Research Paper

THE ESSENCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION

A Research Paper Presented to

The English Resource Center

School Of Multimedia Arts

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati City

In Partial Fullfilment

of the Requirements for the Course

ERESWRT-Research Writing

Jules Dane R. Buenaventura

August 2014

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

There are trillions of objects in space. Space objects can never be counted, as if it is infinite. People may think that the stars are the most populated things on space but there is more to that. Every single particles, every single concrete or abstract or shallow things on space is not singular. They all have their own population and it can never be alone.

With these, space can be dangerous. As if it is a whole wide of obstacles. Therefore, man cannot survive in this nature. It's not possible for them to discover everything.

The article entitled, "Seven Trillion Dwarfs and Billions of Undetected Galaxies" written by Jaime Trosper. The articles states that there are at least a trillion of stars and billions of every different kind of galaxies in our universe. The study states that our universe can really never be counted.

"Astronomers always knew they were missing some fraction of the galaxies.. but for the first time we now have a measurement. The number of missed galaxies is substantial." said Matthew Hayes from the University of Genova's observatory. (http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/seven-trillion-dwarfs-and-billions-of-undetected-galaxies/)

Launching of space programs is not safe for astronauts. Naturally, astronauts wanted to go to space, but even though it's their life long dream, they also need to consider sacrifice. There is no guarantee that they could go back here in Earth safely. Others were even recorded dead because of launching, while others because of landing.

The article entitled, "Weighing the risk of human space life" by Rick Hauck said that having spaceflight is risky for an astronaut. Nevertheless it's also one of their perspective.

Hauck said, "There are fewer people better qualified to judge the risks of human spaceflight than me." "Would I have flown if I had known there was a four percent chance of death?" "No I don't think I would have flown."  (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/36/2)

Moreover, astronauts wanted to go to space with all the risk of dying. They already have the mindset of death through every spaceflight they would go in to.

Danger in space is inevitable.There are many dangers in space that man need to be cautious about. Like for example are the asteroids that keep on wandering on the galaxy. Black holes that move in the speed of light which can destroy you in seconds. The too much radiation in staying in space which can harm your body parts. These are just the litany of dangers that we can experience in space.

The article entitled, "How dangerous is space debris?" by Stuart Clark said that every year dangers in space are expanding. They keep getting closer and closer throughout our exploration in space.

Clark said, "How dangerous is space? Extremely is the answer. Being hit by a sugar-cube  of space  debris is the equivalent of standing next to an exploding hand-grenade.And the problem is getting worse." (http://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2012/oct/04/astronomy-space)

Among these dangers that occur were the Space Shutter Challenger disaster, The Vanguard TV3, Apollo 6, GOES-G. and Cosmos 1. These are just some of disasters of space launches. However, they still continue to do all these things for scientists research.

Space exploration is dangerous but still, we need to explore it.Therefore, having background knowledge about some of it's dangers will help readers to be more aware of what is happening when space exploration is being occurred.

The purpose of this paper is to explain why space is still needed to be explored even though it's dangerous.

B. Statement of the Problem

        This study aims to answer this question:

1.) Why is man still needs to explore space even though it's dangerous?


C. Significance of the Study

1. Future Researchers - This study is essential for other future researchers who wants to tackle this subject. They might as well get this as a source of their research and knowledge. This can also serves for them as a detailed explanation to the

2. People in Observatories - They can at least know the things that they were seeing and why is it being seen or observed. They might as well be aware of the happenings in space whilst ignorant of the picture they're seeing.

3. Students - This research will help students who are curious about space and also the ones that are having research through their study. This may also help them in finishing their assignments relative to this topic.

4.Teachers - This research can help teachers by adding this up to their knowledge. Space is a very interesting study and therefore teachers can rely on to this to add up to their study habit.


D. Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on why space is needed to be explored even though it's dangerous.  This research also serves as a guide to why is it important to explore space.

Due to shortage of time, this study will no longer talk about the whole environment of the universe but will only talk about the dangers and its essence of exploration.


E. Materials and Methods

The sources that are used in this research are articles that are relevant to space issues. It will let people be aware of the things that are happening in space.

The relevant sources that were used were gathered online and are now being used in this research for reference.


