- Published: September 10, 2022
- Updated: September 10, 2022
- University / College: Queen's University at Kingston
- Language: English
- Downloads: 41
Space is the last frontier for man and space is made up of galaxies and universes. What has really impressed me is the power of our eyes, as we are able to see many light years away and see the spectacle of stars shine in the night. Some of the galaxies have such wonderful shapes that it’s breathtaking to observe them through a telescope on a clear night sky.
Our Solar System is made up of the Sun and the eight planets. Of these, I am extremely fascinated by the planet Saturn for its sheer looks. Saturn along with Jupiter are the two largest planets in our Solar System, yet, they are composed of gases namely, hydrogen and helium.
In talking about the Earth’s geological activities, it’s amazing to know that most of it is directly controlled or activated by the Sun. The wind, the water and ice are what makes life possible on Earth and since the Sun’s rays don’t reach the North and South Poles, we have Ice formation there. However, mankind continues to be protected from the ultraviolet rays of the sun by a layer of gases (o-zone) above the Earth.
Terrestrial planets fascinate me as they, like the Earth, could provide for some form of life. The terrestrial planets, made up of rocks and metals and water (?) have a hard surface. While there is a lot of debate going on extra-terrestrials, I wonder if there is any life outside Earth. It would excite me if life is found on Mars as is popularly sought by scientists. The finding of stones that are similar to the ones found on Mars does substantiate the idea that some form of life could actually exist there.
Jovian planets are those that are formed of gas. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are planets formed by gases. It’s surprising to note that the two largest planets of our Solar System are formed by gases, hydrogen and helium. What amazes me is that how is it possible for mass formed by gas remain in such a static form when they are said to rotate much faster than terrestrial planets like ours. All the four Jovian planets are surrounded by a number of moons and rings. Could life be existent there?
One of the trickiest questions that haven’t found a convincingly answered is the question of the origin of life. It’s very difficult to give an answer to this as it’s like asking what came first; was it the egg or the chick? However, it is presumed that life evolved through the descent of a single primitive life form. What has impressed me the most is that evolution has been consistent and defining. Why I say this is because, dinosaurs perished under unexplained circumstances and made it convenient for man to emerge and rule the world. I wonder what it would be like, had dinosaurs survived to see this day.
If great reptiles like the dinosaurs could be wiped out from the face of the Earth, I don’t think it would take that long to eliminate mankind. Earth is rotating on its axis and also revolving around the Sun. The universe is full of mass of stones and gas. There have been reports of near misses by meteors and a hit could cause unimaginable catastrophe for mankind. If our Solar System is a part of the Big Bang theory, there is always the possibility that something could strike the Earth at some point of time.
There are reports of UFOs and unless one has authenticity to substantiate this, it would be difficult to believe in extraterrestrial civilizations. However, having said this, I wouldn’t be surprised if some form of extraterrestrial life did exist in the universe. What has really impressed me is the discovery of solid ice forms on Mars. This could give some leads to some kind of life form on that planet. With huge telescopes erected across the Earth and messages being transmitted in various forms into space, if there is some form of life outside our planet, there can be communication channels formed to transmit and receive audio signals.
There are ways to observe in astronomy. The most common way would be to look up at the night sky and look around. When you spot something of interest, try to figure out more about that particular object or sequence through sustained research. The Quick look method would be to look quickly at things like the moon or stars and to see if you can see something new. The planned observation would be to research astronomical objects that can be seen and then plan a chart to observe these objects at night. Searching for something new is the toughest part. It involves a lot of patience and planning. Continuous observation into the night sky is required to look for something new. I was impressed when I first had the chance to look through a telescope at the clear night sky.
The future of mankind remains uncertain. Yes, there could be far more advancement in science and technology that could assist in diverting anything uncertain, but since the Earth is in orbit around the Sun and man-made environmental hazards have complicated life, nothing certain can be said of future civilizations. Maybe, if our effort to find another planet that supports life exists and is found, there is chance for man to continue living. With global warming creating havoc across the world and indications point to further increase in day temperatures around the world, and the Antarctic, North and South Poles begins to melt, the Earth could face an uncertain future for sure.