Tag: Astronomy

Campus Life & Events

A Celestial Semester: UMass Dartmouth Observatory Announces Fall Open House Dates

UMass Dartmouth’s Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory will host six open houses in the Fall 2026 semester, allowing visitors to explore the night sky. Guided by students and faculty, guests get the chance to use their telescope and witness celestial events. This tradition offers unique learning experiences for both the campus community and local youth. Continue reading A Celestial Semester: UMass Dartmouth Observatory Announces Fall Open House Dates

 
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Science & Tech

Mars is Influencing the Oceans on Our Planet

Scientists have discovered that gravitational forces from Mars, 140 million miles away, affect Earth’s oceans. These forces, caused by the interaction of the two planets’ orbits around the Sun, lead to warmer climates and stronger ocean currents. The study suggests that this phenomenon keeps the ocean ventilated, impacting aquatic life. Continue reading Mars is Influencing the Oceans on Our Planet

 
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Science & Tech

Scientists Create the Strongest Magnetic Force

Scientists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory created a magnetic field in nuclear matter, 1000x stronger than a fridge magnet. The field’s strength and its impact on particles may help understand the behavior of quark-gluon plasma, offering new insights into fundamental particle properties and the conductive nature of this matter. Continue reading Scientists Create the Strongest Magnetic Force

 
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Campus Life & Events, Science & Tech

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Hosts First Star Party After Observatory Repairs

Volunteer Writer: Emma Bowser  Email: ebowser@umassd.edu On Wednesday, April 19th, 2023, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth hosted the first star party since repairs on the Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory were finished.  This observatory is the largest one in the South Coast area.  In 1978, Alan Hirshfeld started working at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as a professor of physics and astronomy. At the time, there was no … Continue reading University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Hosts First Star Party After Observatory Repairs

 
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Science & Tech

Hubble Telescope Picks Up On Strange Spokes Dancing in Saturn’s Rings

(Image via nasa.gov) Staff Writer: Sakara De Gil-Balija Email: sdegilbalija@umassd.edu  On February 9th, 2023, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, more commonly known as NASA, revealed that the Hubble Telescope observed what appears to be ‘spokes’ floating with the swing of Saturn’s rings.  The information has baffled scientists; seeming to be an unexplained phenomenon. Though the spokes still aren’t explainable, it isn’t the first time … Continue reading Hubble Telescope Picks Up On Strange Spokes Dancing in Saturn’s Rings

 
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Science & Tech

Earth’s Inner Core Might Be Slowing Down

(Image via nasa.gov) Volunteer Writer: Mckenzie Ferrari Email: mferrari@umassd.edu A study published on Jan 23rd, 2023, in Nature Geoscience led by Peking University researchers Yi Yang and Xiaodong Song claims that the Earth’s inner core may be slowing down and soon reverse direction. Earth itself is made up of multiple layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust — which is where humans reside. … Continue reading Earth’s Inner Core Might Be Slowing Down

 
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News, Science & Tech

Astronomer Removed from Leiden University

Volunteer Writer: Mckenzie Ferrari Email: mferrari@umassd.edu On October 18th, 2022, Leiden University – located in the Netherlands and one of Europe’s largest research institutions – released a statement declaring that an unnamed professor was suspended from the university for “subject[ing] various colleagues to intimidating and unacceptable behaviour for a longer period.”  Multiple staff members at Leiden University filed complaints with the institution’s independent behavioral committee; … Continue reading Astronomer Removed from Leiden University

 
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