Astronomy 101 - Lesson 2: The Inner Planets

OK, boys and girls, here's your next lesson in planetary astronomy. The solar system can be divided in two ways depending on location or composition of the objects in question (this is when discussing planets, the sun and moons of the solar system are a different story). The location divisions can be done as follows (from the sun outwards): Inner Planets, Asteroids and Minor planets, Outer Planets, Kuiper Belt Objects. Each one of these locations also have the majority of the objects in these areas composed of a particular material (i.e. Kuiper Belt objects are predominantly made of ices from such materials as methane, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, plus a smattering of silicate/rocky materials mixed in). So, mes etudiants, listen up:


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Astronomy 101 - Lesson 1: The Moon

I have been contemplating lessons for all my readers in the science of astronomy (yes, you , my two readers out there, can get a free education in astronomy - the princely discipline of science). As such, from time to time, I will be posting lessons on the main topics of astronomy (take notes, there will be an exam on this in the end... or you won't get your certificate of completion and you won't get to join the junior space league...). The best place to begin in my experience is to examine the most visible of the night sky objects, the Moon. Have fun and I'll give you more later:

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The Devil's Handiwork

Well, it's a vacation time for me and it's nice because I have time to think for myself and enjoy the erudite pursuits... like YouTube. I came across an outstanding comic: Lewis Black. His best rif is on what is titled on YouTube as "The Devil's Handiwork." Now I am a scientist and am constantly having to define and defend it's findings from crackpots I come across (some of whose children I have to teach and what they are doing to their kids is just plain abusive to their mental faculties). Now Lewis Black does a fantastic job of putting forth what it is that makes me just nucking futs about these people... enjoy: