By Sanah AyyarSMCAS Member Wanda Diaz-Merced is an astronomer focusing on studying radiation from stars and other celestial objects. However, she is best known for her work in sonification — or the conversion of visual data to audio with differences in pitch, duration, volume, and other auditory qualities. Her connection with sonification is incredibly personal. […]
Author: SMCAS
Can You Catch a Constellation with Calculus?
By Sanah AyyarSMCAS Member Disclaimer: These are the musings of a high schooler, probably with black holes all over them. No peer review, no formal proofs, just tons of curiosity. I’d love corrections and ideas from mathematicians and astronomers and knowledgeable readers. As I tackle advanced multivariable calculus in high school this year, I can’t […]
The Lunar Eclipse at Crestview
By Joe Little A few of us (I recognized Stephen, Andy, and Julian) as well as others including some family attempted to view the lunar eclipse up at Crestview Park. From moonrise and up to basically the point of maximum eclipse, the moon was hidden behind a large blanket of clouds. Right around 9:10 p.m. […]
Under One Bleeding Moon: A Thousand Stories from the Shadow
By Sanah Ayyar A lunar eclipse is one of the few geographically indifferent, cosmic spectacles. It does not play favorites and unfolds over the entire night side of the planet at once, no passport required. To the modern us, a lunar eclipse is a spectacular astronomical event caused by Earth passing between the Sun and […]
Johannes Kepler
By Mira Krishnan When discussing the giants of space science, names like Galileo or Isaac Newton usually dominate the conversation. However, if you look closer at the history of astronomy, I believe the most compelling story belongs to the 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler. Facing severe physical disabilities, family chaos, and a scientific community that […]
My Favorite Astronomer – Johannes Kepler
By Alexander Jaeger My favorite astronomer is Johannes Kepler. Ever since I took an introductory course in astrophysics, I have been fascinated by Kepler because of his laws of planetary motion. It seemed so amazing to me that such a complex topic could be described by laws that appeared so simple. I think that his […]
Neil Degrasse Tyson
By Mira Krishnan When I was just a little girl, I would look up at the night sky with awe, surprised that such beauty existed. It wasn’t until I discovered Neil DeGrasse Tyson that I started to understand what really happened in the vast vacuum that is our universe. Tyson was born in New York […]
NG-23 Cygnus Resupply Mission to the ISS
By Timothy Milligan On September 14, I observed the launch of the NG-23 Cygnus Resupply Mission to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40. The launch vehicle was a SpaceX Falcon 9, carrying the Cygnus XL spacecraft. The mission delivered over approximately 10,828 pounds of scientific investigations, research materials and cargo to the […]
SMCAS Annual Star-B-Que Party: July 19, 6p.m.
The SMCAS Board invites you and your family to our annual Star-B-Que, Saturday, July 19 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at our usual meeting spot, Crestview Park, 1000 Crestview Dr, San Carlos. This is a family friendly event, bring the kids. Feel free to arrive and leave at your convenience. Our party will be a […]
Mohsen Janatpour’s Proposal
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have known Ken for more than thirty-three years. I have benefited from his knowledge, wisdom, and kindness. He was instrumental in our choices of speakers for Family Science Day, year after year. His solar observations engaged the public and students, enriching our program. The bridge to the Science Building will feel […]