Week 9, Space + Art

Week 9, Space and Art.

Our solar system consists of the sun, eight planets, and their natural satellites ("Planets"). All of the planets, except Earth, were named after Roman gods and goddesses. For example, Venus is the Roman Goddess of Love, Mars is the Roman God of War, and Neptune is the Lord of the Sea (“How the Planets Got Their Names”).

Scientists believed humans would not be able to survive the conditions of outer space, so they used animals to prove that humans can survive it. Thus, Laika, a Soviet space dog, was one of the first animals that went to space. But unfortunately, Laika died due to overheating and running out of oxygen (Latson).

Laika, about to be launched into outerspace

https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/laika.jpeg?quality=65&strip=color&w=550

The Sputnik Moment changed America and the rest of the world forever. The space race that occurred decades ago has change the way that we live today. When Sputnik 1, the first Earth-orbiting satellite, was launched into space by the Soviet Union, the Sputnik Moment came (Melina). But the space race ended when Americans managed to send two of their men, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to the moon on 20 July 1969 (Dunbar).

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/08/25/article-2193587-14B13105000005DC-877_634x419.jpg

MiSci, the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady recreates the mission control room that looks like the real one in Houston to pay tribute to the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster (Bazile). In 1986, the space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff. The exhibit allows visitors to be part of a team of scientists and engineers on a mission to space (Bazile).

The exhibits pays tribute to the Challenger tragedy

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One of the greatest natural phenomenons that occur on Earth is the Aurora Borealis. Also known as the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis is caused by the atoms and molecules in space colliding. It interacts with Earth’s magnetic field and entering our planets upper atmosphere. Recently, in March 2015, a team of NASA scientists confirmed that beautiful aurorae can be seen by the naked eye on Mars (“Blue Aurorae in Mars' Sky”). Just in March 2015. On Earth, we can usually see green and/or red. But on Mars, the most intense color is deep blue. Red and green usually occur when there are more oxygen particles around, while blue occurs when there are more nitrogen particles (“Blue Aurorae in Mars' Sky”).

How the Aurora Borealis forms

http://sen.com/img/inline/blue-aurorae-predicted-to-dance-above-the-suface-of-mars_1433011776.gif

An artist's prediction of how the blue aurora will look like from Mars

http://motherboard-images.vice.com/content-images/contentimage/no-id/1432824130553547.jpg

With today’s major technological improvements, the scientists and engineers of our time will continue to make groundbreaking discoveries about our Solar System and the rest of outer space.

Works Cited

Bazile, Dan. "MiSci Exhibit Pays Tribute to Challenger Disaster." WNYT.com. 14 May 2015. Web. 31 May 2015.

"Blue Aurorae in Mars' Sky Visible to the Naked Eye." Astronomy Now. Web. 30 May 2015.

Dunbar, Brian. "July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind." NASA. 14 July 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

"How the Planets Got Their Names." Rome.MrDonn.org. Web. 30 May 2015.

Latson, Jennifer. "The Sad Story of Laika, the First Dog Launched Into Orbit." Time. 3 Nov. 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

Melina, Remy. "What Exactly Is a 'Sputnik Moment?" Space.com. 7 Dec. 2014. Web. 30 May 2015.

"Planets." Nasa.gov. Web. 30 May 2015.