F. Definition of Terms

1.  Essence - The necessity of such.

2.  Exploration - The act of searching for the purpose of discovery of information or resources. It also means to travel in or through (an unfamiliar country or area) in order to learn about or familiarize oneself with it.

3 . Space - The heavenly world outside our Earth.

4.  Theory - A type of abstract or generalizing thinking, or the result of such thinking.

Chapter 2

DISCUSSION

Why is man still needs to explore space even though it's dangerous?

I. Space Exploration's Disasters

Definition of the Space (Universe)

Space is more likely the heavens of earth. Particularly, we are just a part of it. It includes everything that exists, therein planets, stars, galaxies, and all matter and energy. It is also called as the cosmos, the world, reality, and also a part of nature. 

Dangers of space

There were many recorded accidents that happened throughout man's space exploration since the 19th century. Man intends to know space more, but through they're consciousness and curiousness of what really space have to show, it results on astronaut's deaths.

In the article "The Dangers of Space Travel" written by Kerry Scullion there are dangers of space that are really bad for man to attain:

A. Space Junk/Debris

Literal space objects can destroy you. They were over 2,000 recorded satellites that were released to space since the release of the sputnik in 1957, and some of them never came back. These space objects might be floating, but scientists said that it's floating at roughly 4 miles per second. Hitting just one of these pieces might cause a great disfunction to a space shuttle and could cause a man's death.

Not only space junks but also natural space debris like meteoroids and micrometeoroids. Meteoroids are solid rock and metal floating through space which are the particles of the solar system that were left over. Micrometeoroids are most like weigh less than a gram, they could gang up and cause a cosmic dust cloud, which can be lethal. These solid particles that came from space have often recorded disasters in space exploration. Like the NASA'S Mariner 10 satellite which ran into one of the cosmic clouds and resulted to its malfunctioning then eventually changed its trajectory. Having an astronaut in that space shuttle can be really risky.

B. Space Radiation/Cosmic Rays

Radiation can never be healthy for man. They are subatomic particles that can come from anywhere around space. It can come from the sun or any further to the milky way galaxy and beyond. It rips human's DNA molecules causing diseases and cancer. This has been a problem for man to travel to the so called "Red Planet" or the MARS. Having satellites on Mars is possible, but having man step on its ground would be impossible. High levels of radiation has been confirmed by space flights. It would nearly be a sacrifice to let man go to mars without having chances of getting cancer. Here on Earth, we only get 3 millisievert of radiation per year while a travel through Mars would give an astronaut 662 millisievert or radiation which is obviously risky for an astronaut to risk because they an astronaut has 1000 millisievert cap in their career. Not only that, but the attempt to go back from Mars would be nearly impossible.

C.  Launch and Re-entry

One of the most dangerous part of going through space is launching from Earth. Just a little Earth orbit needs to fuel a lot of reaction or mass and energy. A spacecraft needs at least 7 miles per second or 25,000 miles per hour. Friction of air on the rocket would cause a rocket to burn up in seconds just like meteorite.
That is the reason why spacecrafts are needed to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere downward by circling slowly. The heat can obviously affect the spacecraft's system and may cause to malfunction. They were proofs of accidents like the Challenger disaster of 1986 when a Space Shuttle blew apart when it reached it's 73 second mark of launch. It caused the seven members death without having the chance of reaching space.

D. Moon Dust

This really isn't the most scariest or dangerous thing that astronauts are needed to be cautious, but it can be hazardous than you may think. Moon dust obviously came from the Moon, which has no water so it's dust is most made of flour which can touch or find its way to crease and seam a spaceman's suit. Imagine inhaling a whole lot of these, like thousands or millions of moon dusts. It can massively damage your lungs, it may clog you up and eventually might result to death of a person. An incident like this occurred in 1972 on Apollo 17's crew. Jack Schmitt & Eugene Cernan didn't brush their boots after before entering the space capsule resulting to their delay of going home. Eventually, Schmitt complained about congestion. It wasn't too long until it subsided but they said they've learned their lesson.

"It is probably every rookie astronaut's nightmare, and probably even a veteran astronaut's nightmare... Scratch that it's probably every single astronaut's biggest fear that their spacecraft is destroyed whilst out on a space walk and they are stranded in space completely alone with no way of contacting Earth!" said Kerry Scullion. (http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/the-dangers-of-space-travel.html)

II. Essence of Space Exploration

Space exploration may be bad for person, but this also helps shape the questions that were asked by mankind's thought. Moreover, through this we might know the answers and enlighten our minds of what pure science may bring us.

