Astronomy Cast
Astronomy Cast is a great podcast featuring one topic each week and occasionally features a question show. Here's the description of the podcast from the Astronomy Cast website: "Astronomy Cast takes a fact based journey through the cosmos as it offers listeners weekly discussions on astronomical topics ranging from planets to cosmology. Hosted by Fraser Cain (Universe Today) and Dr. Pamela L. Gay (SIUE), this show brings the questions of an avid astronomy lover direct to an astronomer. Together Fraser and Pamela explore what is known and being discovered about the universe around us."
Approx. Length: 30 min.
Check it out at: http://www.astronomycast.com/
365 Days of Astronomy
Every day during 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, a new podcast is released made by various volunteers around the world. The volunteer podcaster creates a podcast about any subject of their choosing. A few of the podcast topics so far include: Tips for Your First Telescope, Understanding Variable Stars, The Man Who Beat Galileo, and way more.
Approx. Length: 10 min.
Check the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast out at: http://365daysofastronomy.org/
Skeptics Guide to the Universe (SGU)
The Skeptics Guide are "your guide to reality". Each show features discussions on pseudoscience, science related articles, an interview of a skeptic, a science or fiction segment - where they challenge the audience to determine which "discoveries" are science and which is fiction - and finally a quote from Bob.
Approx. Length: 1 hour 20 min.
Check out the wicked SGU podcast at: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/
SGU 5x5
The Skeptics Guide (SGU) to the Universe release this weekly podcast. The SGU panel discuss one topic per episode, usually debunking pseudoscience or discussing other important topics in regards with critical thinking.
Approx. Length: 5 min.
For 5 minutes with 5 skeptics go to: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/
Quirks and Quarks
Quirks and Quarks features a few topics each weeks where Bob McDonald, the host, interviews a specialist in the field of some recent discoveries.
Approx. Length: 53 min.
See what quirky science is going on, check out: http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/
And for those Mac fans out there:
MacCast
MacCast is a (usually) weekly podcast that keeps you up-to-date on what's up in the Mac world. This podcast covers Apple announcements, rumors, and more.
Approx. Length: 1 hour 20 min.
Check out what's going on in the Mac world at: http://www.maccast.com/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
What's Up? The four fundamental forces of the universe
Welcome back to What's Up?
During the past month methane was found in Mars' atmosphere. This methane may have been created either by Martian organisms or more likely, natural chemical reactions occurring inside Mars. Methane breaks down very quickly in Mars' atmosphere, lasting only a few years before dissipating. This means that methane is continually being replenished. NASA is now working on designing a new spectrometer that could detect whether the methane is being created by unknown life forms or by natural chemical processes.
Chemical interactions are occurring on Mars and everywhere else in the universe right now. These interactions are what allow every human being to live. What allows interactions to even take place?
As physicists currently understand, there are four fundamental forces that allow interactions to take place. The forces are gravity, the electromagnetic force, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force.
Gravity, the most well known force, also happens to be the most mysterious. It can act across vast distances and holds everything in our universe together, yet it is the weakest force. It is ten to the power of thirty-eight (one followed by thirty-eight zeros) times weaker than the strong nuclear force (the strongest force) and is the only force that can act upon all types of particles.
Gravity is also the only force without any detected particle to mediate it between particles. It has been theorized that "gravitons" transfer the force between particles but usually physicists refer to gravity as the bending of space-time as first proposed by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity.
The second weakest force is the weak nuclear force. Even though it is called the weak force it is still ten to the power of thirty-five (one followed by thirty-five zeros) times stronger than gravity.
The weak nuclear force governs beta decay. Beta decay is when a neutron (non-charged particle in an atom) transforms into a proton (positive charged particle in an atom). This force is communicated with W and Z bosons (obviously named by someone who needs a little more fun in their life).
The electromagnetic force, which may be somewhat familiar to some people, is a force that has effects observable in everyday life. Electromagnetism is everywhere, from fridge magnets, to roller coaster brakes, to every molecule in your body. The electromagnetic force affects all charged particles in the universe.
This force allows magnetic fields to form, such as the one around the Earth that protects life from radiation from the sun and other places in space.
