Astronomy (from Greek: ἀστρονομία, literally meaning the science that studies the laws of the stars) is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, astronomy studies everything that originates outside Earth's atmosphere. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole.Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences. The early civilizations in recorded history made methodical observations of the night sky. These include the Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas. In the past, astronomy included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars. Nowadays, professional astronomy is often said to be the same as astrophysics.Professional astronomy is split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects. This data is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. These two fields complement each other. Theoretical astronomy seeks to explain observational results and observations are used to confirm theoretical results.
Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which amateurs play an active role. This is especially true for the discovery and observation of transient events. Amateur astronomers have helped with many important discoveries, such as finding new comets.
Hi everyone,
My name is Zack and I'm new to the forum. I recently changed careers from audio engineering to astronomy and am queuing up to attend the University of Oregon in about a year. I'm a big fan of all the historic great astronomers, scientists and others who have contributed to the...
I am currently an undergraduate researching Supernovae. We are doing some luminosity calculations using CIAO and HEASOFT which take anywhere between 7 to 13 hours for each remnant. To make the process quicker, I wrote a script that reduces that time to about 40 minutes for each remnant. One of...
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I am currently a senior undergraduate Astronomy and Astrophysics major at Villanova University. With the GRE and graduate school applications coming up I have been wondering if it would be beneficial for me to either take a gap year or to possibly take a 5th year of undergraduate...
Homework Statement
The orbits of the planets remains extremely stable over long times however this not always true for comets. Can you explain why not? What hazards might they encounter during their travels?
Homework Equations
None
The Attempt at a Solution
I think that due to the comet's not...
1. The problem statement, all variables, and given/known data
Satellites orbiting the Earth are often put into orbit at different heights around the planet. What affect will this have on the motion of the satellite and how exactly would the motion of a very high orbit satellite differ from one...
1. The problem statement, all variables, and given/known data
Venus is sometimes described as either the “Morning Star” or the “Evening Star”, since it can only be seen near sunrise and sunset, very close to the Sun in the sky. Why does Venus always appear close to the Sun in the sky for an...
Could this be a possibility at some point? Since entanglement is not affected by distance, could we send cameras out to extremely distant places and get instantaneous signals? Only the image sensor would have to be entangled. It would still take the same amount of time as usual to get the camera...
I've been trying to understand how we know that the observable universe is flat, and I'm having difficulty finding any sources that explain exactly how the calculations were done. On this WMAP website (https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/sgoals_parameters_geom.html), it says:
"A central feature of...
Hi,
Some time ago I was looking for lightning ball videos on youtube.
I observed some strange phenomenon recorded on one of the videos.
Before a lightning ball is created, some "dark" ball is coming from above
and then it immediately changes to the lightning ball which is moving at different...
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I wonder if someone could please kindly give a physics explanation for the phenomenon of circular star trails when Earth is moving 67 times faster laterally than it is rotating?
Thanks very much in advance...
Hello.
I couldn't sum my entire question in the title, so here it goes:
I have a friend that needs information about the content of Iodine and Molybdenum in stars (from as much stars as he can).
There are references to the content of many stars in books and papers, but most of them don't give...
I am doing research for my aerospace engineering dissertation to plan a mission to a Jupiter trojan asteroid. I was researching the type of outgoing trajectories used in missions such as JUNO, Galileo and Europa and noticed they all use Earth as a gravity assist in getting to deep space. Surely...
Can anyone tell me if its possible to do a BSc in physics and astronomy after doing bachelor's in computer science? I was looking at applying for a Masters in physics and astronomy but looks like BSc is kind of a must because of the lack of training in physics I have.
I looked at schools like...
I read in a popular science magazine in the UK that "recent" observations of the universe indicate that the number of galaxies in the the universe is actually so vast that Olbers paradox is still a paradox. The short article postulated that they had solved the paradox by proving that light from...
Astronomer Pamela Gay discusses the some of the false information we might encounter in popular astronomy information. Presented as part of the Balticon 2012...
Hi guys, I need help, more specifically in a technical issue.
I started my thesis with an Astrophysics professor and he gave me a topic of "M dwarf spectra with cyclotron bumps from SDSS". In short, I am given spectra of a number of cylotron bump M-dwarfs (CBMDs) from unusual quasar search from...
I got a guaranteed slot in a university that offers a physics program but I'm doubtful if that is the right choice. I could take this physics program or I could maybe move to another city and study astronomy there.
I'm interested in particle physics, mechanics, astrophysics and...
As the title says...I am hoping for recommendations for the 2017 summer. Specifically, Southeast US, one week residential, hopefully under or around 500 dollar physics or astronomy camp for rising 9-12 graders. Thank you very much.
1. Question
Suppose you examined the spectrum of some nebulosity surrounding a main-sequence spectral-type O star and found that it contained no emission lines, only the continuous spectrum of the star. What conclusions could you draw about the nature of the interstellar material around that...
Lets suppose that two points A and B are very close together compared to their distance from an observer who is very far. Suppose the distance from observer to point A is DA and to point B is DB. How precisely we can find the distances separately.
I am 16, and I LOVE SCIENCE. I don't really know why, but I do know that I want to be some sort of scientist. I am thinking about doing astronomy or maybe quantum mechanics. I think the two is a fascinating occupation. I also hope to find other science careers that might be interesting. I am...
