Universe Beyond | Observations in Astronomy

Celestial Events

One of the big hobbies that the novice Astronomer can engage in is star gazing. Many star gazers, though, really have no idea what they are looking at or looking for. For instance, there is going to be a fantastic lunar eclipse, not to be confused with a solar eclipse, and while that might seem like basic knowledge, what about other things, like meteor showers, a passing comet, shooting stars, or even the color of the stars so that they can be identified in the sky. There are even questions about what it means when something is twinkling or not twinkling. Here is a brief how-to guide on identifying certain phenomena in the skies.
The first discussion is about lunar eclipse and solar eclipse, and what is actually happening during these events. A lunar eclipse is a phenomenon when the earth blocks the suns rays from reaching the moon, thus blocking out the moon. This is a brief event. A solar eclipse is when the moon blocks the suns rays from reaching the earth, thus making is appear like the sun is disappearing.
What are some other events that can take place? Meteor showers are a very interesting and literal incident in that pieces of a comet appear to enter the earth’s atmosphere and it appears to look like a light shower in the sky. What about the different colors in the sky? The color of a star is based on the temperature of a star, and unlike what we assume; blue tends to be a star that is very hot, while red is a star that is cool. Finally, what about twinkling stars? There is a myth that stars twinkle when they are dying, but really, it is refracted light. When we look at a star that twinkles, just know that it is because we have to look through many layers of environment in order to see the star; they don’t actually twinkle.

Filed Under: Satellites, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Lunar eclipse, Meteor shower, Solar eclipse

Beginner Astronomy Tools

If you have ever considered taking up the hobby of Astronomy, there are some helpful tips and hints that would make the experience very enjoyable. There are is nothing worse, than beginning on an adventure, only to find that you are unprepared, and then frustrated by the end. It is always best to have a game plan when embarking on a new adventure, and to also have good expectations.
When taking on the task of preparing for a good Astronomy hobby, it might be wise to first visit an observatory. Here they can tell you about the constellations, the different stars, planets, and moons. This will help you know what to look for, and explain what exactly you are looking at. This will make the experience much more enjoyable, as there is a good knowledge base to work from. Next, you will need to have your own telescope. It does not have to be a high priced piece of equipment, but something to get you started. Another item would be a constellation chart. You can challenge yourself to try and find the different constellations listed on the chart. This will help you expand your knowledge, and make the hobby fun. The other element this exercise provides is that you will become more familiar with the equipment you are using, and you will then notice that you can navigate through the charts and use the equipment much faster than what you started, and with more ease.
The final piece of equipment that will be handy is a journal. You can write down all of your sightings, and create an expedition log. You can use this to notate interesting phenomenon, or set mile-stones for yourself as your skills and knowledge increase. Then, you can refer back to the very beginning of your journal, and this will be a good way to realize just how much you have learned along the way.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Amateur, Astronomy, Constellation

Lunar Eclipse 2010

There is so much talk about the lunar eclipse that is taking place this year. In doing some research it is obvious why; this year, the eclipse it taking place on the same day that the winter solstice is occurring. For those that do not understand what this means, here is a little breakdown on what these two events mean. The winter solstice is when the earth is at is furthermost distance away from the sun. This usually is the day of the year that marks the first day of winter. If using a standard calendar, it will say on December 21st, that we will have our solstice.
The second important element is the lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse is when the earth blocks the suns rays from reaching the moon, and therefore the moon is briefly blacked out. It is an interesting coincidence that these two events will be happening simultaneously. In fact, this type of phenomenon, both events happening on the same day, the marking of winter with the solstice, and a lunar eclipse,has not been recorded since the 1630′s, 1638 to be more exact.
Halley’s comet passing by the earth is a more common event than our 2010 eclipse and solstice combination. For Astronomy buffs, this is a once in a lifetime event that should be documented for future generations, as it will be many generations before this will be seen again. To be more precisely, we will have wait nearly 90 more years for this type of occurrence. There is no doubt that this years eclipse will go down in the text books, almanacs, and journals for future generations of science students, many of whom will have envy for those that were able to experience this event live, and in their lifetimes. The irony, many will stay in bed and miss the whole experience.

Filed Under: Universe Beyond Tagged With: Earth, Lunar eclipse, Moon

Ride The Wave

Surfers around the world are constantly looking for places that have great waves. Some have said that the west coast off of California is good for surfing because of the cold water, and then in Hawaii because of the cliffs, and the sea floor. There is a deeper, more scientific reason why waves even exist, regardless of their size. Waves are an astronomical phenomenon that is created by the pull of the moon through its orbit. So let’s dive into the topic a little deeper, and find out why we have waves, and why they are different depending on the location.
Remember that the earth is a spinning ball, and around the ball is another ball, called the moon. The force of these two moving masses creates movement, either in the form of shifting land, or in the case of the oceans, moving water. Think of it like this, if you place a spinner in the ground, and have two people blow on it from opposite sides, it will spin on its stick, and then also spin in the direction of the strongest push, or pull. That is the same reaction that water has with the motion of the earth and moon patterns.
So, why are waves larger in some areas and not in others? They differ in size because wind is also creating an affect, in addition to the pull of the earth and moon. The wind is created by the different temperatures on the earth colliding, and creating a force that is pulling the ocean water into different directions. We do not feel this on the land because it is a solid surface and anchored, so it is able to resist the pull. So the end result of all of this motion and force on the ocean water is what surfers would say is “radical.”