Electricity and magnetism used to be considered two separate forces but eventually were found to be two aspects of the same force. This was proved when it was shown that the flow of electricity causes a magnetic field and vice versa.
The electromagnetic force is communicated with photons or virtual photons. Photons are what we perceive as light particles.
Finally, the strongest of the forces, is the strong nuclear force. It is the force that holds the particles within protons and neutrons together. Without this force, protons and neutrons wouldn't be able to form and since there would be no protons or neutrons, atoms wouldn't be able to form.
The four forces govern how our universe behaves; let's see what these interactions will lead to in the skies this month.
The full moon is on Feb. 9 this month and will shrink to a new moon by Feb. 25.
Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy for the year and is visible near the western horizon shortly after sunset. Through a telescope Venus will appear as a large crescent. It's definitely worth checking out if you have access to a telescope.
The Athena Community Astronomy Club's monthly meeting will take place on Feb. 22 at the Wilmot Community Center. It starts at 7pm and ends at 9pm. Guests are always welcome.
Finally, the morning before the meeting, just before sunrise on the 22nd, is a spectacular grouping of the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars. They will be best visible about 30 minutes before sunrise. Mars will be hiding very low in the eastern horizon with brilliant Jupiter above and to the right of it. Mercury, which is rarely ever visible, will be to the right of Jupiter and the thin crescent moon will sit a little farther off to the upper right in the sky.
Until next month, just look up!
Hey Kids...
Remember Spirit and Opportunity, the two "Tonka truck" rovers on Mars? Spirit and Opportunity were supposed to operate for about three months but are still operating after over five years on Mars! Opportunity is still operating as if it is almost good as new, but Spirit has been having some troubles lately. It's troubles started one day when scientists sent commands for what Spirit should do that day. Spirit received them, but it never moved. Then Spirit had trouble figuring out which direction it was looking. Finally, Spirit started having memory problems. Hopefully Spirit is just being a little stubborn and will get back to exploring Mars soon.
During the past month methane was found in Mars' atmosphere. This methane may have been created either by Martian organisms or more likely, natural chemical reactions occurring inside Mars. Methane breaks down very quickly in Mars' atmosphere, lasting only a few years before dissipating. This means that methane is continually being replenished. NASA is now working on designing a new spectrometer that could detect whether the methane is being created by unknown life forms or by natural chemical processes.
Chemical interactions are occurring on Mars and everywhere else in the universe right now. These interactions are what allow every human being to live. What allows interactions to even take place?
As physicists currently understand, there are four fundamental forces that allow interactions to take place. The forces are gravity, the electromagnetic force, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force.
Gravity, the most well known force, also happens to be the most mysterious. It can act across vast distances and holds everything in our universe together, yet it is the weakest force. It is ten to the power of thirty-eight (one followed by thirty-eight zeros) times weaker than the strong nuclear force (the strongest force) and is the only force that can act upon all types of particles.
Gravity is also the only force without any detected particle to mediate it between particles. It has been theorized that "gravitons" transfer the force between particles but usually physicists refer to gravity as the bending of space-time as first proposed by Albert Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity.
The second weakest force is the weak nuclear force. Even though it is called the weak force it is still ten to the power of thirty-five (one followed by thirty-five zeros) times stronger than gravity.
The weak nuclear force governs beta decay. Beta decay is when a neutron (non-charged particle in an atom) transforms into a proton (positive charged particle in an atom). This force is communicated with W and Z bosons (obviously named by someone who needs a little more fun in their life).
The electromagnetic force, which may be somewhat familiar to some people, is a force that has effects observable in everyday life. Electromagnetism is everywhere, from fridge magnets, to roller coaster brakes, to every molecule in your body. The electromagnetic force affects all charged particles in the universe.
This force allows magnetic fields to form, such as the one around the Earth that protects life from radiation from the sun and other places in space.
Electricity and magnetism used to be considered two separate forces but eventually were found to be two aspects of the same force. This was proved when it was shown that the flow of electricity causes a magnetic field and vice versa.
The electromagnetic force is communicated with photons or virtual photons. Photons are what we perceive as light particles.
Finally, the strongest of the forces, is the strong nuclear force. It is the force that holds the particles within protons and neutrons together. Without this force, protons and neutrons wouldn't be able to form and since there would be no protons or neutrons, atoms wouldn't be able to form.
