Tag Archives: Astronomy

“Star Trek” Star Turned Heavenly Body

You know that you have really reached star status when you get an asteroid named after you. Just ask “Star Trek” actor George Takei. An asteroid between Mars and Jupiter has just been renamed 7307 Takei in honor of the actor whom many of us known best for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series and movies. “I am now a heavenly body,” Takei told reporters upon hearing about the honor. “I found out about it yesterday. … I was blown away. It came out of the clear, blue sky – just like an asteroid.” The 70-year-old actor … Continue reading →

Online Help Sought to Aid Astronomers

Have you ever wanted to explore the furthest reaches of space? Whether you are an amateur astronomer or just a dedicated Star Trek fan, you too can have the opportunity to make a contribution and bring knowledge of the galaxies back to people on Earth. This is because scientists are asking volunteers to go online and help them classify galaxies in a sort of galaxy census. The scientist say that this information would help provide new insight into the structure of the Universe. Volunteers would go online and sift through digital images of the galaxies that were taken by a … Continue reading →

A Unit Study Starter on Backyard Astronomy

Here is a list of resources to use to plan a unit study on astronomy. I should note that one reason I chose astronomy for this month’s Unit Study Starter, is because the Perseids meteor shower will be most visible during the weekend of August 12th & 13th. The Perseids is supposed to be one of the most active meteor showers and therefore one of the easiest to observe on a clear night. Add a few more resources to this list to make a complete Unit Study or pick and choose from this list to augment what you’re already doing … Continue reading →

Time’s Top Scientist and Thinkers

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Time Magazine recently came out with its “TIME 100: The People Who Shape Our World” list. While I was familiar with most of the names on the Artists & Entertainers list, I am embarrassed to say I did recognize any names on the Scientists and Thinkers list. Names like Nancy Cox, Mike Brown, and Zahi Hawass puzzled me. I decided to read about some of these people to see what made them important enough to make Time’s list. Nancy Cox is a virologist. For those that do not know, she may be the one scientist that can protect us from … Continue reading →