Astronomy Online

Archive for the ‘Space News’ Category

Astronomy hasn’t always been a science, it was at one time more closely connected to astrology than it currently is.  But over time theories were tested and recorded by men who wanted answers.  This included men like Isaac Newton who realized our sun was a star like any other, and even Ptolemy who way back in 100AD realized our Earth was part of a planetary system.  The universe is infinite, which means astronomy is infinite.  Therefore it becomes necessary to specialize in one small part of astronomy. Let’s pick a constellation, Pisces, and discuss Pisces constellation astronomy.

How can there be a whole discussion of a constellation and its astronomy?  A constellation isn’t just some figure in the night sky.  Every constellation contains a number of interstellar objects and phenomenon including stars, nebulae, and even entire galaxies.  Pisces, for example, contains very few bright stars but does contain a unique galaxy from our point of view.  Galaxy NGC629, or M74, is a spiral galaxy like our own Milky Way, and we can see its facing side.  That means we see it from the top, from a perspective that shows its spiral arms reaching out into space.  To us it looks like a spiral someone might draw.  That doesn’t mean we can view it unaided.  Even with a hobbyist’s telescope it would look like a tiny, blurred spot.  But with a telescope of 12 inches aperture or more the spiral details will be visible.

Another unique feature of Pisces constellation astronomy is that an important part of the Sun’s path passes through Pisces today, where it did not when the constellations were first mapped. The first point of Aries is the point where the sun crosses the equator on its way North. This happens at the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring for the Northern hemisphere of the planet. When the First Point of Aries was established in ancient times it was east of Pisces. But over the years it has moved west into Pisces. This is an example precession, the movement of stars and objects in relation to Earth. It happens, of course, because none of these objects are stationary, and neither is the Earth. Our sun and our galaxy are moving at incredible speeds. The sun and solar system, for example, move at about 220 kilometers per second around the center of the galaxy. In all of human history, the solar system has moved 1/1250th of a complete revolution. Not only is the solar system moving, but so is the galaxy itself as well as every object in the night sky. So the constellations are always moving and changing. Pisces and the First Point of Aries are a great example of this.

See how interesting Pisces constellation astronomy can be?

There was a time when astronomy, and in fact all science, was a mixture of strange ideas and even superstition along with any real provable ideas. But stalwart men of science continued to look up into the night sky and consider the universe beyond the world upon which they stood. These were men such as Isaac Newton, who recognized that other stars are suns just like ours, Galileo who first used a telescope to gaze into the heavens, and even people as far back as Ptolemy who formulated the geocentric planetary system around 100 AD. The universe is infinite, which means astronomy is infinite. So a choice has to be made to zero in on a smaller sub-set of astronomy. Let’s pick a constellation, Pisces, and discuss Pisces constellation astronomy.

How can there be a whole discussion of a Pisces constellation astronomy? A constellation isn’t just some figure in the night sky. Every constellation contains a number of interstellar objects and phenomenon including stars, nebulae, and even entire galaxies. Pisces, for example, contains very few bright stars but does contain a unique galaxy from our point of view. M74, also known as galaxy NGC 628, is a face on spiral galaxy. That means we see it from the top, from a perspective that shows its spiral arms reaching out into space. It looks like a spiral to observers from Earth, in other words. Not with the naked eye, of course. And through most amateur telescopes it would appear as little more than a blurry spot. But with a telescope of 12 inches aperture or more the spiral details will be visible.

Another unique feature of Pisces constellation astronomy is that an important part of the Sun’s path passes through Pisces today, where it did not when the constellations were first mapped. The first point of Aries is the point where the sun crosses the equator on its way North. This happens at the Vernal Equinox, the first day of spring for the Northern hemisphere of the planet. When the First Point of Aries was established in ancient times it was east of Pisces. But over the years it has moved west into Pisces. This is an example precession, the movement of stars and objects in relation to Earth. It happens, of course, because none of these objects are stationary, and neither is the Earth. Our sun and our galaxy are moving at incredible speeds. The sun and solar system, for example, move at about 220 kilometers per second around the center of the galaxy. In all of human history, the solar system has moved 1/1250th of a complete revolution. Not only is the solar system moving, but so is the galaxy itself as well as every object in the night sky. So the constellations are always moving and changing. Pisces and the First Point of Aries are a great example of this.

