What Is Astronomy and Who Does It

Astronomy is the scientific study of all objects in space. The word comes to us from the ancient Greek term for star law. Astrophysics, which is part of astronomy, goes a step further and applies the  laws of physics  to help us understand the origins of the universe and the objects in it. Both professional and amateur astronomers observe the universe and devise theories and applications to help understand the planets, stars, and galaxies.   Branches of Astronomy There are two main branches of astronomy: optical astronomy (the study of celestial objects in the visible band) and non-optical astronomy (the use of instruments to study objects in the radio through gamma-ray wavelengths). Non-optical is sorted into wavelength ranges, such as infrared astronomy, gamma-ray astronomy, radio astronomy, and so on.   Optical observatories operate both on the ground and in space (such as the Hubble Space Telescope).  Some, like HST, also have instruments sensitive to other wavelengths of light. However, there are also observatories dedicated to specific wavelength ranges, such as radio astronomy arrays. These instruments allow astronomers to create a picture of our universe that spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from low-energy radio signals,o ultra high-energy gamma rays. They give information about the evolution and physics of some of the most dynamic objects and processes in the universe, such as neutron stars,  black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and supernova explosions. These branches of astronomy work together to teach about the structure of the stars, planets, and galaxies.   Subfields of Astronomy There are so many types of objects that astronomers study, that it is convenient to break astronomy up into subfields of study. One area is called planetary astronomy, and researchers in this subfield focus their studies on planets, both within and outside our solar system, as well as objects like asteroids and comets.Solar astronomy is the study of the Sun. The scientists who are interested in learning how it changes, and to understand how these changes affect the Earth, are called solar physicists. They use both ground-based and space-based instruments to make nonstop studies of our star.  Stellar astronomy is the study of stars, including their creation, evolution, and deaths. Astronomers observe these objects across all wavelengths and apply the information to create physical models of the stars.Galactic astronomy focuses on the objects and processes at work in the Milky Way Galaxy. Its a very complex system of stars, nebulae, and dust. Astronomers study the motion and evolution of the Milky Way in order to learn how galaxies are formed.Beyond our galaxy lie countless others, and these are the focus of the discipline of extragalactic astronomy. Researchers study how galaxies move, form, break apart, merge, and change over time.  Cosmology  is the study of the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe in order to understand it. Cosmologists typically focus on the big picture and attempt to model what the universe would have looked like only moments after the Big Bang. Meet a Few Pioneers of Astronomy Over the centuries there have been countless innovators in astronomy, people who contributed to the development and advancement of the science. Today there are more than 11,000 trained astronomers in the world dedicated to the study of the cosmos. The most famous historical astronomers are those who made major discoveries that improved and expanded the science.   Nicolaus Copernicus  (1473 - 1543), was a Polish physician and lawyer by trade. His fascination with numbers and the study of the motions of celestial objects made him the so-called father of the current heliocentric model of the solar system. Tycho Brahe  (1546 - 1601) was a Danish nobleman who designed and built instruments to study the sky. These were not telescopes, but calculator-type machines that allowed him to chart the positions of planets and other celestial objects with such great precision. He hired  Johannes Kepler  (1571 - 1630), who started out as his student. Kepler continued Brahes work, and also made many discoveries of his own. He is credited with developing the  three laws of planetary motion. Galileo Galilei  (1564 - 1642) was the first to use a telescope to study the sky. He is sometimes credited (incorrectly) with being the creator of the telescope.  That honor probably belongs to Dutch optician Hans Lippershey.  Galileo made detailed studies of heavenly bodies. He was the first to conclude that the Moon was likely similar in composition to planet Earth and that the Sun’s surface changed (i.e., the motion of sunspots on the Sun’s surface). He was also the first to see four of Jupiter’s moons, and the phases of Venus. Ultimately it was his observations of the Milky Way, specifically the detection of countless stars, that shook the scientific community. Isaac Newton  (1642 - 1727) is considered one of the greatest scientific minds of all time. He not only deduced the law of gravity but realized the need for a new type of mathematics (calculus) to describe it. His discoveries and theories dictated the direction of science for more than 200 years  and truly ushered in the era of modern astronomy. Albert Einstein  (1879 - 1955), famous for his development of  general relativity, a correction to Newton’s  law of gravity. But, his relation of energy to mass (EMC2) is also important to astronomy, as it is the basis for which we understand how the Sun, and other stars, fuse hydrogen into helium to create energy. Edwin Hubble  (1889 - 1953) is the man who discovered the expanding universe. Hubble answered two of the biggest questions plaguing astronomers at the time. He determined that so-called spiral nebulae were, in fact, other galaxies, proving that the Universe extends well beyond our own galaxy. Hubble then followed up that discovery by showing that these other galaxies were receding at speeds proportional to their distances away from us. The Stephen Hawking  (1942 - 2018), one of the great modern scientists. Very few people have contributed more to the advancement of their fields than Stephen Hawking. His work significantly increased our  knowledge of black holes  and other exotic celestial objects. Also, and perhaps more importantly, Hawking made significant strides in advancing our understanding of the universe and its creation. Updated and edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

