Observation 3.2 Astronomy Cast Ep. 163

The subject of this episode of Astronomy Cast is the famed Aurora, known popularly as Aurora Borealis. The episode began with a discussion of the visual features of the aurora, including their appearance and size. A main point of discussion in this episode is the creation of the aurora. Essentially, aurora occur because of the Earth's magnetic field; the Earth was compared to a bar magnet with looping magnetic field lines. In the upper atmosphere, which is closer to the sun's radiation, extremely reactive atomic oxygen is found, which is capable of corroding most materials that enter it. Because of our increasing understanding of this phenomena, scientists are able to predict the Aurora with ever-growing accuracy.

Observation 3.1 Astronomy Cast Ep. 149

In this episode of Astronomy Cast, a new program by NASA is discussed. Called the "Constellation Program", it is meant to encourage the creation of machines and technology for space exploration. According to the podcast, this new program is currently developing items for new rockets, planetary landers, and more advanced flight technology. The potential of this program is certainly very exciting; expanding our potential for exploration via new technology is a great way to increase our knowledge of the universe.

APOD 3.7

This image depicts an intriguing astronomical mystery. In 1987 the brightest supernova in recent history was seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud; the remnants of the supernova explosion can be seen in the object in the center of the image. The real focus of this image, however, is the set of rings which seem to surround the center. Although the cause of the rings remains uncertain, ideas range from beamed jets emanating from a left-over neutron star, to  interaction between the wind from the progenitor star and the gas released before the explosion.

APOD 3.6

This fascinating image depicts the "Sailing Stones" in Death Valley, California. The texture of the ground is formed when mud experiences heavy flow, dries, and then cracks when subjected to heavy rain. The truly interesting portion of the image, however, is the "Sailing Stone", which seems to move completely free of external influences. As the description notes, though, this seemingly fantastic situation has a disappointingly mundane explanation; it is simply strong winds pushing the rocks along the lakebed after rains have made the mud slick.

APOD 3.4

This image depicts the suprising phenomenon known as the Belt of Venus. Occurring during a sunrise or sunset, the Belt of Venus refers to the off-color portion of the atmosphere just above the horizon, which often appears to be pink, orange or green. Below the belt, however, the lack of sunlight reaching the atmosphere causes it to appear to be more dark. Visible anywhere there is a clear horizon available, the Belt of Horizon is an impressive example of astronomy interacting with our daily world.

APOD 3.2

This image depicts a stunning aurora visible over Norway. Apparently shaped after and bearing striking resemblance to an eagle, this aurora was formed after a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, occurred on the sun; although most of the Coronal Mass Ejection missed the Earth, it effected the Magnetosphere enough to cause this aurora.

APOD 3.3

This image shows the stellar nursery located near the famous Pillars of Creation. Taken by the orbiting Herschel Space Observatory, the image provides interesting developements on the Pillars. Foremost is the revelation that the famed Pillars have in fact been destroyed; although their distance allows them to appear intact, a close-by supernova destroyed the pillars about six thousand years ago. Because of the distance, though, the Pillars will remain visible for at least a few more centuries.

APOD 3.5

This image depicts the Aristarchus Crater, found on our moon. Located in the Oceanus Procellarum, the Aristarchus Crater is an impact crater which is 3 kilometers deep and has a width of 40 kilometers. The image itself was taken by the Lunar Recconnaisance Orbiter in late 2011, and gives thrilling insight into the geography of our familiar moon.

Maria Mitchell Citations

"Maria Mitchell." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Vol. 11. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 61. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Sarasota County Public Schools. 2 March 2012

Kendall, Phebe. "Maria Mitchell." Pine Tree Web Home Page. Web. 3 March 2012. <http://www.pinetreeweb.com/maria-mitchell.htm>.   

"Mitchell, Maria." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Vol. 9. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008.  421-422. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Sarasota County Public Schools. 3 March 2012

Maria Mitchell Biography

                Maria Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818 in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and lived until 1889. The third of ten children, Maria was a member of a strongly Quaker family, which would prove to have a large impact on her life. Although she never received a formal education, the importance placed by the Quakers on education meant that Maria was taught by her father on a variety of topics, including astronomy and mathematics, and that she ultimately received an education on par with that of a contemporary man's. It was because of her father's influence that Mitchell was instilled at an early age with a passion for astronomy; in addition to receiving his instruction, she would often help him to take observations on his multiple telescopes. After a brief attempt at opening a school, Mitchell found work as a librarian at the Nantucket Athenaeum Library, where she often took observations of the night sky on the side.

                Maria Mitchell made many accomplishments, and is most largely considered to be most important for legitimizing the role of women in astronomy. One of her most notable accomplishments was the discovery of a new comet, which she entitled the comet Miss Mitchell's Comet. As the first woman to discover a comet, her achievement brought her international fame and recognition; for the discovery she was awarded a gold medal by the king of Denmark (who had offered a prize to anyone who could discover a comet using a telescope). The next year she was elected as an honorary member to the American Academy of Arts and Science, and was the first woman to receive the honor. Mitchell was also elected to or joined, often as the first women, the American Philosophical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Women, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

                Maria Mitchell's final post was at Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, New York. She worked initially as the director of the observatory, and then later as a professor of Astronomy (the first of her gender).  At Vassar College Mitchell had access to a variety of impressive astronomical tools which she had previously been excluded from using, and continued her research on Jupiter, Saturn and the photography of stars. Mitchell was forced to retire in 1888 because of her failing health, and died soon after on June 28, 1889 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Her legacy lives on, however; she was elected to both the Hall of Fame of Great Americans and the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1905 and 1954, respectively, and was the namesake for the Maria Mitchell Association, made after her death in 1902.