According to the article "Top 5 Reasons why Space Exploration is Important for the World" by Daniel Hohler said that:

"Space exploration is important not only to humanity's curiosity of the great beyond, but it is also important for the future of the Earth and all of us living on it." (http://planetsave.com/2009/07/26/top-5-reasons-why-space-exploration-is-important-for-the-world/)

A. Transfer of Science Education

Having space explorations can also inspire children who are interested in space. This can give a generation of scientists, engineers, & astronauts. The United States of America is currently lacking of science education for children. They want to at least add up lessons from outside Earth. Adding more space explorers can obviously reach more answers of space.

It helps people to be not ignorant of what their world is. It's needed for us people to know at least a couple of things that are studied or observed outside our world. Moreover, having these knowledge can widen people's thought of the Universe.

B. Environmental Research

People would think that scientists are wasting too much fuel for the exploration of space, but this is also an investment or a part of a benefit that could be gotten. Most people don't know that NASA is doing a lot of environmental research of space. Earth's resources are nearly dying so people need to at least observe or study our resources like our air quality, climate change, alternative energy, & near Earth objects, which we have known that can easily break when disaster comes. Like for example, our land and trees. It's best for us to know what are the preventions or the needs to do for our environment, which can mostly only be known by observing outside Earth.

C. Putting Perspective

Our Earth is really small from space, it's fragile, little, destructable. It would be good thing to put our world in the Universe's perspective. People need to know the what is the Earth to our Universe, they would much likely think more practical of what are the effects, dangers, and objects. Also, if we are aware of how our world is small and fragile floating in space, we could also be at least aware of what are the caress that is needed for Earth. Moreover, we will be prone in to abusing Earth too much just like what is happening in this current generation.

D. Eliminate Earth Population

Space exploration is also a preparation of space colonization. Currently, Earth is reaching its population growth too much. It is more likely to think that Earth can someday lead to its destruction because of mankind's population. People are needed to be put somewhere after a hundred years or more, or we could just live to the Earth's inflating disaster.

E. Natural Resources

This is more likely related to over population. The fact that there are too many people on Earth also adds the fact that we are using too much resources that is only limited. Out there in space there is very much likely unlimited resources for us humans. We are collecting relevant resources outside our world for our future use.

"Here's to the men and women who gave their lives to explore the great unknown. We cannot ignore the importance of space exploration, nor be complacent in it's meaning to all of us. I hope space exploration can continue to inspire, educate, and provide for us in the next 40 years as it has the last 40 years." said Daniel Hohler. (http://planetsave.com/2009/07/26/top-5-reasons-why-space-exploration-is-important-for-the-world/)


III. Inferences

These space explorations are really important for us humans because we also live in this environment. Also, it is our right and it will never be erased in our curiousness to explore space. We don't just live to live, but also live to discover. But there should always things or concerns that we need to consider. Not just thinking of what's ahead, but also thinking of what could happen if these things were done.

A. Patience

People should not always rush through situations and remain patient of things around us. Of course we cannot change the fact that space exploration is irresistable but aggression of too much curiosity can obviously lead into disasters. Just like what have happened in the past years of exploring in space.

B. Caution

Astronauts shouldn't just be aggressive of going through space. They should at least know their limits and be cautious of every part of exploration. It's for their own sake anyway, there is no guarantee that they would be safe out there where there are radiations and literal objects that could hit them. Precautions are really should be practiced.

C. Future

Astronomers need to think of what might happen through their exploration, they should think in consideration of what's gonna happen in the future. Because a little mistake in space may cause massive things that can affect our world.

All throughout this study, people should at least consider these things so in the future exploration in space would be less likely destructive or be more successful for us humans to be more aware and to have the needed knowledge of space.

Chapter 3

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

This paper attempted to answer why does man needs to explore space even though it's dangerous.

The research design used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from the internet articles were used to answer the research questions that were posted. The research findings are the following:

1. Man still intends to explore space even though it's dangerous

2. They were many recorded accidents in space, some of them were even before launching to space have already died.

3. Having dangers in space can not be avoided. It is also impossible for man to wholly discover the universe's nature.

Conclusions

Based on the findings of the study. The following conclusions are drawn:

1. Man intends to explore space because it is also a part of our nature. But through this, we still don't have the right technology that we can use so that we can explore space conveniently.

