Sean Yuen

I learnt about the different types of telescopes and the activities in astronomy club

9/3/2022 Reflections: 

Today's session was fun as we got to learn about different types of things in outer space and learnt about the big bang. The presentation was interesting as there were vids in it.

Reflection 23/3/2022 :

Today's lesson was fun as we got to learn about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and both the Drake and Seager equation. We also learnt about the Fermi Paradox. It was great to have a debate activity as it make the lecture more interesting. 

Reflection 30/3/2022

I learnt about black holes, the paradoxes surrounding them and the different parts and types of black holes. I can use this to teach my friends or during a conversation. I liked the Kahoot quiz as it would be very boring if it was a lecture only.

Reflection 6/4/2022

I learnt about Carl Sagan, exoplanets and how to find them. The lesson was interesting as there were videos and quizzes that were interesting. I can use this knowledge when trying to apply for a job

Reflection 20/4/2022

I learnt about rovers, their uses and previous rover missions. The lesson was interesting as we learnt how to use tinkercad and had a kahoot

Reflection 27/4/2022 

I learnt about the orbit in KSP and SFS. The lesson was very fun as we could play a flight simulation and it was unlike other sessions. I like the flight simulator as we can do things that we cannot do in real life.

Reflection 4/5/2022

I learnt about satellites and orbiting them in Space Flight Simulator. The session was fun as we could learn about satellites, play SFS and have a Kahoot quiz. May the force be with you.

I learnt about KSP and how to launch

Reflection 18/5/2022

I learnt about the different types of constellations, how to identify them and the mythology surrounding them. The session was fun as we could play kahoot and watch videos. They can do better by getting shorter and more interesting videos.

Reflection 29/6/2022

I learnt about how the technology that made advancements in Astronomy

I learnt about what astronauts eat when in outer space and the science behind it. This lesson was more fun than others as there was a activity that we had to do. I hope to have more sessions like this in the future.

Reflection 20/7/2022

I learnt about stellar evolution and the life of a star through time, as well as main sequence stars. The lesson was interesting as there were videos and a kahoot quiz. The lesson could be improved if the slides were shared with the students. 

Reflection 17/8/2022

I learnt about general relativity and special relativity. The lesson was interesting as we learnt about how physics work in space and that we had a quizizz. This lesson is too confusing and would be better if we learnt relativity later.

Reflection 24/7/2022

I learnt about deep-sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. The lesson was interesting as there was an activity that let us work in groups to present about a deep-sky object that we liked. The lesson could be improved if the pace was a bit slower as we had little time to copy down our notes. Also, the slides could be shared with the students. I would like to see more team activities in future sessions.

Reflection 31/7/2022

I learnt about presenting to astronomy club members about our selected topics. I feel excited to embark on future presentations. I could improve on my volume and contrast, which I could do my keeping it in mind when doing future presentations.

Reflection 14/9/2022

I feel that astronomy has been pretty fun so far. I would look forward to future overseas trips and getting KSP. Todays lesson was hopeful as we have a lot of activities to look forward to.

Reflection 18/1/2023

I learnt how to go into orbit in Kerbal Space Program

Using a 3 stage rocket, I used to first stage to get out of Earth

Then, I decoupled the 1st stage

I used the 2nd stage to do an orbit, and used the 3rd stage to return to Earth

Reflection 15/2/2023
I learnt how to make a star chart.

Reflection 8/3/2023

After watching Gravity, I learnt more about space hazards, such as fire, lack of oxygen, debris and being adrift in space. I found this session fun and I hope to have more lessons like these in the future. 

Reflection 22/3/2023

I learnt about the Solar System and the planets in it. It was fun as there was a interesting Kahoot.

Reflection 29/3/2023

I learnt more about the different type of rockets and the different types of fuel they use for the engines. 

Reflection 5/4/2023

I learnt about constellations, the different types, the mythology and the history about it. The lesson was fun as we got to research and make a slide on a constellation of our choice, as well as being able to watch a TedEd video. The presenters dont need to improve cuz they good :)

Reflection 26/4/2023

I learnt about different theories on how the universe started, as well as the different eras of the universe. Today's session was fun as there were many prizes.

Reflection 3/5/2023

I learnt about space exploration and the different methods of observing outer space, as well as the space race with the different missions to space conducted by both the USSR and USA. I had learnt so much today that I will most definitely use in my future endeavours and career. This session was so uplifting and informative for my soul, which has never seen peace ever since the rng due to the last question of the kahoot. 

Reflection 17/5/2023

I learnt about exoplanets, the different types of exoplanets, as well as the methods of identifying exoplanets. We also got to learn about the Goldilocks zone.

Reflection 28/6/2023

I learnt about SSTOs and how to build them in KSP, as well as being able to collaborate with other astronomy members to make a presentation on a astronomy related topic.

Reflection 5/7/2023

I learnt about the different built and hypothetical super structures. This session was relatively interesting as there were many explanatory videos rather than just slides with information on it. The super structures shown were quite unique and were pretty intruiging.

Reflection 19/7/2023

I took photos. Also I learnt about dark matter.

Reflection 26/7/2023

I learnt about the different planets in our solar system and their naming, as well as different religions and cults involving astronomy.

Reflection 2/8/2023

I learnt more about space hazards and how satellites are designed to resist the hazards on the first day, and learnt about the different types of volcanoes and both Earth and the different planets in the solar system. This sessions could be improved if the QnA session for both sessions were not that long as I feel it was unecessarily long and made quite a lot of the attendees bored. 

Reflection 16/8/2023

I presented in front on the club today on space rocks. 

Reflection 23/8/2023

I learnt about Einstein's theory of general relativity and some other astrophysics, as well as special relativity and kepler's law. The explanation of concepts could be improved as it was really confusing. The session was a bit boring as we have went through astrophysics a few times before.

Reflection 10/1/2024

I learnt about how to use telescopes and water rockets. It was quite fun as we get more hands on work. I hope to have more of these type of activities in the future.

Reflection 17/1/2024

I learnt about black holes

Reflection 24/1/2024

I learnt about how to set up a water rocket, how to set up a rocket in KSP and about our solar system. The advantage of the lesson was that KSP was mostly fun. Some problems are that we had to cut short the water rocket, and the lesson felt kinda haphazard when dealing with 3 different topics at once. Also, we couldn't use the seminar room and the physics lab was pretty cold

Reflection 7//2024

I learnt about general relativity and the multiple equations and scientists that contributed towards it.

Reflection 21/2/2024

I learnt about telescopes and the astronomy's outreach programme. To help improve astronomy club, I have multiple suggestions:

• Cover some more unconventional topics. Some of my favourite lectures were more unconventional, like nutrition for astronauts and the spaceship designs in fictional movies. The lectures could be a lot more interesting if they were more unconventional

• Refrain from covering astrophysics, as astrophysics is rather dull and boring, causing disinterest in most of the astro club members.

• Movie nights. If there is seriously nothing to present on, just display a movie. It would be a lot more interesting than an unprepared and inpromptu presentation.

• Increase the variety of activites. Instead of just sticking to KSP or water rockets multiple times, try to come up with some non-math activities. I remember seeing one about creating an alien colony back in Sec 1 ( i think). Such activities are just refreshing from the normal dull lectures we have.

• Incentivise the Kahoot quiz with prizes. Very self explanatory, the participation will increase significantly.

• Cover on topics a lot closer to our solar system (eg Life as an astronaut, the past NASA missions etc).

Reflection 28/2/2024

I learnt about lenses, telescopes and lights.

Reflection 27/3/2024

I learnt about nuclear physics. This session was somewhat easier as I had learnt about some of the concepts in chemistry olympiad. I enjoyed learning about more abstract and advanced chemistry topics.

Reflection 3/4/2024

I am unsure as to what I learnt as I skipped 75% of astronomy due to Celebrations@SST

Reflections 17/4/2024

I learnt about binary systems. The session was not fun as I skipped the first half of it due to higher chinese and we were forced to take notes on paper, which is very ineffecient due to the large amount of content needed to be written down and insufficient tie being given to us to copy the notes.

