...February 19, 2012 The McDonald Observatory The McDonald Observatory is located on Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. This observatory was constructed in the 1930s. The initial funding for construction came from Texan banker, William Johnson McDonald, who left provisions in his will that $800,000 be donated to the University of Texas at Austin in order to construct an astronomical observatory. This structure which is open to the public sees more than 60,000 visitors each year. Likewise, the observatory has been the center of attraction for many astronomers, and its numerous resources have also contributed to the discovery and continuous research of many astronomic phenomena. The McDonald Observatory is presently the property of the University of Texas at Austin and currently receives most of its funding from them. It operates four research telescopes. One of the most pronounced features attached to the observatory is Otto Struve Telescope. When this telescope was dedicated in 1939 it was then the second biggest telescope in the world. Two other telescope note mentioning are the Harlan J. Smith Telescope (named after once director of the observatory, Harlan J. Smith), and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (known to be the fifth largest telescope in the world). The Hobby-Eberly is arguably the observatory’s most prized possession. This powerful telescope specializes in spectroscopy which enables astronomers to get a glimpse at stars, planets, and galaxies located...
Words: 428 - Pages: 2
...Expert Committee Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies CRAF Expert Committee Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies What is the Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies? Established in 1988, the Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (CRAF) represents all the major radio astronomical observatories in Europe. Its mission is to coordinate the protection of the frequency bands used by radio astronomers in Europe to keep them free from interference. This task will remain indispensable for astronomical science in the foreseeable future. The committee’s pursuit of this goal is becoming increasingly difficult because of the steady increase in global use of the electromagnetic spectrum for both terrestrial and space-borne communications such as mobile telephones. CRAF is working to address this issue by coordinating a common policy on spectrum protection for the European research communities in radio astronomy, passive remote sensing and related sciences; representing this policy and these communities in interactions with the relevant national and supranational entities at the European and international level; and initiating and encouraging scientific studies aimed at reducing interference and the effects of interference at source. At the European level, the committee plays a key role in defining, coordinating and articulating the frequency needs of the radio astronomy community. CRAF is an Expert Committee of the European Science Foundation (ESF). The ESF is an independent...
Words: 1584 - Pages: 7
...for its comprehension. Hundreds if not thousands of astronomers throughout the ages added some valuable pieces of information to astronomical big picture. As Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin brilliantly putted in her 1976 speech " [...] The old scientist cannot claim that the masterpiece is his own work. He may have roughed of part of the design, laid on a few strokes , but he has learned to accept the discoveries of others with the same delight that he experienced on his own[...] (Astronomy Today, Chap. 16, p 383) What we know today about the universe is a collective work of many generation of dedicated man and woman who continue to add new insight of astronomy great spectrum of universe. Some scholars may add a little, some may add a lot, yet some may change our understanding of a matter in question. Such man were Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler and Newton. Those man are credited with revolutionizing the study of astronomy. The heliocentric theory formulated by Copernicus caused strong turmoil within astronomy, physics and cosmology. Many man of science considered it as contrary to Aristotle’s physics and the Bible. However, some astronomers were engaged in...
Words: 1541 - Pages: 7
...Electromagnetic Fields, Telescopes and Black Holes Astronomy is defined as the scientific study of the universe and the objects in it, including stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Astronomy deals with the position, size, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial objects. Astronomers analyze not only visible light but also radio waves, x-rays, and other ranges of radiation that come from sources outside the Earth's atmosphere (American Heritage Dictionary, 2002). This particular assignment required we visit an institution that specializes in the education of astronomy so that we, as students, could delve deeper into the world of astronomy through hands on experience. I elected to visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on the 4th of July 2012. I also viewed the film Black Holes the Edge of Infinity in addition to the hands on exercise. I feel a new appreciation for astronomy through the interactive learning experience because it put how very far we’ve come to understanding our universe into perspective. The first exhibit I visited had to do with the four nonvisible wave lengths of light and telescopes. I integrated the two exhibits so that I can elaborate on them in a way that culminates the experience. For every nonvisible wave measured there is a corresponding telescope. These are radio waves, infrared, ultraviolet, and gamma ray. Because radio waves are larger than optical waves, radio telescopes work differently than optical telescopes. Radio telescopes...
Words: 833 - Pages: 4
...Earth-bound vs Space-based Telescopes Why construct and operate telescopes in Earth orbit ? To address this question, contrast the advantages and disadvantages of telescopes on the ground and in space. Keep in mind that the Hubble Space Telescope is NOT the only space telescope. Advantages: • Orbiting telescopes are NOT affected by the image smearing caused by Earth’s atmospheric motions, hence they can produce much “sharper” images The Hubble Telescope records optical images with a resolution as sharp as 0.05 arc seconds. • Space-based telescopes can collect energy from the entire electromagnetic spectrum, not just the portion that passes through our atmosphere. New “windows” on the cosmos are open to our view. • Day and night are not the same in orbit as on the ground, permitting telescopes to observe for much longer times at some locations on the sky. Disadvantages: • Telescopes on the ground can be built with much larger mirrors. Compare the Keck telescope’s 10-meter mirror with Hubble’s 2.4 meter mirror. Placing massive objects in orbit remains an expensive proposition. The largest optical and radio telescopes are still Earth-bound. • Ground-based telescopes don’t move at 5 km/sec, don’t have to carry their own power source and communications gear, and don’t need to worry about orbiting debris crashing into them. These “features” drive up the cost of designing, launching and operating space-based telescopes. • Ground-based telescopes...
Words: 292 - Pages: 2
...Astronomy of the Cosmos – the last frontier, and the data that supports our incessant desire to obtain knowledge about the universe is causing a surge in data storage, replication, and the need for more. How will this community of scientists and engineers deal with what to keep, what not to keep, and how to keep it when it comes to the vast array of data required our use? An Astronomical Surge of Data Degradation in performance should not be the expected course when saving such data. One cannot simply expect that by adding infrastructure as usage increases (common in commercial business enterprises) the problem will be solved. Because astronomy archives generally operate on limited budgets that are fixed for several years, any changes in computer architecture would have to be foreseen and budgeted years early. More so, who do you plan for new discoveries? The current data-access and computing model used in astronomy will be insufficient for future use at the rate it is being collected. Currently, data is downloaded from archives to a local machine to be analyzed. This is done on a very large scale in order to be made accessible to end users. Data discovery, access, and processing are likely to be distributed across several archives (an archive of data warehousing). Given that the maximum that science return will yield from this “federation of data” i.e. multiple archives, a broad wavelength range will be required. Astronomy data is collected and archived in Petabytes...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
...Inventions and Discoveries Paper Ryan Fagen University of Phoenix HIS 458 January 30, 2013 Stephanie Fink De Backer Inventions and Discoveries Paper The invention of the telescope and the microscope has led to many great discoveries that have been of great significance to us, the human race. First we will take a look at the telescope and provide some significant examples. Second we will look at the discoveries that came from the invention of the microscope and the impact they both had on our development as humans and our place in the universe. In addition to providing examples of significant discoveries, I will offer my opinion as to why these discoveries challenged traditions and changed society as a whole. The National Geographic Society (1996) website, since the first telescope was invented, there has been much advancement in the design and the types of telescopes used. Besides the early refracting telescope used by Galileo or the more modern reflecting telescope used by Hubble, the telescope has changed the way look at the cosmos and what we know of the universe. Telescopes are classified by the task performed. Some names given to the different types of telescopes are astrograph, comet seeker, graphic telescope infrared telescope, solar telescope, space telescope, or zenith telescope The invention of the telescope in the 17th century has brought forth many significant discoveries but none more significant then that of the Earth, Moon and other planets orbit around...
Words: 456 - Pages: 2
...The Heroic Mind of Galileo Galilei As a heroic mastermind, Galileo Galilei, born February 15. 2015 grew up living in Pisa. Italy. Growing up Galileo lived with his parents Vincenzo Galilei and Guilia Ammannati, as he up his intelligence widen forward into the subject of Mathematics. As he grew up he attended a university in Pisa, Italy. Stretching out his heroic abilities, he ran into ideas that he knew no one could possibly believe but never that of these plans before. Galileo Galilei is a Hero because he makes the Enlightenment theory become more focused in on the actual idea that everyone thinks is an theory that cannot be actually explained in the least ways and he proves them wrong by going to the top of Pisa Tower in Italy to prove is relevant studies. One of the three reasons that Galileo Galilei is an important figure is because inventing the world's first telescope dwelling in on scientific reason dropping balls at the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, Leading the modern day people today to believe that heavier objects fall faster than the lighter ones. This theory was called the Copernicus theory that once was made up a man named Nicolaus Copernicus, who posed the theory that the hat the Sun is at rest near the center of the Universe, and that the Earth, spinning on its axis once daily, revolves annually around the Sun. This is called the heliocentric, or Sun-centered, system. Galileo took this theory upon his self to study and magnify even the smallest...
Words: 644 - Pages: 3
...(wikipedia) Ancient Egypt’s direct ties to Astrology have proven itself many times. The famous pyramids of ancient Egypt are said to map out (or indicate to) different constellations. The pyramids of Giza, for example, are believed to map out the three stars in the belt of the constellation named Z. Nyajeka Page Two Orion. Other pyramids were said to have been aligned towards the pole star. It has also been discovered that The Great Temple was aligned on the rising of the midwinter sun. These are just architectural designs that directly showed the importance of astrology during these times. (astronomy) However, astrology was not just used for things like time and the occurrences in the natural world, it was also used widely in Egyptian religions. The ancient Egyptians often used the stars to decide when to time events, such as festivals and celebrations. (astronomy) Though Egyptians did invent basic Astrology, the Babylonians perfected the practice. Whilst being credited as the creators of an organized system of astrology, the Babylonians acted as if the stars and planets were living creatures (or gods) traveling through the night sky. Of every planet, five were recognized and named as gods of the Babylonian pantheon. Jupiter was Marduk, Venus was Ishtar, Saturn was Ninurta, Mercury was Nabu, and Mars was Nergal. The sun and moon were also acknowledged, as the moon-god Sin and the sun-god Shamash. (babylonian) To the Babylonians, unlike the ancient Egyptians...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
...in the field, it would leave many cosmic mysteries unsolved. It took many years to launch the telescope into space and for the telescope to be able to take the kinds of photos that it takes today. This is why the Hubble telescope has such importance in the field of astronomy. The hubble space telescope was named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. Accroding to spacetelescope.com Edwin Hubble was born in Missouri in 1958. He moved to chicago nine years later where he attended high school. He graduated in 1906 received a scholarship from the university from chicago, because the scholarship was awarded to another student by...
Words: 998 - Pages: 4
...Technology’s Impact on Astronomy The earliest accounts of religious beliefs and cultures were formed from the sky, ancient explorers studied the stars to discover new lands, and scientific philosophers observed the universe to develop theories and laws of science. Astronomy, the oldest of the natural sciences, has inspired many since the beginning of human existence. Today, technology has advanced humanity to the point that it is part of daily life. The modern advancements in technology have impacted astronomers by increasing the accessibility of exploration, aiding the ability share and study research with agencies all across the world, and helps provide a stronger understanding of the universe for the public’s knowledge. Since space exploration...
Words: 1486 - Pages: 6
...Essay 1 Topic 3 My first candidate to be nominated as one of the three greatest scientists in history would be Nicklaus Kopernig. Copernicus, as he would be remembered by, ranks among the greatest of scientists for his work in astronomy. His theories that the earth was not the center of the universe was an immense blow to the theological belief that the earth was not the "focus of God's purpose" (Burke p.135). His work attacked a long held theological "fact" and undermined the religious stranglehold that the church had over the masses. Although he was hired by the church to solve their calendar issues, Copernicus's discovery led to a paradigm shift on how the universe operated. This understanding of how the universe operated led to a slow decline of church authority, especially in the hindrance of science. His theories would also provide the ground work for future scientists such as Galileo; Galileo's work "explained the problem Copernicus had not been able to crack: why falling objects fall to the ground to the west of their starting-point on a turning earth" (Burke p.145). Without Copernicus's groundbreaking theory, Galileo would not have had the foundation to complete his research. In fact, I would dare say that Copernicus work in astronomy is the foundation for anything in the realm of physics. My second candidate would have to be Isaac Newton. Newton's theory of universal gravity "destroyed the medieval picture of the world as a structure moved by the unseen but ever-present...
