Category Archives: Observables

things we can see from Earth using our eyeballs or telescopes

Lightning on Jupiter

Posted on April 9, 2023 by sadiekarr

How fitting that mysterious lightning has been observed on the planet named after the god of sky and storms! Lightning on Jupiter has been reported multiple times over the years during multiple space missions: the 1979 Voyager mission, 1990s Galileo Jupiter mission, and again during the 2007 New Horizons mission. Now that we’ve got Juno […] Continue reading →

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Blog5: Pluto

Posted on April 8, 2023 by lucasliu6

Since its unveiling in 1930, Pluto has occupied a special role in our exploration and understanding of the solar system. Although it no longer retains its status as the ninth planet, this mysterious celestial object has piqued the interest of astronomers, researchers, and the wider public through its elaborate geological features and ever-evolving atmosphere. In […] Continue reading →

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Did we really land on the Moon?

Posted on April 8, 2023 by araceal

July 20th, 1969. We landed on the moon. But did we really? There are many conspiracies on if we really landed on the moon or not. People claim many reasons which prove that the moon landing never actually occurred. Shadows in the moon landing photos are not parallel which shows that they were fake. The […] Continue reading →

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The Dwarf Planet Debate

Posted on April 8, 2023 by araceal

(picture of the colorization of Pluto) We all know the controversy that Pluto causes. Should it be a planet? Should it not be one? Why should or shouldn’t it be?  Although astronomers and other scientists claim that Pluto should not be considered a planet, some researches believe that this decision was unfair and incorrect and […] Continue reading →

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Halley’s Comet

Posted on April 7, 2023 by sydneyastr2110

I used measurements from Halley’s Comet for the impact homework, so I wanted to learn more about it. It certainly has name recognition, but I wanted to learn more about it. I found some great information from NASA that I figured I would share. Halley’s Comet is named after an astronomer by the name of […] Continue reading →

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comets

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Emma Williams

The terms ‘asteroid’ and ‘comet’ are often used interchangeably, but in reality there are important differences between the two! The primary difference is in their composition; asteroids are rocky because they formed in the inner Solar System, and comets are more icy because they formed beyond the frost line! Comets are visible every few years […] Continue reading →

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Blog 6 – Planet Nine

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Melanie Marszal

Unfortunately, “Planet Nine” does not refer to Pluto. However, its potential existence could explain the interesting movement of some objects in the Kuiper Belt. Researchers at Caltech have found mathematical evidence of a large planet far out in our Solar System, which has been named Planet Nine. This hypothetical planet would be about the same […] Continue reading →

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The Planets Inspiring Art

Posted on March 8, 2023 by 88bw

Planets have always been a large source of inspiration for classical music composers, and there is probably no larger example than Gustav Holst’s Planets Suite. This work’s popularity has also reached the masses, and his music is known to have significantly influenced John Williams in his compositions for his film scores. What I find interesting […] Continue reading →

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Visiting Chicago Anytime Soon? Visit Adler Planetarium

Posted on March 7, 2023 by thisisntzenon

For many students growing up in Chicago, the Adler Planetarium is staple in the field trip rotation. Having attended multiple times a year for years and even going to their summer camp at one point, Adler Planetarium is something I am proud of as a Chicago native. As of March 2023, Adler has 12 different […] Continue reading →

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Creation and Structure of the Milky Way

Posted on March 6, 2023 by araceal

Our Solar System, the Milky Way, was created from a dense could of interstellar dust and gas that collapsed and turned into a swirling, spinning nebula.  This nebular is made up of hydrogen and helium, and a little amount of other elements, which combined together and reacted in order to create other materials which in […] Continue reading →

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