Adler Planetarium Essays

The article explains the consequences of their efforts to drill into the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, the site where the asteroid supposedly struck. There was a lot of arguments as to which scientist would take the core section to analyze. In the end

Gerta Keller, professor of geosciences at Princeton University, has recently conducted research on the Chicxulub asteroid in which she analyzed new core samples taken from the asteroid site (Botzer 2004). These samples indicate that the impact that occurred at Chicxulub actually predated the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, which occurred at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary about sixty-five million years ago. Keller claims that the Chicxulub impact occurred approximately 300,000 years before the extinction (Keller 2004). Although previous researchers estimated that the Chicxulub asteroid was the cause of the extinctions, there had always been doubts about the exact age and size of the crater, and about the origin of the “mega tsunami deposits” that were located within the crater (Keller 2004). The focus of Keller’s recent research was on finding some answers to these questions. To do so she analyzed Cretaceous limestone, dolomite, and anhydrite deposits as the site of the Chicxulub crater (Keller 2004).

It is difficult to envision that one of the greatest impact craters on Earth that measures up to 180km wide and 900m deep could just vanish just from sight. There have been many different dinosaur extinction theories offered in the recent decades. These range from poisonous plants to mass suicide by dinosaur herds. Although one concept as to how the dinosaurs became extinct has gained a wide acceptance since the 1980’s, involving a major earth impact by a meteor or comet (Icr.org, 2014). This horrific catastrophic event is thought to have extinguished up to two thirds of all animal and plant species, leaving behind a large crater found in Chicxulub, Mexico (LiveScience.com, 2014).

Dinosaurs ruled the earth for over 65 million years and thankfully for the human race, they became extinct. Ultimately, only a major catastrophe could completely wipe out an entire species, let alone an entity of dinosaurs and the debacle on the causes of dinosaur extinction have flooded the minds of paleontologists for centuries. Geologist and zoologist Stephen Jay Gould published “Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs,” to compare scientific and speculative causes of dinosaur decimation. Personally, I found this passage very informational and enjoyed reading it. Gould provides three theories that capture the reader’s curiosity, allowing room for pondering in one’s mind.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson is an exceptionally qualified individual to address the issues brought up over the course of the book. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Harvard University in 1980, master’s degree in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983, and master’s and doctorate’s degrees in astrophysics from Columbia University in 1989 and 1994 respectively. Tyson has been the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space since 1996, as well as a research associate for the American Museum

On the Thronateeska trip, we started the day of at the planetarium, when our guide showed us a short informational film about the solar system and the vast worlds beyond our atmosphere. The show was very enjoyable, as it was interactive, and we got to answer questions between clips. The show was a highlight of the trip.

Scientist have discovered that a meteor, has been lost for 25 years after losing orbit has finally been found headed toward Clare High School. Most of the people in Clare, Michigan were all freaking out, while the student of Clare High were calm and collective. “We say it will hit in approximately 5 days,” one scientist said, “So we shall head to the Smithsonian Institute of Science and Technology in Washington D.C.”

Here I was, going to Chabot Space & Science Center judging the place would be basically empty on the raining day, but once I rushed inside I heard childrens laughing, I saw all the people crowding around, and oddly, the smell of the delicious fragrant of food. At that point my perspective on the observation just got brighter. Since this was the first time I had been at Chabot or any science centers, I was astonished by the sheer number of people, especially kids walking around at Chabot. When I went up and got my ticket, I was also pleasantly surprised how the person at the front desk was friendly, suggesting me places to go and what he recommends with a silvery voice. With the map that I acquired from the welcoming employee, I quickly scanned through the humongous area with a total of 3 floors and pinned where I would go, so I prepared my pen and paper to walk into the “Destination, Universe”.

When entering the planetarium to experience this presentation the attendee was seated in a very comfortable, reclining chair that made viewing the domed ceiling of the planetarium very easy. When the presentation began the professor introduced himself and explained what the audience would be seeing and learning about. The lights were dimmed and the room became dark. The presenter then began the program by explaining and projecting what one sees when observing the sky at various times during the day. As the program progressed, stars began to appear on the ceiling of the planetarium. The professor then pointed out and spoke about the various constellations (groups of stars) in the night sky. Once this portion of the presentation was complete, the professor explained that the audience would be seeing a film about the history of the telescope and how two small pieces of glass changed the way scientists and the general public view the stars and the solar system. Following the film, attendees were asked if they had any

The movie differs a little bit from the book at this point. During the storm all of the scientists go out to try to get the power back on and to try to stay alive. Raptors have raided the lab and center of the park and are hungry for some people. The raptors and other dinosaurs take out three people out of the team of ten in the movie. Like the book the people scramble to get the power on but decide to start running too.

All of us love science, space, and technology at least a little bit. There's a reason why pictures of landscapes are so alluring, why we look up to the sky at random points of the day, why we can't let go of our handheld devices. Certain reality sci-tech TV shows explain why, and here's ten of the very best out there.

As the story ends, we are left with the tagline, ‘when the dinosaurs ruled the earth'. Human-animal conflict is clearly brought out, while human use technology to ensure rule over animals, dinosaurs use their might to attack human.

How exactly the asteroid damaged the Earth remains unclear, but the power released by such an impact is unquestionable. Effects possibly include reduced sunlight over a period of several months which possibly led to the decline or even total halt of primary production (via photosynthesis). One of the dominant signatures of the extinction at the KT boundary was the low activity of primary production, the possibility of reduced sunlight is high (Schulte et al. 2010) . Even if the primary production proved to be on a decline when this impact occurred, there is still some uncertainties as to where exactly the impact hit. This was why asymmetries in subsurface features of the Chicxulub crater were observed via geophysical methods were analyzed and it was calculated from estimates that the

This final blow would have sent earth into a nuclear winter. According to this theory, dust caused by the asteroid collision disrupted plant growth by blocking out the sunlight needed for photosynthesis for nearly a year. A chain reaction occurred as plants died off, so did the herbivores relying on the plants, and then the carnivores that relied on the herbivores. Around 75% of species became extinct, including dinosaurs, mammals, giant marine lizards, fish, birds, and insects. Meanwhile, seawater flooded around 40% of the world’s continents ("Mass Extinctions").

Space can be excellent. The planets, stars, systems and nebulae make effortless and vivid shapes noticeable to our telescopes.