Reflection 24/4/2024

We learnt about orbital vehichles

Reflection 8/5/2024

We learnt about EM waves and radio waves today.

Exoplanets

• Exoplanets are any planet beyond our solar system. They orbit around their own stars, forming their own solar system (can either orbit other stars or be "rogue planets". More than 5200 have been discovered, closest exoplanet to Earth is Proxima Centuria B

Techniques to detect exoplanets

• Radial velocity. A star with a plent will "wobble" in its own small orbit in response to the planet's gravity. This leads to variations in speed with which the star moves toward or away from the planet. This speed can be determined using the Doppler effect, because the light from the moving star will appear redder or bluer. It can check for presence of planets. Most planets discoeverd this way are very large. Discovered in 1089.

• Transit. IF a planet transits in front of its parent star's disk, the observed brightness of the star dims a little (depending on the relative sizes off the star and the planet) 4171 planets are discovered through this way (majority). It can yield a plent's mass and size but the planet must pass directly between its star and the Earth, and large and close to the star.

• Direct Imaging. Astronomers can take pictures of exoplanets by removing the overwhelming glare of the stars they orbit. Uses infrared wavelengths to observe planets. Effective for low mass exoplanets, it blocks light using a coronograph or starshade. The parent star is usually a lot brighter than the planet, so light will be blocked by them, Planets found through this method are usually around brown dwarfs which are rather dim so that not much light is detected.

• Gravitational microlensing. Light from a distant star is bent and focused by gravity as a planet passess between the star and Earth. If the planet in front of the star relative to the observer makes a transit, the light dips measurably. The bending and variations from distortion can be detected. 217 planets have been discoered through this method

• Astrometry. Astrometry involves measuirng a star's position in the sky accurately, and detecting how that position changes over time. Sceintists take a series of images of a star and some of the other starts that are near it in the sky. In each picture, they compare the distances between these reference stars and the star they're checking for exoplanets. If the target star has moved in relation to the other stars, astronomers can analyze that movement for signs of exoplanets.

Habitable Zone. Also known as the Goldilock's Zone. It is the distance from a star at which liqid water could exists on robiting planets' surfaces. Every star has a habitable zone, but where the zone lies is different for stars of different sizes and brightness. This helps us understand what distance from a given star you might expect to find planets and liquid water on their surface

Classes of exoplanets: 

• Gas Giants. Planets the size of Jupiter or Saturn. Hot Jupiters were one of the 1st planet types to be found. Gas Giants orbit so closely to their stars that their temperatures soar into the thousands of degrees.

• Neptunian Planets. 

  • Planets whose sizes are similar to Neptune or Uranus.

  • Mixture of Interior compositions

  • Hydrogen and Helium dominated atmosphere

  • Rocky core

• Super Earths

  • Terrestrial plaents tnat may or may not have an atmosphere

  • More massive than Earth, but lighter than Neptune

• Terrestrial Planets

  • Planets the size of Earth or even smaller

  • Composed of Rock, Silicate, Water or Carbon

  • Further investigation will determine whether some of them possess atmospheres, oceans or other signs of habitability

Kepler-186F. Kepler-186F was the first rocky planet to be found within the Goldilock's Zone. This plaent is also very close in size ot Earth.

HD 209458 B (Nickname "Osiris"). The first plaent to be seen in transit (crossing its star) and the first planet to have it light directly detected. This showed that transit observations were feasible and opened up an entire new realm of exoplanet characterisation

Today we learnt about exoplanets. This presentation was rather interesting as the presenters were interesting, and there were videos and a quiz. This presentation could have been improved if we were allowed to use our LD to take notes

Reflection 26/6/2024

I learnt about the opportunities offered by astronomy club during the presentations and learnt about the orbital mechanics. The lecture was fun as there were video and other images to aid presentation. I think the session could be improved if there was a quiz.

Reflection 10/7/2024

I learnt about accretion today. The lecture was particularly enjoyable as it included interactive quizzes and informative videos that complemented the presentation. These additional resources helped to reinforce the material, making the learning experience both dynamic and memorable. I found the subject matter fascinating, and I am confident that the knowledge I gained about accretion will be valuable in my future endeavors, whether in academic pursuits or practical applications.

Reflection 17/7/2024

I learnt more about the solar system, the planets in our milky way, their orbital days and the moons of the planets. This lecture also included KSP and universe sandbox, which was interesting to keep up with. The games were rather interesting and related to astronomy, allowing us to learn more about astronomy while having fun. I hope to have more sessions like these in the future. I can apply this knowledge in the future if I want to go for a science or astronomy based career. The session coud be improved if there was more videos

Reflection 31/7/2024

I learnt more about astronomical time, how the moon affects time, solstice and how seasons are related to astronomy. This lecture was interesting as it included Kahoot and some informative videos that were also interesting. I hope to have more sessions like these in the future. I can apply this knowledge in the future my educating my peers and family, in astronomy based events, or when researching more in this aspect

Reflection 7/8/2024

I learnt more about the Sun, its composition, surface activities of the Sun, the occurrences on the Earth and the formation and the death of the Sun. This presentation was interesting as there was both a Blooket and Kahoot quiz which made the session more engaging and fun. I hope to have more sessions like these in the future. I can apply this knowledge in the future for any astronomy-related events or competitions, or futher research and reading into said subject.

Reflection 14/8/2024

I learnt more about the appliation of electronics in Astronomy, more about stars, supernovas, nebulas, accretion and the composition of stars. The presentation was interesting as there was a hands on activity which allowed us to make a tinkercad circuit related to our chosen topic. There could have been a quiz to engage the students which would have been more interesting. I can apply this knowledge in the future for any astronomy-related events or competitions, or futher research and reading into said subject.

Reflection 15/1/2025

I learnt more about the Earth. It was interesting as there were many images to supplement the slides. It was also fun because there was a blooket game quiz which was also pretty fun. I think the session could be improved if we booked a room with more seats.

Reflection 22/1/2025

Venus

• Appearance

  • Appears very bright

  • Venus displays a full range of phases

  • Its actual surface is not visible as it is covered by dense clouds that reflect most of the sunlight falling on them

• Rotation

  • The rotation period of Venus is 243 Earth days

  • Venus takes 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun

  • Venus spins in a retrogade direction (east to West)

    • May be suffering a powerful collision during the formation of the solar system

• Basic properties

  • Has a mass 0.82 times of Earth

  • Density is almost same as Earth

  • Extremely high surface pressure

  • Extremely hot surface temperature (over 454ºC)

    • Hot enough to melt lead and zinc

• Geology

  • Radar maps ov Venus have been made over several spacecraft exploration missions

    • The first aws made by US Pioneer Venus orbiter in the late 1970s

    • Most info has been derived from the US Magellan spacecraft, producing images with a resolution of 100m

  • No water or ice on Venus

  • Surface wind speeds are low

    • Geological features cused by Venus' crust, volcanic eruptions,a nd imapct craters are not erased (unlike Earth)

  • 75% of Venus' surface consists of lowland lava plains

    • Result of widsespread lava eruptions

  • Has no plate tectonics

    • No evidence of subduction

    • Convection in it smantle generated great stresses in Venus' crust, but did not start the movement of large continental plates

    • Tectonic forces have broken the lava surface to create patterns of ridges and cracks (sometimes even rift valleys)

  • Venus have 2 full scale continets

    • Aphrodite: the larges tone, is about the size of Africa

    • Ishtar, the northern highland region, about the size of Australia

      • Contains the highest region on Venus, the Maxwell Mountains, rising 11km

  • Rock found on Venus was primarily igneous, like basalts

• Craters and volcanoes

  • Craters

    • A young surface age implies an active geology

    • The more densely cratered the surface, the greater its age

    • Large craters in the venusian plains indicate an average surface age that is only between 300 and 600 million years

      • Indicates that Venus has persistent geological activity

  • Volcanoes

    • Similar to Earth

    • Largest individual volcano on Venus is SIf Mons, about 500km across and 3km high

    • All of the volcanism is the result of eruption of lava onto the surface

    • Upwelling lava can collect to produce bulges in the crust called coronae

• Atmosphere

  • The most abundant gas on Venus is carbon dioxide, accounting for 96% of the atmosphere

    • Hence, greenhouse effect is stronger on Venus

    • The thick CO2 acts as a blanket, making it difficult for the infrared (heat) radiation from the ground to get back into space

  • The atmosphere of Venus has a huge troposphere extending up to at least 50 km above the surface

    • The upper troposphere has a thick cloud layer composed primarily of sulfuric acid droplets 

• Surface

  • Mars is distinctly red due to the presence of iron oxides in its soil

    • Its colour red may account for its association with war and blood in legends and early cultures

  • It also has bright polar ice caps with dusky surface markings

  • Dry and cold

  • Has continental/highland areas and widespread volcanic plains, like Venus and Earth

  • About half of Mars has heavily cratered highland terrain

  • Capable of great windstorms which can shroud the whole planet with dust

Mars

• Rotation

  • The rotation period of Mars is 24h 37min (a lil longer than an Earth day)

  • Rotational axis of Mars has a tilt of about 25º

    • Hence Mars experiences seasons like Earth

• Basic properties

  • Has a mass only 0.11 times of Earth

  • Has a thin atmosphere

    • Long ago, it probably had a thick atmosphere and seas > possibility of life

  • Diameter 6790 km (just over half that of Earth)

  • Composition may consist primarily of silicates with a small metal core

• Moons

  • Possibility captured asteroids

    • Phobos

      • Larger, heavily cratered

    • Deimos

      • Smaller, covered in loose dirt

• Martian samples

  • Most Martian meteorites are volcanic basalts and relatively young (1.3 billion years old)

  • The martian origin of these meteorites was confirmed by the analysis of tiny gas bubbles trapped inside several of them

  • Some atmospheric gas was trapped in the rock by the shock of the impact that ejected it from Mars and started it on its way toward Earth

• Voclanoes on Mars

  • The largest volcanic mountains are found in the Tharsis area

  • The largest volcano on Mars is Olympus Mons, with a diameter larger than 500km and a summit more than 20km above surrounding plains

• Tharsis bulge

  • The surface has bulged upward due to pressure, resulting in excessive cracking in the crust

  • Mars has canyons called Valles Marineries, extending for about 5000km

• Atmosphere and clouds on Mars

  • Average surface pressure of 0.007 bar, less than 1% of Earth's > very thin air

  • 95% of air is carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 2% argon

  • Atmosphere has small amounts of water vapour

• Polar Caps

  • The seasonal caps are composed of frozen CO2 instead of ordinary snow

• Gullies

  • Runoff and outflow channels exist on MArs, running for thousands of kilometres

  • Suggest that MArs had a very different climate long ago with water

Reflection 5/2/2025

Today we learnt about asteroids, comets, meteors, meteoroids and ways of detecting exoplanets. This session was pretty fun as there was an astro jeopardy as well as presentations for everyone to do. An improvement could be to makes the first presentation on asteroids and comets to be more engaging.

Reflection 19/2/2025

Today we made a image spectrometer from black paper, using scissors and penknife. Today's session was very fun as today as we get to do hands on activities at an enjoyable and relaxing pace.

Answers:

1. To make a DIY spectrometer

2. A rainbow forms

3. Using a different item than disk fragments.

Reflection 26/2/2025

Today we listened to a talk by a NASA scientist about solar weather. It was a very interesting topic as the speaker was quite engaging with his presentation having visual aids and videos, as well as the overall interesting content presented. I learnt more about how the solar weather affects us on Earth and why it is important for us to learn and research it. I wish the presentation had a quiz with rewards.

Reflection 5/3/2025

Today we did a recap on all the term 1 lessons we have gone through before, as well as some administrative work. The lesson was okay, I just hoped it had a bit more information in it and the projector did not have technical issues.

Reflection 12/3/2025

Today we did a lession and session on the