Tag Archives: astronomy

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Posted on December 5, 2017 by mossjon314159

My final astronomy discussion topic attempts to answer “Why are some wavelengths of radio emission better than others in searching for extraterrestrial civilizations?”   Radio waves can travel immense distances without being significantly altered by interstellar medium.  They penetrate dust … Continue reading →

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Universal Song Remains the Same and Beyond All the Light We Cannot See

Posted on November 28, 2017 by mossjon314159

For such a small chapter, this week’s topic on Cosmology has some large and deep concepts.  I’m attempting to delve into “How did the period of inflation cause the universe to become homogeneous and isotropic?” Definitions Big Bang ~ Universe … Continue reading →

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Just A Sun-Day Drive Around the Galactic Neighborhood

Posted on November 15, 2017 by mossjon314159

This week I’m tackling the subject of our Sun’s motion through the Milky Way Galaxy and approximately how long one orbit is. The Milky Way Galaxy has two major spiral arms, named the Perseus Arm and the Scutum-Centaurus Arm.  There … Continue reading →

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Stellar Death Blasts

Posted on November 7, 2017 by mossjon314159

This week I discuss types of supernovae, specifically relating to the scenario where “Hydrogen lines are prominent in Type II supernovae but absent in Type Ia.  Type Ia supernovae decline gradually for more than a year, whereas  Type II supernovae … Continue reading →

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Absolute Magnitude Luminates Absolutely

Posted on October 24, 2017 by mossjon314159

This week I want to discuss “What might cause the closer of two identical stars to appear dimmer than the farther one?” Apparent Magnitude: A measurement of the brightness of stars without regard to their distance from Earth. The scale … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Constellations, Mathematics, Science, Sirius, Stars, STEM, Ursa Major, Vega | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Blue and Green with Envy

Posted on October 3, 2017 by mossjon314159

In this week’s discussion topic, I attempt to answer the question “Why are Uranus and Neptune distinctly bluer than Jupiter and Saturn?” On Uranus and Neptune, the methane absorbs red, orange and yellow light, reflecting back the blue.  In contrast, … Continue reading →

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Dark Seas and Bright Highlands

Posted on September 26, 2017 by mossjon314159

On the basis of lunar rocks brought back by the astronauts, explain why the maria are dark-colored, but the lunar highlands are light-colored? Regions of both the near side and far side of the Moon not covered by mare basalt … Continue reading →

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Gas Giant Genesis

Posted on September 20, 2017 by mossjon314159

Which giant planet formed first? Short answer:  Jupiter Long answer:  Still Jupiter, but let’s dive in and take a more detailed look. Birth of a Gas Giant A long time ago in a solar system very near you, just 1 … Continue reading →

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Foci and Mirrors

Posted on September 13, 2017 by mossjon314159

This week’s discussion topic will attempt to answer the question: Suppose your Newtonian reflector has a mirror with a diameter of 20 cm and a focal length of 2 m. What magnification do you get with eyepieces whose focal lengths … Continue reading →

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Newton and Neptune

Posted on September 5, 2017 by mossjon314159

My second post in my series of weekly discussion topics for my Introduction to Astronomy online class.  Last week I got up close and personal with the many sides of the Moon.  This week I take a closer look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Mathematics, Neptune, Science, Solar System | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments