New Eyes Probing the Universe: NuSTAR - "The Black Hole Finder Mission". Dr. Charles Hailey, Kellas 104, Thursday 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Black Hole Finder by Elina Rabinovich
If you are anything like I used to be, and I am sure you are, BBC’s Doctor Who, or CBS’s Star Trek are the primary source for your entire knowledge of Black holes (and space in general). Unfortunately, that information isn’t exactly scientific fact, no matter how badly we might sometimes want it to be. On April 11th at 10am, you can learn some more reliable facts from Dr. Charles Hailey from Columbia University. Dr. Hailey will take us on an exciting hunt through the known universe for black holes.
Black holes are formed from the death of stars in supernova explosions. If the original star was big enough, about three times the size of the sun, and then when it dies it becomes a black hole. According to NASA (2013), a black hole is not the absence of anything: it is actually so much matter packed into such ‘small’ space that it creates a gravitational pull so large that even light can not escape its grasp. Since we are unable to see black holes, even with telescopes that detect x-ray light, one of the only ways we can observe black holes is through the area surrounding them. If, for example, a black hole will pass too closely to another star, then the black hole will essentially eat that star. While eating that star, they can produce massive amounts of radiation that can essentially give life to new stars.
Black holes are found in the center of most galaxies, even our own Milky Way (Spotts, 2011). Scientists believe that there are two different types of black holes: stellar black holes which range anywhere from three to ten times bigger then our sun, and super massive black holes, which are billions of times larger than our sun. (Kruesi, 2012). The black hole in our Milky Way is a much smaller version of the giants out there. The massive black holes that were recently discovered in other parts of the universe could fit into an orbit that was five times the size of our former planet Pluto. (Spotts, 2011).
When these giants are eating other stars, they produce something called “hard x-rays” (Columbia, 2012). Dr. Charles Hailey was able to create a telescope called the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope array, or NuSTAR (NBC News, 2012), that can see this radiation or “hard x-rays” that black holes give off. This telescope has 133 mirrors, all of which are specifically angled so that light will hit the mirrors a certain way, and the x-rays will be detectable. Scientists suggest that this telescope will help us understand how black holes consume their fuel sources and grow (Daily Galaxy, 2012). The telescope created by Dr. Hailey will be orbiting space for the next two years.
Dr. Hailey is a professor at Columbia University. He obtained his B.A in 1977 from Cornell University and his Ph.D. at Columbia in 1983. Before teaching physics he was a research scientist and then a program leader for the physics department at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, he also worked at KMS Fusion, Inc. as a senior research scientist. He now teaches experimental astrophysics and partial astrophysics (Columbia, 2011).
With this type of technology we will be able to see an unconceivable number of black holes. Though what is more amazing about this technology that Dr. Hailey has created, is what we might yet discover. There are so many unknowns in the universe, things that we might never understand, but Dr. Hailey’s work brings us one step closer to understanding the universe we live in and what is in our astrological backyard. So come down on Thursday, April 11th at 10am and let Dr. Charles Hailey open your eyes to the known, and maybe even some of the unknown universe.
References
Chown, Marcus. "Black Hole Universe." New Scientist 211.2826 (2011): 38-40. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
Clark, Stuart. "Secret Supernovae." New Scientist 214.2863 (2012): 38-41. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Mar. 2013.
Columbia University, 2012. “Black-hole Hunter”
Retrieved from: http://magazine.columbia.edu/explorations/fall-2012/black-hole-hunter
Columbia University, 2011. Charles J. Hailey
http://www.astro.columbia.edu/profProfile/cHailey/
Kruesi, Liz. "HOW WE KNOW BLACK HOLES EXIST. (Cover Story)." Astronomy 40.4 (2012): 24-29. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Moskowitz, Clara, 2012. “Nasa blasts NuSTAR telescope into orbit to hunt black holes”
Retrieved from: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/47798276/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/nasa-blasts-nustar-telescope-orbit-hunt-black-holes#.UT3wfKV0obo
NASA, 2013. “Black Holes”
Retrieved from: http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/black-holes/
Spotts, Pete. "Discovery of biggest black holes ever may shed light on galaxy formation." Christian Science Monitor 08 Dec. 2011: N.PAG. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Talcott, Richard. "BLACK HOLES In Our Backyard." Astronomy (2012): 44-49. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
2012. “Milky Way's 'Sleeping' Supermassive Black Hole Erupts with a Flare Up”
Retrieved from:
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/10/milky-ways-sleeping-supermassive-black-hole-erupts-with-a-flare-up-.html
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Amanda Ryan: Global music: Electrotango
Leading edge of global music: Shattering the 'World Music' Label. David Sommerstein, Kellas 105, Thursday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Global Music and Electro Tango by Amanda Ryan
In the Academic Festival, DJ David Sommerstein is going to be giving a presentation on “The Leading Edge of Global Music.” He is going to illustrate all kinds of different music around the world but most importantly a genre called nu cumbia and introduce global hip-hop. Sommerstein has lived in Argentina and was influenced by this kind of music. Not only does he say that it is influencing our culture but other resources are saying this also. Sommerstein was a Spanish teacher in Buffalo but now participates in our local public radio station known as the North Country Public Radio where he plays cumbia music that was played in Argentina (David Sommerstein).
Global music is becoming more popular as people from different countries move to other parts of the world. Even though some people aren’t as open as Sommerstein when sharing the music that he loves, it still spreads through media, and different elements of music are borrowed in our generation of music to come up with new sounds which is creating a fusion. He also has a music show called the Beat Authority and a Facebook page to share the music that he plays. (Beat Authority at: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/programs/local/beatauthority.html)
Sommerstein will also give a view on these trends. The reason why cumbia is exciting is because it is a genre that is made to make you dance, like pop for instance. With the use of hand drums rather than an actual drum set, it is definitely different and enjoyable, making you want to listen more. (Borrero). Unfortunately, we do not use as much hand drums and brass in our own music because we are involved with technology so much that the computers are making the beats for us rather than creating it with our own hands with the actual instrument.
Cumbia is a type of music that was played in Argentina that had its own rhythms that made it very unique. There’s an interesting emphasis on percussion as well as different instruments that blend together to make cumbia a music genre of its own kind. The blending of the instruments is nothing like the music that we listen to here in the United States and gives a whole new outlook of what other genres there are in the world. This music is also popular in dancing halls which are known as bailes or bailantes (Leaver). David Sommerstein will be showing us cumbia by playing various songs and pieces in his presentation. When listening to it you will find that you will get a better sense of culture of Argentina and how they represent themselves differently through music. One song from the cumbia genre is “Caminando” (meaning walking in Spanish) by Caramelito. You will hear the beautiful sound of energetic trumpets as well as a guitar that blend together in a way that makes it exciting to listen to while getting the sense of culture that is represented. Another artist that uses the same kind of style but only with more percussion and brass is Jimmy Bosch (Leaver). As we can see, they like to use more brass instruments to illustrate the meaning that they are trying to get across to make their music more exciting and intriguing to listen to.
