Space The Final Frontier?

Physics and Astronomy

Isaac Newton provided one of the first examples of the link between physics and astronomy in the 17th
century, when he reasoned that the force of gravity which pulls objects to the Earth is the same force
which keeps the Earth and other planets in orbit around the sun.
Later on, in the 19th century, astronomers who were studying stellar spectra (the light from stars split
up into its component colors) began to notice that the patterns they saw matched those that occurred
when light was shined through different gases in laboratories here on Earth. This discovery allowed
astronomers to determine the chemical composition of stellar atmospheres, and in fact, their work later
came back to help physicists; the element helium was discovered in spectra from the Sun nearly 30
years before it was found on the Earth.
In recent years, rapid developments in physics and astronomy have kept pace with each other. The twin
goliaths of 20th century theoretical physics - general relativity and quantum mechanics - helped explain
an enormous number of developments in astronomy, from black holes to cosmology to the various
processes by which light is emitted and absorbed in stars, galaxies and the spaces in between. Nuclear
physics, meanwhile, predicts and is tested by reactions that take place in the centers of stars, those like
the Sun and those undergoing violent events like supernovae.
Despite the above success, there is still much work to be done in physics, especially in the areas that
relate to astronomy. General relativity (which deals with massive objects) and quantum mechanics
(which deals with small objects) are known to contradict each other, which means we don't currently
understand the laws that govern some of the most interesting aspects of our universe - the centers of
black holes or the first fraction of a second after the Big Bang.
Physicists continue to seek their holy grail - a unified theory which explains everything in the universe
in one fell swoop. One possible way to reconcile general relativity and quantum mechanics lies
in string theory, a theoretical model of the universe still being developed that would involve many more
dimensions of space-time than the currently accepted number of four.
Will string theory eventually succeed, or will something else come along to take its place? We don't yet
know. But the quest of physicists to understand the universe will continue, and the implications of our
increased understanding - on philosophy, religion and society as a whole - will continue to grow.

Reading a Table. A table is a way to organize and show information. The information is shown in rows and
columns. This table shows a list of the planets in our solar system. The planets are listed in their order from the
sun.

Name of planet
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto

Number of moons
0
0
1
2
39
30
21
8
1

Length of year
(in Earth days)
88
25
365
687
4331
10,747
30,589
59,800
90,588

Rings around the

planet
no
no
no
No
yes
yes
yes
yes
no

Surface temperatures
(degrees Celsius)
167
464
15
-65
-110
-140
-195
-200
-225

Ocean vs. Space: Which Is the True Final Frontier?

Space may be called "the final frontier," but anyone who has seen a picture of a goblin shark or a
vampire squid will agree that the ocean can be downright alien. Both realms are ripe for exploration,
offer extensive potential benefits and come at a hefty price. So which wins in a battle between the two
for the title of the final frontier? Which area of exploration will result in the greater good for humanity?
Space has been the clear leader for a long time. $17.8 billion dollars is going toward space exploration
in 2013, compared to the $5 billion dollars that goes toward oceanic exploration. This discrepancy has
led to skewed results: While 500 individuals have been sent into space, only three have visited the
deepest part of the ocean; while 500 individuals have been sent into space, only three have visited the
deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench; we have better maps of the surface of Mars than we do
of our own ocean floor, and we understand more about the dark side of the moon than ocean life.
Despite centuries of ocean exploration, weve only covered about 5% of the ocean.
Bunje insists that this needs to change: In that 5% we have some of the most amazing things on this
planet. Weve got a mountain range, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, that has thousands of peaks taller than the
Alps are, for instance," he said. "Youve got, every time someone goes down, new species that are
wondrous and unbelievably strange sometimes. And in reality, if you take all of the worlds oceans,
thats 99% of our living space on Earth, and we know almost nothing about it." Bunje also said that
there are three reasons why the oceans deserve more research love: food, jobs and oxygen. The ocean
produces 20% of the worlds protein supply, and 3 billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihood.
The ocean also produces 70% of Earths oxygen. These statistics, to Bunje and other ocean activists,
mean that dangers like ocean acidification and climate change need our attention.

Hall insists that the investment isnt as skewed as it seems. The simple fact that getting into space
comes with a very large dollar sign must be taken into account when comparing the budgets. She insists
that the reasons to explore space include economic benefit, national security and something that cannot
be simplified down to a monetary amount: the satisfaction of our own curiosity. Benefits of space
exploration arent just about walking on the moon anymore. Research to put astronauts into space has
resulted in great advancements in technology and medicine, and has resulted in the creation of jobs and
economic benefits.
Beyond that, Hall insists, is the more romantic reason to continue space exploration: Space is inspiring.
Finding out about the origin of our planet Earth and the rest of the solar system is something that that
we have a deep need to know about. Finding out about the origin of our planet Earth and the rest of the
solar system is something that that we have a deep need to know about, she said.
Hall insists that space research benefits the planet as well. Seeing Earth from space created a concept of
Planet Earth. NASA has more money in its budget to be used towards Earth sciences than should go
towards planetary sciences, and it has resulted in significant breakthroughs, including information on
the melting ice caps, climate change and ocean surface temperatures.
The good news, when it comes to space versus the ocean, is that it doesnt have to be one or the other.
Both Bunje and Hall are working on million-dollar contests to increase research in space and in the
ocean. Additionally, billions of dollars in government funding go toward research projects every year,
in the hopes that some of these innovations can become a reality. So, which side are you on?

The Funny Page - Space Jokes

* What is a light year? The same as a regular year, but with less calories
* How does the Solar System hold up its pants? With an asteroid belt
* What do you can an alien with three eyes? An aliiien :-)
* How does the man-in-the-Moon cut his hair? Eclipse it
* Why didn't the Sun go to college? Because he already had a million degrees!
* Einstein developed a theory about space, and it was about time too.
* What kinds of fish live in space? Starfish
* Scientists have found the center of Jupiter.......contains the letter i
* How many astronomers does it take to change a light bulb? None, they like the dark.

* How far can you see on a clear day? 92,955,807 miles (to the sun)
* Living on Earth may be expensive, but we do get a free trip around the sun every year!
* Where do astronauts keep their sandwiches? In a launch-box.
* What did Mars say to Saturn? Give me a ring sometime!
* What kind of stars wear sunglasses? Movie stars.
* What did the alien cook for lunch? Unidentified frying objects
* If a meteorite hits a planet, what do we call the ones that miss? Meteowrongs
* How do you organize a space party? You planet
* Why is the Moon bald? He has no 'air
* Why didn't people like the restaurant on the Moon? Because there was no atmosphere
* How do you have communion in space if you don't have mass?
* Where does an astronaut park his car? At a parking meteor.
* What channel do asteroids like to watch? The comet-y channel
* How do we know Saturn's been married more than once? Just look at those rings!
* Are the Moon and the Earth good friends? Yep, they've been going around together for years.