Abstract This paper discusses marriage and suppression in the two short stories "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and "Astronomer's Wife" by Kay Boyle. It also looks at the different reactions of the female characters to their marriage.
From the Paper "One of the basic building blocks of society is the nuclear family where one plus one equals three. Contrasting political and social view points, aside if the two sexes did not occasionally ...|
Tags: Kay Boyle, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Yellow Wallpaper, Astronomer's Wife, marriage, suppression
Abstract This paper analyzes the book "The Astronomer's Wife" by Kay Boyle. The paper describes the Astronomer who symbolizes the intellect, and the Plumber who symbolizes the physical. Using short quotes from the story throughout the paper, this point is proved. The paper also interprets the relationship of Mrs. Ames with the two men and states an opinion as to whether or not she would be happy with the Plumber for a long period of time.
From the Paper "The stars twinkle gaily as they dance eastward across the sky. The roots of the noble oak creep ever downward, sucking up precious nutrients from the damp earth. The moon looks solemnly upon the darkened sky, changing faces to suit her mood. The grass speaks in whispers to those who would tread upon it, and listens to the night-things crawling below. This is what Mrs. Ames has to choose from in Kay Boyle's "The Astronomer's Wife": the heavens or the earth. More truly, perhaps, she has to choose between mind and spirit or body and emotions. She is a young woman, "but this she had forgotten"(149). She takes refuge in day-to-day activities, attempting to overcompensate for her "dreamer" (148) of a husband."
Abstract This paper focuses on the issues surrounding the discovery and refinement of the astronomical distance ladder, beginning with a brief account and definition of the ladder itself before moving onto a definition and discussion of the insights of Edwin Hubble. After considering Hubble's contributions, it then discusses the developments offered by new scientists attempting to pin down the Hubble Constant in their work. The astronomical distance ladder is a device used by astronomers to measure distances between objects in space. The basic premise of the ladder is that, since we cannot measure distances directly, we make our distance observations based on distances that are already known.
From the Paper "As regards the Astronomical Distance Ladder, this was a huge and important step in the direction of the debate. Previous understandings of distance were based largely on the intensity of objects, and the nineteenth century standard generally held to the idea that ?faintness means farness,? but the Hubble constant and its revelation of a constantly expanding Universe opened the door to a wide variety of debates about the way distances are measured (Gingerich 1071). Indeed, then the current debate has largely settled around more specific elements of Hubbles view, rather than a whole-scale rejection of his system or some other form of innovation. Indeed, the large and greater portion of debates relating to the astronomical distance ladder focus ?on recently determined and still controversial values of the Hubble constant.? "
Abstract This paper looks at how, as Galileo first turned his telescope toward the heavens, he was drastically turning mankind away from its long-accepted view that the Aristotelian view of the heavens was correct. It examines the significance of Galileo's early astronomical observations on the Aristotelian universe by examining Aristotle's theory of the cosmos, pertinent background on Galileo, his discoveries, and the effect they had on Aristotle's universe.
Outline
Introduction
Aristotle's Universe
Galileo Leading Up to His Discoveries
Galileo's Observations and their Significance
The Moon
Jupiter
Venus
Other Important Observations
Toward a Heliocentric Model
Conclusion
From the Paper "The next object Galileo turned his attention to was the planet Jupiter. In January of 1610, he saw three small but bright stars in the area of Jupiter that changed positions with time, but never strayed far from Jupiter. After repeated observations, Galileo concluded that there are three stars in the heavens moving about Jupiter. He later discovered a fourth satellite of Jupiter and he named these moons the Medicean stars. These satellites were seen to orbit Jupiter at various distances and speeds. This was the first time that a planet other than Earth was found to have satellites orbiting it."
Abstract Scientific discoveries and tools have changed our knowledge of the universe over the years. With astronomers past and present, we have learned about the planet Earth, our Sun, and the planets that surround. This paper details the history of astrology, prominent astronomers, and the solar system.
Abstract This paper explains why Galileo Galilei, one of the most well-known astronomers and mathematicians, was one of the most controversial people of his time.