Listening to cumbia that will be illustrated by David Sommerstein is definitely something to look forward to because it will give us a sense of global fusion that is occurring in the world. Not only does cumbia give us a good sense of that fusion, but there is another cool fusion called electro tango, or “tango fusion.” Electronics are a big factor and fuse together with the music genre we all know as tango. Acoustic tango is with guitars and lighter sounds opposed to electro tango that uses that lightness as the melody and the electronic sound as the bass. Three examples of electro tango artists are Tanghetto, Carlos Libedinsky, and Bajofondo (“Tango”). Tanghetto is a band that is in Buenos Aires who adored the ability to fuse electronica and tango. They also developed this sound in 2004 when it was just a side project called “hybrid tango” ("Tanghetto - Electrotango"). Their side project received a Latin Grammy and ever since has been one of the popular fusions. Another band, Bajofondo, is one of the great examples of electro tango.
Bajofondo (listen here at: http://www.youtube.com/artist/bajofondo) is another band that was created with artists from Argentina and Uruguay that had the familiar project of fusion between tango and electronica ("Bajofondo Biography - The Official Bajofondo Site."). They released their remix in 2005 and also were aware that this new piece of music was going to start clichés like others, and stated that this what they wanted to stay away from. Since this electro tango genre received a Grammy of its own, it is definitely an amazing fusion that I haven’t considered.
David Sommerstein is the one who, with North Country Public Radio, introduced the genres of electro tango and nu cumbia to Potsdam listeners. Both styles of music are a fusion of other genres that are blended together to create a sound that is brand new and unique that others would want to listen to it as an alternative to current genres around the world. Since it is unique, it may inspire you to listen to more of this kind of music and become familiar with the culture that is being shown in Argentina and around the world such as Uruguay. David Sommerstein is an expert himself since he lived in Argentina for a year recently and familiarized himself with the music that makes you want to get up and dance. It is becoming popular now as technology is expanding and making music genres blend together and be influenced by one another. Before we know it, there will be more music fusions that will occur in our nation as well because it is happening right now around the world and soon the music that we listen will become influenced by their unique style.
Works Cited
“Bajofondo Biography” The Official Bajofondo Site. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
David Sommerstein. “The Beat Authority.” North Country Public Radio. 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2013
Borrero, S. 2008. “La cumbia: music from the Caribbean coast of columbia.” Percussive Notes, 46, 20-22, 24-27
Leaver, R. “Noches calientes: oasis latino.” The Beat, 23, 42-43, 59
“Tango.” Wikipedia. N.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013
“Tanghetto - Electrotango.” Tanghetto. N.d. Web. 18 Mar 2013
Global Music and Electro Tango by Amanda Ryan
In the Academic Festival, DJ David Sommerstein is going to be giving a presentation on “The Leading Edge of Global Music.” He is going to illustrate all kinds of different music around the world but most importantly a genre called nu cumbia and introduce global hip-hop. Sommerstein has lived in Argentina and was influenced by this kind of music. Not only does he say that it is influencing our culture but other resources are saying this also. Sommerstein was a Spanish teacher in Buffalo but now participates in our local public radio station known as the North Country Public Radio where he plays cumbia music that was played in Argentina (David Sommerstein).
Global music is becoming more popular as people from different countries move to other parts of the world. Even though some people aren’t as open as Sommerstein when sharing the music that he loves, it still spreads through media, and different elements of music are borrowed in our generation of music to come up with new sounds which is creating a fusion. He also has a music show called the Beat Authority and a Facebook page to share the music that he plays. (Beat Authority at: http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/programs/local/beatauthority.html)
Sommerstein will also give a view on these trends. The reason why cumbia is exciting is because it is a genre that is made to make you dance, like pop for instance. With the use of hand drums rather than an actual drum set, it is definitely different and enjoyable, making you want to listen more. (Borrero). Unfortunately, we do not use as much hand drums and brass in our own music because we are involved with technology so much that the computers are making the beats for us rather than creating it with our own hands with the actual instrument.
Cumbia is a type of music that was played in Argentina that had its own rhythms that made it very unique. There’s an interesting emphasis on percussion as well as different instruments that blend together to make cumbia a music genre of its own kind. The blending of the instruments is nothing like the music that we listen to here in the United States and gives a whole new outlook of what other genres there are in the world. This music is also popular in dancing halls which are known as bailes or bailantes (Leaver). David Sommerstein will be showing us cumbia by playing various songs and pieces in his presentation. When listening to it you will find that you will get a better sense of culture of Argentina and how they represent themselves differently through music. One song from the cumbia genre is “Caminando” (meaning walking in Spanish) by Caramelito. You will hear the beautiful sound of energetic trumpets as well as a guitar that blend together in a way that makes it exciting to listen to while getting the sense of culture that is represented. Another artist that uses the same kind of style but only with more percussion and brass is Jimmy Bosch (Leaver). As we can see, they like to use more brass instruments to illustrate the meaning that they are trying to get across to make their music more exciting and intriguing to listen to.
Listening to cumbia that will be illustrated by David Sommerstein is definitely something to look forward to because it will give us a sense of global fusion that is occurring in the world. Not only does cumbia give us a good sense of that fusion, but there is another cool fusion called electro tango, or “tango fusion.” Electronics are a big factor and fuse together with the music genre we all know as tango. Acoustic tango is with guitars and lighter sounds opposed to electro tango that uses that lightness as the melody and the electronic sound as the bass. Three examples of electro tango artists are Tanghetto, Carlos Libedinsky, and Bajofondo (“Tango”). Tanghetto is a band that is in Buenos Aires who adored the ability to fuse electronica and tango. They also developed this sound in 2004 when it was just a side project called “hybrid tango” ("Tanghetto - Electrotango"). Their side project received a Latin Grammy and ever since has been one of the popular fusions. Another band, Bajofondo, is one of the great examples of electro tango.
Bajofondo (listen here at: http://www.youtube.com/artist/bajofondo) is another band that was created with artists from Argentina and Uruguay that had the familiar project of fusion between tango and electronica ("Bajofondo Biography - The Official Bajofondo Site."). They released their remix in 2005 and also were aware that this new piece of music was going to start clichés like others, and stated that this what they wanted to stay away from. Since this electro tango genre received a Grammy of its own, it is definitely an amazing fusion that I haven’t considered.
