APOD Blog 2

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/
This is a beautiful photograph of the planet Mars. It was able to be captured like this because Mars is at opposition tonight, which means opposite the Sun in the planet Earth's sky. Another reason why Mars is so easy to see is because it appears so close to the Full Moon. In the photograph mars is 99 million kilometers away. There is a large white spot on the upper right and its called the north polar cap. Mars also has a tiny red disk which is about one one hundreth the diameter of the Full Moon.

APOD blog 1.8

This photo is entitled "eclipse over temple of poisidon". It is a carefuly organized and planed photograph which captures the partially eclipsed sun. The temple is located in Sounio, Greece. The flying bird overhead occured by chance and only increased the beauty of the photograph. At some locations the moon covered the whole middle of the sun creating the surrounding ring of fire of an annular solar eclipse. This is an amazing photograph and work of art.

ASTRONOMY CAST EP 149

This episode discusses a new program created by Nasa. The program is called the "constellation program", and it deals with creating machines and technology for space exploration. The program is working on developing items from rockets, landers, and flight technology. Perhaps with this new technology we can learn more about space objects such as asteroids and even planets in the solar system. I think its interesting that Nasa is creating new technologies and am excited for the effects of development to occur.

ASTRONOMY CAST EP159

This episode is regarding the supposed planet "x" and it's location in the universe. Apparently this planet is responsible for the location of planet Neptune and dwarf planet Pluto, however some still believe it lies beyond those planets. Also, some scientists believe this planet being discovered would mark the end of the world.
It's presumed to be about one point five billion km away from Earth.

APOD Blog 1.7

This is referred to as the "flame nebula", because due to it's dark glow and dust it appears to be a billowing fire at some angles. This nebula lies near the constellation of Orion. What causes the "Flame" in the nebula is the Easternmost star is the Belt of Orion, referred to as Alnitak. The star sends energetic light into the flame which sends electrons away from the clouds of hydrogen gas. The glow occurs when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. I thought this was a beautiful image.

1.6 Apod Blog

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091206.html
This photograph is entitled, "The Magnificent Tail of Comet McNaught". I chose it because I just made and presented my project on comets and meteors recently, so I understand what's going on in the photograph. The tail which stretched across the sky was visible to Southern Hemisphere observers, but also just above the horizon for some north hemisphere viewers as well. This comet was the "spectacular" comet of 2007, and the brightest comet of the last fourty years. The Ulysses aircraft recently flew through the tail of comet McNaught and recorded that the speed of solar wind had dropped a significant amount. <3comets<3

Astronomer Quarter 2 Essay

Rania Shafie

Period 1

1-5-10

Mr. Perceival Astronomy

The English Astronomer William Lassell was born on June 18th, 1799 in Bolton, Lancashire. A self made man and a very accomplished astronomer, Lassell discovered several moons as well as developed telescopes over the course of his astronomy career. His career as an astronomer came about through his own personal interest. However, he didn’t begin his career as an astronomer until he struck gold with a beer brewing business. After already becoming accomplished in the brewing business, he was able to indulge in his astronomical interests.

The first step in starting off Lassell’s astronomy career was when he constructed an observatory near Liverpool. This is where he was able to delve further into his interests for reflectors. He preferred large reflectors, and in 1844 William developed his own. It was a twenty four inch telescope which Lassell used himself. Using this telescope, Lassell discovered the first moon of Neptune, Triton. He made this discovery amazingly only seventeen days after Neptune itself was discovered. Other telescopes which he is known to have constructed include a forty eight inch reflector which he used to observe as well as record positions and qualities of several nebulae in Malta. The year was 1855, and he stationed it in Malta due to the clear observing conditions.

Further accomplishments by Lassell include the discovery of several moons, as well as winning an astronomy award. In 1846 William discovered Hyperion, which is a moon of Saturn, as well as the crepe ring of Saturn. In 1851, five years later, Lassell discovered two moons of Uranus, Ariel and Umbriel. He discovered these moons during the same time he created the forty eight inch reflector, in Malta. In 1849, after discovering Triton and the moon of Saturn, Lassell won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Later, in 1870, Lassell served as the president for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Lassell died in 1880 in Maidenhead, leaving a fortune of what today amounts to millions behind. However, William can still be remembered through the astronomical objects which were named after him. These include a crater on the moon as well as a crater on Mars. On top of this, one of Neptune’s rings is also named after William.



Works Cited

Works Cited

William Lassell. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. .

William Lassell. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. .