astronomy Archives - Science Connected Magazine

Astrophysicist Dr. Melinda Soares-Furtado is a NASA Hubble Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and PhD in Astrophysical Science from Princeton University. She works on detecting and characterizing stars in open clusters that have anomalous characteristics brought about by the ingestion of close-orbiting substellar companions.

Get to Know a Scientist: Astrophysicist Dr. Melinda Soares-Furtado

March 16, 2021April 5, 2021 Science Connectedastronomy, STEM careers, women in science, Women in STEM

An astrophysicist studies stars, planets, and other things in space. Introducing Dr. Melinda Soares-Furtado, who tells us about her career.

Astronomy

The Moon is Rusting, and Earth is Responsible

September 14, 2020April 7, 2021 Science Connectedastronomy, moon, space

Rust in the form of hematite has been found on the Moon, and new research suggests it could be caused by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Astronomy

What Does a Black Hole Look Like?

April 8, 2019March 3, 2021 Science Connectedactive galactic nucleus, astronomy, black holes, event horizon telescope, M87

By Steven Spence (@TheStevenSpence) “We ordinary people might lack your great speed or your X-ray vision, Superman, but never underestimate the power of the human mind.” Mark Millar, Superman: Red Son As I write this article, the science community is eagerly awaiting the April 10 press conference of the Event Horizon Telescope. By the time you read this, there will probably be multiple press releases and articles depicting a “photograph” of a black hole [1]. Technically, this will not be entirely true, but it will be a representation of a black…

Astronomy Chemistry

Green Bank Telescope: Two Weeks as a Visiting Astronomer in the Quiet Zone

December 6, 2018March 13, 2021 Science Connectedastronomy, GBT, green bank telescope, jansky laboratory, quiet zone

Pictured in the image above is the Jansky Laboratory, where scientific research is conducted at the Green Bank Observatory, with the Green Bank Telescope (GBT) in the background. The Jansky Lab is named for physicist and telephone engineer Karl Guthe Jansky, who in the 1930s first detected radio waves coming from the center of the Milky Way. By Olivia Wilkins Green Bank, West Virginia is known as “America’s Quietest Town”: there is no cell-phone service, and the use of wireless Internet, digital cameras, and even microwaves is heavily restricted. It…

Astronomy Physics

Explore the Science Behind the Aurora Borealis

September 6, 2018April 2, 2021 Science Connectedastronomy, aurora, aurora borealis, physics

The aurora borealis (the Northern Lights) is much more than pretty lights–it’s a perfect blend of solar wind and magnetic fields.

Astronomy Nature Photography Physics Science and Art

Photographing the Northern Lights in Iceland

September 4, 2018April 5, 2021 Science Connectedamateur astronomy, astronomy, aurora, aurora borealis, Photography

Find out how photographer Steven Spence chased the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights in Iceland and got some fantastic photos of them.

In October 2017, astrobiologist Karen J. Meech got the call every astronomer waits for: NASA had spotted the very first visitor from another star system. The interstellar comet -- a half-mile-long object eventually named `Oumuamua, from the Hawaiian for "scout" or "messenger" -- raised intriguing questions: Was it a chunk of rocky debris from a new star system, shredded material from a supernova explosion, evidence of alien technology or something else altogether? In this riveting talk, Meech tells the story of how her team raced against the clock to find answers about this unexpected gift from afar. This talk was presented at an official TED conference

Astronomy

Oumuamua: Asteroid from Another Star System

August 7, 2018August 1, 2018 Science Connectedasteroids, astrobiologist, astronomy, Karen J. Meech, Oumuamua, TED Talks

In October 2017, astrobiologist Karen J. Meech got the call every astronomer waits for: NASA had spotted the very first visitor from another star system. The interstellar comet — a half-mile-long object eventually named `Oumuamua, from the Hawaiian for “scout” or “messenger” — raised intriguing questions: Was it a chunk of rocky debris from a new star system, shredded material from a supernova explosion, evidence of alien technology or something else altogether? In this riveting talk, Meech tells the story of how her team raced against the clock to find…

This artist’s impression shows the first interstellar object discovered in the Solar System, `Oumuamua. Observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and others show that the object is moving faster than predicted while leaving the Solar System. Researchers assume that venting material from its surface due to solar heating is responsible for this behaviour. This outgassing can be seen in this artist’s impression as a subtle cloud being ejected from the side of the object facing the Sun. As outgassing is a behaviour typical for comets, the team thinks that `Oumuamua’s previous classification as an interstellar asteroid has to be corrected.

Astronomy

This Interstellar Asteroid Is Accelerating

July 31, 2018March 13, 2021 Science Connectedasteroid, astronomy, interstellar, Oumuamua, space

Oumuamua is an asteroid traveling so fast, it could go from the moon to the earth in 73 minutes! See the speedy asteroid with the U. of Hawaii telescope.

Astronomy Technology

What’s Jupiter Hiding?

February 22, 2018March 12, 2018 Science Connectedastronomy, JPL, Juno, Jupiter, NASA, space

By Steven Spence @TheStevenSpence Juno: Aptly named The Juno spacecraft currently orbiting Jupiter is appropriately named. In Roman mythology, Jupiter created a veil of clouds to hide his escapades with Io from his wife, Juno, but Juno was able to peer through the clouds and foil his plan. The Juno spacecraft, currently on its 11th science orbit[1] of Jupiter, is designed to see through Jupiter’s clouds, revealing secrets of the planet’s atmosphere and interior. Boldly going on a five-year mission Juno launched on August 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral aboard…

Astronomy Book Reviews What We're Reading

Book: See it with a Small Telescope

December 20, 2017April 7, 2021 Science Connectedastronomy, books, galaxy, milky way galaxy, telescopes, universe

Take an adventure through the universe through the lens of your telescope! Author Will Kalif tells us about his book, See it with a Small Telescope. Title: See It With a Small Telescope: 101 Cosmic Wonders, Including Planets, Moons, Comets, Galaxies, Nebulae, Star Clusters, and More Author: Will Kalif Publisher: Ulysses Press Best for: Astronomy buffs, telescope owners, and readers interested in popular science and space. The night sky is a deep, rich field of stars. Under normal dark sky conditions, when there is a new moon, there are approximately…