Why Should We Care About Exploding Stars?
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Constructing a Galactic Coordinate System Based on Near-Infrared and Radio Catalogs
A&A 536, A102 (2011) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201116947 & c ESO 2011 Astrophysics Constructing a Galactic coordinate system based on near-infrared and radio catalogs J.-C. Liu1,2,Z.Zhu1,2, and B. Hu3,4 1 Department of astronomy, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China e-mail: [jcliu;zhuzi]@nju.edu.cn 2 key Laboratory of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics (Nanjing University), Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210093, PR China 3 Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, PR China 4 Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China e-mail: [email protected] Received 24 March 2011 / Accepted 13 October 2011 ABSTRACT Context. The definition of the Galactic coordinate system was announced by the IAU Sub-Commission 33b on behalf of the IAU in 1958. An unrigorous transformation was adopted by the Hipparcos group to transform the Galactic coordinate system from the FK4-based B1950.0 system to the FK5-based J2000.0 system or to the International Celestial Reference System (ICRS). For more than 50 years, the definition of the Galactic coordinate system has remained unchanged from this IAU1958 version. On the basis of deep and all-sky catalogs, the position of the Galactic plane can be revised and updated definitions of the Galactic coordinate systems can be proposed. Aims. We re-determine the position of the Galactic plane based on modern large catalogs, such as the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and the SPECFIND v2.0. This paper also aims to propose a possible definition of the optimal Galactic coordinate system by adopting the ICRS position of the Sgr A* at the Galactic center. -
Moons Phases and Tides
Moon’s Phases and Tides Moon Phases Half of the Moon is always lit up by the sun. As the Moon orbits the Earth, we see different parts of the lighted area. From Earth, the lit portion we see of the moon waxes (grows) and wanes (shrinks). The revolution of the Moon around the Earth makes the Moon look as if it is changing shape in the sky The Moon passes through four major shapes during a cycle that repeats itself every 29.5 days. The phases always follow one another in the same order: New moon Waxing Crescent First quarter Waxing Gibbous Full moon Waning Gibbous Third (last) Quarter Waning Crescent • IF LIT FROM THE RIGHT, IT IS WAXING OR GROWING • IF DARKENING FROM THE RIGHT, IT IS WANING (SHRINKING) Tides • The Moon's gravitational pull on the Earth cause the seas and oceans to rise and fall in an endless cycle of low and high tides. • Much of the Earth's shoreline life depends on the tides. – Crabs, starfish, mussels, barnacles, etc. – Tides caused by the Moon • The Earth's tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon. • The Earth bulges slightly both toward and away from the Moon. -As the Earth rotates daily, the bulges move across the Earth. • The moon pulls strongly on the water on the side of Earth closest to the moon, causing the water to bulge. • It also pulls less strongly on Earth and on the water on the far side of Earth, which results in tides. What causes tides? • Tides are the rise and fall of ocean water. -
College of Arts and Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences ANNUAL REPORT 2004·05 awards won · books published · research findings announced programs implemented · research · teaching · learning new collaborations · development of promising initiatives preparation · dedication · vision ultimate success 1 Message from the Dean . 3 Arts and Sciences By the Numbers . 6 Highlights Education . 8 Research . 12 Public Events . 15 Faculty Achievements . 17 Grants . 20 Financial Resources . 22 Appendices . 23 Editor: Catherine Varga Printing: Lake Erie Graphics 2 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN I have two stories to tell. The first story is a record of tangible accomplishments: awards won, books published, research findings announced, programs implemented. I trust that you will be as impressed as I am by the array of excellence—on the part of both students and faculty—on display in these pages. The second story is about achievements in the making. I mean by this the ongoing activity of research, teaching, and learning; the forging of new collaborations; and the development of promising initiatives. This is a story of preparation, dedication, and vision, all of which are essential to bringing about our ultimate success. 3 As I look back on 2004-05, several examples of achievement and visionary planning emerge with particular clarity: Faculty and Student Recruitment. The College undertook a record number of faculty searches in 2004-05. By tapping the superb networking capabili- ties developed under the leadership of chief informa- SAGES. Under the College’s leadership, SAGES com- tion officer Thomas Knab, our departments were pleted its third year as a pilot program and prepared able to extend these searches throughout the world, for full implementation in fall 2005. -