David Sommerstein is the one who, with North Country Public Radio, introduced the genres of electro tango and nu cumbia to Potsdam listeners. Both styles of music are a fusion of other genres that are blended together to create a sound that is brand new and unique that others would want to listen to it as an alternative to current genres around the world. Since it is unique, it may inspire you to listen to more of this kind of music and become familiar with the culture that is being shown in Argentina and around the world such as Uruguay. David Sommerstein is an expert himself since he lived in Argentina for a year recently and familiarized himself with the music that makes you want to get up and dance. It is becoming popular now as technology is expanding and making music genres blend together and be influenced by one another. Before we know it, there will be more music fusions that will occur in our nation as well because it is happening right now around the world and soon the music that we listen will become influenced by their unique style.
Works Cited
“Bajofondo Biography” The Official Bajofondo Site. 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.
David Sommerstein. “The Beat Authority.” North Country Public Radio. 2013. Web. 22 Mar. 2013
Borrero, S. 2008. “La cumbia: music from the Caribbean coast of columbia.” Percussive Notes, 46, 20-22, 24-27
Leaver, R. “Noches calientes: oasis latino.” The Beat, 23, 42-43, 59
“Tango.” Wikipedia. N.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013
“Tanghetto - Electrotango.” Tanghetto. N.d. Web. 18 Mar 2013
Amber Reid: Global music: Let the Music Flow
Leading edge of global music: Shattering the 'World Music' Label. David Sommerstein, Kellas 105, Thursday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Let the Music Flow by Amber Reid
Have you ever wondered why some of those American citizens, who have an issue with other cultures coming into this free country, will talk about how interested they are in that culture’s language, food, or music, but then turn the people of that culture away simply because they were not born here? For example: are those said Americans complaining at the club when the new DJ, who happens to be from Latin America, plays their favorite Latin beat? There are many possibilities as to why some people think this way, but one of the most important, in my opinion, is exposure. If those said Americans believe that, then maybe they have not had more of an experience with that culture or people from that culture. Then why tell them they cannot stay here? Although there are many different genres of music and “to find a single definition that will satisfy all is impossible,” so why not have the experience first-hand with a person with that background they are curious or interested about (Burnett 29)?
The students of SUNY Potsdam and the locals of the town are in luck, for on April 11th, David Sommerstein, a bilingual North Country Public Radio journalist and music provider will be sharing his variety global music at eleven in the morning at SUNY Potsdam. This event could allow the students, faculty, and guests who attend it see that it will bring unity, not only to a little town in the North Country, but spread that unity to the rest of the world.
Sommerstein has been presenting to SUNY Potsdam students since 2002, and is well-known locally known as well as internationally, considering he quite recently spent a year in Argentina. His voice is heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and other NPR programs. Every Friday from 3-5pm, he is regularly heard on NCPR for “The Beat Authority,” where he plays a variety of music to help his listeners unwind from work in order to get ready for the weekend. Sommerstein even has his own Facebook page called Beat Authority where people from all ages and nationalities post on his wall about the music they would like to hear or just to tell him what they have heard already and loved (Mitchell).
Check out Sommerstein’s Beat Authority Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Beat-Authority/112300745490661?fref=ts
It is clear that music can bring people from all ages, races, ethnicities, and beliefs from around the globe together. At the event, Sommerstein will be focusing on the Ñu Cumbia music genre from Argentina and the continuation of hip hop music around the world. He will also be discussing that musicians from totally different continents are working on music together without ever having to meet due to modern technology, how music from different eras are being “mashed” into new hit songs, and how fans are able to listen “live to radio stations and concerts anywhere in the world” (Mitchell). Even though the music industry is operated differently in other countries, with the new technology now, those musicians are still coming together to collaborate in making the music sound better to make the listeners feel better (Bernstein). If those musicians can do that without even meeting each other, imagine what we could do once we come together as listeners! Even Congress has attempted to bring the people from different cultures who reside in the United States together with American citizens.
President Obama has proposed an act to Congress that children, and young adolescents under the age of fifteen, who were brought to this country by their parents, can become American citizens and live out the “American Dream”; this act is known as the Dream Act. Many people are unaware of this act because it has not been passed, but this bi partisan legislation can help those kids who have known nothing but America as their home to actually become “law abiding residents” (dreamact.info). If you are interested to learn more about eligibility and requirements, below is a link to the Dream Act information website: http://dreamact.info/faq/1#1n1991
And here’s information on how the Obama administration is implementing the idea: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/15/remarks-president-immigration
This topic matters to me because I adore Spanish-speaking cultures, along with many others; but Hispanic cultures are my favorite and has been since I was very young. It has always been fascinating and beautiful to me to hear someone speak in a different language or dance a certain way or even eat a certain food. Does this matter to you? How so?
I hope people can see by the enthusiasm and participation that will come from this workshop, with the help from David Sommerstein, that being diverse is not always just an immigration issue. It can be a surprisingly fun experience to be involved in something different from your own everyday life style. I honestly feel that this workshop will allow many of the viewers to realize that in more ways than one.
Work Cited
Bernstein, Sekine, Weissmen. The Global Music Industry: Three Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2007.
Burnett, Robert. The Global Jukebox: The International Music Industry. New York: Routledge, 1996.
The Beat Authority. David Sommerstein. Facebook.
Mitchell, J. E-mail. Potsdam College. 2013.
Let the Music Flow by Amber Reid
Have you ever wondered why some of those American citizens, who have an issue with other cultures coming into this free country, will talk about how interested they are in that culture’s language, food, or music, but then turn the people of that culture away simply because they were not born here? For example: are those said Americans complaining at the club when the new DJ, who happens to be from Latin America, plays their favorite Latin beat? There are many possibilities as to why some people think this way, but one of the most important, in my opinion, is exposure. If those said Americans believe that, then maybe they have not had more of an experience with that culture or people from that culture. Then why tell them they cannot stay here? Although there are many different genres of music and “to find a single definition that will satisfy all is impossible,” so why not have the experience first-hand with a person with that background they are curious or interested about (Burnett 29)?
The students of SUNY Potsdam and the locals of the town are in luck, for on April 11th, David Sommerstein, a bilingual North Country Public Radio journalist and music provider will be sharing his variety global music at eleven in the morning at SUNY Potsdam. This event could allow the students, faculty, and guests who attend it see that it will bring unity, not only to a little town in the North Country, but spread that unity to the rest of the world.
Sommerstein has been presenting to SUNY Potsdam students since 2002, and is well-known locally known as well as internationally, considering he quite recently spent a year in Argentina. His voice is heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and other NPR programs. Every Friday from 3-5pm, he is regularly heard on NCPR for “The Beat Authority,” where he plays a variety of music to help his listeners unwind from work in order to get ready for the weekend. Sommerstein even has his own Facebook page called Beat Authority where people from all ages and nationalities post on his wall about the music they would like to hear or just to tell him what they have heard already and loved (Mitchell).