See how interesting Pisces constellation astronomy can be?

A scientific dictionary is a niche product.  Scientists find it very useful.  There are many different categories, or types, of these dictionaries.  They cover all the sciences from biology, chemistry, to physics and in others.  Let’s take a look at some of them.  

One scientific dictionary is found on line.  It’s called Kimball’s Biology Pages.  It includes a search engine as well as an alphabetic list.  The alphabetic list leads to many index pages each one about a different subject.  Let’s look at one of these.

In this online scientific dictionary the letter z index page includes as zygotene.  That’s the name given to a process by which cells separate into chromosomes inside the nucleus.  This only happens in some cells.  The cell must be encased within a membrane.

The scientific dictionary also contains information about chimera.  This is also called a genetic mosaic.  This is the creation when two different early embryos are combined into one.  This process has been known to occur in humans.  The name comes from the Greek monster.  It had a lion’s head, a goat’s body and a serpent’s tail.

The scientific dictionary chimera is not the chimera of mythology.  It was a native of Lycia in Asia minor.  Homer wrote about it in the Iliad.  This creature could also breathe fire.  In some stories it had three heads, one each of the lion, goat, and serpent.

The chimera’s sibling monster won’t be found in the scientific dictionary either.  It was the Hydra.  This was another creature with multiple heads.  Hercules faced one of them.  When one head was cut off, two more would grow instantly in its place.  Needless to say it was very difficult to kill.

A scientific dictionary might also teach math to kids.  The online version includes interactive and animated displays.  There’s a lot of good knowledge to be gained from it.  One thing it mentions is an acute angle.  It’s an angle that’s less than 90°.  A cartoon pelican demonstrates the concept with its beak.  

This math scientific dictionary for kids also demonstrates area.  That’s how much space something uses.  To show this kids can drag various shapes over a grid and then count the number of squares taken up by the shape.  It shows the grid both in metric and standard units.

The possibilities are endless.  Chances are if you’re a scientist, or interested in science, you will find use in a scientific dictionary.

A scientific dictionary is a niche product.  It provides a lot of information for scientists.  There are many different kinds of dictionaries of this nature.  They cover all the sciences from biology, chemistry, to physics and in others.  Let’s take a look at some of them.  

There’s a good scientific dictionary on the Internet.  The name is Kimball’s Biology Pages.  It organizes information both alphabetically and via a search.  The alphabetic list leads to many index pages each one about a different subject.  Let’s look at one of them.

In this online scientific dictionary the letter z index page includes as zygotene.  This is a stage of mitosis which is the process of a cell separating into chromosomes in the nucleus.  This process only occurs in a certain type of cell.  This type of cell is located within a membrane.

Chimera is also found in this scientific dictionary.  Genetic mosaic is another name for it.  This is the creation when two different early embryos are combined into one.  It’s uncommon but possible in humans.  It’s named for a Greek monster that had parts from various animals.

But chimera of mythology is not the same as the one found in the scientific dictionary.  It was a native of Lycia in Asia minor.  Homer wrote about it in the Iliad.  This creature could also breathe fire.  In some stories it had three heads, one each of the lion, goat, and serpent.

The chimera’s sibling monster won’t be found in the scientific dictionary either.  It was the Hydra.  This was another creature with multiple heads.  Hercules faced one of them.  When one head was cut off, two more would grow instantly in its place.  Needless to say it was very difficult to kill.

Another scientific dictionary is one that contains information on math for kids.  The online version includes interactive and animated displays.  There’s a lot of good knowledge to be gained from it.  For example kids can learn about the acute angle.  That’s an angle less than 90°.  A cartoon pelican demonstrates the concept with its beak.  

This math scientific dictionary for kids also demonstrates area.  That’s how much space something uses.  Kids drag shapes to a grid, then count the squares occupied by the shape.  It shows the grid both in metric and standard units.

The possibilities are endless.  Chances are if you’re a scientist, or interested in science, you will find use in a scientific dictionary.