Astronomy Definition and 805 Threads

Hello! I'm a first year undergrad student and I have the oportunity to do research durring summer with an Ritchey–Chrétien 400 mm telescope. Can you guys recommand me something to research? I don't even know where to start with my search for interesting topics that are not too hard and that will...

when astronomers receive bursts of high energy radio waves from distant parts of the universe, how are they able to tell how far they have traveled? does it have to do with the wavelength?

Introduction to the University of Edinburgh's "Astrobiology and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life" (ASTROBIO) open online course. This is part 1 of 33 of the series. Click to the youtube link for the playlist to view the other videos

I am in retired college teacher. I have taught geology, meteorology, chemistry, biology as well as astronomy. I guess I'm a person that just likes science and am a super generalist.

Hi everyone, Is there a simple formula/equation for calculating the mass of a star simply by measuring it's redshift. I know there is a way to do it, but have been unable to find any clues on the web.. Thanks for your help! :)

I'm considering getting a major in astrophysics and a minor in computer science. First of all, would an astrophysics major preclude me from studying, say, particle particle physics, in graduate school? I want to take a couple astro classes and my parents think astrophysics sounds "smarter" than...

Hi all. I'm a prospective physics major, hoping to either go into particle physics or condensed matter research or enter tech if research doesn't turn out to be for me. I was wondering which elective I should choose for next semester--astro 101 or Chemistry 1 or CS 1? Will chemistry help me with...

I am currently signing up for classes next semester. I am already taking Linear Algebra, Physics 2 + Lab, and a required writing course. As my fourth choice I can either take Astronomy + Lab or Introduction to Probability and Statistics. The pros of statistics are that there is no lab, which...

The Chandrasekhar Limit is defined as the maximum mass of a white dwarf which is said to be 1.44 solar masses. My doubt here is if it is defined as being the mass of 1.44 suns then the sun should not even be burning fuel right now. Only then will its mass remain the same. The Sun keeps burning...

I have read lots of comments talking about how hard is to get tenure or goverment-funding research positions. Okay, but how hard is it? Perhaps some statistical info about it? From what I've heard, there are around 6k astronomers in the usa. Let's asume half of them are working in the industry...

Hello, I've been trying to solve for the luminosity of Gliese 581 using its brightness. I've been using the equation below: F = (L/(4*pi*r^2)) I have the flux as the absolute brightness of Gliese 581, which is 11.6. The distance, r, to the star is 1.89210568 × 10^17 meters. However, when I...

Hi I am a want to be writer that has high hopes publishing before I am 70, maybe. lol I have a short story idea that is slowly turning into a small novel and even if it never publishes I would like to keep junk science out of it. I am not sure where to post the thread for it or if this is the...

I have a little problem about Stellar Flux. I've searched google and bing for info but to no avail. Please help me understand Stellar Flux. Thanks, Epicall Rounder

Hi all, This question is for an assignment due Friday. My friend and I spent the better part of an hour on it and are thoroughly stumped. Any help is much appreciated! 1. Homework Statement Calculate the energy required to put a satellite into geostationary orbit. (note that no mass is...

Good day! I am currently a freshman at a master's course in astronomy as preparation for studies overseas (I need a master's degree to be able to apply a master's degree overseas). I am wondering of possible thesis topics acceptable for a master's degree. The school I am currently in has a few...

Hello everyone, I have read a lot of the post here about being engineers and going on into astronomy or astrophysics. Thus, decided to join and ask for advice. I have a similar experience but I have a unique problem. I have an BSc in electrical engineering from a US university with focus on...

I don't really have to look into this just yet but it bothers me. I quite like cosmology and stuff like such. Universal topology and relativity and sum of histories and stuff. Fun! I really would like to study any theoretical physics though, it just strikes my fancy particularly. I figure I'd...

Hello everyone! I'm a junior at the University of Michigan, currently on a path to double major in Physics and Astronomy, which would be followed by grad school for a Ph.D. in astrophysics (if all goes well). My entire life I thought I wanted to be an astrophysicist, but I'm beginning to become...

Some of you may have seen me before, but I ridiculously forgot to post my New member introduction, my apologies. I love science, especially astronomy, and I am glad to be here.

I am an undergraduate Physics major in my third year, and I'd like to concentrate in Astronomy or Astrophysics when I obtain my Masters and PhD. What kinds of physics classes should I take in preparation for this? I've already taken all explicitly-astronomy courses at my school. I was thinking...

Hello! Why does the moon has different rise and set timing for different phases? And also, why does it rise from different directions during different phases? Help me out please!

First, I'd like to make clear that this isn't exactly homework. I've been reading books about astronomy out of pure interest and I've bought myself an introductory astronomy textbook and I've been reading through it and answering all the questions. I've been doing fine... that is until I reached...

First of all, I'd like to clarify my title by pointing out it is NOT a dodgy pick-up line. I am a female myself and have noticed that pretty much every woman who enrolled at my university in physics is going on, or plans to go into the field of astrophysics, myself included. I am wondering if...

Homework Statement I understand that [Fe/H] ratios can be used to describe metallicity in a galaxy... but I'm having trouble understanding what [element/Fe] ratios should tell you. Anyone have an idea? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution

So I need a bit of outside input. I am 20 years old, enrolled in my second year of community college (going for 3 years because I ended up starting late and going less than full time my first year). I did terribly in academics in high school, especially in math and science classes. Well, long...

