A Resource for Students
of Physics and Astronomy

August 21, 2003

Welcome to Planet Psi, the place to find at least a few things you always wanted to know about College Physics or Descriptive Astronomy, but were afraid to ask!

Yes, this site is designed to provide information primarily for students at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) who are enrolled in specific College Physics or Descriptive Astronomy sections. However, there may be a feature or two that anyone may enjoy, so feel free to explore!

Mars
Watch 2003

On August 27, Mars was as close to the Earth as it has been in 60,000 years or so. It's still close today. Try to take some time and go out and look at it through binoculars (or a telescope, if you're lucky enough to have one). If you look southeast at about 10 p.m. on a clear night you should have no trouble finding Mars shining brightly in the sky. If you are observing early in the morning (around 5 a.m.) Mars will have moved to the southwest.

The photo above was captured by the Hubble Telescope on Tuesday, August 26.

An interesting article on this subject can be found at space.com, "Mars Will Not Kill You" by Robert Roy Britt. Be sure and check out the embedded links in Mr. Britt's article!

Dr. Heather
Woolverton
Autumn, 2003

Dark Universe

BBC reports that the future looks darker and darker: Astronomers have confirmed by a new method one of the saddest stories of the Universe — one day the stars in the sky will all stop twinkling.

Ozone Satellite

A satellite designed to monitor the depletion of the ozone layer — with an emphasis on changes occurring over Canada and the Arctic — was launched on August 12.

Fate of the Hubble

The New York Times enthusiastically endorses the Hubble Space Telescope, but at what cost? Read the editorial about the future of U.S. space exploration.

New Life Form

NASA scientists have discovered a new extreme-loving microorganism in California's exotic Mono Lake. Astrobiologist Richard Hoover likens it to life on Mars.

PLANET PSI is ruled by Dr. Heather L. Woolverton,
Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Central Arkansas.
An independent entity in the CornDancer consortium of planets,
Planet Psi is dedicated to the study and exploration of the physical sciences.
CornDancer is a privately owned developmental website for the mind and spirit
maintained by webmistress Freddie A. Bowles of the Planet Earth.
Submissions are invited.