I'm in the 11th hour of studying, and have run into a problem I can't seem to tackle from an old exam. I may be making some foolish mistakes, as I've now been staring at this thing for entirely too long.
1. Homework Statement
(a) Calculate the force due to radiation pressure experienced by an...
Hey!So, I applied to some universities for Physics and astronomy before I ended up with my grade 12, first-semester mid-term mark of a 74 in physics. I had an 87 last year with the same teacher. I've been accepted everywhere I applied, which is great, but I'm scared that, because I'm not doing...
I want to describe a planet that has 13 fifty-two day months and a 36 hour day.
IF someone could point me to a place where I can figure this, it would be appreciated.
What's the math?
Homework Statement
At first I needed to calculate the angular resolution of a telescope (diameter 1m, for visible light) so I used θ=1.22λ/D and got 4.88x10^-7 rad. Now I am asked: "If we wished to use this telescope to image the moon, what is the closest distance two objects can be to be...
Hi all,
I am going to apply for graduate school next fall but I am not sure what computer language is most frequently used in astronomy/cosmology graduate programs. Any ideas?
Also, in the mean-time I want to work and earn some money before I apply next year. What jobs...
A popular video I just watched described Fred Hoyle's discovery that the elements of the universe are created in stars. Key to his theorizing was the prediction that fusion would produce of a new state of carbon that had never been observed and which theory predicted would be unstable. Hoyle...
I am a senior in high school, I am applying for universities right now. I have wanted to pursue astronomy for several years now, but I am wondering if I should major in astronomy or physics as an undergraduate. I've read online that physics major as undergraduate is an option to pursue a ph.D in...
Some observed neutron stars rotate hundreds of times per second. Speeds at the surface of these stars are as much as 15% the speed of light. These huge speeds are generated because angular momentum is conserved when a large rotating pre-super nova star collapses into a neutron star.
The...
Hello,
I am currently considering on buying a telescope to do some of my own research and for sight seeing. Any recommendations? I would prefer to have a telescope that requires me to use code or at least a computer so I can familiarize myself with the mechanics.
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known
Homework Equations
show that a hydrogen gas cloud at 10000K is about twice as optically thick at the Balmer limit compared with the Paschen limit. Assume that the H atoms are in Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium, the Gaunt factor is unity...
Hello! I am a bit confused about Kepler 3rd law for circular orbits. So assume you have 2 bodies of masses M>m orbiting in circles around their center of mass. As the center of mass passes through the line connecting them, they must have the same period. But according to Kepler's 3rd law, this...
Hello everybody,
according to your experience please give me an advice,
Can i go to an astrophysics& astronomy master's degree with a bachelor's degree in law ? I've studied Physics and Math 2 ( calculus, mechanices,algebra) in high school. i was getting high marks at them and I am so...
Hello everyone,
My name is Abishek and I'm a mechanical engineer from India.
Astrophysics is my passion and everything I think about.But due to my background I thought It would be better to do a MS in Astrophysics after doing my Engineering,cause If I fail I could rely on my engineering...
Hi Everyone!
I am a senior student going at a liberal arts college currently majoring in Physics. I am applying to graduate schools in Astronomy this fall semester. I would like to ask what are the odds of getting into the best astronomy programs with the following background:
Major GPA: 4.00...
The sun's rotational period is 25 days at the equator. Given that the radius of the sun is 700,000 km, calculate the max velocity of approach or recession of the Sun's equator as viewed from Earth. Find the max change in wavelength of a spectral line due to the rotation and express it as a...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_egret.jpg
Can we use better telescopes of this type (ground based gamma rays telescopes) to image the surface and subsurface of a planet with a lot of resolution?
I have been thinking at this for a couple of days now: why are stars grouped in the massive collections that we call galaxies?
I can assume that in the very early Universe, matter was grouped in these areas, that matter interacted thus resulting in the formation of stars. Then, the...
My names tim, and I am a first year physics student but I've had a love for the natural sciences since I was little. I am 21 years old, and some of my favorite things to do are reading and playing drums. Music has always been a close second to science for me. I hope to get to know some cool...
I'm trying to work through some equations in the paper 'Gravitational Radiation and the Motion of Two Point Masses' (Peters, 1964) but I can't get out the right values
1. Homework Statement
For a binary star system with each mass = 1 solar mass, the equations give the results:
Separation ~ 10...
Title field did not accept all of title: Value or what one can do with astronomy or astrophysics education
What is the real-world, employment value and meaning of a degree in Physics if a student concentrates on astronomy or astrophysics, meaning his employment value? What about such a degree...
I want to be an astrophysicist. Physics and Astronomy are my passions, my love. But, I also love Aerospace engineering, and there's no way I can just have this passion as a mere hobby. So, do you think that studying a Master on Aerospace engineering will be worth for being an Astrophysicist...
I will be graduating with a bachelors degree in physics in the next year. Most of my professors have advised me that if I am considering graduate school (which I am), to just go straight for a PhD instead of stopping at a MA. Unfortunately, my family is currently in a terrible place...
I am currently in the middle of constructing a Newtonian reflecting telescope and I had a question. The focal length for my primary mirror is 1500mm and 3mm for my eyepiece. My question relates to the path of the light inside the tube of a telescope. I understand that in a Newtonian reflector...
Join some of the very scientists responsible for this most anticipated discovery of our age and see how gravitational waves will be used to explore the universe like never before.