Continue reading →

Posted in Moons | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Life On Titan?

The Little Solar System that Could

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Megan C

Pluto may no longer be a planet, but it sure is proving to be one of the most interesting objects in our solar system.  We’ve kicked it out of the planet club, but Pluto seems to have plenty of friends of its own, with scientists thinking the little dwarf planet could have 10 more moons […] Continue reading →

Posted in Moons | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Little Solar System that Could

Once in a Blue Moon?

Posted on January 28, 2013 by brendanfeeley

While studying lunar phases for tomorrow’s test, I wondered what the common phrase “Blue Moon” meant.  According to Wikipedia, Blue Moon is a term used to describe the second full moon in one month.  A two-full-moon month occurs approximately once every 3 years, and the it can only occur is because most months (with the […] Continue reading →

Posted in Moons | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Once in a Blue Moon?

The Moon Illusion and How to Resolve It

Posted on January 27, 2013 by fosterec

The moon is always the same size. It seems like an easy enough concept to grasp, but it doesn’t explain why the moon doesn’t always look like it’s the same size. I’m sure you’ve all seen it. You go out early on the night of a full moon, and the moon looks HUGE. In high school, […] Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Moons | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Moon Illusion and How to Resolve It

Why does the moon look red?

Posted on January 27, 2013 by fathomingthestars

If you have ever seen an image of a lunar eclipse, or have had the privilege of viewing one in person, you probably noticed that the moon does not retain its bright, whitish color; instead, the moon turns a shade of orange or red.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, this very cool youtube video […] Continue reading →

Posted in Light, Moons | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Why does the moon look red?