Distances in Space
Space is big, really big, way bigger than any of us can really comprehend. On Earth, we use measurements such as metres and kilometres. These will be sufficient for some features on the planets and moon or moons like craters and mountains. Consider the distance from the Sun to Neptune which is about 4,498,396,441 km.Continue reading “Distances in Space”
The Extinction that Made the Dinosaurs
Most of us are familiar with the story of the dinosaurs. They once ruled the Earth but were made extinct after an asteroid crashed into the Earth around 66 million years ago. The mass extinction that followed wiped out almost all of the dinosaurs and made way for the rise of mammals. Scientists from theContinue reading “The Extinction that Made the Dinosaurs”
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process used by plants to turn light energy from the Sun into chemical energy. Plants can then use this chemical energy to produce their own food and to grow. The plants absorb light, carbon dioxide (CO2), nutrients and water and turn these into oxygen and chemical energy. The chemical energy is normallyContinue reading “Photosynthesis”
What Can I See in the Sky in October 2020?
It’s autumn and the Sun is now setting before 7pm which means more time for observing. This is exaggerated even more at the end of the month, when, on the 25th of October summer time ends and the clocks go back 1 hour. October nights can get very chilly so it’s time to start takingContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in October 2020?”
Constellations Explained
Many of us have heard of constellations. Often, one may be familiar with a few of them. But what are they and where did they come from? In general, a constellation is a group of stars that are said to resemble a person, animal, mythological being or object. The thing to remember here is thatContinue reading “Constellations Explained”
Could There Be Life On Venus?
Today, 14th September 2020, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) held a virtual press conference via Zoom for what could be one of the most significant discoveries in decades. A group of researchers from MIT, the University of Manchester and University of Cardiff have found a gas called phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus. They madeContinue reading “Could There Be Life On Venus?”
The Atom
Imagine you take a block of some material, say gold. You decide to split the gold and give it to as many people as you can. First you cut it in half, then you cut both halves in half, giving you four quarters. You then cut the four quarters in half, and so on andContinue reading “The Atom”
What Can I See in the Sky in September 2020?
Now that September is here, the nights are getting noticeably longer again. On 1st September, sunset is 20:13 and by 22:25 it is completely dark. The weather in September is usually still mild enough so that you can go out and observe comfortably, although the nights can get chilly so it’s time to start takingContinue reading “What Can I See in the Sky in September 2020?”
What is a Galaxy?
Earth is our home planet. It orbits the Sun together with the other eight planets, comets, asteroids and all of the other stuff that makes up the Solar System. But where is the Solar System located? It turns out that the Solar System is part of a much larger structure, called a galaxy. The SunContinue reading “What is a Galaxy?”
Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover
Last week, the latest NASA mission to Mars, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Over the next 7 months, the rover will make its way to the Red Planet. It will land in Jezero crater on 18th February 2021. The mission is known as Mars 2020, due toContinue reading “Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover”
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
