Introduction and Monthly Reminders
I have yet to see the zodiacal light. So far, the weekend that worked best for me coincided with the nearly Full Moon. I hope that the weather and air quality cooperate for the second half of the month when the Moon will rise well after sunset. I was able to watch Jupiter as it moves closer to the horizon after sunset. I have enjoyed gazing skyward at Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades after sunset as well. The early mornings before sunrise have been a treat with Venus and Mars being in close proximity. I'll admit that Mars has been hard to spot due to the brilliance of Venus. My eyes are automatically drawn to the brightness, especially the sharp contrast between the dark morning sky and Venus shining near magnitude -4.9.
Don't forget to attempt to view the zodiacal light. March will also offer ample opportunity to view this light, so if you are unable to make it to a dark sky location in February, March will also be a good time. The greatest western elongation of Mercury will occur on the 16th, making it easier to spot in the morning sky. I have not mentioned the ISS for quite some time, but you can also spot the station nearly every morning/night. In Salt Lake City, the ISS can be seen in the morning hours before sunrise for the remainder of February. Be sure to check whatever app or other resources you use to find out when to see the ISS in your location! I personally use ISS Tracker and Heavens Above, which can send notifications to my phone.
Think About This....💡
Several times I've been asked, "What are you going to do with your degree in astrology?" Like most astronomers, I often cringe and tell them I have a degree in astronomy, not astrology. I also often hear cosmology and cosmetology being confused. I have even searched for jobs in cosmology and have been presented with several jobs for cosmetology. My goal with this post is to let my readers know that there is a very big difference between these terms and hope to explain them in a way that you won't confuse them when talking to someone about one of these topics.
Let's begin with astronomy. Technically, I do not have a degree in astronomy, but physics with an emphasis on astrophysics. This route included several courses in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology. Astronomy is the study of the universe, which includes, stars, galaxies, nebulae, comets, asteroids, black holes, and any other celestial object you can think of. Perhaps an easier way to put this is that astronomy is the study of everything outside of the Earth's atmosphere. There's a lot of stuff out there, so there are separate disciplines that an individual can pursue, such as a planetologist (study of planets), astrobiologist (study of life beyond Earth), and astrophysics (study of why things are the way they are in space), to name a few.
Now, let's take a look at astrology. Astrology is the belief that what happens in space, such as what stars were overhead when you were born or what constellation a planet is in, has an effect on who we are and our daily lives. Horoscopes, which millions of people believe, are based on astrology. I think from here, you can see how different astrology and astronomy are.
Finally, let's compare cosmology and cosmetology. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole. This includes the Big Bang theory and the study of an expanding, static, or shrinking universe, based on observations that have been made in astronomy. I enjoyed all of my astronomy classes, but my cosmology class was one of my favorites.
What about cosmetology? The root word, cosmet, looks like cosmo and comet combined, so surely it has something to do with space, right? Think again! A cosmetologist is a person that takes care of hair, skin, makeup, fingernails, and toenails. That's about as far away from space as a person could get!
In conclusion, please do not call me an astrologist or cosmetologist. Many individuals who have earned the same degree as me spent a lot of time earning that degree and deserve to be called an astronomer or cosmologist. If you are worried about mixing up the terms, these individuals would be thrilled to be called an astrophysicist or physicist as well. To be fair, astrologists and cosmetologists work hard in their disciplines as well, so be sure to call them by the correct name! Thank you for your understanding and for helping me remain sane.
Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts. You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.
 |
| Now get outside and look up! |
No comments:
Post a Comment