Words: 580 - Pages: 3
...Running head: STARS AND TELESCOPES PAPER Stars and Telescopes Paper University of Phoenix SCI 151 Telescopes in Astronomy Some basic knowledge of telescopes in astronomy will be examined in this paper. For many years telescopes have been used for observing celestial objects. Telescopes have changed our understanding and knowledge by observing objects in the universe. New developments have been discovered based on measuring the wavelength omitted from the celestial objects with improved technology creating many kinds of telescopes. Studying different stages of stars in detail can be done by using different telescopes that are used for specific purposes. This paper will touch base on the history of telescopes, the development of telescopes, and the function, and purposed of telescopes in our universe. Since the seventeenth century the telescope has become one of the important instruments to reveal unsuspected phenomena in the heavens and universe. The controversy between traditional geocentric astronomy and those favored the heliocentric system of Copernicus has had major influence from the discoveries from the telescope. The telescope gave men the opportunity to observe things that mankind had never seen before, increasing men’s senses and knowledge of objects in outer space. Originally the invention of the telescope was a prototype of modern scientific instruments, not an invention of scientists. Craftsmen created the instrument we refer to as the...
Words: 1094 - Pages: 5
...AST 201 – Term Project Plan Due: On Portal on February 8, 2016 Final Due Date: March 25, 2016 Late submissions will be penalized 20% per calendar day. Learning Goals 1. To explore an issue in astronomy which is of interest to you personally. 2. To explore a significant discovery or controversy in the history of astronomy. 3. To develop your confidence in your ability to communicate scientific concepts clearly, in non-technical language. Project Description There are two possible project topics and three possible formats. The possible topics are: 1. Important Observation: Identify and explain a candidate for the most important astronomical observation made prior to the year 2000. 2. Controversy: Identify a significant scientific controversy from either the past or the present of astronomy, explain why it was a controversy, and how it was resolved (if it has been). The possible formats for the project are: 1. Podcast-style audio clip 2. Poster 3. Video You will need to choose one topic to research and one format in which to present your results. Project Topics Your project topic must be directly related to AST 201. There are many topics in astronomy that are not directly related to this course. AST 201 focuses on stars, galaxies, black holes, and the universe as a whole. Thus, topics related mainly to planets, exoplanets, and solar system objects (such as moons, asteroids, and comets) would...
Words: 2839 - Pages: 12
...Telescopes in Astronomy Cary Lingle PHY 107 June 25, 2013 Professor Worek Telescopes in Astronomy Peering out beyond the confines of the Earth was a daydream for early scientists. Staring into the heavens from the Earth limited the scientific community’s ability to study the cosmic bodies above the Earth’s surface. As curiosity grew to explore the Sun, moon, stars and far-reaching corners of the universe, creativity was sparked leading to the development of tools like a telescope to assist scientists with examining outer space and its contents. The development of the telescope began in the hands of a Dutch lens maker, Hans Lippershey. Lippershey developed a device consisting of a tube and a lens allowing the user to view objects up close. Galileo Galilei expanded upon Lippershey’s design creating the modern day telescope using a concave lens. Galileo used his telescope view the items in the night sky including the Milky Way. Galileo revealed that the Earth was not at the center of the universe that was a contrasting view from previous scholars. The development of the telescope has lead to significant discoveries including the moon's effect on weather patterns on Earth and in space black holes, stars' lifecycles and galaxies beyond the Milky Way to name a few. The ability to study the Sun has given scholars the ability to determine the age of the Sun, planets and stars in the night sky. The first telescope's original design, consisting of a tube and lens, gave the viewer...
Words: 1299 - Pages: 6