Introduction to Astronomy from Darkness to Blazing Glory
Introduction to Astronomy From Darkness to Blazing Glory Published by JAS Educational Publications Copyright Pending 2010 JAS Educational Publications All rights reserved. Including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Second Edition Author: Jeffrey Wright Scott Photographs and Diagrams: Credit NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, USGS, NOAA, Aames Research Center JAS Educational Publications 2601 Oakdale Road, H2 P.O. Box 197 Modesto California 95355 1-888-586-6252 Website: http://.Introastro.com Printing by Minuteman Press, Berkley, California ISBN 978-0-9827200-0-4 1 Introduction to Astronomy From Darkness to Blazing Glory The moon Titan is in the forefront with the moon Tethys behind it. These are two of many of Saturn’s moons Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, ISS, JPL, ESA, NASA 2 Introduction to Astronomy Contents in Brief Chapter 1: Astronomy Basics: Pages 1 – 6 Workbook Pages 1 - 2 Chapter 2: Time: Pages 7 - 10 Workbook Pages 3 - 4 Chapter 3: Solar System Overview: Pages 11 - 14 Workbook Pages 5 - 8 Chapter 4: Our Sun: Pages 15 - 20 Workbook Pages 9 - 16 Chapter 5: The Terrestrial Planets: Page 21 - 39 Workbook Pages 17 - 36 Mercury: Pages 22 - 23 Venus: Pages 24 - 25 Earth: Pages 25 - 34 Mars: Pages 34 - 39 Chapter 6: Outer, Dwarf and Exoplanets Pages: 41-54 Workbook Pages 37 - 48 Jupiter: Pages 41 - 42 Saturn: Pages 42 - 44 Uranus: Pages 44 - 45 Neptune: Pages 45 - 46 Dwarf Planets, Plutoids and Exoplanets: Pages 47 -54 3 Chapter 7: The Moons: Pages: 55 - 66 Workbook Pages 49 - 56 Chapter 8: Rocks and Ice: -
Curriculum Vitae - 24 March 2020
Dr. Eric E. Mamajek Curriculum Vitae - 24 March 2020 Jet Propulsion Laboratory Phone: (818) 354-2153 4800 Oak Grove Drive FAX: (818) 393-4950 MS 321-162 [email protected] Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 https://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Mamajek/ Positions 2020- Discipline Program Manager - Exoplanets, Astro. & Physics Directorate, JPL/Caltech 2016- Deputy Program Chief Scientist, NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program, JPL/Caltech 2017- Professor of Physics & Astronomy (Research), University of Rochester 2016-2017 Visiting Professor, Physics & Astronomy, University of Rochester 2016 Professor, Physics & Astronomy, University of Rochester 2013-2016 Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy, University of Rochester 2011-2012 Associate Astronomer, NOAO, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 2008-2013 Assistant Professor, Physics & Astronomy, University of Rochester (on leave 2011-2012) 2004-2008 Clay Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics 2000-2004 Graduate Research Assistant, University of Arizona, Astronomy 1999-2000 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Arizona, Astronomy 1998-1999 J. William Fulbright Fellow, Australia, ADFA/UNSW School of Physics Languages English (native), Spanish (advanced) Education 2004 Ph.D. The University of Arizona, Astronomy 2001 M.S. The University of Arizona, Astronomy 2000 M.Sc. The University of New South Wales, ADFA, Physics 1998 B.S. The Pennsylvania State University, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Physics 1993 H.S. Bethel Park High School Research Interests Formation and Evolution -
Luminous Blue Variables
Review Luminous Blue Variables Kerstin Weis 1* and Dominik J. Bomans 1,2,3 1 Astronomical Institute, Faculty for Physics and Astronomy, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany 2 Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany 3 Ruhr Astroparticle and Plasma Physics (RAPP) Center, 44801 Bochum, Germany Received: 29 October 2019; Accepted: 18 February 2020; Published: 29 February 2020 Abstract: Luminous Blue Variables are massive evolved stars, here we introduce this outstanding class of objects. Described are the specific characteristics, the evolutionary state and what they are connected to other phases and types of massive stars. Our current knowledge of LBVs is limited by the fact that in comparison to other stellar classes and phases only a few “true” LBVs are known. This results from the lack of a unique, fast and always reliable identification scheme for LBVs. It literally takes time to get a true classification of a LBV. In addition the short duration of the LBV phase makes it even harder to catch and identify a star as LBV. We summarize here what is known so far, give an overview of the LBV population and the list of LBV host galaxies. LBV are clearly an important and still not fully understood phase in the live of (very) massive stars, especially due to the large and time variable mass loss during the LBV phase. We like to emphasize again the problem how to clearly identify LBV and that there are more than just one type of LBVs: The giant eruption LBVs or h Car analogs and the S Dor cycle LBVs. -
