GenS 4001 Astronomy
Mini Essays
You may decide to write these mini-essays instead of attempting a web-based
project if your prefer. Answers for each question should typically be around
three-quarters to a page of written text. You should answer all five questions.
- Why was the discovery of Neptune a major confirmation of Newton's universal
law of gravitation? Was the discovery of Pluto similarly momentous?
- Speculate on the possibility that life might once have exisited on
Mars. You might find the Mars
Exploration Rovers website at http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
useful for your research.
- Why does Antarctica offer exceptional conditions for observing the
stars? Discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of working there.
You may find it helpful to read the South
Pole Diaries at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/astro/southpole2004/ to
see what the UNSW astronomers achieved with their work at the South Pole
and Dome C this year.
- Why is the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram such an important tool for astronomers
understanding of the life cycles of stars?
- Discuss the latest
measurements by astronomers that the Universe is made up of 73% dark
energy, 23% dark matter and just 4% visible material (like stars, planets
and people)? (You may also find it useful to look at the MAP
website at http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov.)
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