Check out Sommerstein’s Beat Authority Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Beat-Authority/112300745490661?fref=ts
It is clear that music can bring people from all ages, races, ethnicities, and beliefs from around the globe together. At the event, Sommerstein will be focusing on the Ñu Cumbia music genre from Argentina and the continuation of hip hop music around the world. He will also be discussing that musicians from totally different continents are working on music together without ever having to meet due to modern technology, how music from different eras are being “mashed” into new hit songs, and how fans are able to listen “live to radio stations and concerts anywhere in the world” (Mitchell). Even though the music industry is operated differently in other countries, with the new technology now, those musicians are still coming together to collaborate in making the music sound better to make the listeners feel better (Bernstein). If those musicians can do that without even meeting each other, imagine what we could do once we come together as listeners! Even Congress has attempted to bring the people from different cultures who reside in the United States together with American citizens.
President Obama has proposed an act to Congress that children, and young adolescents under the age of fifteen, who were brought to this country by their parents, can become American citizens and live out the “American Dream”; this act is known as the Dream Act. Many people are unaware of this act because it has not been passed, but this bi partisan legislation can help those kids who have known nothing but America as their home to actually become “law abiding residents” (dreamact.info). If you are interested to learn more about eligibility and requirements, below is a link to the Dream Act information website: http://dreamact.info/faq/1#1n1991
And here’s information on how the Obama administration is implementing the idea: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/15/remarks-president-immigration
This topic matters to me because I adore Spanish-speaking cultures, along with many others; but Hispanic cultures are my favorite and has been since I was very young. It has always been fascinating and beautiful to me to hear someone speak in a different language or dance a certain way or even eat a certain food. Does this matter to you? How so?
I hope people can see by the enthusiasm and participation that will come from this workshop, with the help from David Sommerstein, that being diverse is not always just an immigration issue. It can be a surprisingly fun experience to be involved in something different from your own everyday life style. I honestly feel that this workshop will allow many of the viewers to realize that in more ways than one.
Work Cited
Bernstein, Sekine, Weissmen. The Global Music Industry: Three Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2007.
Burnett, Robert. The Global Jukebox: The International Music Industry. New York: Routledge, 1996.
The Beat Authority. David Sommerstein. Facebook.
Mitchell, J. E-mail. Potsdam College. 2013.
Ryan Colligan: Journey to Mars
Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity. Danny Krysak, Kellas 106, Thursday 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Space Exploration, Aliens, Curiosity and Danny Krysak by Ryan Colligan
Note to the reader: Here is a startling update. It’s important to note, with scientific articles in particular, that news and current information is subject to change, and often does at an alarming rate. This essay/blog post has been a work in progress for a few weeks now, but new information has been released since the essay was finished. The “ingredients for life” have been found in a sample of the ground taken by Curiosity on Mars. For information on this recent announcement, please visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-092 , as it will surely be a topic of conversation at the upcoming presentation.
Did we find evidence of an “alien death ship” on Mars?
On January 30th, 2013 the Mars rover Curiosity sent back a mysterious image, an image of a .5 cm “metallic arm.” Reflecting light in the manner that metal would, the photo has both scientists and enthusiasts guessing. An article by Michael Rundle of the Huffington Post UK entertains some of these theories. Could it be a metal more resistant to erosion, or could it really be some alien manufactured metal? (Rundle)
It’s stories and articles like these that lead our minds to wander like they did when we were children, that bring us crawling back to our grade school days when we entertained Star Wars-esque fantasies of life on other planets. It is a great tragedy that these days, we seem to take space exploration for granted. It not only helps to answer our many questions about what might be out there beyond Earth, but it also helps to support our economy!
Scott Hubbard, a professor in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford and a 20 year NASA alum, has said that “$7 or $8 in goods and services are still produced for every $1 that the government invests in NASA.” (Gaudin) These investments in NASA not only help us to achieve new feats in engineering, but also help us to develop new communication technology. Could you imagine a world without smart phones and laptops? Without the Apollo missions, you wouldn’t have to! We would not have the integrated circuit, a key component to microchips (Gaudin), and without microchips, we would not have the amazing computer devices we have today! It’s difficult to imagine the world without these “byproducts” of space exploration.
So why aren’t people noticing this trend? Because we as a nation do not understand this relationship between NASA and technological progress, we consequently did not rally around Curiosity. A rover “roughly the size of a Mini Cooper” (Ball) not only touched down on the surface of Mars, but it provided a live feed with only a 14 minute delay (Ball)! It seems however, that America is just no longer fascinated by space exploration, but maybe, just maybe, Danny Krysak can muster up some enthusiasm and support.
“Who is Danny Krysak?” you may be asking?
Danny Krysak is a Planetary Geoscience graduate from the University at Buffalo and he will be presenting as part of SUNY Potsdam’s 2013 Academic Festival on Thursday, April 11th. The presentation, titled “Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity” begins at 1 PM.
It would be difficult to find a better speaker when it comes to Curiosity. Not only did Krysak minor (in geology) here at SUNY Potsdam in 2008 (SUNY Potsdam Department of Geology), he is currently a “Mission Operations Specialist” for Curiosity at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) (Ball)!
What Krysak does, in simple terms, is operates the four science cameras on board Curiosity (the four cameras being MARDI; the Mars Descent Imager, MAHLI; the Mars Hand Lens Imager, and two mast cams) (Ball). The role of the four cameras is to provide images for the science team (Ball), so in a way, they are Curiosity’s eyes. Krysak is one of the first people on Earth to see these images, and is therefore of importance to Curiosity’s main mission.
For those who may not know why we sent a rover to Mars, an article titled “Face to Face with a Giant” by Emily Lakdawalla sums it up quite nicely.
“Curiosity is designed to study ancient rocks in order to determine what the environment was like when they formed, and whether the ingredients for life- water, a source of energy, and organic materials- were present, and for how long.” (Lakdawalla)
The search for these “ingredients for life” as Lakdawalla put it, is Curiosity’s main mission, and unlike its predecessors-- Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity is significantly more equipped for the task. Curiosity is nuclear-powered and features tools for excavation (a brush, a drill, an Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer, and sieves) and tools for analysis (assorted cameras and on-board chem labs) (Lakdawalla). Krysak’s role, operating the Mastcams, is pivotal in this main mission. By making use of the Mastcams, promising rock formations are selected for drilling and examination. (Lakdawalla)
Much progress has been made since Curiosity has touched down on August 5th, 2012 (Drake). Shiny objects shrouded in mystery aside, Curiosity has, at last, drilled its first 5 cm hole into the surface. (Palmer) By analyzing the powder and sediments drilled from the rock (Amos), we can begin to hypothesize how a planet that was “once more like Earth became the dry, dusty and acidic ball it is today (Drake).”
