Category Archives: Universe

Beyond our Solar System

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Haley's Comet

Extrasolar planets are a recent discovery in the time of our Universe. So far, there are 3,475 confirmed exoplanets. These planets are most often comparable to the gas and ice giants that we have in our Solar System. However, there is a constant search for planets that are similar to ours: in the habitable zone around their respective… Continue reading Beyond our Solar System Continue reading →

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The Social Implications of Interstellar Travel

Posted on April 23, 2017 by brynnabhall

It is likely that all of us have grown up with at least one media account of the final frontier, be that Star Wars, Star Trek, Martian, or even Men in Black. Because of the inherent human fascination with the notion of interstellar travel, with arguably the greatest (presently) unanswerable question known to our species, … More The Social Implications of Interstellar Travel Continue reading →

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Blog 6 – Is the Solar System Unique?

Posted on April 4, 2017 by johnjohnb4

Among the most asked questions regarding space are ‘is there intelligent life outside of Earth’ and ‘is our solar system unique’?  So far, science has not found a planetary system quite like our own.  This makes one wonder if our existence is rare or even unique, or if not enough data been found to make […] Continue reading →

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Life Outside Earth: Are we alone?

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Haley's Comet

  Ah, aliens. The beings of science fiction movies. The topic of many a conspiracy theory. Many have doubted their existence, but in all likelihood, they are real. It is highly improbable that humans here on Earth are the first form of technology producing life in the Milky Way Galaxy. With today’s technology, thousands of… Continue reading Life Outside Earth: Are we alone? Continue reading →

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Life: A Love Story

Posted on March 28, 2017 by brynnabhall

Sitting in my late-night astronomy lab last night, we watched a computer simulation (based completely on real, observed data) take us out as far into the universe as our understanding has gone. Starting in the Himalayas, Tibet, then Planet Earth, and rapidly, sooner than I thought possible, we were so far out of my realm … More Life: A Love Story Continue reading →

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Blog 3: Cosmic Background Radiation

Posted on February 15, 2017 by mchastr2110

A radiation that is an after-effect of the Big Bang still around today. It was actually discovered accidentally by two Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson in 1965. They noticed a static that appeared to be coming from every direction at the same strength. Later scientists were able to trace out a Black Body curve for … Continue reading Blog 3: Cosmic Background Radiation Continue reading →

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Want to discover a new planet?

Posted on February 14, 2017 by terranojm

Are you curious about what’s out there in our universe? Have you been wanting to do your own astronomical research? Has it been a dream of yours to discover a new planet? Fear no more! A team of astronomers led by MIT and the Carnegie Institution for Science is now giving the public the opportunity … Continue reading “Want to discover a new planet?” Continue reading →

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The Big Crunch

Posted on February 14, 2017 by brandonandthesolarsystem

While the Big Bang has become the quintessential theory for the beginning of the universe, the possible future of the universe is still an open question. While the universe we currently observe is expanding in all directions, who is to say that this expansion will continue indefinitely. And if the expansion of the universe ends, […] Continue reading →

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Hubble’s Law and a Window to the Past

Posted on February 14, 2017 by joneastr

Hubble’s Law is one of the most fundamental observations in cosmology – that objects far off in space are almost … More Continue reading →

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Milkomeda

Posted on February 14, 2017 by Haley's Comet

A collision is coming. Andromeda, our spiraled galaxy neighbor, and the Milky Way will collide in  4 billion years. This process will result in the two galaxies interacting for 1-2 billion years as they rearrange the orbits of stars and planets before finally merging into an elliptical galaxy. The movements of the galaxies toward each other… Continue reading Milkomeda Continue reading →

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