The Benefits and Risks of Outsourcing - 1269 Words

Out sourcing Development of specific skills: Out sourcing benefits the development of specific skills at a corporation level the same way off shoring does at a global level. Companies outsource in order to take advantage of specialized skills and knowledge that itself does not own or that can’t be efficiently acquired. In this case out sourcing leads to higher efficiency and better quality provided by third parties for a specific business processes. Moreover the third parties can further specialize to take advantage of the resulting economies of scale and mitigate the possible shortage of specific skilled and talented workers. Focus on core competencies: Similar to the effect on the third parties, out sourcing provides out-sourcing companies the opportunity to focus on specific business competencies in which they possess clear comparative advantage. Therefore resources and capitals are not used in tasks where the company does not possess comparative advantage, but are utilized at their full potential and highest efficiency in their core business processes. Labor flexibility: Out sourcing means that a company does not actually own or invest in the capital and resources required for that specific business process, but it acquires it from a third part. As a consequence, it posses the flexibility to increase or decrease the quantity of services or merchandise provided by the third party according to its needs, as long as it does not breach the contract. In extreme cases, theShow MoreRelatedThe Risk And Benefits Of Outsourcing Supply Chain And Risk Management Essay961 Words   |  4 Pages The Risk and Benefits of Outsourcing Supply Chain and Risk Management. How Boeing 787 Supply Chain Issues Affected Other Industries? 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The New York City Emergency Plan free essay sample

A paper which discusses the way the N.Y.C. Emergency plan should be revised after it was put to the test on September 11th. The paper shows that currently the New York City Emergency Plan is solid and has been tested and re-tested many times over. The World Trade Tower bombing of September, 11, 2002 put the plan to the ultimate test. The paper discusses that, overall, the emergency plan worked very well, considering the size and scope of the emergency. However, it also brought out some areas in need of improvement. The paper shows that the key issues which need to be addressed are the need for secondary and tertiary backup plans for the command control center and hospital scheme. Also, it shows that it has become painstakingly clear, that even though the plan is in place, when the actual emergency occurred, police officers and other key authority figures did not know where to tell the public where to go or what to do. We will write a custom essay sample on The New York City Emergency Plan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The paper discusses the potential disasters N.Y.C. might face and the steps taken to plan for them. The theme of the program will be a simple question, What would you do? This question will be followed by a scenario involving a disaster. All ads will be designed to spark thoughts of the possibility of the occurrence suggested and evoke thoughts of what they would do if the same disaster struck right now. Information on certain disasters, such as hurricane and storm safety, fire safety, and other safety issues will be an integral part of this program. The ads are not supposed to invoke panic, but rather to alleviate it. Panic occurs when there is a lack of a plan of action. This advertising campaign is aimed at getting people to develop plans, where-ever they happen to be. People who have a plan do not panic as easily and will respond in a more efficient manner to unexpected events.