I'm only a freshman in college, but I am always thinking about the future. I plan to earn my Bachelor's in Physics or Astrophysics, and then continue onto graduate school. I'm at Penn State University, so I plan to stay here for all of my degrees unless a better, more valuable opportunity...

Homework Statement Find period of the star's rotation assuming that the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of view. Given data: - distance d = 25 pc - bolometric luminosity observed m = 8m - effective temperature T = 4000 K - bolometric absolute brightness of the Sun Mm = 4,75m...

Does anybody know of a good Introduction to the mathematics of astronomy or astrophysics?

I am interested in how physicists view time, and in any thought experiment (eg. anti-matters time direction, spinning black holes that may have the time dimension no longer orthogonal to the three special directions, delayed quantum eraser experiment that might permit backwards in time...

"The Fabric Of The Cosmos," a four-hour series based on the book by renowned physicist and author Brian Greene, takes us to the frontiers of physics to see how scientists are piecing together the most complete picture yet of space, time, and the universe. With each step, audiences will discover...

I'm a grade 11 high school student who has passion for his dream of being an astronaut someday. My classes are mostly science related because I thought I needed them when I get to choose my major. I'm planning on going to university of toronto after I graduate, I was thinking of majoring...

I've researched multiple histories of Greek astronomy, and have not found a satisfactory answer to this. When describing multiple deferents, each with a first order epicycle, many illustrations show the epicycles at different phases of their rotations: Mars will be at 37 degrees, Jupiter at 123...

Homework Statement The Sun rotates with a period of 24.7 days and has a radius of 7.00 x 108 m. For a terrestrial observer, Calculate the resultant Doppler shift of light of wavelength 500 nm which is emitted from the solar equator at : i)each side of the disc, ii)the center of the solar disc...

I found an equation relating hubbles constant and time!It is highly simplified but helpful! http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/q679.html da/at = (2/3)*a0* (1/t0) * (t/t0)^-1/3 then dividing by a = a0 (t/t0)^2/3 you get H(t) = H0*(t0/t)

Homework Statement Use a coordinate conversion application to roughly map out the amount of precession in coordinate positions (R.A and Declination) in the sky between 1950 and 2000. Homework Equations I can easily find a converter on the internet The Attempt at a Solution I...

Hello all, I'm trying to compile a list of schools (mainly in the US) that offer Ph.D. programs with research in radio astronomy. Here's what I've come up with so far: Caltech Cornell Harvard New Mexico Tech Ohio State University UC Berkley UC Los Angeles UC Santa Cruz University of Arizona...

I'd like to read some layperson level materials about astronomy and astrophysics, what do you recommend?

Sea and Sky does this the best. Here are the expect events for the next several years. Feel free to post a new thread for one you are interested in discussing. http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.html

I'm not a very scientifically or mathematically advanced person, so try not to bash me for this question, but I needed to know the answer for a certain debate I'm having. If a planet or 1 km in diameter had 10 times the gravity of Earth, what would be its mass and/or density? P.S...

Thank you for anything you can offer. We've got a plasma globe which we can tie into talking about solar and interstellar plasma, and we have a few Galileoscopes, but we don't really have anything else astronomy-themed. I've been thinking, but haven't come up with many ideas. One idea I did...

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone could help me with this question. I couldn't find anything on the internet. Q12 Explain why a star on the top left of the main sequence will spend much less time on the main sequence than another star on the lower right

I think I have finally decided I want to double major in Astronomy and Biophysics. There seems to be great overlap because most of it is just physics. I am a sophomore at UT Austin. Do you think this is a wise choice. I kind of just want to follow my interests rather than worry about future job...

Hi I was wondering which would be a better career choice. I have been in love with space my entire life and I never want to give that passion up. I am about to start applying to college and I don't know if I want to be an aerospace engineer or an astronomer. My hope is that if I become an...

Hi everybody! I've recently decided to make a substantive change in my life, and leave the legal profession for the astronomy world. I am not all too keen on accruing debt or working in a legal capacity. But I 'm figuring that there must be a decent-sized body of support personnel...

I have been considering astronomy as a career choice. I read on yahoo answers that a PhD is the one way to go in terms of this option. There isn't much career options for just the BA. Also, it was recommended that I obtain my BA in physics for my PhD in astro, as I would be robbed of...

He revolutionized amateur astronomy. http://www.universetoday.com/108150/john-dobson-inventor-of-the-popular-dobsonian-telescope-dead-at-98/ http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/John-Dobson-1915ndash2014-240456881.html

Hello fellow members of this forum, I am highly interested in Astronomy and Physics, and I plan to pursue a career in these fields. I am debating on whether I should try to study towards earning a B.Sc in Astrophysics or Physics when I graduate from high school in 2016 (then continue it...

Hey guys, I'm in the middle of writing a lab report and I'm having trouble with my abstract. I know as a 3rd year uni student I should know how to write one by now. I feel it's a bit long, what do you think? How could I improve? I'm not asking you to write it for me just some hints. The...

Astronomy homework question -- stars emitting in infrared Dear All, Hello! This is my first post. I am taking a distribution introductory astronomy course (low on math) and am having trouble with this question: Which object emits more intense infrared radiation: _ the Earth _ the Sun...

I am currently a math major and I have one more year before graduating with a bachelors degree. There aren't many career opportunities for a math major -- with only a bachelors degree -- other than being a teacher or going to graduate school; which I heard is very challenging and has a lot of...