Curiosity has also begun to take impressive photos of itself on Mars using its MAHLI hand cam (one of the cameras operated by Krysak!) (Amos).These interesting photos can be viewed on Curiosity’s twitter, along with current news and updates on what the rover is doing at https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity.
So come show some support for our space program. Come to Danny Krysak’s “Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity” at 1 PM on Thursday, April 11th, and discover for yourself what Krysak and the team have found, whether life may have existed on Mars, and see where the future may take us!
Works Cited
Amos, Jonathan. "Curiosity Mars Rover Spins Its Rock Drill." BBC News. BBC, 02 July 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.
Ball, Jessica. "Danny Krysak: An Out-of-this-world Geologist (Accretionary Wedge #49) - Magma Cum Laude - AGU Blogosphere." AGU Blogosphere. American Geophysical Union, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
Drake, Nadia. "Safe On Mars, Rover Begins The Search For Signs Of Habitability." Science News 182.4 (2012): 5-6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
Gaudin, Sharon. "How Moon Landing Changed Technology History." Computerworld UK. DG News Service, 21 July 2009. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Lakdawalla, Emily. "Face To Face With A Giant." Sky & Telescope 122.6 (2011): 22-30. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
Palmer, Roxanne. "NASA Rover Curiosity Is First Robot To Drill Into Martian Surface." International Business Times. International Business Times, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
Rundle, Michael. "Mars Rover Spots Metallic 'Arm' Sticking Out Of A Rock (PICTURES)." Huffington Post UK. Huffington Post UK, 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
SUNY Potsdam Department of Geology. "2011 & 2012 Double Issue." State University of New York College at Potsdam Geology Newsletter (2012): 19+. Web. 9 Mar. 2013. PDF file.
Space Exploration, Aliens, Curiosity and Danny Krysak by Ryan Colligan
Note to the reader: Here is a startling update. It’s important to note, with scientific articles in particular, that news and current information is subject to change, and often does at an alarming rate. This essay/blog post has been a work in progress for a few weeks now, but new information has been released since the essay was finished. The “ingredients for life” have been found in a sample of the ground taken by Curiosity on Mars. For information on this recent announcement, please visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-092 , as it will surely be a topic of conversation at the upcoming presentation.
Did we find evidence of an “alien death ship” on Mars?
On January 30th, 2013 the Mars rover Curiosity sent back a mysterious image, an image of a .5 cm “metallic arm.” Reflecting light in the manner that metal would, the photo has both scientists and enthusiasts guessing. An article by Michael Rundle of the Huffington Post UK entertains some of these theories. Could it be a metal more resistant to erosion, or could it really be some alien manufactured metal? (Rundle)
It’s stories and articles like these that lead our minds to wander like they did when we were children, that bring us crawling back to our grade school days when we entertained Star Wars-esque fantasies of life on other planets. It is a great tragedy that these days, we seem to take space exploration for granted. It not only helps to answer our many questions about what might be out there beyond Earth, but it also helps to support our economy!
Scott Hubbard, a professor in aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford and a 20 year NASA alum, has said that “$7 or $8 in goods and services are still produced for every $1 that the government invests in NASA.” (Gaudin) These investments in NASA not only help us to achieve new feats in engineering, but also help us to develop new communication technology. Could you imagine a world without smart phones and laptops? Without the Apollo missions, you wouldn’t have to! We would not have the integrated circuit, a key component to microchips (Gaudin), and without microchips, we would not have the amazing computer devices we have today! It’s difficult to imagine the world without these “byproducts” of space exploration.
So why aren’t people noticing this trend? Because we as a nation do not understand this relationship between NASA and technological progress, we consequently did not rally around Curiosity. A rover “roughly the size of a Mini Cooper” (Ball) not only touched down on the surface of Mars, but it provided a live feed with only a 14 minute delay (Ball)! It seems however, that America is just no longer fascinated by space exploration, but maybe, just maybe, Danny Krysak can muster up some enthusiasm and support.
“Who is Danny Krysak?” you may be asking?
Danny Krysak is a Planetary Geoscience graduate from the University at Buffalo and he will be presenting as part of SUNY Potsdam’s 2013 Academic Festival on Thursday, April 11th. The presentation, titled “Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity” begins at 1 PM.
It would be difficult to find a better speaker when it comes to Curiosity. Not only did Krysak minor (in geology) here at SUNY Potsdam in 2008 (SUNY Potsdam Department of Geology), he is currently a “Mission Operations Specialist” for Curiosity at Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) (Ball)!
What Krysak does, in simple terms, is operates the four science cameras on board Curiosity (the four cameras being MARDI; the Mars Descent Imager, MAHLI; the Mars Hand Lens Imager, and two mast cams) (Ball). The role of the four cameras is to provide images for the science team (Ball), so in a way, they are Curiosity’s eyes. Krysak is one of the first people on Earth to see these images, and is therefore of importance to Curiosity’s main mission.
For those who may not know why we sent a rover to Mars, an article titled “Face to Face with a Giant” by Emily Lakdawalla sums it up quite nicely.
“Curiosity is designed to study ancient rocks in order to determine what the environment was like when they formed, and whether the ingredients for life- water, a source of energy, and organic materials- were present, and for how long.” (Lakdawalla)
The search for these “ingredients for life” as Lakdawalla put it, is Curiosity’s main mission, and unlike its predecessors-- Spirit and Opportunity, Curiosity is significantly more equipped for the task. Curiosity is nuclear-powered and features tools for excavation (a brush, a drill, an Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer, and sieves) and tools for analysis (assorted cameras and on-board chem labs) (Lakdawalla). Krysak’s role, operating the Mastcams, is pivotal in this main mission. By making use of the Mastcams, promising rock formations are selected for drilling and examination. (Lakdawalla)
Much progress has been made since Curiosity has touched down on August 5th, 2012 (Drake). Shiny objects shrouded in mystery aside, Curiosity has, at last, drilled its first 5 cm hole into the surface. (Palmer) By analyzing the powder and sediments drilled from the rock (Amos), we can begin to hypothesize how a planet that was “once more like Earth became the dry, dusty and acidic ball it is today (Drake).”
Curiosity has also begun to take impressive photos of itself on Mars using its MAHLI hand cam (one of the cameras operated by Krysak!) (Amos).These interesting photos can be viewed on Curiosity’s twitter, along with current news and updates on what the rover is doing at https://twitter.com/MarsCuriosity.
So come show some support for our space program. Come to Danny Krysak’s “Journey to Mars: The Rover Curiosity” at 1 PM on Thursday, April 11th, and discover for yourself what Krysak and the team have found, whether life may have existed on Mars, and see where the future may take us!
Works Cited
Amos, Jonathan. "Curiosity Mars Rover Spins Its Rock Drill." BBC News. BBC, 02 July 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.
