Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
Master parent category for all my reviews: books, movies, television shows, restaurants, products.
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, Jupiter and Saturn have only minor trace amounts of methane and quite a bit more hydrogen and ammonia.
Regions of both the near side and far side of the Moon not covered by mare basalt are called highlands. The highlands consist of the ancient lunar surface rock, anorthosite, and materials thrown out during the creation of the impact basins. (“Lunar Rocks | National Air and Space Museum,” n.d.)
The anorthosite rock highlands are brighter than the maria basalts. Pulverized by meteoric action, both the basalts of the maria and the anorthosite of the highlands are covered by a blanket of powdered rock, also known as regolith. Continue reading “Dark Seas and Bright Highlands”
Short answer: Jupiter
Long answer: Still Jupiter, but let’s dive in and take a more detailed look.
A long time ago in a solar system very near you, just 1 or 2 AU past the snow line, enough surrounding planetesimals were accreted to become an Earth-like body containing about ten (10) Earth masses of metal and rock. This, in turn, gave this massive body enough gravitational attraction to pull vast amounts of hydrogen, helium and ices near its orbit, creating the first planet in our solar system: Jupiter. Impacts from the infalling gases and ices heated Jupiter up, so much so that for a short time, it outshown the protosun, if viewed from equal distances. Jupiter lacked the total mass to become a star, needing to be seventy-five (75) times more massive to achieve the necessary compression and heat in its core to sustain fusion.
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 are: a. 9 mm, b. 20 mm, and c. 55 mm?
From my textbook:
The magnification of a reflecting telescope is equal to the focal length of the primary mirror divided by the focal length of the eyepiece lens:
Magnification = Focal Length of Primary / Focal Length of Eyepiece
In the question stated above, the three different eyepieces will result in the following magnifications:
| 2000 mm / 9 mm = 222X |
| 2000 mm / 20 mm = 100X |
| 2000 mm / 55 mm = 36X |
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 the other blue planet in our solar system and how we discovered it without observing it first.
Before Newton, astronomy relied on observational data from which mathematical formulae and equations were created. Newton pioneered an approach which allowed mathematicians to extrapolate and predict the movement of objects using three assumptions, now commonly known as his laws of motion. Together with his formula for gravitational force, Newton transformed Kepler’s three laws to predict orbits of comets and other solar system objects. He further formulated a mathematical model, known as the Law of Universal Gravitation, that describes the behavior of the gravitational force that keeps the planets in their orbits. (Comins, 2015, p. 42-44)
Another semester is upon me and my continuing pursuit of a degree. This fall I’m seeking my science lab course credit so I decided to enroll in something I can easily get excited about: Astronomy
The following post begins a series of weekly discussion topics I’m required to choose and post to my online Introduction to Astronomy class discussion board. Since the formatting is very similar to that employed here at my blog, I’ll draft and publish my topics here as well. Feel free to comment or ask questions. I’ll do my best to answer or at least point you in the right direction.
Near and Far, Light and Dark; the Many Sides of Our Moon
Yin and yang can be thought of as complementary (rather than opposing) forces that interact to form a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts. Everything has both yin and yang aspects (for instance, shadow cannot exist without light).[1]
The moon’s rotation (axial spin) matches its revolution (orbit), also known as a synchronous rotation or tidally locked. This results in the same side, the near side, always facing towards Earth. Until 1959, humans had no idea what the far side of the moon looked like.[2] Continue reading “Lunar Yin Yang”
I knew going into Friday I would have a very long day ahead of me. I had errands I needed to run first thing in the morning, so I planned to be late to work. I stayed up past my usual bedtime, keeping my husband company. We watched the inaugural episode of the new Amazon series “The Tick”, which is a remake of the two other Tick series from the 90s and 00s. We also watched the latest episode of “Salvation,” which is shaping up nicely. Not enough science, but plenty of political and personal interactions to keep the layman interested.
I forgot to turn off my alarm but didn’t mind getting up at my normal time of half past five. I did a few minutes of exercise on our elliptical and ran myself through the shower. I avoided logging in to work so I wouldn’t distract myself from the errands I needed to complete. In honor of Monday’s total solar eclipse, I wore my commemorative T-shirt produced by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City. I made sure to grab my ASKC name badge and place it in my car as I would need it for the final event on my Friday schedule.
At half past seven, I left and headed north, with a quick side trip through the car wash, which was surprisingly unbusy so early in the morning. I continued north through Lansing and most of Leavenworth until I reached the old county courthouse. I parked in the Justice Center’s parking lot and serendipitously ran into one of my book club friends on her way to work.
I walked the block back to the old courthouse and grabbed number 45 from the dispenser with about ten minutes wait time before the Treasurer’s office opened. I decided to pay the taxes and fees for my newest vehicle the old-fashioned way – in person and with a handwritten check. The number displayed as being served was 41 so I knew I wouldn’t have long to wait. I made myself comfortable on the old pew-like wooden bench and continued listening to the Dreamsnake audiobook I’d recently checked out via Hoopla.
Tonight is opening night for Seattle Opera’s production of Madame Butterfly. My daughter, Rachelle, is once again a member of the cast. She appears third from the left in both photos below.
Now I’m wishing I was in Seattle so I could attend opening night.
Break a leg!
This past week I took a break from watching movies I’d requested through my local library (see my previous post about dumping my Netflix DVD subscription) and switched to streaming two new (to us) science fiction series via Amazon Prime.
My favorite thing about streaming a series is not having to wait a week between episodes, especially when you are coming late to the party. I do occasionally binge watch, but usually no more than four (4) episodes at once. I have limited myself to two (2) episodes a night of The Man in the High Castle with a solo sandwiched between allowing me to complete five (5) episodes this week. And I must say I am hooked.
It’s been years since I read PKD’s novel but even with my vague recollections I’m riveted by this production. I’ve pulled out my ebook edition to reread, but that won’t prevent me from continuing on with the rest of season one. There’s a reason PKD has so many adaptations. If you haven’t read anything by him, I highly recommend him.
The second series we started watching this week was Humans (stylized with an upside down A). I decided to watch this series based on an article I read months ago that stated if you really want to experience a robot rebellion, try Humans instead of or in addition to Westworld. I very much enjoyed Westworld, especially the cinematography, production quality, story and acting, which sets a very high bar for Humans to meet.
I am one step closer to cutting the cord. Last month, after nearly a dozen years of DVD home delivery, I switched to a streaming-only Netflix account. I joined Netflix in November 2005, before streaming was available, originally opting to have three DVDs available at once at home. Back then, I joined because I really hated due dates, especially from the then very popular home video rental giant BlockBuster. Where is BlockBuster now? (Hint: Netflix bought them)
I searched through my email archive to see the milestones in my Netflix account changes. I added Blu-Ray discs as a preferred format in 2008 and I believe the “instant watch” or streaming plan became available in 2009. In 2011, I changed from three to two DVDs at home at once, not wanting to give-up my ‘life-line’ to non-streaming movies and television shows.
Last month, my attitude changed because a couple of series I wanted to watch were not available via streaming nor physical media from Netflix or my local library. Specifically, The Man in the High Castle, only available through Amazon Prime, and The Handmaid’s Tale, only available through Hulu. Continue reading “A Dozen Years of DVD Home Delivery Ends”