Monday, February 18, 2008

Planetary Science & Astronomy

The following paragraphs summarize the work of Planetary Science experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of Planetary Science. Heed their advice to avoid any Planetary Science surprises.

The information about Planetary Science presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Planetary Science or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Planetary science is the study of planets and planetary systems. It is an interdisciplinary approach which consists of facts derived from diverse sciences. There are diverse forms of astronomy and different branches. Among the various disciplines, planetary science is an important science. It is also considered as planetology and related to scientific study of planets.

Planetary science or better known as planetology is basically related to the planetary astronomy and is considered to be the science which deals with planets or planetary systems and also the solar system. In order to understand the planetary system one need to incorporate non-stellar objects such as asteroids, comets, moons, cosmic dust, planets, and meteoroids. The science of planets also encompasses the solar system and the sun.


Planetary science is known to draw information from diverse branches of science. It explains broadly the working of the planetary system and the solar system as a whole. It is considered as a major part of the Earth sciences. This Earth science concerns mostly about the scientific terms associated to the planet Earth.

The term “Earth Sciences” is also referred to as geosciences, and it encompasses geography, chemistry, meteorology, physics, biology, and geology to come up with an exact understanding of the Earth system. Research in the field of planetary science is carried out with the help of astronomy, space exploration and experimental as well as meteorite work based on earth.

The main focus of planetary science is to study the planets, their evolution, activity and processes taking place inside the planets and their varied forms. The science has been covering major phenomenon that has taken place in these planets. It studies varied objects that range in different size. From micrometeoroids to gas giants and their forms, evolution, emergence and dynamics-all the major aspects of these cosmic sources are dealt in planetary science.

In case of the space exploration, the robotic spacecraft missions are primarily incorporated in the planetary sciences. The robotic spacecraft provides perfect scientific research measurements. Thus they contribute to the planetary science subject to be as impeccable as possible.

The usage of computer simulation can be seen in the theoretical context. Astrogeology, also referred to as planetary geology is a major part of planetary science. This stream of planetary science deals only with the geology of the celestial bodies, namely comets, planets, meteorites, moons and asteroids. The subject, planetary science has always been popular for studying objects of all sizes, their history, dynamics and compositions.

Don't limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about Planetary Science. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what's important.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Ultraviolet astronomy-Definition and some facts

If you are curious to know about Ultraviolet astronomy, then go through the following article on ultraviolet astronomy.

Astronomy is one of the oldest science. Astronomy is the name of a unique scientific study of celestial objects like stars, planets and galaxies and the atmosphere in space. In early days people used to study motion of celestial objects in space by observing night sky from mountain tops, high buildings and trees. They gradually started studying the movement of sun, moon and stars in the sky and thought that the sun rotates around the earth. Later, Italian scientist Galileo observed the space and solar system through a telescope and proved the idea wrong and clarified that the earth in itself rotates around the sun.
Thus observational or optical astronomy appeared as a new concept. Over the centuries, astronomy has become a very sophisticated scientific study and has become diverse. Observing celestial objects in the sky is no more the only definition of astronomy. With the passage of time scientists have discovered that apart from light and optical radiations, celestial objects emit electromagnetic, infrared and ultraviolet rays also. The wing of astronomy which deals with observations at ultraviolet radiation from objects is known as ultraviolet astronomy.

The main aim of ultraviolet astronomy is to study objects that are within ultraviolet wavelengths ranging between 100 to 3200 A. as light of these wavelengths are absorbed by the atmosphere of the earth, observations of these wavelengths are performed from upper atmosphere or space. With the help of ultraviolet line spectrum measurements, densities, chemical composition and temperature of the interstellar medium and the temperature and composition of young stars can be observed. But apart from that ultraviolet astronomy can also provide information regarding the evolution of galaxies.

Now you can understand why there's a growing interest in Ultraviolet astronomy. When people start looking for more information about Ultraviolet astronomy, you'll be in a position to meet their needs.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

What is Optical astronomy?

Astronomy is one of the greatest things to be invented by scientists. Long time back from today even before the birth of Jesus Christ scientists starts studying the atmosphere in outer space and motion of celestial objects in the solar system and galaxy. By observing night sky through naked eyes, scientists of medieval used to make calendars and calculate the size and distance of sun and moon from the earth. Numerous theories about the cosmos and solar system were created by scientists and with the invention of telescope some of the ideas were proved to be wrong. The use of telescope made observing the sky and outer space for people.

Today the concept of astronomy has changed a bit. Astronomy is no more confined within observing outer space only through telescope but electromagnetic radiation and infrared radiation detectors are also used by astronomers for better study of of celestial objects. However, observational astronomy of optical astronomy is still the most important part of this wonderful scientific study.

Optical astronomy is the oldest forms of astronomical observation and its main aim is to observe wide variety of things in the outer space through telescope. Optical astronomy includes observations of objects that are within the range of light and that is why visible light astronomy is the other name of optical astronomy. Different wings of physics like imaging, spectroscopy, polarimetry and photometry are important parts of optical astronomy.


Photometry is used to measure the amount of light coming from an object and spectroscopy is used to measure the distribution of light with respect tom its wave length. Polarimetry is needed to measure polarization of the state of light coming from an object. On the other hand, optical astronomy is also deeply inter-related with infrared astronomy and that's why instruments like solid state digital detectors, lenses and mirrors are used for studying celestial objects.

Friday, February 1, 2008

What is Infrared astronomy?

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Infrared astronomy? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Infrared astronomy.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Infrared astronomy is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Infrared astronomy.

Astronomy is one of the most unique branches of scientific studies that deals with the atmosphere and movement of celestial objects in outer space. It is one of the oldest science invented by the scientists and also one of the most interesting. Observing stars, planets and galaxies in the solar system, calculating size and distance of sun and moon from the earth, calculating the time of solar ans lunar eclipse are some of the most important part of astronomy. With the advancement of science and technology, scientists came to know a lot of things about the outer space and the celestial objects.


Slowly scientists came to know that celestial objects emit electromagnetic radiations with the help of radio astronomy. Similarly, infrared astronomy proved that all objects in the universe emit infrared radiation.

Though it dates back to more than two centuries, infrared astronomy is one of the modern wings of astronomy. Infrared astronomy was invented in the year 1800, when a scientist named William Herschel discovered that red and yellow were the hottest part of the band of light that was observed through the prism and also found that the two 'heat rays' were displaying some spectral lines. Later in the year 1856, infrared radiations were also detected in moon light by Charles Piazzi Smyth.

Basically infrared astronomy deals with study and detection of infrared radiation or heat energy that was emitted from all objects. Infrared detectors are used for detecting radiations of wavelengths of about 1 and 300 microns. With the invention of infrared astronomy, detecting and studying objects hidden by gas and dust has become possible for scientists, because infrared radiations with longer wavelength than visible light can easily pass through regions that are covered by dust and gas. With the help of infrared radiation, scientist are now able to study objects hidden in regions like the center of galaxy and newly forming stars.

As things like lenses, mirrors and solid state digital detectors are used, infrared astronomy is considered as a part of optical astronomy and astrophysics by scientists.

Sometimes it's tough to sort out all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive you'll have no trouble making sense of the information presented above on infrared astronomy.