The magnetopause is the layer that acts as the Earth’s shield from the solar wind. It is found between the surrounding plasma and magnetosphere or the magnetic field. The surface of the magnetopause has a complex shape. It flaps, ripples, and moves in different directions, inward or outward, depending on the solar wind conditions. The […]
The stars you see at night can possibly be illusions, or that they are not as many as they actually are. This happens through a process called gravitational lens or gravitational lensing. It is also one of the consequences of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. A celestial object, for example a quasar, that is
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Gravity is the force which pull everything around us down towards the ground. Objects feel heavy because of the force of gravity on them. Isaac Newton realized that gravity is important not just for everyday objects around us, but also for the motion of planets and stars. He was able to explain the orbits of
When you look at the stars, you will notice that some of them are brighter than the others. The differences in brightness are assigned with specific numbers that correspond to their magnitude. Magnitude starts from -1, which is considered as the brightest star. The dimmer a star becomes, it gets a number with a higher
Seeing comets is an awesome experience. Being able to see a very rare comet in one’s lifetime is truly one unforgettable moment. Comets despite its very bright and seemingly burning appearance are actually bodies of ice in the Solar System. When these comets get near the Sun, a coma may be visible to stargazers or
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Lunation is the average time for one lunar cycle or the moon’s synodic period. As the Moon orbits the Earth, while the Earth orbits the sun, the Moon exhibits different lunar phases. The amount of light reflected to the sun is relative to the position of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
A magnetometer is the instrument that scientists use in order to measure the direction and/or strength of the magnetic field within the scope of the instrument. Magnetism differs from one place to another so it is important to measure how strong the magnetic field is in a specific location in the Earth’s magnetic field or
In studying a heavenly body, knowing the composition of the crust is not enough. Beneath the crust there lies the mantle, which is the intermediate zone of a planet located between the crust and the core. For example, the earth’s mantle is within 32 km to 2,900 km from its crust. The mantle makes up
Ever heard of the refrigerator manufacturer Kelvinator? Ever wondered why it was named so? It’s because of the unit of thermodynamic temperature called the Kelvin. Unless you’re a science major or have eidetic memory and remember everything you’ve been taught in school, you may only be familiar with Celsius and Fahrenheit. But the Kelvin is
In everyday conversation, most people usually use the words mass and weight interchangeably. In common usage, both mass and weight may be expressed in kilograms. For example, a person may say that his weight or mass is 75 kg. Although both properties of matter, mass and weight are two different terms and each has its
