Space Exploration

Read more about the article Solar Eclipse 2017 Experience: A Moment in Totality

Solar Eclipse 2017 Experience: A Moment in Totality

No matter what you read on Facebook, 2017 has been a great year, especially for astronomy and space. The top three astronomical events that come to mind first were:The discovery of the Trappist planets.The completion of Juno's mission to Jupiter (The mission has sense been extended)The American Solar Eclipse.Experiencing the Solar Eclipse was the first time I witnessed an eclipse with my own eyes. I can unequivocally say that it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. No matter what interests or knowledge level, I advise anyone to see a total solar eclipse at least once in their lifetime. The next one over North America will be April 8, 2024, so don't miss it!I saw the eclipse with a close friend in Makanda, IL, at Star View Vineyards. There were already about twenty to thirty people scattered around the front yard of the vineyard. Most had eclipse glasses…

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Read more about the article What Are Exoplanets

What Are Exoplanets

One of the best-kept secrets of our times is that planets exist outside our Solar System. Exoplanets are planets orbiting one of the billions of stars we see in the nighttime sky. As our ability to search through the vastness of space increases, we continue to find ourselves faced with an ever-expanding potential of discovering planets that could look and behave like Earth. That's all fine and dandy, but wouldn't you impress your friends with your exoplanetary knowledge instead? Look no further! The History of Exoplanetary ExplorationHumans began their interest in exoplanets around the 16th century. The Italian philosopher Giordano Bruno was the first to publicly support the idea based on his belief in the Copernican theory that Earth and the other known planets of the time were indeed orbiting around the sun. He speculated that this should be the case for different stars in the universe. In the 18th Century, Isaac Newton…

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Read more about the article The Elegance of Astronomy Symbols

The Elegance of Astronomy Symbols

I have always been fascinated by symbols and the messages they communicate. As a graphic designer, my favorite projects were creating logos. I love the elegance and slickness of silhouette logos that tell a story with just a glance. I had similar feelings when viewing the art and graphics of the classic Halo video game. Within the lore of Halo, an ancient species named the Forerunners designed beautiful, grandiose architecture that within the context of the game, looked ancient, spiritual, and foreign, yet technologically advanced. Their symbols communicated a species outside of time. This is how I’ve seen astronomy symbols. They represent objects that have been around millions of years before us and more than likely millions of years after us. They are simple yet elegant and are a reflection of the mythology that helped ancient people interpret what they saw in the heavens. The experience was spiritual in the sense that I’m…

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