2. No matter how dangerous space can be, man still risk their lives just for their concerns and curiosity to be granted. Man wouldn't let the chance of exploring the space be spoiled.

3. Space is and will always be dangerous no matter what technology we use and no matter how many time will passed. It is also a fact that we will never wholly explore the nature of the Universe.

Recommendations

After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researchers hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations:

1. Students and teachers should know what are the origin and the purpose of what they are learning and teaching relative to the study of the Universe.

2. People in observatories should know or at least be aware of what they are observing outside the space, such as the dangers and also the essence of exploring space.

3. Future researchers should use this as part of their reference of their studies about space and should remain focused in order to understand it better.

References

A. Electronic Media

Clark, Stuart (2012) How dangerous is space debris? Retrieved August 8, 2014  http://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2012/oct/04/astronomy-space

Foust, Jeff (2003) Weighing the Risk of Human. Retrieved August 8, 2014 Spaceflight http://www.thespacereview.com/article/36/2

Hayes, Matthew (2013) Seven Trillion Dwarfs and Billions of Undetected. Retrieved August 8, 2014 Galaxies http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/seven-trillion-dwarfs-and-billions-of-undetected-galaxies

Hohler, Daniel (2009) Top 5 Reasons why Space is Dangerous. Retrieved August 8, 2014 http://planetsave.com/2009/07/26/top-5-reasons-why-space-exploration-is-important-for-the-world

Sculion, Kerry (2013) The Dangers of Space. Retrieved August 8, 2014 http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/the-dangers-of-space-travel.html

Blogpost 8: Where We Were Created, The Earth.

Our universe were created by the big bang, by the big planet then spread everything into other places. When we were curious about the creation of our universe, can't you also think or ask in your mind the creation of your homeland? How it were formed? It may be a little part of the whole creation, but this creation of the Earth is more important, because it's the one who sheltered us, and gave us the life we're now living.

There's an article I've read entitled, How Earth Was Formed? written by Nola Taylor Redd from space.com. It tells there the story of our Earth being formed, from being a hot rocky ball to the coldness, then the warmness we feel today. They said that there were impacts on rocks to asteroids and comets to the planets back then. Luckily, our Earth experienced one of the impacts of the rocks because without it, we obviously wouldn't be born nor the Earth. Scientists said that, that happened 4.6 billion years ago in our solar system. Meaning our Earth is now 4.6 billion years of age. Particularly, our earth suffered from the impact by large body that catapulted pieces. It made the earth's shape from that impact. They said that collisions and frictions gave the mountains' birth to the world, then eventually started to create atmosphere.

"As scientists continue to study planets inside of the solar system, as well as around other stars, they will be better understanding how Earth and its siblings formed." -Nola Taylor Redd, the author.

You can tell that our earths creation is really an accident. Or, you could say, a lucky event. Because without it, the whole universe would be boring. You know, no humans. Well, what do we know? Maybe there are other lives out there.

Moving from its creation, to the components and facts about our great mother earth. An article I've read entitled, Earth: Orbit, Composition, Atmosphere & Other Facts written by Charles Q. Choi from space.com. They first stated there that the earth is the third planet from the sun. Second, it is the only planet that is known to have atmosphere that has oxygen for human life. Third, it has oceans of liquid water also for life. Fourth, it is the 5th largest planet in the solar system. Lastly, Earth has a diameter of 8,000 or 13,000 and its shape isn't circle, but an "oblate spheroid."

They said that the Earths' surface is mostly covered by water, we all know that of course. 71% to be specific. They also said that a fifth of Earths atmosphere are produces by plants. They said that there are 4 eons in Earth. The Hadean, Archean, Proterozic and Phanerozic. They specify that the Archean eon started the human lives on Earth.

Now for the atmosphere they said that 78% are nitrogen and 21% are oxygen. They said that the upper atmosphere actually expands during the day and contracts at night because of the heat and cold temperature.

"Earth is the only planet in the universe known to possess life. There are several million known species of life, ranging from the bottom of the deepest ocean to a few miles into the atmosphere, and scientists think far more remain to be discovered." -Charles Q. Choi, the author.

