astronomy

What’s a Planet … Again

It’s been a while since I griped about how planets are being defined, so I thought I’d chime in again. Nothing recent …

Carl Sagan Said It Best: We Are Star Stuff

Sometimes it’s not just the words but how you say them that makes a difference. Though other astronomers follow his example, the fact remains Carl Sagan was a master.

What Is Space Exploration Worth? (The Planetary Society Blog)

“Our space program is one of the things that makes us great, that sets us far apart from other productive countries, that …

An Idea For Naming Planets, Stars, and Galaxies

I agree with the idea that we need a new way to name celestial bodies that helps the public feel a bit more in touch with the cosmos. We have two major problems with that now: the vast number of objects, and the limited number of thematic names we’ve traditionally used.

Visualizing the Number Of Stars in Our Galaxy

When astronomers use numbers in the billions and larger, it’s hard to find a frame of reference to compare it to. For example, our galaxy, the Milky Way, is described as having about 250 billion stars. What does that mean?

The Accelerating Universe and Dark Energy Might Be Illusions (Space.com)

I’ve been arguing that accelerating expansion is an illusion for a couple of decades. Lacking sufficient math, I was limited to just …

It’s a Conspiracy! NASA Uses Photoshop! (Discovery News)

I grew up immersed in photos from various JPL planetary probes (having a father working in aerospace, and all). Believe me…you’d rather …

Eclipse Photograph Exposes Details of Both Sun and Moon

This is one of the coolest astronomical photos I’ve seen. Eclipse Photograph Exposes Details of Both Sun and Moon: Scientific American Gallery.

Why We Need to Restrict Light Pollution

When I was a kid, I lived in a small town that was more or less out in the middle of nowhere. Most businesses would close up around six (give or take), and most people stayed home. There were some streetlights, but not a lot. And at night, there were stars.

The Necessity of Leaving Earth Within 2 Billion Years

The timeline for human life is finite. If we don’t kill ourselves off, or totally deplete our planet, then we have only about 2+ billion years to find a way to continue on with our species. That’s much shorter than is often thought, so we clearly must adjust our timetables for the need to develop a means to not only live outside our solar system, but our galaxy.

How Many Planets, Exactly?

I’m dismayed by today’s vote by the IAU (International Astronomical Union) on their definition of a planet. Apparently, I’m not the only one… the 9,500 or so of the 10,000-ish total of astronomers who didn’t get to vote on this are a tiny bit upset as well. What’s upsetting me this time?

Planet, Planet, Burning Bright

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) submitted a proposal for the definition of a planet to its membership. No everyone was happy with what they came up with, including me. Here is my take on the silliness and my own attempt at a definition.

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