Tag Archives: astro201

So What’s the Big Deal?

Posted on April 29, 2014 by kaswat

The Milky Way Galaxy So, I’ve spent 4 months learning about the solar system and how everything works so perfectly together. When I started astronomy it was just because I needed a technical elective; however, it gave me a lot of perspective. Our world is in the perfect placement in a 100,000 light-year galaxy to… Continue reading →

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The Future of Exploration

Posted on April 29, 2014 by blankster22

Through everything that I have learned in this class, I find myself most interested in the prospects for finding life elsewhere in the galaxy in the future. Given everything that we now know about solar system formation and the galaxy, it does not seem entirely unlikely that we are alone here on Earth. Microbial life […] Continue reading →

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How Do They Do It?

Posted on April 29, 2014 by blankster22

In nearly every environment on Earth, there is some form of life. Many of these environments are quite hostile to most forms of life, but some are able to make them into a perfectly suitable home. Such locations could be deep underground in mine shafts, or near vents on the ocean floor, or even inside […] Continue reading →

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Observing and Reddit

Posted on April 29, 2014 by thegarrettnondorf

Interested in learning more about Astronomy or finding a community of people who love astronomy? Try the Astronomy subreddit on the website Reddit.com. They have monthly observing challenges and ask/answer all kinds of questions about astronomy. Some examples – “I want to spend my dying years observing the unknown universe from my roof. What’s the … Continue reading Observing and Reddit → Continue reading →

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Culmination

Posted on April 29, 2014 by philipapelles

       Having never taken an astronomy class before, I learned a lot about our place in the universe and the how our solar system functions and interacts within the universe. The biggest thing I learned is the magnitude and scale of even just our galaxy. Comparisons like if the Sun was about the… Continue reading →

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Halley’s Comet

Posted on April 29, 2014 by thegarrettnondorf

Edmond Halley was the first to predict this comet’s 76 year orbit. It was named in his honor and is known today as Halley’s Comet. Would you like to see it? Stick around until 2061 and you can! Fun fact – Mark Twain was born and died in the same years that Halley’s Comet made … Continue reading Halley’s Comet → Continue reading →

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The Future of Space Exploration

Posted on April 29, 2014 by almetetj

One of the most interesting perspectives that Astronomy 201 has given me on space exploration is the role that funding plays. While in the past much of the money needed to fuel new discoveries came from government grants, budget cuts and restructurings have left astronomers with less and less funding from this outlet. The future […] Continue reading →

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Extremophiles

Posted on April 29, 2014 by philipapelles

As their name suggests, extremophiles are organisms that mostly dwell at the microscopic level and thrive in harsh conditions. Extremophiles can survive where other life cannot, and because they are so robust can endure even under the most stressful conditions. After learning about extremophiles in class, I wanted to research specific extremophiles found here on… Continue reading →

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Hugh van Heesewijk 2014-04-29 14:12:20

Posted on April 29, 2014 by hughavanheesewijk

  Throughout the semester we have learned the ins and outs of many topics. We have learned topics ranging from the formation of atmospheres to the formation of solar systems. However, I feel that the topics that I have most benefitted from have been the ones that I can see every day. I love being able […] Continue reading →

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Space X and the Capitalism of Space

Posted on April 29, 2014 by dhbrett

Spurred on by the Cold War, and aided by military research on ballistics and rocket fuel, NASA and the Soviet Space Program competed to complete more and more exceptional missions. In today’s less hostile international climate, the governments of the world are much less interested in space exploration than they once were. To continue the … Continue reading Space X and the Capitalism of Space → Continue reading →

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