Category Archives: SolarSystem

One Strange Shield

Posted on March 16, 2020 by gatorsguidetothegalaxy

About a year ago National Geographic released a television series titled “One Strange Rock.” It can be found on Disney+. This series looks at how life on Earth survives and thrives. It is especially interesting because it tells this story through eight astronauts (and Will Smith!) who have spent about 1,000 days in space. AnContinue reading “One Strange Shield” Continue reading →

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The Earth’s Leaking Core

Posted on March 15, 2020 by caseycao

The Earth’s structure reminds us of an egg, where继续阅读“The Earth’s Leaking Core” Continue reading →

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The Sun: A New View

Posted on March 15, 2020 by abbigailhughes

Recently, a new telescope has allowed solar scientists to see the surface of the Sun in more detail than ever before. Although each of these golden kernels look small in size, each one can be estimated to be about the size of Texas to make up our Sun. These kernels compose the magnetic field ofContinue reading “The Sun: A New View” Continue reading →

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Possible Effects of Solar Flares

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Reece Boggs

If a large solar flare were to directly hit the Earth, it would significantly affect all of the electronics on Earth. Us being so dependent on electronics, this would be crippling to essentially all forms of communications, payment and many other important functions of life. Most cars would shut down due to many new carsContinue reading “Possible Effects of Solar Flares” Continue reading →

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What Else is Out There?

Posted on March 15, 2020 by williamjturner

Ever since I was a child, I have enjoyed science-fiction movies and literature. As a subset of this genre, I truly enjoy when these movies incorporate aliens into the equation. The idea that there may be life outside of our own solar system is simultaneously fascinating and terrifying. The discovery of aliens would be theContinue reading “What Else is Out There?” Continue reading →

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It Does Matter If Your Grandchildren Can See Polar Bears

Posted on March 15, 2020 by williamjturner

One of the – quite literally – hottest topics in the world right now (at least prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus) is the threat of climate change to our world. Climate change is undeniable as scientists have proven over and over that the composition of Earth’s atmosphere is changing (primarily due to pollutionContinue reading “It Does Matter If Your Grandchildren Can See Polar Bears” Continue reading →

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How Does the Sun Create Enough Energy to Reach the Entire Solar System?

Posted on March 15, 2020 by sheagordon

The heat and light energy, that which allows for life on Earth and provides energy for the entire solar systems, comes from a powerful yet simply process from deep within the core of the sun. This process is called nuclear fusion. Essentially, single protons, which can also be defined as singular hydrogen molecules, fuse togetherContinue reading “How Does the Sun Create Enough Energy to Reach the Entire Solar System?” Continue reading →

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Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Worlds

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Reece Boggs

The difference in surface conditions of the first four terrestrial planets can be explained almost solely by their atmospheres rather than their proximity to the Sun. Mercury has very little atmosphere to where it does not really play a factor in this, but the stark differences between Venus, Earth and Mars can be explained throughContinue reading “Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Worlds” Continue reading →

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Parker Solar Probe: Understanding Coronal Dynamics

Posted on March 15, 2020 by Dan Pitagora

Launched on August 12th, 2018, the Parker Solar Probe will make the closest approach to the Sun in history. Over a time period of roughly seven years, PSP will use Venus for gravitational assist to make successively closer approaches to the Sun at distances as small as 4 million miles from the sun’s surface. PSPContinue reading “Parker Solar Probe: Understanding Coronal Dynamics” Continue reading →

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Mass of the Sun

Posted on March 12, 2020 by seths1

Source: space.com Learning about the planets in our last few classes (RIP senior year) reaffirmed for me that the earth is indeed very small compared to the other planets in the solar system. But then I read that 99.8% of the mass in the solar system is still contained within the sun! Even though theContinue reading “Mass of the Sun” Continue reading →

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