An Overview of New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics About the National Academies
2020 VISION An Overview of New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics About the National Academies The National Academies—comprising the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council—work together to enlist the nation’s top scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other experts to study specific issues in science, technology, and medicine that underlie many questions of national importance. The results of their deliberations have inspired some of the nation’s most significant and lasting efforts to improve the health, education, and welfare of the United States and have provided independent advice on issues that affect people’s lives worldwide. To learn more about the Academies’ activities, check the website at www.nationalacademies.org. Copyright 2011 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America This study was supported by Contract NNX08AN97G between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Contract AST-0743899 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation, and Contract DE-FG02-08ER41542 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Energy. Support for this study was also provided by the Vesto Slipher Fund. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agencies that provided support for the project. 2020 VISION An Overview of New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics Committee for a Decadal Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics ROGER D. -
Rev 06/2018 ASTRONOMY EXAM CONTENT OUTLINE the Following
ASTRONOMY EXAM INFORMATION CREDIT RECOMMENDATIONS This exam was developed to enable schools to award The American Council on Education’s College credit to students for knowledge equivalent to that learned Credit Recommendation Service (ACE CREDIT) by students taking the course. This examination includes has evaluated the DSST test development history of the Science of Astronomy, Astrophysics, process and content of this exam. It has made the Celestial Systems, the Science of Light, Planetary following recommendations: Systems, Nature and Evolution of the Sun and Stars, Galaxies and the Universe. Area or Course Equivalent: Astronomy Level: 3 Lower Level Baccalaureate The exam contains 100 questions to be answered in 2 Amount of Credit: 3 Semester Hours hours. Some of these are pretest questions that will not Minimum Score: 400 be scored. Source: www.acenet.edu Form Codes: SQ500, SR500 EXAM CONTENT OUTLINE The following is an outline of the content areas covered in the examination. The approximate percentage of the examination devoted to each content area is also noted. I. Introduction to the Science of Astronomy – 5% a. Nature and methods of science b. Applications of scientific thinking c. History of early astronomy II. Astrophysics - 15% a. Kepler’s laws and orbits b. Newtonian physics and gravity c. Relativity III. Celestial Systems – 10% a. Celestial motions b. Earth and the Moon c. Seasons, calendar and time keeping IV. The Science of Light – 15% a. The electromagnetic spectrum b. Telescopes and the measurement of light c. Spectroscopy d. Blackbody radiation V. Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Others– 20% a. Contents of our solar system b. -
Chapter 16 the Sun and Stars
Chapter 16 The Sun and Stars Stargazing is an awe-inspiring way to enjoy the night sky, but humans can learn only so much about stars from our position on Earth. The Hubble Space Telescope is a school-bus-size telescope that orbits Earth every 97 minutes at an altitude of 353 miles and a speed of about 17,500 miles per hour. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) transmits images and data from space to computers on Earth. In fact, HST sends enough data back to Earth each week to fill 3,600 feet of books on a shelf. Scientists store the data on special disks. In January 2006, HST captured images of the Orion Nebula, a huge area where stars are being formed. HST’s detailed images revealed over 3,000 stars that were never seen before. Information from the Hubble will help scientists understand more about how stars form. In this chapter, you will learn all about the star of our solar system, the sun, and about the characteristics of other stars. 1. Why do stars shine? 2. What kinds of stars are there? 3. How are stars formed, and do any other stars have planets? 16.1 The Sun and the Stars What are stars? Where did they come from? How long do they last? During most of the star - an enormous hot ball of gas day, we see only one star, the sun, which is 150 million kilometers away. On a clear held together by gravity which night, about 6,000 stars can be seen without a telescope. -