Ball, Jessica. "Danny Krysak: An Out-of-this-world Geologist (Accretionary Wedge #49) - Magma Cum Laude - AGU Blogosphere." AGU Blogosphere. American Geophysical Union, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
Drake, Nadia. "Safe On Mars, Rover Begins The Search For Signs Of Habitability." Science News 182.4 (2012): 5-6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
Gaudin, Sharon. "How Moon Landing Changed Technology History." Computerworld UK. DG News Service, 21 July 2009. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Lakdawalla, Emily. "Face To Face With A Giant." Sky & Telescope 122.6 (2011): 22-30. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
Palmer, Roxanne. "NASA Rover Curiosity Is First Robot To Drill Into Martian Surface." International Business Times. International Business Times, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.
Rundle, Michael. "Mars Rover Spots Metallic 'Arm' Sticking Out Of A Rock (PICTURES)." Huffington Post UK. Huffington Post UK, 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
SUNY Potsdam Department of Geology. "2011 & 2012 Double Issue." State University of New York College at Potsdam Geology Newsletter (2012): 19+. Web. 9 Mar. 2013. PDF file.
Tony Scott: Mysteries of Earth’s Moon
Earth's Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions. Dr. Ryan A. Zeigler, Kellas 106, Thursday 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Mysteries of Earth’s Moon by Tony Scott
For many years, the moon has served as a major point of interest for astronomers. It is also the only other area in the galaxy, other than earth, that humanity has stepped foot on. The first two men to ever step foot on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on July 20, 1969 (NASA-The First Person on the Moon). Since then, several other trips to the moon have taken place to retrieve sample moon rocks for further study. The origin of the moon, to this day, still remains uncertain. Scientists use moon rock samples brought back from the Apollo missions for examination to get a better understanding of the history and creation of the moon (“Moon” Wikipedia).
One of the lunar geologists who are involved in these studies is Ryan Zeigler. Ryan Zeigler is a SUNY Potsdam graduate who is now one of the researchers employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (NASA) Like many other scientists in the same field, Ryan shares the common goal in finding the answer to the question: How was the moon formed? One theory suggests that the moon was formed about 4.9 billion years ago from a combination of debris caused by a collision between earth and a Mars-sized body (Earth’s Moon). However, there is no concrete evidence that fully supports this theory. Though, it’s been discovered that even though earth has very different levels of composition compared to other bodies in the solar system such as Mars and Vesta, the isotopic compositions found on earth and the moon are very similar. (“Moon” - Wikipedia) This could imply that some of the compositions on the moon came from earth, thus promoting the theory of the moon’s creation taking place by a collision between earth and another body.
More than three hundred kilograms of lunar rocks have been collected from nine different areas on the moon for examination (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W), and like forensic anthropologists study bones to clarify the lifestyle and physical growth by studying the remains of a subject, lunar geologists like, Ryan Zeigler, study lunar samples to piece together a timeline based on the moon’s physical states and experiences since the beginning of its existence, to current date…By studying the lunar rocks, scientists have constructed a plausible timeline of events that took place after its creation... The first occurrence implied by their hypothesis, was the changing of the moon’s exterior structural formation resulting from the crystallization of a magma ocean covering the moon’s surface… Based on other studies, researchers have found that a large portion of the moon was at one time, covered in magma… They figure the magma was a result from the formation of the moon after the theorized, collision took place (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W). Consider this an educated guess, but it’s probable that the magma was formed due to a portion of the matter being highly overheated from the collision, thus, somehow forming into pure magma during the fusion from the debris. However, understandably, the magma crystalized, which formed a solid landscape after hardening… The timeline suggests that the moon also went through a heavy bombardment of meteors…This would obviously explain the several impact craters that cover the moon. The extrusion of magma beneath the moon’s surface was implied to have happened later on, which also crystallized and formed igneous rock, adding to the moon’s rough terrain… The last occurrence said to have happened was a lighter bombardment of meteors (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W). Having constructed a timeline for the moon could serve as a useful factor in discovering the answer many scientists are looking for. If we can learn about the moon’s development maybe that can help us learn about its formation. It’s a process of working backwards to finally work our way to the very beginning.
While the creation of the moon still remains a mystery, the search for the truth is of high importance. Solving this mystery could help researchers answer more commonly asked questions as well. Such as, how the earth was created, or the questions many people have about why earth is so unique, and why the earth is the only known planet that holds life. Perhaps the answer lies in the creation of earth. Maybe it was the process of the earth’s creation that resulted in its capabilities of sustaining life. It could give us a better understanding on how life on earth became possible. If we understand that, it could give us a probable indication that maybe there are other areas in the universe that sustain life. Maybe our existence isn’t a mere accident or coincidence, but rather a natural occurrence. It’s interesting to believe that such a small part of the universe could not only reveal mysteries of its own, but likely reveal mysteries of the universe at large.
In conclusion, Ryan Zeigler will be making an appearance at the Making the Future Festival to talk to students about his research and what interesting information he has to offer, so I feel it may be appropriate to give you a little bit of background information about Ryan, since he also went to college here at Potsdam state. I feel this information may be important for many other students to hear because many of them could probably relate to what experiences Ryan went through during his education at this college. Ryan describes himself as somewhat of a “nerd” in college, due to the fact that he did spend a bit more time studying than most other students. However, he did involve himself in campus clubs, sports, and other recreational services the campus has to offer. On top of that, like many other students, he did take classes that he struggled with and didn’t quite enjoy. One of these classes that comes to mind is Art History. This piece of information is somewhat intriguing because I have heard the same thing from other students that go here now. Out of all the hard classes here, Art history is so far, the one I’ve heard peers ranting about the most. That is why I find it interesting to know about his experience. However, despite the struggles he had in some of his classes, he believes that every class does hold some amount of significance to every student, even if it’s a course that has nothing to do with their major. No matter what class it is, there’s always some amount of knowledge to be obtained from it. (Zeigler, Ryan) Here's how Ryan put it in an email to me:
Ryan will be speaking at the Making the Future Festival on April 11th at 3:00 p.m. in Kellas hall, room 106. Lunar geology is an interesting topic to learn about because it answers and raises questions that not only pertain it itself but to other topics as well, like how the earth and planets may have been created. I would advise any student to see this presentation. It promotes new knowledge, and in my opinion, any kind of knowledge is worth obtaining.
Works Cited
“Moon.” Wikipedia. 2013. Web. 3, March 2013
Earth’s Moon: Formation, Composition and Orbit. Space. TechMediaNetwork. 2013. Web.
3, March 2013.
Canright, Shelley. “NASA-The First Person on the Moon.” NASA. n.p. Web. 9 April 2009.
Christiansen, Eric. &Hamblin, W. “Chapter 4: The Geology of the Moon.” exPlanets. n.p. 2007. Web. 3 March 2013.
