Quarter 2/ Observations #4

12/17/11

10:00 P.M to 11:00 P.M

Many circumpolar constellations were visible  and were (almost) directly overhead this time. I could see Cepheus and Cassiopeia with the greatest ease. Then I used Cassiopeia and my knowledge of our star charts to jump to Perseus and Andromeda. I think I also saw Camelopardalis with its trapezoidal shape. Unfortunately I could not find Cetus.

Jupiter, Mars, Orion, and even Sirius could be seen as well.

APOD 2.6

An Unusual Vein of Deposited Rock on Mars 
2011 December 12 

In the Endeavour Crater located on Mars there is a vein of minerals that the Mars Explorer Rover Mission, Opportunity, found. Veins are distinct, sheetlike bodies of minerals that are formed from the process of precipitation. This bit of information lends itself to the ideas of water being on Mars, life existing on Mars (at some point), and even Mars being capable of supporting life. The mineral line is about a thick "as a human thumb" and is composed mainly of calcium and sulfur. Personally, I find the idea of life and water on Mars both entertaining and intriguing; it shows how humanity scales in comparison to the universe and lends itself to our endless pursuit of knowledge.

*Water on Mars*

Quarter 2/ Observations #3

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
My goal tonight was to identify as many constellations as I could with my focus primarily on the fall constellations. In the eastern sky the moon was full which made finding Cepheus, Andromeda, and Perseus hard but not impossible. I had used Pegasus above me as a jumping off point to locate most of the constellations; additionally, Jupiter and Cassiopeia were overhead. To the north was Draco and Ursa Minor (Polaris gave it away). In the southeast I could see Orion thanks to a trio of vertical stars, Orion's Belt. In the southwest there was Aquarius pouring water into Piscis Austrinus's "mouth". To the south Cetus could be interpreted based on the  constellations I was finding around it. Finally in the northwestern sky there was Lacerta the lizard, high in the sky, and the Summer Triangle was close to the horizon.

APOD 2.5

As Above, So Below
2011 December 3

The picture above was taken from atop the Medvednica mountain in Croatia. In the northern historical area of Croatia is Zagreb, whose lights dance playfully (like sunlight on the ocean) in the clouds above. The area featured is the Pannonian Basin which housed an entire ocean - the "Pannonian Sea" - during the Pliocene Epoch. The ocean of lights in the sky are almost reminiscent of the long lost sea that was here many years ago....

APOD 2.4

A Landslide on Asteroid Vesta
2011 November 28
Below should be a clip of Vesta's five hour rotation.

To find the most impressive cliffs and prominences in our universe, we should look towards the Asteroid Vesta. It boasts some of the steepest cliffs we have discovered, including an elevation of 22 kilometers. That's about three times Mount Everest's elevation (8.8 km.)! The gigantic space rock is 500 kilometers in diameter and is currently the focus of the Dawn Mission. The Dawn Mission's goal is to "characterize the conditions  and processes of the solar system's earliest epoch" by investigating two of the largest protoplanets (asteroids) that are still intact. As of now it has photographed an image that suggests huge landslides have occured along the asteroid's slopes.

From this point the Dawn Mission will travel down to a lower altitude orbit in order to better analyze Vesta's gravitational field. In 2012 it will blast away from Vesta's gravitational pull and investigate the only object in the asteroid belt that is larger - Ceres.

The Dawn Mission may prove instrumental in our understanding of the universe's early formation.