Again, just like that quotation, we may know our place or structures or its origin, but we still don't know all the beings who possess life. Maybe in other worlds? Or maybe there are beings that aren't really discovered here actually on Earth? But I still believe that soon we will know.

But then, I am happy, that through all this complicated things outside our world we can't explain, there is still beauty in simple and little things around us, where we live in, where we laugh, love, and mostly, feel. So let us live life to the fullest and always remember that we have a beautiful world called Earth.

Blogpost 7: The Solar System

As we grow up, we were taught that our Earth we live in is a part of the solar system. They were many theories of our solar system since the older days. Scientists and astronomers back then even thought that the Earth was in the middle of the solar system and the other planets and the sun revolves around it. But now we somehow know alot about our solar system,  but did we actually know everything? Every detail?

There is an article I've read about the solar system entitled, Our Solar System: Facts, Formation and Discovery written by Charles Q. Choi from space.com. It is stated there that our solar system was formed from a nebula, a giant massive nebula called the "solar nebula." Like how a nebula would form, it rotated and spun like a disk. Then, the materials pulled together to form the sun. Other particles collided with each other then eventually created the planets. The rocks or the leftovers became the asteroid and comets. According to scientists there are 2 types of planets in our solar system, the "terrestrial worlds" and the "four gas giants" or the "outer planets." The ones who are called terrestrial are the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They're called terrestrial because of it's rocky state and "earthlike" structures because they are made of iron and rock. They're also similiar in size and composition. Then the outer planets are the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They were called gas giants because of their mass made of gases and also, its cold temperature. They are also made up of hydrogen and helium and they have no solid surfaces, but may have rocky cores.

Scientists also consider little asteroids as planets, they call it the "minor planets" that circle the sun circle the sun in the region of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They estimated about 750,000 asteroids that circles. They sometimes lead and collide with other planets, or sometimes it can include Earth.






Then there's the comets. Also called the "dirty snowballs" because of its icy and rocky formation. To be specific, scientists told that comets are made of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and etc. Scientists say that the comets orbit the sun but have a specific area inhabiting called the "Oort Cloud" which surrounds the sun. They said that that's why we see comets with beautiful tails or whatever you may call it, it's because when they orbit the sun the central nucleus of it turns into gas and spreads. Also, they added the fact that the icy particles were being melted then follows the orbit of the comet. That is why we are seeing them with bright tails.

"Our solar system is a vast place, with lots of mostly empty space between planets. But out there are comets, asteroids, and more rocky frozen objects yet to be discovered in the Oort Cloud." -Charles Q. Choi, the author.

These facts are really astonishing to know. Of course knowing its formation and types, singularity and the connections between every thing in our universe. It was interesting and entertaining to study these kinds of differences.

Now, we all know that there are 8 planets in our solar system. Before it was 9 but they omitted Pluto because of its lacking size. But have you ever wondered of a 10th planet? I've read an article entitled, Search from 'Planet X' Far From Over written by Nola Taylor Redd from space.com. They said that the hypothetical Planet X has been fruitless, but still, they're not calling it off. "I think astronomers will continue to search for a distant companion to the sun with every new, deeper survey," said Kevin Luhman of the University of Pennsylvania. Researchers discovered a dwarf planet orbiting the sun particularly, the unexplored Oort Cloud. They said that some of its orbitals can or may be considered as planet sized objects. But they also said that they still cannot detect it because of lack of instruments to use. They've discovered this using NASA'S WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER (WISE), a telescope. Using that telescope made their findings more concrete, but through its very far location and revolution or also its setting one place to another, they've found it harder to see as it gets dimmer and draws far away. But at least, they say that they can soon know everything or see its exact components and elements of the mysterious "Planet X."

"We have natural desire to better determine the content of our solar system." -Kevin Luhman.

Discovering or studying another planet really eats scientists time. They may discover this before they die, or maybe they won't even finish this discovery by the time they're dead. But I'm also at least grateful that these scientists are really adding up new things on people's minds.

Knowing these kinds of things really heats up my hype as a researcher. Yet, scientists still set for their new learnings and discoveries by finding little pieces of information gathered through the use of technology. I also believe that someday, maybe we could discover or know everything that's outside our planet.

