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Tag Archives: Solar System: Terrestrials
Rock Samples from Mars
Mars has been of interest because of evidence that it may have once supported life. NASA’s latest rover, Perseverance, has been sent to Mars to look for signs of ancient life. A big part of this endeavor is sending samples from Mars back to Earth for m… Continue reading
Posted in Class, Instruments, Space Travel
Tagged astro2110, blog3, Mars, Solar System: Terrestrials
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Phases of the Earth
If you live on Earth, you can probably picture the Moon cycling through its different phases in the sky. But have you ever thought about what it would look like if you lived on the Moon and saw Earth in the sky? Turns out Earth has phases too. Similar … Continue reading
Posted in Class
Tagged astro2110, blog1, earth, phases, Solar System: Moons, Solar System: Terrestrials
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Amazing Auroras
Auroras happen when charged particles within solar winds go through Earth’s magnetic field. Solar winds are fast moving, plasma particles discharged by sunspot regions, areas where the Sun’s magnetic fields become tangled and burst. These particles bump into different atomic elements, such as nitrogen and oxygen, to create ions in excited states that release lightContinue reading “Amazing Auroras” Continue reading
Posted in Class, Light, Observables
Tagged astro2110, auroras, blog4, Solar System: Sun, Solar System: Terrestrials
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The Disappearing Road
Tides are produced by the difference in the gravitational force of the Moon on the near and far side of Earth; this force causes tidal bulges on the side of Earth facing the Moon and the side of Earth opposite the Moon. During Earth’s rotation, high tides happen when a place goes through the tidalContinue reading “The Disappearing Road” Continue reading
Posted in Class
Tagged astro2110, blog2, Solar System: Moons, Solar System: Terrestrials, tides
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Ancient Interpretation of Solar Eclipses
In ancient Iraq, it was believed that a solar eclipse meant something awful was going to happen to the king or ruler. Ancient Mesopotamian astronomers could accurately determine when an eclipse would occur. When a solar eclipse was projected to happen, the court and priests would prepare for this event by planting a substitute kingContinue reading “Ancient Interpretation of Solar Eclipses” Continue reading
Posted in Class
Tagged astro2110, blog1, Solar Eclipse, Solar System: Moons, Solar System: Sun, Solar System: Terrestrials
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The Real Villain in Pluto’s Demise
The removal of Pluto as a planet was an emotional blow to anyone with a heart. It was a devastating betrayal leaving many asking questions that no one wanted to hear the answers to. While there were many reasons behind Pluto’s status change, the ultimate culprit is the dwarf planet Eris. Eris was discovered inContinue reading “The Real Villain in Pluto’s Demise” Continue reading
Posted in Class, Historical, Public Policy
Tagged astro2110, blog5, Eris, Kuiper Belt, Solar System: Terrestrials
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Why NASA?
With a growing distrust in both science and the government (something I discussed in one of my earlier blog posts about the Flat Earth Movement), NASA is one government agency that comes under a lot of fire these days. With many in politics hoping to slash the NASA budget or cut the agency entirely, itContinue reading “Why NASA?” Continue reading
Posted in Class, Public Policy, Space Travel
Tagged astro2110, blog4, exploration, NASA, policy, Solar System: Terrestrials
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Why We Opted for Mars, not Venus
For years, the idea of colonizing another planet has fascinated the world (and with our climate crisis, become a very topical issue). After the moon, there are two obvious options, Mars and Venus. Obviously, we have directed our efforts towards Mars, but why not Venus? Venus is more comparable to the Earth in size andContinue reading “Why We Opted for Mars, not Venus” Continue reading
Posted in Class
Tagged astro2110, blog3, Solar System: Terrestrials, venus
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How do we name our Solar System?
We all remember learning the mnemonic device in elementary school: My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Noodles (or whatever variation you prefer). Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the eight planets of our solar system. But what do these names actually mean? How do planets and moons and other stuff inContinue reading “How do we name our Solar System?” Continue reading
Posted in Moons
Tagged astro2110, blog4, dwarfplanets, IAU, planets, Solar System: Dwarf Planets, Solar System: Jovians, Solar System: Moons, Solar System: Terrestrials
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The Resurgence of Flat Earth Theory
While believers in a Flat Earth have always existed (even after it became widely understood that the Earth is a sphere), the number of “Flat Earthers” has grown (and continues to grow) at alarming rates. So how is a fact that has been proven thousands of different ways over a few thousand years rejected byContinue reading “The Resurgence of Flat Earth Theory” Continue reading
Posted in Class, Historical
Tagged astro2110, blog2, nature of science, Solar System: Terrestrials
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