Planetarian Index
Planetarian Cumulative Index 1972 – 2008 Vol. 1, #1 through Vol. 37, #3 John Mosley [email protected] The PLANETARIAN (ISSN 0090-3213) is published quarterly by the International Planetarium Society under the auspices of the Publications Committee. ©International Planetarium Society, Inc. From the Compiler I compiled the first edition of this index 25 years ago after a frustrating search to find an article that I knew existed and that I really needed. It was a long search without even annual indices to help. By the time I found it, I had run across a dozen other articles that I’d forgotten about but was glad to see again. It was clear that there are a lot of good articles buried in back issues, but that without some sort of index they’d stay lost. I had recently bought an Apple II computer and was receptive to projects that would let me become more familiar with its word processing program. A cumulative index seemed a reasonable project that would be instructive while not consuming too much time. Hah! I did learn some useful solutions to word-processing problems I hadn’t previously known exist, but it certainly did consume more time than I’d imagined by a factor of a dozen or so. You too have probably reached the point where you’ve invested so much time in a project that it’s psychologically easier to finish it than admit defeat. That’s how the first index came to be, and that’s why I’ve kept it up to date. -
Elements of Astronomy and Cosmology Outline 1
ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY AND COSMOLOGY OUTLINE 1. The Solar System The Four Inner Planets The Asteroid Belt The Giant Planets The Kuiper Belt 2. The Milky Way Galaxy Neighborhood of the Solar System Exoplanets Star Terminology 3. The Early Universe Twentieth Century Progress Recent Progress 4. Observation Telescopes Ground-Based Telescopes Space-Based Telescopes Exploration of Space 1 – The Solar System The Solar System - 4.6 billion years old - Planet formation lasted 100s millions years - Four rocky planets (Mercury Venus, Earth and Mars) - Four gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) Figure 2-2: Schematics of the Solar System The Solar System - Asteroid belt (meteorites) - Kuiper belt (comets) Figure 2-3: Circular orbits of the planets in the solar system The Sun - Contains mostly hydrogen and helium plasma - Sustained nuclear fusion - Temperatures ~ 15 million K - Elements up to Fe form - Is some 5 billion years old - Will last another 5 billion years Figure 2-4: Photo of the sun showing highly textured plasma, dark sunspots, bright active regions, coronal mass ejections at the surface and the sun’s atmosphere. The Sun - Dynamo effect - Magnetic storms - 11-year cycle - Solar wind (energetic protons) Figure 2-5: Close up of dark spots on the sun surface Probe Sent to Observe the Sun - Distance Sun-Earth = 1 AU - 1 AU = 150 million km - Light from the Sun takes 8 minutes to reach Earth - The solar wind takes 4 days to reach Earth Figure 5-11: Space probe used to monitor the sun Venus - Brightest planet at night - 0.7 AU from the -
Moons, Planets, Solar System, Stars, Galaxies, in Our Universe - an Introduction by Rick Kang Education/Public Outreach Coord
Moons, Planets, Solar System, Stars, Galaxies, in our Universe - An introduction by Rick Kang Education/Public Outreach Coord. Oregon Astrophysics Outreach HIERARCHY: one within another n Moons ORBIT Planets n Planets ORBIT Stars (Suns) n Stars orbited by Planets are Solar Systems (all Stars?) n Solar Systems form from Nebulas and recyle back into Nebulas (dust & gas) n Nebulas and Solar Systems ORBIT within Galaxies (huge Star Cities) n Many Galaxies fill our Universe Moons Our Solar System’s Planets Our Star (the Sun) Our Galaxy (Milky Way) edge-on from within the pancake (STAR CITY) Stars: distant Suns – Birth, Life, Death (Nebulas, Clusters) Solar System Formation Recycling Stars Heavy Duty Recycling: SUPERNOVA – elements galore DRAWING of our Milky Way Galaxy Looking toward Cygnus and toward galactic center Reality Check: n Visualize SOLAR SYSTEM vs. GALAXY Reality Check: n Visualize SOLAR SYSTEM vs. GALAXY n A Solar System is a VERY TINY DOT within a GALAXY…microscopic! n A ¼” paper punchout vs. a huge disk about 150 MILES WIDE (Coast to Bend or Portland to Roseburg!) Our Sister Galaxy, Andromeda, M31 Other Galaxies in Deep Space The HUBBLE ULTRA-DEEP FIELD a tiny swatch of sky-galaxies galore Hundreds of Billions of GALAXIES in our UNIVERSE n We don’t have enough data to figure out where we are within the UNIVERSE nor how big our Universe might be…evidence is it’s expanding! n We are a member of a cluster and a supercluster of galaxies. How do we know that? n If you leave from a place, how far could you travel in a given amount of time? How old is our Universe, how would that relate to its size? .