NASA. “Dr. Ryan A. Zeigler: Planetary Scientist; Apollo Sample Curator.” 2013. Web. March 3, 2013.
Zeigler, Ryan A. Personal Communication. 4 March 2013.
Mysteries of Earth’s Moon by Tony Scott
For many years, the moon has served as a major point of interest for astronomers. It is also the only other area in the galaxy, other than earth, that humanity has stepped foot on. The first two men to ever step foot on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on July 20, 1969 (NASA-The First Person on the Moon). Since then, several other trips to the moon have taken place to retrieve sample moon rocks for further study. The origin of the moon, to this day, still remains uncertain. Scientists use moon rock samples brought back from the Apollo missions for examination to get a better understanding of the history and creation of the moon (“Moon” Wikipedia).
One of the lunar geologists who are involved in these studies is Ryan Zeigler. Ryan Zeigler is a SUNY Potsdam graduate who is now one of the researchers employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (NASA) Like many other scientists in the same field, Ryan shares the common goal in finding the answer to the question: How was the moon formed? One theory suggests that the moon was formed about 4.9 billion years ago from a combination of debris caused by a collision between earth and a Mars-sized body (Earth’s Moon). However, there is no concrete evidence that fully supports this theory. Though, it’s been discovered that even though earth has very different levels of composition compared to other bodies in the solar system such as Mars and Vesta, the isotopic compositions found on earth and the moon are very similar. (“Moon” - Wikipedia) This could imply that some of the compositions on the moon came from earth, thus promoting the theory of the moon’s creation taking place by a collision between earth and another body.
More than three hundred kilograms of lunar rocks have been collected from nine different areas on the moon for examination (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W), and like forensic anthropologists study bones to clarify the lifestyle and physical growth by studying the remains of a subject, lunar geologists like, Ryan Zeigler, study lunar samples to piece together a timeline based on the moon’s physical states and experiences since the beginning of its existence, to current date…By studying the lunar rocks, scientists have constructed a plausible timeline of events that took place after its creation... The first occurrence implied by their hypothesis, was the changing of the moon’s exterior structural formation resulting from the crystallization of a magma ocean covering the moon’s surface… Based on other studies, researchers have found that a large portion of the moon was at one time, covered in magma… They figure the magma was a result from the formation of the moon after the theorized, collision took place (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W). Consider this an educated guess, but it’s probable that the magma was formed due to a portion of the matter being highly overheated from the collision, thus, somehow forming into pure magma during the fusion from the debris. However, understandably, the magma crystalized, which formed a solid landscape after hardening… The timeline suggests that the moon also went through a heavy bombardment of meteors…This would obviously explain the several impact craters that cover the moon. The extrusion of magma beneath the moon’s surface was implied to have happened later on, which also crystallized and formed igneous rock, adding to the moon’s rough terrain… The last occurrence said to have happened was a lighter bombardment of meteors (Christiansen, Eric/ Hamblin, W). Having constructed a timeline for the moon could serve as a useful factor in discovering the answer many scientists are looking for. If we can learn about the moon’s development maybe that can help us learn about its formation. It’s a process of working backwards to finally work our way to the very beginning.
While the creation of the moon still remains a mystery, the search for the truth is of high importance. Solving this mystery could help researchers answer more commonly asked questions as well. Such as, how the earth was created, or the questions many people have about why earth is so unique, and why the earth is the only known planet that holds life. Perhaps the answer lies in the creation of earth. Maybe it was the process of the earth’s creation that resulted in its capabilities of sustaining life. It could give us a better understanding on how life on earth became possible. If we understand that, it could give us a probable indication that maybe there are other areas in the universe that sustain life. Maybe our existence isn’t a mere accident or coincidence, but rather a natural occurrence. It’s interesting to believe that such a small part of the universe could not only reveal mysteries of its own, but likely reveal mysteries of the universe at large.
In conclusion, Ryan Zeigler will be making an appearance at the Making the Future Festival to talk to students about his research and what interesting information he has to offer, so I feel it may be appropriate to give you a little bit of background information about Ryan, since he also went to college here at Potsdam state. I feel this information may be important for many other students to hear because many of them could probably relate to what experiences Ryan went through during his education at this college. Ryan describes himself as somewhat of a “nerd” in college, due to the fact that he did spend a bit more time studying than most other students. However, he did involve himself in campus clubs, sports, and other recreational services the campus has to offer. On top of that, like many other students, he did take classes that he struggled with and didn’t quite enjoy. One of these classes that comes to mind is Art History. This piece of information is somewhat intriguing because I have heard the same thing from other students that go here now. Out of all the hard classes here, Art history is so far, the one I’ve heard peers ranting about the most. That is why I find it interesting to know about his experience. However, despite the struggles he had in some of his classes, he believes that every class does hold some amount of significance to every student, even if it’s a course that has nothing to do with their major. No matter what class it is, there’s always some amount of knowledge to be obtained from it. (Zeigler, Ryan) Here's how Ryan put it in an email to me:
I took classes I loved and took classes I hated, and almost all of them have beenAnd personally, I’ve been a strong believer that the more you learn, the faster you learn. The more time you spend increasing your current knowledge, the more rapidly you excel in gaining further knowledge.
useful to me after I left. Despite having gone on to success after leaving Potsdam,
there were still classes that gave me fits while I was there (Art History and
Calculus spring to mind), but I'm glad I've taken them. I think that in general when
students get challenged by a class, especially one outside of their specialty, they
tend to write it off as unimportant. I would urge students that every class is
important and will help you in life, and to try to persevere. I also found that in
graduate school, I was as well prepared as my colleagues who went to more
prestigious undergraduate institutions. What you get out of college will be a direct
reflection of what you put into it. If you spend 4 years working hard, you'll come
out well prepared. If you spend 4 years goofing off and scraping by, you'll come out
of it poorly prepared.(Zeigler, Ryan)
Ryan will be speaking at the Making the Future Festival on April 11th at 3:00 p.m. in Kellas hall, room 106. Lunar geology is an interesting topic to learn about because it answers and raises questions that not only pertain it itself but to other topics as well, like how the earth and planets may have been created. I would advise any student to see this presentation. It promotes new knowledge, and in my opinion, any kind of knowledge is worth obtaining.
Works Cited
“Moon.” Wikipedia. 2013. Web. 3, March 2013
Earth’s Moon: Formation, Composition and Orbit. Space. TechMediaNetwork. 2013. Web.
3, March 2013.
Canright, Shelley. “NASA-The First Person on the Moon.” NASA. n.p. Web. 9 April 2009.
Christiansen, Eric. &Hamblin, W. “Chapter 4: The Geology of the Moon.” exPlanets. n.p. 2007. Web. 3 March 2013.
NASA. “Dr. Ryan A. Zeigler: Planetary Scientist; Apollo Sample Curator.” 2013. Web. March 3, 2013.