Blogpost 6: Nebulae

Our cosmos is filled up with very bright things that light up our universe. Filled with beautiful and gorgeous ones. Are you familiar of the term nebula? Maybe you've heard the word in some cartoons, but do you really know what it is and where it is in space? Nebula is a cloudy and gasy object that can be seen outside our solar system. Do you know it's purpose and how it formed? Let me give you a thought.

There is an article I've read entitled, What is a Nebula? written by John Carl Villanueva from universetoday.com. They said here that a nebula is made up of  dust, hydrogen, helium, gas, and plasma. It could be dark or bright. Imagine it like a cloud in outer space, but it's very massive. It is also stated there that a nebula could be a part of a stellar or planetary formation or maybe a result of it. Particularly, some formation of stars or planets in our universe. They also said that it could be death of a star, which has failed to become a black hole, more likely a positive result of it's death because a black hole is basically dangerous while a nebula is just a stable object. But there is also pressure in the middle of a nebula, there are also gravitational forces that make the cloud on form only on its direction and that's why it won't scatter out somewhere in outer space. That's the reason why a nebula is cloudy but not explosive because it's a cloud, you could imagine it would spread out. It's not really dangerous because it's stable and it only like they said, it only has its gravitational forces in the middle so it won't really catch you up. Just like the author John Carl Villanueva, a technical writter, stated:

"For those who are not aware of this yet, outer space is not really totally a vacuum." 

I could say these things really are a positive result of a death of a star or a planet. Like a black hole, a negative one. Nebulae can also be created for our the designs of the outer space, so it could be beautiful, and colorful. Some can even be galaxies, who knows?

But through the beautiful attractions of the nebulae in space, there are still mysteries about them, like the article I've read entitled, Mystery flares betray hidden force within Crab Nebula written by Rachel Courtland from newscientist.com. It says there that a nebula called the "Crab Nebula" has been releasing bright flares of gamma rays in a record breaking speeds. "The highest particle energies ever associated with a single force," says Elisa Bernardidni of the DESY research center in Germany. The observers were surprised by the flares extracted from the nebula because it calibrates astronomical instruments and streams wavelengths. So are we in danger? The scientists don't think of this as much, because it doesn't really threaten Earth from it's extraction of cosmic rays. That is why Crab Nebula is the most powerful cosmic accelerator because it gives us the most energy and cosmic rays through Earth said by the scientists. But they also said that through this events they can know the origin of the cosmic rays. Like Rene Ong of the University of California, Los Angeles said:

"This is a fascinating discovery, we understand this source as well as anything in the sky. It's a new wrinkle and a new mystery."

I think that events like these were really meant to happen, to let us know where they really came from and what do they really possess.

Nebulae are one of the most beautiful creations. Why? Because it colors our entire world, not just Earth, I mean everything. It lights up the darkness of this world, and sometimes they give us thoughts of how this and that happen. You know, you can get sources and origins to them. Plus, they're not that dangerous compared to the black holes that are happen to be the result of a death of a star just like these nebulae. Well, for me, staring at these creations are really wonderful and beautiful.

Blogpost 5: Black Holes

Can you imagine what could happen if you got suck by a black hole? Scientists say that every part of energy can be sucked up, I mean everything, atoms, matter, yourself, and even light and sound. It's so massive and powerful that no one would be able to escape once you've been caught by it. Can you also imagine what's in there? Like, what would you see when your're exactly inside a black hole? I guess no one could know, because I think it's very impossible for us to get inside then go out. Black holes also have gravitational around it's spot that lures everything that'll be eaten by it.

Scientists told us that black holes are the death of the stars, but not exactly just a star. Only massive ones, for example, our sun is not that massive enough to become a black hole. So it means it needs a bigger one. Imagine that the black holes are far bigger than the sun. How terrifying. But did you actually know that there is a black hole that is only 26,000 light years away from us? I've read an article entitled,  It's Snack Time In The Cosmos by Ron Cowen from nytimes.com. It is stated there that we might have the chance to see a black hole consumes. A black hole called the "Sagittarrius A." Of course from a big telescope because it's not seen by the naked eye. A theoretical astrophysicist at Harvard named Avi Loeb even said that "This is a rare oppurtunity to witness spoon-feeding of a black hole," and even asked, "will the gas reach the black hole, and if so, how quickly?" then he even theoretically stated that, "will the black hole throw up or spit the gas out in the form of an outflow or a jet?" The one that will soon be sucked by the black hole is a gas cloud. The cloud is massive, it's even three times bigger than the Earth. But it's still no match for Sagittarius A. The black hole will soon devour every part of that gas cloud. It will use its gravitational forces around him to set the direction of the gas cloud to the center. But they also said that if the black hole has eaten too much of its gas, it's process of eating could take years for it to finish. Then, a firework could be seen. The firework they'd talk about is a metaphor for a radiation explosion through the cosmos.

