02.05.10- Star-birth in the Early Universe.

A comparision of an ancient spiral galaxy in visible (left) and Infrared (right).
   Astronomers are shedding new light across the spectrum on an old cosmological mystery. It’s well documented that the rate of star formation today is much less than what it was early on in the history of the universe; what isn’t completely understood is [...]

Review: The Five Ages of the Universe by Fred Adams and Greg Laughlin.

  
   This week, we’re going to look at a classic book on cosmology that is both fascinating and frightening. About 10 years ago, I read the Five Ages of the Universe by Fred Adams and Greg Laughlin.  This book built upon information gathered in the swiftly growing field of cosmology, a science that has just come [...]

Review: Burnham’s Celestial Handbook.

A few decades back, I mentioned to a friend at a local planetarium of my enduring interest in astronomy. “Surely, then, “ he said pulling out a three volume set, “you have these…” I did not at the time, but I had indeed heard the legends. The books were Burnham’s Celestial Handbook, a three volume [...]

Review: Bang!

Think hard rock and astrophysics don’t mix? Think again. Recently, we had the pleasure of reading Bang! The Complete History of the Universe,” by astronomy heavyweights Brian May, Patrick Moore, and Chris Lincott…

December 2008: News & Notes.

A gamma ray burst is born. (Credit: Nicole Ranger Fuller/NSF).
Mysterious Missing Gamma Rays: Gamma rays have been “hot” (pun intended) in the news as of late. Now, decades after their initial discovery, scientists are asking themselves; where are they? Specifically, long term bursts, those lasting seconds or more seem to be missing from the universes’ earliest [...]

My Personal Connection with the Universe

Even since I was young, I’ve looked towards the stars. One of my earliest memories was looking up at the cresent moon, in conjunction with some bright planet (probably Venus) as my Aunt Lorraine carried me up to our apartment in Mapleton, Maine. Not that I knew what any of these objects were. I just [...]