The four forces govern how our universe behaves; let's see what these interactions will lead to in the skies this month.
The full moon is on Feb. 9 this month and will shrink to a new moon by Feb. 25.
Venus will reach its greatest brilliancy for the year and is visible near the western horizon shortly after sunset. Through a telescope Venus will appear as a large crescent. It's definitely worth checking out if you have access to a telescope.
The Athena Community Astronomy Club's monthly meeting will take place on Feb. 22 at the Wilmot Community Center. It starts at 7pm and ends at 9pm. Guests are always welcome.
Finally, the morning before the meeting, just before sunrise on the 22nd, is a spectacular grouping of the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars. They will be best visible about 30 minutes before sunrise. Mars will be hiding very low in the eastern horizon with brilliant Jupiter above and to the right of it. Mercury, which is rarely ever visible, will be to the right of Jupiter and the thin crescent moon will sit a little farther off to the upper right in the sky.
Until next month, just look up!
Hey Kids...
Remember Spirit and Opportunity, the two "Tonka truck" rovers on Mars? Spirit and Opportunity were supposed to operate for about three months but are still operating after over five years on Mars! Opportunity is still operating as if it is almost good as new, but Spirit has been having some troubles lately. It's troubles started one day when scientists sent commands for what Spirit should do that day. Spirit received them, but it never moved. Then Spirit had trouble figuring out which direction it was looking. Finally, Spirit started having memory problems. Hopefully Spirit is just being a little stubborn and will get back to exploring Mars soon.
Obama's stimulus package includes NASA and the NSF!
Looks like NASA and the NSF are getting a little chunk of the stimulus package. Check out Phil Plait's blog for the full lay-down.
| NASA | |
| Science | $300,000,000 |
| Aeronautics | $250,000,000 |
| Shuttle Replacement | $500,000,000 |
| Cross-Agency Support (Construction) | $250,000,000 |
| Office of the Inspector General | $2,000,000 |
| Total = $1,302,000,000 | |
| National Science Foundation | |
| Research and related activities | $1,000,000,000 |
| Major equipment and facilities construction | $150,000,000 |
| Education and human resources | $50,000,000 |
| Office of the Inspector General | $2,000,000 |
| Total = $1,202,000,000 | |
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Quickie on my first reactions to Windows 7 beta build 7000
I've only tried Windows 7 within Mac OS X using VMware Fusion 2.0. Works fair - very low performance but still functions somewhat smoothly whenever max settings are applied. Aero features did not work. Minesweeper crashes and system can't evaluate its own performance.
Overall, I LOVE the FEEL of Windows 7 beta. It feels so much better than Vista did. Vista never caught on to me... it had no "personality". Mac OS X is loveable but the feel isn't quite the same as Windows 7 (although it works much better and faster).
Installation took about 20-25 minutes on my aluminum MacBook 2.0 Ghz Dual Core, 2GB RAM
Here is a video Windows 7 beta booting:
I'm definitely buying it when it comes out - and dual booting with it - I can't wait!!! Only 11 months to wait - grr...
Overall, I LOVE the FEEL of Windows 7 beta. It feels so much better than Vista did. Vista never caught on to me... it had no "personality". Mac OS X is loveable but the feel isn't quite the same as Windows 7 (although it works much better and faster).
Installation took about 20-25 minutes on my aluminum MacBook 2.0 Ghz Dual Core, 2GB RAM
Here is a video Windows 7 beta booting:
I'm definitely buying it when it comes out - and dual booting with it - I can't wait!!! Only 11 months to wait - grr...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Methane found on Mars - most likely geological
A recent paper shows that methane was found in Mars' atmosphere. They also found that the amount of it varies with the seasons. This is a significant advance in the search for microbial life on Mars. Methane normally disappears from Mar's atmosphere over the course of only a few years.
These findings show that something is replenishing methane in Mars' atmosphere. The process that is replenishing Methane could either be biological or geological. Since methane is such a simple molecule to make there are many possible sources, but there is always that chance it could be biological.
Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, has a great blog post explaining the "Mars methane media mess". I have to disagree with Phil about NASA's headline for the finding: "Methane Discovery Reveals Mars is Not a Dead Planet." NASA uses the term "dead", meaning that there is no change occurring. It has for quite awhile and will continue to use it because it attracts readers to look further into the subject.
These findings show that something is replenishing methane in Mars' atmosphere. The process that is replenishing Methane could either be biological or geological. Since methane is such a simple molecule to make there are many possible sources, but there is always that chance it could be biological.
Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, has a great blog post explaining the "Mars methane media mess". I have to disagree with Phil about NASA's headline for the finding: "Methane Discovery Reveals Mars is Not a Dead Planet." NASA uses the term "dead", meaning that there is no change occurring. It has for quite awhile and will continue to use it because it attracts readers to look further into the subject.
One year of writing the What's Up? column for the Journal Pioneer
My last article, about the International Year of Astronomy, marks one year of me writing for the Journal Pioneer. I've compiled a list of my first 12 columns from my first year of writing for the Journal.
Here are the first twelve in chronological order:
Here are the first twelve in chronological order:
- There are Sister Storms Brewing on Jupiter : Feb. 2008
- Life in the Universe : March 2008
- Galactic Collisions - Milky Way and Andromeda : April 2008
- Galaxies, Dwarfs, and Hobbits : May 2008
- The Telescopes Opens Up the Universe : June 2008
- Dwarfs Hiding in the Sky : July 2008
- Life - and Death - Among the Stars : August 2008
- Eyeing up Stellar Oddballs : September 2008
- Hubble Opened a Door to the Stars : October 2008
- Space Isn't So Empty After All : November 2008
- A New Brightening Source of Pollution : December 2008
- The International Year of Astronomy : January 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
What's Up? The International Year of Astronomy!
Welcome back to What's Up?
New Year's day was a special one this year. As you counted down the last few seconds until 2009, hopefully you were aware that there was a leap second added at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This leap second was the 24th leap second was added since 1972 to make up for the Earth's slowing rotation. Without leap seconds our clocks would not be adjusted to where the sun is in the sky. Imagine this growing difference when it starts to add up to a few hours!
An interesting start to what is hopefully a great year, because this year is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). It marks the 400th anniversary of the first time a telescope was used to look up at the sky. This was done by Galileo Galilei when he heard that Hans Lippershey, a Dutch optician, had created a device that could magnify distant objects. Galileo discovered many things very quickly after looking up, such as Saturn's rings, Jupiter's four biggest moons, the phases of Venus and Mercury, as well as many other discoveries that showed everything in our solar system does not orbit the Earth.
All across the world 135 countries are participating in IYA2009, hosting various events throughout the year to raise awareness about astronomy's contributions to culture, science, our day-to-day lives, and to show just how interesting it really is.
2005 was the International Year of Physics. It went almost unnoticed by the general public. Only a pair of eyes are needed to view the night sky while physics can require a lot of theoretical mathematics and mind-bending concepts. It is hoped that IYA2009 will be the exact opposite and be a great success, since it could inspire hundreds of thousands of amateur astronomers across the globe.
A few of the major goals of IYA2009 are to increase scientific awareness and literacy, promote widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences, provide gender and racial equality among scientists, and provide a modern image of science and scientists (science doesn't have to be stale and boring).
You can find the IYA2009 website at "http://www.astronomy2009.org/" or the Canadian IYA2009 site at "http://www.astronomy2009.ca/."
Throughout the year, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open for any events happening here on the Island hosted by either the Athena Community Astronomy Club or the Charlottetown Astronomy Club. There will most likely be some special meetings and viewings where you can get the opportunity to look through a telescope at the beautiful night sky.
If you do get out to take a look up at the sky, with a telescope or simply your eyes, here is what you can look for in this month's sky.
To start the month off is the Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 3. The Quadrantid meteor shower can produce upwards of 100 meteors per hour but are seldom observed because the shower only lasts a few hours. To view them just get comfortable (if that is possible in the cold), lean back, and look up between 2am and sunrise. If you trace back to where the meteors come from you will see that most of them appear to radiate from somewhere near the handle of the Big Dipper.
The full moon occurs on Jan. 10 and will become new again on Jan. 26.