I can imagine the power of the black hole by just seeing the pictures. I think that if you were to go there, you would really feel the massive force of its gravity pulling you. We still won't know what could be the effect of the radiation explosion of those events because it's the first time for us to happen. Also, according to some scientists, when the black hole sucks you, you would stretch very long like you're a bubble gum. Imagine those things, it's like defying the laws of science.

There is also an article I've read entitled, How Do Black Holes Form? written by Fraiser Cain from universetoday.com. It is stated here that back then black holes were just considered as abstracts. They still haven't concluded that they exist. But in 1931 an astronomer named Subrahmanyan Chandasekar calculated and studied stars, then eventually came up with the conclusion that black holes can be form by a stars big mass. They also said that inside a black hole, there are millions of tonnes of hydrogen that are changing to helium. After that, it releases gamma radiation. For them, this process is too "exothermic," meaning it's exaggerating its energy extraction. Then soon, they said that the helium will switch to carbon then becomes oxygen. But it also balance its gravitational forces to make it at least stable. After that, well, it's more likely to a black hole now. A star that was so bright and shiny became a dark and evil existence to the most dangerous and terrifying objects in our universe. Like they said, you would need a velocity even faster than light to escape these things, or maybe, speed of light is not enough? Who knows? But even through the research and findings that a black hole is a bad object, Fraser Cain the publisher of universe today still stated that: 

"Black holes are the most exotic and awe inspiring objects in the Universe." 

We can't really know much of these things because we need  to study these kind of objects in a very accurate way, like, we need to study them very clear and very actively to know what's really in there. But I guess we can't, because it's obviously dangerous for us to even get near them.

So what might happen when you're in a black hole? Do you even want to test it for yourself? From this study I think I could say I hate black holes. They're too scary for them to even exist. Why were they even created? Do they have a purpose? I don't think so, I can say they were the evil creatures that have been formed on the universe.

Blogpost 4: Stars

Little bright pointed things up there in the sky that we have been seeing in our entire lives. They're the most beautiful things that we were liking to see every night since our childhood. Some people even said that we are made of  them, made of "starstuffs." Could that be possible? Well, we might not know the answer. Why are they so visible to the naked eye? Even though they're millions of light years away from us? It's because they're the brightest things ever existed. It's thanks to them because they are the ones which light up the universe, without them I can imagine the possible darkness in space.

Stars has it's own gravity, and they're sphere like shapes like the planets. Scientists also estimated about "ten billion trillion"(10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000), stars are present in space. But did you actually know in this present time that the stars now aren't producing that much anymore? There's an article I've read entitled, Amid Cosmic Fatigue, Scarcely a Star is Born by Dennis Overbye from nytimes.com, it says here that the stars in our present time are dying, plus, we're not making new ones. An astronomer named David Sobral of Leiden University even said, "You might say that the universe has been suffering from a long. serious crisis: cosmic G.D.P. output is now only 3 percent of what it used to be at the peak in star production." But it also says there that we don't need to worry, because stars can live up to million or billion of years. And also, we should at least be happy because they stated that it means the universe had already made 95 percent of star mass. Who knows what good might happen when it comes to 100? Well, of course when a star crisis might happen, we're surely dead by that time. They said that it's very different when the early protogalaxies were made, before they we're like popping, colliding, and merging and they were producing many bright new stars. But now, like they said, it's not anymore productive than before. For the time being, they still haven't solved the mystery of why are stars declining its production. They would also say that the universe would be darker if other stars died, then others won't produce.

For me, I wouldn't like that kind of situation. Moreover, I don't like seeing much darkness at night. Because losing stars can really produce darkness. Feeling sad? I think many of us won't. It's because stars can still be seen whether they're getting older. Or, it's not our business if it isn't reproducing anymore.


