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Adventure Science Center Blog

Science Educators and guest authors exploring our world and the science and technology that connects us.

Category: astronomy

12/17/18

WINTER SOLSTICE: THE LONGEST NIGHT by Bethany Caldwell, Science Educator

Happy Winter Solstice! We hear that said in scientific communities around the country, but what is the solstice exactly? A picture of the mythical druids dancing around stone circles chanting may come up in your mind, but the real scientific reason for the solstice is just as phenomenal. via GIPHY The Latin translation of the word solstice is “sun stoppage.” In winter, it marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. But, how does this happen? To begin,... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 12/17/18

12/12/18

SEASONS ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Patrick King II, Planetarium Educator

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! You know what that means… getting your gift list in order, strapping up your tauntaun for holiday travel, and most importantly, not forgetting to grab a coat because Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. via GIPHY Depending on where you live, weather can be great indicator of the time of year. For most of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the crisp, cooler temperatures of fall transition quickly into frigid, cruel winter weather.... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 12/12/18

astronomy space Winter Wonders seasons

10/16/18

LIGHTS OUT... FOR THE UNIVERSE by Patrick King II, Planetarium Educator

In 1374, Geofferey Chaucer wrote “All good things must come to an end." I’m not sure if a truer proverb exists. Humans, the Earth, all the stars in the sky, and yes, even our universe, will one day come to an end OR at least not exist in any form that we can comprehend. Let's talk time! The Oxford dictionary defines time as “the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present and future regarded as a whole," which is about... Read More

Posted by Anna Leigh Goolsby at 10/16/18

Sudekum Planetarium astronomy physics space Get Spooky Halloween

9/25/18

DESIGNING SUNDIALS by Patrick King II, Planetarium Educator

For thousands of years, people have used sundials to measure time using the position of our Sun. In fact, the world’s oldest surviving sundial comes from a tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings (pictured), dating all the way back to 1500 BCE - that's at least 3,500 years ago! Significant find: After thousands of years the Egyptian sun dial was brought back to light. © University of Basel While the Egyptians were the first to use sundials, they... Read More

Posted by Anna Leigh Goolsby at 9/25/18

Blog astronomy engineering Make It

8/9/18

ENCELADUS: THE FROZEN GIANT by Jason Moeller, Science Educator

Despite recent Mars discoveries, an icy moon circling Saturn may hold the secret to extraterrestrial life! In 1960, a young astronomer named Frank Drake aimed the National Radio Astronomy Observatory ’s 85-foot radio telescope towards two nearby, sun-like stars. The goal of Frank’s project, named Ozma after the fictional ruler of Oz, was to search for life using a radio frequency that Frank thought an interstellar civilization might use. Although the stars failed to... Read More

Posted by Anna Leigh Goolsby at 8/9/18

Blog astronomy Blast Off

8/2/17

MARIA MITCHELL #WSW by Molly Hornbuckle, Marketing Communications Manager

No woman should say, "I am but a woman!" But a woman! What more can you ask to be? With only 19 days until totality hits Nashville for the first time since 1478, I wanted to take this chance to feature one of the original “eclipse chasers,” Maria Mitchell. Born in Massachusetts in 1818, Maria grew up in a large Quaker family and community where they valued education and insisted on giving girls the same quality of education that boys received, as one of the... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 8/2/17

eclipse Blog astronomy Music City Solar Eclipse Women Science Wednesday history

6/2/17

WHY IS THE SOLAR ECLIPSE A BIG DEAL? by Marcin Chojnowski, Eclipse Intern

Imagine yourself living thousands of years ago, harvesting crops in a field on a bright sunny day. You think it’s just like any other day, but suddenly the sky starts getting dark. As you look over the horizon, you see a dark sweeping shadow racing towards you. You look up at the sky as absolute darkness begins to engulf the sun and normally invisible stars begin to shine. The sun, your daily provider of light and warmth, is replaced with a pitch-black circle surrounded by a... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 6/2/17

eclipse astronomy Music City Solar Eclipse history

5/24/17

THE LAST ECLIPSE... EVER by Derrick Rohl, Sudekum Planetarium Manager

A Total Solar Eclipse is considered by many to be the greatest sight in nature. Nashville will be lucky enough this August to experience a total eclipse of the Sun – something this area hasn't seen since 1478 (long before Music City ever came to be). A Total Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's surface from view. From within the Moon's shadow, you will be able to see the Sun's corona and beautiful prominences, which are typically hidden from... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 5/24/17

eclipse astronomy Music City Solar Eclipse mathematics

5/12/17

BIG NUMBERS by Theo Wellington, NASA Solar System Ambassador

I have a background in astronomy, where most of the numbers are, well, astronomically big. So large numbers are not generally something to be feared, and most calculations can really be done by rounding and estimating. No one needs to know the distance to a galaxy in anything other than a couple of billion light years. Let’s play with some numbers… and the upcoming Music City Solar Eclipse . The number everyone wants to know who is planning events is how many... Read More

Posted by Molly Hornbuckle at 5/12/17

eclipse astronomy Music City Solar Eclipse

3/23/17

HAPPY NATIONAL NEAR MISS DAY by Derrick Rohl, Sudekum Planetarium Manager

What's National Near Miss Day, you ask? Well, on this day in 1989, an asteroid almost hit Earth! The asteroid itself is about half a mile across, and was traveling almost 50,000 mph. Named 4581 Asclepius, it passed within 425,000 miles of Earth. That's almost twice the distance of the radius of the Moon's orbit around Earth. But, the asteroid passed through the exact point where Earth was just six hours earlier. A lucky day for Earth indeed, and certainly a close call. 4581... Read More

Posted by Derrick Rohl at 3/23/17

astronomy near miss day asteroids disasters

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