Filed Under: Universe Beyond Tagged With: California, Hawaii, Surfing, Water, Wave

A Double Star With Two Planets

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In an article recently published in the journal of Astronomy & Astrophysics, a German research team of astronomers reported finding a double star with two planets. The formation may indicate that the group has survived major changes in the solar system.

Led by Klaus Euermann, a researcher with the Georg-August-Universitat in Germany, the team reported two planets, about the size of Jupiter, orbiting the double star. The group found the double star and its planets in the NN Serpentis solar system, which is an estimated 1,670 light years away from Earth. The discovery was the result of analyzing information collected between 1988 and 2010.

Part of the date for the analysis came from the University of Texas at Austin, which has a telescope equipped to capture images. Don Winget is the main astronomer who operated the telescope during the time it collected the data.

Earth’s location along the same plane in the binary star system allows astronomical equipment to capture an eclipse of the double star group every 3 hours and 7 minutes. The eclipse occurs when the large star blocks the light of the other star. The eclipses allowed the astronomers to detect changes in the double star group based on the timings of the eclipses.

Out of the two planets, one is almost 6 times as large as Jupiter. It circles the double star, also called a binary star, on schedule of one rotation every 15.5 years based on six Astronomical Units. The other planet is smaller, weighing in at only 1.6 times the size of Jupiter, and it completes its rotation in a little under eight years.

In the grand scheme of things, the new discovery won’t help astronomers in the search for hospitable plants; however, it will allow researchers to learn more about red dwarfs and white dwarfs.
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Filed Under: Astronomy, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Astronomy, Binary star, Earth, Jupiter, NN Serpentis, Solar System, Star, University of Göttingen

$500,000 Grant Helps Space Programs in Florida

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As scientists and other researchers continue to build bigger and better technological advances for space exploration, the current race among universities and other astronomical associations is to locate Earth-like planets. While these planets don’t need to have continents, mountains, or other things you may associate with Earth, they do need to have an atmosphere that can support life. The new research tools are continuing to expand the range of exploration, leading to the possibility that an Earth-like planet is just around the proverbial corner.

While it certainly sounds fun to be at the forefront of space exploration, devoting time and resources to finding Earth-like planets takes funding. For one university, a new grant will take care of that need, allowing researchers to focus on finding proof of another habitable planet. The Dharma Endowment Foundation of Alachua recently donated $500,000 to the University of Florida in order to help the university further the knowledge of the universe. The grant also supports the search for extra solar planets that could harbor life.

Jian Ge is the lead astronomer with the university and the main recipient of the grant. He hopes to find an Earth-like planet near bright stars. Ge will be able to use the grant to build the third high precision Exoplanet Tracker and form a network for research. The university hopes to have seven instruments to use in its exploration. The instruments will scan the sky on a 24-hour basis rather than waiting until nightfall.

The Exoplanet Tracker will use technology developed over several years and will incorporate the Doppler technique. Researchers have used the Doppler technique to find over 80 percent of the discovered planets. The technology may make it easier to detect exoplanets with less mass.

Using the funds from the grant, the university expects to have the network completed by 2014. The university will continue to raise funds to try to complete the network sooner.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Andrew Howard, Astronomy, Earth, Extrasolar planet, Kepler Mission, NASA, Planet, University of Florida

Kepler Spacecraft Proves its Use as a Discovery Machine

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According to Steve Kawaler, who works as a physics and astronomy professor at Iowa State University, NASA’s Kepler spacecraft is changing the study of stars. The main reason for this is the quality and the quantity of information the discovery machine is reporting.

The Kepler is part of the Kepler Space Mission that launched in March 2009. The spacecraft orbits the sun and reports the data back to researchers. The data comes from a variety of observation instruments, including a telescope and a photometer. The photometer measures the change in brightness for a star. The telescope connects to a 95 megapixel camera.

As the Kepler orbits, it keeps the tools trained on a specific part of the Milky Way, the Cygnus-Lyra region. Researchers working with the Kepler Asteroseismic Investigation hope to use the information sent from the spacecraft to discover new planets with a similar atmosphere to earth. These planets, if discovered, may be able to sustain life.

The project’s research team has four committee members: Ron Gilliland, Hans Kjeldsen, and Jorgen Christensen-Dalsgaard who join Kawaler. To put the scope of the project into perspective, Kawaler reports the Kepler has returned as much information in one year as other projects would take 300 years to deliver. So far, the studies have resulted in eight papers.

NASA expects the Kepler to orbit earth until at least 2013. During that time, it should record over 17,000 stars. The current data already indicates a variety of stars in the galaxy from white dwarfs to binary star systems to subdwarf B stars. The light variance detected by the Kepler helps demonstrate Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which is another analytical tools the research team is using.

