Earth-like Exosolar Planets

By Allison Jones

People have wondered about other stars hosting planets for centuries.  And speculation about potential extraterrestrial life on those theoretical planets is prevalent.  Part of this is just human curiosity, but we can also learn from the search for and study of discovered planets.

The first time a planet was discovered around another star, Gamina Cephei, was 1988, though it wasn’t confirmed until 2003.  By then other planets had been confirmed around other stars.  As of February 14, 2012, 760 exosolar planets have been confirmed; 609 of them are in planetary systems, and 100 of those are multiple planet systems.  About 39 of those planets were confirmed in the last two months.

This explosion of discovery has occurred because instruments have become more sensitive allowing smaller planets to be found as well as more detection methods used.  Recently earth-like planets have been discovered orbiting in the habitable zone of their parent stars.  Earth-like means that the planet has a similar mass to Earth.  The habitable zone is the area around a star where it is possible for liquid water to exist.  

In the beginning the only planets astronomers could measure the presence of were large gas giants in very close orbit around their parent star.  Now some planets smaller than the Earth have been discovered around distant stars.  While most planets discovered orbit their stars closer than Mercury orbits our sun, some scientists estimate that 1/3 of sun-like stars may have terrestrial planets in the habitable zone.

These discoveries are exciting for many people, but why should we spend resources finding out about places so far removed from us?  Beyond the drive to explore and understand the universe, we learn things that can be applied at home on Earth.  

The more we learn about other places, the better we understand our own planet.  It was discoveries about Venus’ atmosphere that clued scientists into the properties of greenhouse gasses and what effect they can have on climate.  If we find evidence of life originating elsewhere, we will have a better understanding of what conditions life requires and how things work and have developed in our own biosphere.

Other worlds

Sun-like star with 9 planets
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/life-unbounded/2012/04/10/a-star-with-nine-planets-maybe-more/

The Federalist No. 2

by Allison Jones

 

In the second letter to the people of New York, John Jay wrote about the importance of the union of the states under one government.  It was published 31 October 1787, just three days after the first was published. 

“Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of Government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights, in order to vest it with requisite powers.”

Jay writes that Providence, or rather the will of God, arranged things in favor of union.  There were no significant geographical boundaries between the states and that travel and communication were easily possible.  The second proof was that all of the states had a common origin in English colonists and thus shared a common culture.  There was no reason for the people to be entirely separate.

            Another reason was that the people had originally created the Articles of Confederation to unite the states because they saw the benefit of union.  The Constitution was merely the representatives of the states trying to preserve the union that the people had already decided that they wanted.

            Jay is of the opinion that American greatness is dependent on the union of the states.

            Of more interest today, Jay’s letter shows what sort of people we should be electing to Congress.  Trustworthy and dispassionately rational men are needed to weigh the issues for the nation.  He calls for “sedate and candid consideration”.  Jay describes the elected officials as “wise and experienced men” that “were individually interested in the public liberty and prosperity, and therefore that it was not less their inclination, than their duty, to recommend only such measures, as after the most mature deliberation they really thought prudent and adviseable [sic].”

            Following that description, it would be more important to vote in those you trust to carefully consider all the issues instead of those you agree with on all issues.

BYU-I Planetarium

by Allison Jones

 

BYU-Idaho physics department hosts a planetarium in the Romney building.  There are public shows every Thursday at 7:00 pm except during holidays, school breaks, and all of August.

Each month a different show is played.  For March, Secretes of the Sun played.  It has a run time of 22 minutes and focuses on the effect the Sun has on the rest of the solar system, including life on earth, and its life cycle.  April brings Tales of the Maya Skies to the planetarium.  This show focuses on astronomy in Mayan culture and runs for 35 minutes. 

The planetarium only holds 40 adults, so be sure to arrive early.  Occasionally, if there are enough people, the staff will run a second showing right after the original so that everyone can get in.

Besides the public shows, groups can schedule private shows of any of the available programs.   Because the planetarium is staffed by astronomy teachers and occasionally their teacher’s aides, there are limited times available.  Scheduling must be done at least two weeks in advance and to make sure you can get the time you desire you may schedule your group up to one month before hand.

For more information visit www.byui.edu/planetarium.

Did we get enough snow this winter?

This winter was oddly lacking in snow for Rexburg.  But many say it only really matters if it snowed in the mountains in order for the area to avoid drought conditions.

According to Idaho Department of Water Resources all of the area had a below average snow pack this year.  Though, mountains on this side of the Snake River Plain did better than the ones across the valley in the central mountains.  

Despite the lower than normal snow fall, the reservoirs in the Upper Snake River Valley are not badly depleted and are slowly refilling with melt water.  

While we have had an abnormally dry winter, we are not currently in danger of a drought.  Hopefully next year will be wetter.

The Federalist No. 1

Alexander Hamilton, the instigator of the project, wrote and submitted the first letter published October 27, 1787.  It served as an introduction to the rest of the letters from “Publius”.

Hamilton first impressed on his audience the importance of the decision to accept or reject the new constitution, saying, “it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country … to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice”.

He asserts that the Articles of Confederation that formed that basis of their current government were not able to produce an efficient government.  That they needed a stronger central government or the country would fall apart.  “The vigour of government is essential to the security of liberty.”

While stating that those will designs on power or profit provided by the then current system would fight against ratifying the Constitution, he admits that most people would not have ulterior motives, merely being biased.

What follows is a plea for civility and discussion of political discourse that is still applicable today. 

“We upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions,” Hamilton says, continuing to say that those with impure motivations are also present on both sides of arguments.  This is something we would do well to remember today as those on opposing sides are often demonized in the media when usually they mean well, even if one does not agree with methods or results.  “Heresies... can rarely be cured by persecution.”

Hamilton calls for the use of reason instead of emotion in deciding political questions, calling attention to the history of tyrants courting public support before seizing absolute power.  It is rarely logic that gets such responses from the public. 

“I have had an eye, my Fellow Citizens, to putting you upon your guard against all attempts, from whatever quarter, to influence your decision in a matter of the utmost moment to your welfare by any impressions other than those which may result from the evidence of truth.” 

No side is justified in using improper methods to sway the public in its direction.  The founders were men of high ideals, which we could benefit from living up to.  Imagine a campaign where none of the candidates fought dirty or used emotional manipulation.

After completing his reasoning for a civil discussion based on facts and reason, Hamilton enumerates the purposes that will be address in the series of letters to follow.

1. To show why union is better politically than facing the world as individual states.
2. To show why the Articles of Confederation were insufficient to preserve union.
3. To show that they needed a government powerful enough to succeed in keeping the states united.
4. To show that the Constitution was in line with the priciples of republican government.
5. To show that it wasn't that different from the constitutions already governing the individual states.
6. To show that adopting the Constitution would provide more security to preserve their republican mode of government, their liberty, and their property.

Each of the following letters will fall under one or more of these topics, starting with the necessity of Union in the next.