Zeigler, Ryan A. Personal Communication. 4 March 2013.
Ben Stern: Mysteries of Earth’s Moon
Earth's Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions. Dr. Ryan Zeigler, Kellas 106, Thursday 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Earth’s Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions. by Ben Stern
Many look up into the night sky and gaze at the moon. Everyone is aware of its presence but no one really knows much about it. However, many are intrigued and are eager to learn more. Why does it appear to us the way it does, what role does it play on our world, and what can we learn by studying it? The presentation I am encouraging everyone to take part in is “Earth’s Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions” by Ryan Zeigler. Zeigler will explain the relationship we have with our moon and decipher and break down what information we’ve discovered since the Apollo missions, in addition to the collected samples and how they keep them safe in Houston. This topic interests me and I am sure it will interest others if only they open up their mind and decide to learn about something new.
The topic has to do with what we have learned about space, the moon, and its relationship with us, since the Apollo missions. The moon has always been a part of our world, and we all know what it is, so why not learn something about it? Long before the Apollo missions, we known little about the moon and what lied on its surface. We have acquired many samples such as rocks and soil from the moon, and conducted many experiments with them. With the help of the knowledge the Apollo missions granted us, we’ve been able to understand the moon more clearly, and it has increased our comprehension about our “inexpressible dependant relationship” (Taylor) we have with it.
The information one could learn by attending this event could assist in gathering useful knowledge and facts about Earth’s moon. “There is much information beneath the surface of this lunar object that many have yet to learn.” (Ridpath). Even if you think you know a lot about it, there is no doubt that one will learn something new and informative by attending. For those who are interested in astronomy, or just space in general, this event is strongly recommended. Ryan Ziegler wanted to encourage all students to participate in his event by stating, “No science background should be necessary to understand my talk” (Ziegler). He is trying to convey that you don’t need to be completely interested, or have any knowledge about the moon and Apollo missions to learn something about them. I encourage anyone with an open mind and a little curiosity about space to consider attending. The moon is something that we all live with and we all gave it a good extensive look before. It is truly beautiful object and its very unsettling knowing most of us won’t is able to see it in person. Nevertheless, “it’s the most commonly observed astronomical object” (Grego 2).
The topic of space and the moon has always interested me ever since I was a little boy. I’ve always wondered what was up there, and what it must be like to actually be on the moon. I would always want to be an astronaut when I got older, so I could one day actually go there. Science fiction movies always acquired my attention, not because of the plot or cast, but of the settings, which were usually in space or affiliated with the moon or other planets. This is the reason I chose this topic, and I am looking forward to attending. I feel that after this presentation, one will have a grasp what the moon is, and what effect it has on us.
Just because you don’t know anything about space or the moon, doesn’t mean you should bypass this presentation. This event could be very useful to one’s understanding of our moon. The related sources I’ve found about my topic allowed me to be confident that this event will be interesting and draw the audience in. This event just like any other should not be just passed up, anyone with an open mind and the will to learn something new and interesting should consider showing up.
Works Cited
Grego, Peter. The Moon and How to Observe It. London: Springer-Verlag, 2005. Electronic Resource.
Ridpath, Ian. Exploring the Moon. ianridpath.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar 2013..
Talyor, S.R.. Twenty Years Since Apollo 11: What Have We Learned About the Moon?. Adsab.Harvard.edu. University of Vienna, n.d. Web. 6 Mar 2013..
Zeigler, Ryan. Personal Communication to Tony Scott. 13 Mar 2013.
Earth’s Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions. by Ben Stern
Many look up into the night sky and gaze at the moon. Everyone is aware of its presence but no one really knows much about it. However, many are intrigued and are eager to learn more. Why does it appear to us the way it does, what role does it play on our world, and what can we learn by studying it? The presentation I am encouraging everyone to take part in is “Earth’s Moon: What we have learned since the Apollo missions” by Ryan Zeigler. Zeigler will explain the relationship we have with our moon and decipher and break down what information we’ve discovered since the Apollo missions, in addition to the collected samples and how they keep them safe in Houston. This topic interests me and I am sure it will interest others if only they open up their mind and decide to learn about something new.
The topic has to do with what we have learned about space, the moon, and its relationship with us, since the Apollo missions. The moon has always been a part of our world, and we all know what it is, so why not learn something about it? Long before the Apollo missions, we known little about the moon and what lied on its surface. We have acquired many samples such as rocks and soil from the moon, and conducted many experiments with them. With the help of the knowledge the Apollo missions granted us, we’ve been able to understand the moon more clearly, and it has increased our comprehension about our “inexpressible dependant relationship” (Taylor) we have with it.
The information one could learn by attending this event could assist in gathering useful knowledge and facts about Earth’s moon. “There is much information beneath the surface of this lunar object that many have yet to learn.” (Ridpath). Even if you think you know a lot about it, there is no doubt that one will learn something new and informative by attending. For those who are interested in astronomy, or just space in general, this event is strongly recommended. Ryan Ziegler wanted to encourage all students to participate in his event by stating, “No science background should be necessary to understand my talk” (Ziegler). He is trying to convey that you don’t need to be completely interested, or have any knowledge about the moon and Apollo missions to learn something about them. I encourage anyone with an open mind and a little curiosity about space to consider attending. The moon is something that we all live with and we all gave it a good extensive look before. It is truly beautiful object and its very unsettling knowing most of us won’t is able to see it in person. Nevertheless, “it’s the most commonly observed astronomical object” (Grego 2).
The topic of space and the moon has always interested me ever since I was a little boy. I’ve always wondered what was up there, and what it must be like to actually be on the moon. I would always want to be an astronaut when I got older, so I could one day actually go there. Science fiction movies always acquired my attention, not because of the plot or cast, but of the settings, which were usually in space or affiliated with the moon or other planets. This is the reason I chose this topic, and I am looking forward to attending. I feel that after this presentation, one will have a grasp what the moon is, and what effect it has on us.
Just because you don’t know anything about space or the moon, doesn’t mean you should bypass this presentation. This event could be very useful to one’s understanding of our moon. The related sources I’ve found about my topic allowed me to be confident that this event will be interesting and draw the audience in. This event just like any other should not be just passed up, anyone with an open mind and the will to learn something new and interesting should consider showing up.
Works Cited
Grego, Peter. The Moon and How to Observe It. London: Springer-Verlag, 2005. Electronic Resource.
Ridpath, Ian. Exploring the Moon. ianridpath.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar 2013.
Talyor, S.R.. Twenty Years Since Apollo 11: What Have We Learned About the Moon?. Adsab.Harvard.edu. University of Vienna, n.d. Web. 6 Mar 2013.
Zeigler, Ryan. Personal Communication to Tony Scott. 13 Mar 2013.
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