The best time to catch Mercury will be early in the month. Look low in the western horizon about half an hour after sunset. There will be a very bright "star" near the horizon, that's Jupiter. Mercury will be hiding just below Jupiter. This elusive planet will be best visible on Jan. 4 but should be visible a few days before and after that date.
Venus will appear at its highest position this month on Jan. 14 in the southwestern sky after sunset. It will be the second brightest object in the night sky, the brightest being the moon.
Until next month, just look up!
Hey Kids...
Astronomers that study gravity have figured out that they can use PlayStation 3's for their computer simulations. They hooked up sixteen PlayStation 3's together to run their simulations of "gravity waves". Gravity waves are ripples in the space around us and were predicted by Einstein. If these simulations were run on a supercomputer it would cost $5000 just to run it once! Read more about this by searching "black holes PlayStation 3" at www.UniverseToday.com. PlayStations aren't just great for games, they're great for science too!
New Year's day was a special one this year. As you counted down the last few seconds until 2009, hopefully you were aware that there was a leap second added at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This leap second was the 24th leap second was added since 1972 to make up for the Earth's slowing rotation. Without leap seconds our clocks would not be adjusted to where the sun is in the sky. Imagine this growing difference when it starts to add up to a few hours!
An interesting start to what is hopefully a great year, because this year is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). It marks the 400th anniversary of the first time a telescope was used to look up at the sky. This was done by Galileo Galilei when he heard that Hans Lippershey, a Dutch optician, had created a device that could magnify distant objects. Galileo discovered many things very quickly after looking up, such as Saturn's rings, Jupiter's four biggest moons, the phases of Venus and Mercury, as well as many other discoveries that showed everything in our solar system does not orbit the Earth.
All across the world 135 countries are participating in IYA2009, hosting various events throughout the year to raise awareness about astronomy's contributions to culture, science, our day-to-day lives, and to show just how interesting it really is.
2005 was the International Year of Physics. It went almost unnoticed by the general public. Only a pair of eyes are needed to view the night sky while physics can require a lot of theoretical mathematics and mind-bending concepts. It is hoped that IYA2009 will be the exact opposite and be a great success, since it could inspire hundreds of thousands of amateur astronomers across the globe.
A few of the major goals of IYA2009 are to increase scientific awareness and literacy, promote widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences, provide gender and racial equality among scientists, and provide a modern image of science and scientists (science doesn't have to be stale and boring).
You can find the IYA2009 website at "http://www.astronomy2009.org/" or the Canadian IYA2009 site at "http://www.astronomy2009.ca/."
Throughout the year, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open for any events happening here on the Island hosted by either the Athena Community Astronomy Club or the Charlottetown Astronomy Club. There will most likely be some special meetings and viewings where you can get the opportunity to look through a telescope at the beautiful night sky.
If you do get out to take a look up at the sky, with a telescope or simply your eyes, here is what you can look for in this month's sky.
To start the month off is the Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 3. The Quadrantid meteor shower can produce upwards of 100 meteors per hour but are seldom observed because the shower only lasts a few hours. To view them just get comfortable (if that is possible in the cold), lean back, and look up between 2am and sunrise. If you trace back to where the meteors come from you will see that most of them appear to radiate from somewhere near the handle of the Big Dipper.
The full moon occurs on Jan. 10 and will become new again on Jan. 26.
The best time to catch Mercury will be early in the month. Look low in the western horizon about half an hour after sunset. There will be a very bright "star" near the horizon, that's Jupiter. Mercury will be hiding just below Jupiter. This elusive planet will be best visible on Jan. 4 but should be visible a few days before and after that date.
Venus will appear at its highest position this month on Jan. 14 in the southwestern sky after sunset. It will be the second brightest object in the night sky, the brightest being the moon.
Until next month, just look up!
Hey Kids...
Astronomers that study gravity have figured out that they can use PlayStation 3's for their computer simulations. They hooked up sixteen PlayStation 3's together to run their simulations of "gravity waves". Gravity waves are ripples in the space around us and were predicted by Einstein. If these simulations were run on a supercomputer it would cost $5000 just to run it once! Read more about this by searching "black holes PlayStation 3" at www.UniverseToday.com. PlayStations aren't just great for games, they're great for science too!
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