23 results for author: James Lewis
LOOK UP AT NIGHT BUT DON’T FALL IN A HOLE
I will be writing a monthly article about the amazing and beautiful stars and other objects in the night sky. I’m excited about that! I will describe objects that can be seen with just your eyes or with binoculars. No need for telescopes.
For August I’d like to interest you in the giant star Arcturus. It is the major star of the group of stars named Bootes. One Greek tradition considers Bootes as “ox-driver,” or “herdsman.”
It looks kite-shaped in the sky.
Bootes can be easily found by first finding the Big Dipper in the northwest night sky. It hangs by its handle, with the bowl of the dipper pouring to the ...
CAN A HUMAN BEING REALLY EXIST ON MARS?
(James A. Lewis is from the Village of Maine and is a member of “Stars Are US” Astronomy Club)
There has been a lot of discussion recently on TV about sending astronauts to Mars in the future. This seems exciting, but I am very much opposed to the idea. Why? The dangers pose huge risks to the astronauts. The cost of this trip is more than excessive.
Regarding the dangers, the voyage to Mars and return will take about 22 months. The trip one-way takes nine months. The time spent on Mars will be about 4 months. Mars and the Earth must be orbiting in exact relation to each other for this Mars landing. This is very tricky....
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I had a good talk with a friend recently. I told him that I was really concerned about climate change, and why. In response, he said that the facts I shared were new to him. I suspect that more people need to know the facts and why appropriate action is required.
Here is a brief summary:
A certain amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide or CO2) has been necessary to keep our world from freezing. For many centuries the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere was roughly 280 parts per million ppm) and was maintained at this level by Earth’s natural feedback system.
Since the Industrial Revolution, increasi...