"You're a star!". A common expression emphatically bestowed upon athletes, actors/actresses, or even children. When we use the word "star" in this context, seldom do we consider the sun, or the trillions of stars that occupy our night sky. Fortunately or unfortunately, very few of us will become movie or sporting stars. Do not despair, … Continue reading You’re a Star….Literally
The Oort Cloud
It is hard to picture how small we are in the universe. Life goes by and we are so entranced by our daily routine that most of us do not have the time to consider what lies beyond the sky. This was not the case, however, for Jan Oort. A Dutch astrophysicist, Jan’s life revolved … Continue reading The Oort Cloud
Blue Sky, Blood Moon
A Lunar Eclipse producing a blood Moon. Credit: instagram: @anthonyduffphotography, as cited by ABC Blue sky - a familiar sight.Blue ocean - a sight to see.Red moon - a sight to behold.Let us ponder a few simple questions. Why is the water clear in our sink while blue in the ocean? Why is our sky blue during the day, … Continue reading Blue Sky, Blood Moon
Light
Light is fundamental to our existence. It is what allows us to see the world and the universe, and with it our eyes can distinguish all the colours of the rainbow. There is more to light than just these colours, however. “Light” is the word we use to describe what we see. We can see … Continue reading Light
Tidal Locking
The night sky is often dominated by the Moon. Sometimes bright, other times only a sliver reveals itself. It orbits (goes around) the Earth every 27 days. It also rotates about its axis every 27 days, a long time compared to Earth which does so every 24 hours (one day). This property of orbiting at … Continue reading Tidal Locking
