Astronomy Observation

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When I first visited the University of Arizona in high school, I met with Dr. Chris Walker to discuss why I wanted to study astronomy. On the wall behind his desk was a long, horizontal picture of a telescope attached to a giant white balloon. I asked him what it was, and he explained to me that it was called the Stratospheric Terahertz Observatory, a telescope that was launched over Antarctica to trace spectral lines like Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen in the Interstellar Medium, in order to observe the gas and dust between stars and better understand the star formation process. This is what first sparked my intrigue for balloon telescopes and observing the ISM. I began grading for his general education class as an opportunity to get to know …show more content…
I am currently working on analyzing submillimeter spectroscopic observations of the giant molecular cloud in R Coronae Australis (R Cr A), taken with an instrument known as SuperCam, a 64-pixel heterodyne receiver, previously installed on the Submillimeter Telescope on Mt. Graham, AZ. This is just one section of a larger 500-degree survey of the galactic plane, focused on the 12CO(3-2) and 13CO(3-2) transitions of the carbon dioxide molecule. Using the velocity and linewidth of CO, I am studying how turbulence and feedback from star formation affect the evolution of a large molecular cloud. These observations are unique in that they map a large area at the highest spatial resolution yet achieved. My hope is that these observations will help us to better understand the lifecycle of the ISM. I am working towards publishing a paper on these results in the next several months. I enjoy studying the Interstellar Medium because I feel that it brings me closer to understanding the origins of humanity, and hope to continue researching it after my undergraduate

Curiosity Of The Universe

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…

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Chinese Astronomy Essay

ancient Chinese astronomy, which I have prepared for Professor Williams’ 2007 World Civilizations class, I will compare text and on-line sources that I have consulted. Since the ancient Chinese believed the fate of their country and their rulers could be determined by the stars, moon, and the sun, they “paid close attention to the heavenly bodies and their movements.”1 For security reasons, astronomical studies outside of government were even banned.2 Through these observations and records astronomers…

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What Is The Milky Way Galaxy And The Sun's Position In It?

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There are many fields where trigonometry is very useful and important, and is used daily as a part of the person’s occupation. One example of a job that uses trigonometry is astronomy. Astronomy is a branch of science that deals with space, celestial objects, and the universe as a whole. Different from other sciences, astronomy is entirely observational. This is because you cannot run experiments on things as well as not being able to manipulate variables/other objects to see how they work. In…

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Annie Jump Cannon Research Paper

Jump Cannon in Dover, Delaware. Annie Cannon was the eldest of three daughters of the Cannon family. However, at a young age, Annie’s mother taught her the constellations which stimulated her interest in Astronomy. With such a passionate interest in Astronomy, Annie studied physics and astronomy at Wellesley and learned to make spectroscopic measurements ultimately leading to her becoming the Valedictorian of her graduating class. While in college, Cannon studied under Sarah Whiting, one of the few…

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Johannes Kepler's Role In The 17th Century Scientific Revolution

played an important role in the 17th century Scientific Revolution. He was a pioneer in the field of astronomy, he founded the theory of celestial mechanics and was the first astronomer to explain planetary motion. He was a very talented child and his talents led him to become a mathematics teacher in Austria. Kepler also contributed in theories of geometry and optics. His main body of work was in astronomy and planetary motion, he explained how the tides were influenced by the moon. He founded the 3 laws…

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Essay on Basics of Astronomy Outline

SCI/151 Week 1 Assignment Basics of Astronomy Outline I. Our place in the universe A. The modern view of the universe 1. The Sun is a star in our solar system that generates heat and light to our planet, Earth through nuclear fusion. 2. Our Milky Way galaxy is an island of stars in space with hundreds of billions of stars like our Sun. 3. The Big Bang is a theory of when the universe started expanding about 14 billion years ago. 4. The phase “looking out in the universe is looking back…

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Connor OToole Professor Malczanek Homework I 12/28/14 1. The ultimate objective of science is to understand the natural world we live in. Science is a way to investigate natural phenomena using observation, scientific method, measurement, and conducting experiments. A science is typically biology, chemistry, or physics. These are subjects that deal with objects, natural phenomena, or laws regarding nature. This investigation then leads to explanation and reason behind events. However, Science is…

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Biography Of Richard Christopher Carrington

studies in theology at the Trinity College of Cambridge, graduating in 1848. By that time he had found his enjoyment in astronomy. In 1849 he joined the Durham University Observatory, but left this job in March 1852. He used his family fortune to build his own house and observatory at Red hill, Surrey. There, he worked in both day time solar and night time astronomical observation time. The death of his father in 1858 forced him to take over the family business. He was elected to the Royal Astronomical…

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Essay On Neil Degreases Tyson

Who Neil degreases Tyson? Neil degreases Tyson is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. Tyson's research has focused on observations in cosmology, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, and stellar formation. His Early life, Tyson was born as the second of three children in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, and was raised in the Bronx. In May 2013, the Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2013 was introduced into Congress. Neil degreases Tyson was listed by at least…

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