With all the information provided by the Kepler, the research teams hope to learn more about our galaxy, specifically the sun.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Telescopes, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Binary star, Earth, Iowa State University, Kepler Mission, Milky Way, NASA, Space, Star

New Galaxy May be the Oldest Creation

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A picture taken by the Hubble Space Telescope may hold evidence of the oldest thing in existence, a galaxy. The picture captures what appears to be a blurry light, and European astronomers believe this is a galaxy. Based on their calculations, this system of stars would date back 13.1 billion years. It also appears to be the farthest galaxy discovered to date.

Matthew Lehnert, an astronomer with the Paris Observatory, is the author of a study that analyzes this newly discovered galaxy. According to research, the star system probably is a shadow of its earlier existence, with much of it incorporated into larger neighbors. For those who have trouble grasping what this means for the system, astronomy professor Richard Ellis offers an analogy. He says the studying the system is like looking at a young child from an adult lifespan.

Ellis, who works with the California Institute of Technology, said the study appears to have valid research; however, other studies have made similar claims about the distance and age and failed to live up to expectations upon further research. Some experts are already questioning the finding for this particular study.

To determine the age of the galaxy, the team of astronomers working on the study spent 16 hours viewing light signatures through a telescope located in Chile. They also analyzed cooling hydrogen gas. From these observations, the team calculated the date.

One thing to keep in mind is astronomers use the Big Bang theory to indicate the beginning of time. Therefore, these calculations estimate the age from the Big Bang. Astronomers will continue to study the unnamed galaxy, currently referred to as the high red-shift blob, to try to confirm the European team’s findings.

If the findings hold up, it could help astronomers put a date to our galaxy, assuming the Milky Way appeared shortly after the high red-shift blob formed.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Telescopes, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Astronomer, Big Bang, California Institute of Technology, Chile, Hubble Space Telescope, Milky Way, Paris Observatory, Richard Ellis

Sports Teams With Astronomy-base Names

Of the 148 professional teams in the five major sports (baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer) in the United States, only three teams have nicknames that come from the world of astronomy: the Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer), Phoenix Suns (National Basketball Association, and the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. That is only 2 percent. Now, there are some monikers that arguably are connected to astronomy, like the Houston Rockets and New York Jets, but only the Galaxy, Suns and Astros are true astronomy names.

Since its genesis in 1995, the Los Angeles Galaxy have been one of the most celebrated teams in the MLS. They have captured two MLS Cups (2002 and 2005), second only to DC United’s four, and have reached the MLS championship game six times. The Galaxy’s main claim to fame is employing some of the most famous players the MLS has had. Midfielder Landon Donovan is the most decorated American soccer player of all-time, as well as one of the most prolific goal scorers in MLS history. In 2007, the Galaxy added the most popular soccer player in the world, David Beckham, also a midfielder.

The Astros and Suns haven’t quite been cornerstones of their respective leagues like the Galaxy have.

The popularity of the Suns has never been quite like it has been the last five years. A run-and-gun attack, led by point guard Steve Nash, has brought admirers from around the NBA, but has yet to earn Phoenix a championship.

The Astros claim to fame seems to be that legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan played for them for nine season. During Ryan’s tenure in Houston, he threw one of his MLB-record seven no-hitters.

Perhaps organizations looking to nickname a sports team resist looking to astronomy because such monikers haven’t exactly been associated with success.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, United States

Between Theories and Truths: Astronomy

Astronomy is the exploration (and eventual discovery) of the universe. This is a truth well known among even the most casual of hobbyists. The purpose of science is progress; and the purpose of galaxies is to be understood.

But what may not be understood, however, is that Astronomy is not a singular process. Its rules are not kept to just one idea, one study. It is instead divided into countless fields–each a mastery of their own tiny corner of the stars. There is simply too much beyond this world to gather as one piece. The elements must instead be broken apart and examined individually.

And the two most prevalent examinations are Theoretical and Observational Astronomy.

Theoretical: as the name implies, Theoretical Astronomy is a collection of possibilities. Unlike most sciences–which offer constant proof and consistent answers–this is a realm composed of few facts and more assumptions. Due to the limitations of man (unable yet to reach the far recesses of planets and constellations), Theoretical Astronomy relies of simulations, calculations and good sense. The sky is studied and then predicated through software and computer programs; which comprise the majority of this work. The intention is the future.

Observational: acting as a perfect counter to theories is Observational Astronomy. Through this current patterns and celestial systems are tracked. All data is collected and used to understand the universe as it is at that moment (rather than what it will be). Utilizing telescopes and radio waves, scientists can learn of any irregularities and their effects on Earth, as well as seeking out new possibilities. Unlike the more imaginative Theoretical, this is a field devoted to what is known; not what may be one day be seen. It strives to prove, not simply postulate.

It must be noted, however, that both of these fields play a vital role in understanding the universe. They rely on each other to create progress and discover truth. Neither is more important and both must be used.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Satellites, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Astronomy, Earth, Universe