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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Milky Way Morphology, Laurence A. Marschall
Milky Way Morphology, Laurence A. Marschall
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
From our limited perspective—living on a planet that orbits one of several hundred billion stars inside the Milky Way—the detailed structure of our home galaxy is difficult to determine. It has long been recognized by astronomers as a typical spiral galaxy, one of countless flattened pinwheels of stars seen throughout the universe. By mapping the distances to more than 2,400 stars, scientists have now created, with unprecedented precision, a three-dimensional map that shows the Milky Way has a twisted shape. [excerpt]
The Limited Reign Of Saturn's Rings, Laurence A. Marschall
The Limited Reign Of Saturn's Rings, Laurence A. Marschall
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Saturn’s rings—stretching tens of thousands of miles above its equator but no more than a few hundred yards thick—mark an ancient debris field of orbiting ice shards, the remains of a moon-sized object that strayed too close and was torn to pieces by Saturn’s intense gravitation. Astronomers have debated when the rings formed and how long they will stay in orbit. Recent observations from large, land-based telescopes and orbiting spacecraft reveal that Saturn’s rings are remarkably young and are dissipating at a rapid rate. [excerpt]
Back Half Of The Year, Ian R. Clarke
Back Half Of The Year, Ian R. Clarke
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Here we are in the back half of 2016, and the days are getting shorter. We have, as of today, lost 18 minutes since the solstice on June 20, and the speed of that change is quickening. You may wonder why it is that we have our hottest weather after our longest day is behind us. The simple answer is that it takes time for land and water masses to warm up. That’s the reason that Sept. 21 is likely to be a lot warmer than March 21, even though they have the same amount of daylight. [excerpt]
Living In The Milky Way, Ian R. Clarke
Living In The Milky Way, Ian R. Clarke
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
It’s finally here. Today, June 20 at 6:34 p.m., is the the summer solstice, also known as the first day of summer and, confusingly enough, midsummer’s eve. From a scientific perspective, it marks the moment the sun reaches its northernmost point in our sky. As a result of that position, it’s the shortest night and longest day if you live north of the equator. [excerpt]
Stargazing: Observatories At Gettysburg College, 1874-Present, Andrew A. Carlson
Stargazing: Observatories At Gettysburg College, 1874-Present, Andrew A. Carlson
Hidden in Plain Sight Projects
Astronomy has long been a subject which has attracted the interest of man. Examples of early astronomers can be found in many ancient civilizations, including but not limited to, the Egyptians, the Chinese and the Greeks. As time passed the methods for interpreting the stars and theories that surrounded them changed concordant with the technology available. One of the largest breakthroughs in the world of astronomy was the invention of the telescope in the early seventeenth century. Often mis-attributed to Galileo (who was responsible for building the first reflecting telescope in 1688), the telescope was actually first designed by a …
An Astronomical Account: A History Of Hatter Planetarium From 1966-2006, Jonathan D. Neu
An Astronomical Account: A History Of Hatter Planetarium From 1966-2006, Jonathan D. Neu
Hidden in Plain Sight Projects
When most individuals stare up at the vast dome of Hatter Planetarium, they often gaze upon the projected stars appearing on its surface, listening to an astronomical story told by one of its operators. However, there is a second story told by the planetarium itself. This story is the history of Hatter Planetarium, which spans five decades and includes the events in the lives of several individuals who have played a critical role in its existence at Gettysburg College. Its history has encompassed several phases of Gettysburg College traditions but is in danger of passing permanently and fixedly into the …
A Desktop Universe For The Introductory Astronomy Laboratory, Laurence A. Marschall, Glenn A. Snyder, Paul Richard Cooper
A Desktop Universe For The Introductory Astronomy Laboratory, Laurence A. Marschall, Glenn A. Snyder, Paul Richard Cooper
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
What is a well-intentioned astronomy instructor to do? There is no argument that experience with the real world is desirable in any astronomy course, especially the introductory classes that fulfill the science distribution requirements at many colleges and universities. Though it is a simple matter to take students out of doors, show them the motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars, and have them squint for a few seconds at Saturn's rings through a telescope, these activities represent only a small portion of the subject matter of modern astronomy. It is simply not possible, given the constraints of time, weather, …
The Measurement Of Astronomical Parallaxes With Ccd Imaging Cameras On Small Telescopes, Stephen J. Ratcliff, Thomas J. Balonek, Laurence A. Marschall, David L. Dupuy, Carlton R. Pennypacker, Ritu Verma, Anastasia Alexov, Vivian Bonney
The Measurement Of Astronomical Parallaxes With Ccd Imaging Cameras On Small Telescopes, Stephen J. Ratcliff, Thomas J. Balonek, Laurence A. Marschall, David L. Dupuy, Carlton R. Pennypacker, Ritu Verma, Anastasia Alexov, Vivian Bonney
Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications
Small telescopes equipped with charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging cameras are well suited to introductory laboratory exercises in positional astronomy (astrometry). An elegant example is the determination of the parallax of extraterrestrial objects, such as asteroids. For laboratory exercises suitable for introductory students, the astronomical hardware needs are relatively modest, and under the best circumstances, the analysis requires little more than arithmetic and a microcomputer with image display capabilities. Results from the first such coordinated parallax observations of asteroids ever made are presented. In addition, procedures for several related experiments, involving single-site observations and/or parallaxes of earth-orbiting artificial satellites, are outlined.
4. Kepler, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold A. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart
4. Kepler, Robert L. Bloom, Basil L. Crapster, Harold A. Dunkelberger, Charles H. Glatfelter, Richard T. Mara, Norman E. Richardson, W. Richard Schubart
Section VIII: The Development of Modern Science
Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), a Dane, spent nearly his entire life making careful measurements of the positions of the stars and planets. Most of his work was done at Copenhagen under the patronage of the Danish king. He developed and refined astronomical instruments to an accuracy that was far superior to anything previously done. In his late years at Prague, he started on the reduction to order of the systematic observations that he had made over a period of decades. In 1600 a young German mathematician and astronomer, Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), visited Tycho and then stayed to help in the mammoth …