How to Find a Planet in 3 (Not So) Easy Steps
Finding an exoplanet using one of the most common methods is pretty easy in theory. But be warned, it’s much harder in practice than it sounds.
Tag: astronomy
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Stellar Magnetism
Like the Sun and the Earth, stars have magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are powerful, yet little is known about them.
“GEER”ing up for Planet Simulation
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the surface of another planet up close? Well, NASA researchers in Cleveland are making this possible right here on Earth. The Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER) is a chamber capable of regenerating temperatures, pressures…
Understanding the Space of Space
In the past, the largest obstacle that separated humans was distance. In the first half of the 20th century, we built machines that made it possible to drive non-stop from Wilmington, NC to San Diego, CA in one and a half days or to fly…
Cold, What Is It Good For?
Winter is officially still three weeks away, although the alternating 30° F nights and 75° F days makes that difficult to remember. The arrival of winter means that it is less pleasant to be outside, there are fewer hours of sunlight, and it is harder…
Perseid Meteor to Light Up Night Sky
The Perseids are here! This annual meteor shower is one of the best and brightest, but this year it’s predicted to be even more spectacular. So, if you’re in a dark place tonight, look up. You may see a 4.5-billion-year-old remnant from the solar system burn…
The End of A Planetary Road Trip
Recently, NASA’s JUNO spacecraft slowed down by 1,212 miles per hour in a carefully coordinated 35 minute maneuver. This slowdown is similar to you slamming on the brakes to stop your car on the highway in 2 seconds. Braking to the exact right speed allowed…
Discovering New Horizons
Humans need to explore. Not because it is in our DNA – the gene for exploration hasn’t been discovered yet – but because it is essential to our survival and well-being as a species. Scarcity of food and changing weather most likely pushed our ancient…
The Pillars of Creation and Destruction
We like to think of the Universe as static. Our time is very short compared to the age of the Universe. But there are processes in space that happen on the time scales we inhabit. The variation in brightness of certain types of stars allow…