There is also an article I've read still about the "star declining it's making" issue entitled, The Universe Is Almost Done Making Stars written by Rebacca Boyle from popsci.com. Well, they said that the stars back then 11 billion years ago when the universe has just been made, the stars were forming very rapidly, imagine them like popping popcorns in the sky. Then eventually figured out that the stars creation today are "30 times lower" than the past billion years. Or, they said that it may even not increase anymore after some years. The team of an astronomer David Sobral observed these by taking pictures, they've somehow seen it from the stars sizes from the other old ones. To say it specifically, all of the stars back then just formed for 2 billion years. But now, only half of then formed for about 9 billion years. There really is a big difference since then. Of course 2 billion years of making is very far to 9 billion. They also added that only 5% of stars will only be added in space even if we wait forever. David Sobral also stated after his discoveries that:

"We are clearly living in a universe dominated by old stars. All of the action in the universe occurred billions of years ago,"  -David Sobral

So I guess after a million years, people would be living with old stars. Well, who knows? Maybe a miracle in space would happen someday? At least these beautiful things can last for almost forever, I really think I shouldn't be sad or anything.

Knowing that the production of stars are almost done, It doesn't really gave an impact to the life here on Earth, because we exaclty don't know what's the consequence of those events. But let's be thankful that we are still seeing these wonderful creation in our night sky.

Blogpost 3: Galaxy Formation

Galaxies took over the whole cosmos since the beginning, they were like the first beautiful objects that came after the great big bang. But did we know where or how did these things start? How were they formed?

After the big bang, it is said here in the article I've read, Galaxy Formation by Frase Cain from universetoday.com that the universe was entirely hydrogen and helium with other elements. They said that the fluctuations started the process.That the vast cloudswith an increased density started to form. But still Fraser Cain asked, "How did we get from the first particles of hydrogen and helium left over from the Big Bang to the beautiful spiral galaxy structures we see today?" Astronomers thought that the universe was also made by matter, dark matter which outnumbered regular matter. Forming together, they've formed mass with gravity, then soon creating larger mass to form a "proto-galaxy." Proto-galaxies are the clouds of gases which will soon form into a galaxy. Eventually, the materials from a proto-galaxy will start to form regions then soon form stars. After those formations inside a proto-galaxy, the proto-galaxy will soon merge to another one to become large and soon become a spiral galaxy that are now present in this age.

Galaxies are massive, they contain number of stars and planets. Like it's sheltering them. It's the one which helped the stars and planets form and it has its center which could be the sole beginning of how it's formed. Galaxies are also made of huge amount of gas and has it tails like an octopus. There are millions of galaxies in our universe, and our Milky Way is just one of it. Do you think there's other life out there? Well, I guess we'll never know by now.

Edwin Hubble, an American astronomer and was also known as the most important cosmologist. Hubble is also one of the most contributors of galaxy discoveries, he's also the one who classified the characters of other galaxies. I've read an article entitled, Where Do Galaxies Come From? by Summer Ash from slate.com. It says here that Edwin Hubble spent all night just to take pictures of the heavens. In Hubble's time, galaxies were still debatable until Hubble discovered some that some galaxies are "irregular" or also called the "interacting galaxies." They're the types of galaxies that pulls each other gravitationally, to create odd shapes. It's also in the middle of the 20th century only they have discovered galaxies' black holes, superhead jets, plasma, and shockwaves. Our galaxy can be dangerous in some way isn't? There can be two types of galaxies, the blue ones and the red ones. The blue colored galaxy is hot while the red is cold. Ironic isn't? Of course when you think about red galaxies, you'll probably think that it's hotter than blue ones. It's because blue ones are dominated with active star formation while the red ones have very little gas and cooler stellar population.

It also says there in the article that the galaxies that are "Spiral" are younger while the galaxies that are "Elliptical" are older.

Atronomers are still studying on how could spiral galaxies run out of gas then eventually can turn into an elliptical galaxy. Many are still questioned, and some could only be answered through the future.

"The history of astronomy is a history of receding horizons." -Edwin Hubble

So yeah, defining these events may seemed hard for the astronomers or scientists. but through the very fast evolution of modern technology, I think we can strive this questionable things soon.

We can say that these process is still ongoing by this time, we can still say that there are many galaxies forming out there in the sky, like our Milky Way. Scientists once told us that we will soon collide with Andromeda. After that, will we be in danger? Who knows what might happen?