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Tag Archives: astronomy
News from the Kepler observatory: our galaxy is really, really big
The Kepler observatory was launched into orbit in early 2009. Its mission: to search for planets in solar systems other than our own. Their recent results point to a staggering number of planets that share the galaxy with us, many of which orbit their sun in a habitable temperature zone: between 0 and 100 °C. This means that water-based life such as ourselves would neither freeze nor boil away, assuming that the planet has atmospheric pressure similar to Earth.
Normal, Earth-bound telescopes can detect light emitted from stars throughout the galaxy, but reflections and emissions from their orbiting planets are too weak to be detected that way. In order to “see” planets, Kepler actually measures a drop in the intensity of light we see when a planet passes directly between Kepler and a star.
Blast-off to Chabot Space & Science Center
In 1883, a public telescope was erected in Oakland as part of an observatory open to the curious public. Today this same telescope still stands, but ten years ago it was relocated to the Oakland Hills where the Chabot Space and Science Center was built.
Chabot has dedicated itself to serving the scientific and educational needs of the local community for over a century. The hands-on science museum boasts over 160,000 visitors and an operating budget of over $9 million annually. The center’s dedicated and creative staff, as well as the enthusiasm of our local science-hungry public, make Chabot a success in its mission to inform children about space and science.
Stargaze with the Lawrence Hall of Science
Many of you are probably familiar with the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) and its spectacular location in the Berkeley hills. During the day, the LHS provides a delightful scientific treat topped with a cherry-perfect view of the Bay Area. At night, however, that spectacular view takes on a new character: the city lights twinkle below, an earthly reflection of the domed star-sprinkled sky above. The view is, in a word, inspiring.
That view is exactly what inspired the free public stargazing nights that the LHS runs on the 1st and 3rd Saturday nights of each month, year-round.