Tag Archives: blog1

Reaching Absolute Zero

Our discussion towards the infamous “coldest temperature possible” dates back to the 1700s when French physicist Guillaume Amontons hypothesized that since temperature is the measure of heat in a system, then there must be a lowest possible temperature. But it took 200 years for any significant progress towards reaching that coldest point to begin. After […] Continue reading

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Celebrating the Vernal Equinox

Spring is a season that is characteristically associated with birth and life. It symbolizes an end to Winter and the transition to the (personally) much more favorable, Summer. While I probably enjoy Summer more than Spring overall, there is something about the feeling I get seeing all the plants grow, the leaves come back, tonsContinue reading “Celebrating the Vernal Equinox” Continue reading

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What the heck is a light year?

You’ve probably heard the term light year a lot. You likely heard a planet or star described as a certain number of light years away. But what exactly is a light year? And why do we use light to measure time and distance? How fast does it really go? Light moves at approximately 300,000 kilometersContinue reading “What the heck is a light year?” Continue reading

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Blog Post 1: Universal Scale

In the preface to our textbook, A Cosmic Perspective, Dr. Tyson opens up his foreword by emphasizing the importance of having a cosmic perspective. He defines this kind of perspective as one that understands our place in the cosmos and the meaning that has for us as a species. But how do we go aboutContinue reading “Blog Post 1: Universal Scale” Continue reading

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The Western Zodiac’s Origins

One of the most interesting aspects of Astronomy for me specifically is the element of spirituality or philosophy it tends to invoke. To witness the majesty and scale of universe evokes such wonder that, if you’ll allow some hyperbole, can at times be akin to a religious experience. I comment this not to say thatContinue reading “The Western Zodiac’s Origins” Continue reading

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The Cosmic Calendar

It’s difficult to fully comprehend just how long the universe has existed and how little humans have been around in comparison. Our human lifespans are a mere blink an an eye in the context of our universe, often making is difficult to see an accurate view of the formation of our solar system and galaxy.Continue reading “The Cosmic Calendar” Continue reading

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How Small We Really Are

Despite how big we all thing we are, when looking at the true size of our earth compared to the size of the universe we come to realize our insignificance. When the distance of the earth to other planets is put into simple mathematic equations we can truly try to understand how big this universeContinue reading “How Small We Really Are” Continue reading

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Blog1– the vast size of the universe

I am very excited to share this size comparison video of the universe, which I accidentally discovered last year. I watched this video for many times afterwards, and I could not stop myself gasping with astonishment at the vast size and the scale of the celestial bodies in the universe and the universe itself. ThisContinue reading “Blog1– the vast size of the universe” Continue reading

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The History of Winter Solstice Celebrations

The winter solstice occurs every year around the 21st of December. In the northern hemisphere, this day marks the longest night of the year. It also signifies the official start of winter. Throughout history, many cultures have developed their own ways of celebrating and honoring the winter solstice. Saturnalia Saturnalia is an Ancient Roman holidayContinue reading “The History of Winter Solstice Celebrations” Continue reading

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The Cosmic Calendar

Definition: a calendar in which the 14-billion-years of the universe’s existence, from the time of the Big Bang until this moment, are scaled to a period of one year. Origin: The idea of the Cosmic Calendar was first described by astronomer Carl Sagan on the original version of the television show Cosmos in 1980. KeyContinue reading “The Cosmic Calendar” Continue reading

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