From the Paper " In the years to follow Galileo contributed much to the mathematic and scientific field. In 1609, Galileo was able to observe a Dutch mans invention, which Galileo would much be remembered for. This was the first telescope. Using his great technical and mathematical skill Galileo improved the telescope greatly. He also began to look at the sky with it. He wrote down his observations in a book he called Message From the Stars. Galileo also did much on free fall and even published some books on the subject. In his later years Galileo studied motion and strength of objects. He wrote a book on this called Discoveries on Two New Sciences. The book had to be smuggled out of Italy because at this time Galileo was forbid by law to publish any more books. "
Abstract This paper explores methods used by astronomers to measure the universe, the dual nature of light, origins of the universe and the solar system and types of stars. It also discusses planets and other celestial bodies.
From the Paper "Another way to measure the universe is using shadows. Some astronomers observe ?dark silhouettes cast by distant clusters of galaxies (Glanz,1999)? against the ?cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) (Glanz, 1999)? The glow from this radiation provides a back light that helps measure the size of the shadows. The CMBR was formed back when the cosmos were only 100,000 to 300,000 years old. Because of the CMBRs? age, ?everything in the visible universe lies in front (Glanz, 1999)? of it. When the radiation started out, it had hot temperatures due to the universe just being formed. However, as the universe expanded, the temperatures cooled. This gives astronomers additional information to aid them in their measurements."
Abstract This paper examines the astronomical phenomenon of Aurora, more specifically the aurora borealis commonly known as northern lights. This essay examines the scientific understanding of their origins, the colors and images that result and concludes with consideration of the mythical and aesthetic links to the northern lights.
Abstract This essay discusses the life of Maria Mitchell and examines how she became the first woman astronomer in the United States. The paper tells of where she grew up. The writer looks at how she climbed the ranks to achieve her goals. Further the writer discusses how she came into discovering her true passion of astronomy. By describing the events that made this courageous woman, the writer shows clearly how she set an example for her gender in the nineteenth century.
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the life of Omar Khayyam, born on 18 May 1048 at Nishapur, the provincial capital of Khurasan. The writer explores all aspects of his amazing life, as painter, mathematician, musician, writer and philosopher. The paper begins with his early life in Persia through to his death in Nishapur on 4th December 1131. The writer believes that Omar Khayyam was an outstanding astronomer and astrologer and his contributions to this field are invaluable still today. The paper includes a number of drawings of the man and examples of his writing.
From the Paper "Omar Khayyam was well known as a poet, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and physician. His full name was Ghiyath al-Din Abu?l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim Al-Nishapuri al-Khayyami. A literal translation of the name al-Khayyami means "tent maker" which maybe derived from his father's trade or he may have practiced this skill at one time. Khayyam played on the meaning of his own name when he wrote; ?Khayyam, who stitched the tents of science, Has fallen in grief's furnace and been suddenly burned, The shears of Fate have cut the tent ropes of his life, And the broker of Hope has sold him for nothing!?."
This paper discusses the role of oracle bones, the earliest form of Chinese writing, as an important source for understanding the development of written Chinese and the Shang society.
Abstract This paper explains that, in the religion of the Shang civilization, which was based on the worship of ancestral spirits and Shang Di, the supreme God, important decisions were made in the ancestral temple through divination by the oracle bones. The author points out that oracle bones also were used to record astronomical events. The paper states that the character 'yue' appears quite often in the oracle bone inscriptions as a pictograph of one range of mountains above another and is the object of sacrifices.
From the Paper "The exact political status of the Huanbei Shang City is unknown, however, the walled city is probably one of the Shang capitals due to its huge size and geographic location. From traditional accounts, it was believed that the 19th king, Pan Geng, moved the capital to Yin, however, the oracle bone inscriptions from Yinxu only details the period from the reign of the 22nd king, Wu Ding to the 30th and last king of the Shang dynasty, Xin. Therefore, Yinxu probably did not become the capital until the reign of Wu Ding and Huanbei most likely was the capital of Pan Geng and the two succeeding kings. Moreover, inscribed oracle bones discovered in the area have enabled researchers to reconstruct the Shang royal genealogy. For nearly a century now, scholars have been reading the oracle bones to detail Chinese history."
This paper discusses the anthropic principle, which asserts that the laws, constants, and basic structure of the universe are not completely arbitrary, but are constrained by the existence of intelligent observers.
Abstract The paper explains that proponents of the principle believe, if any of the constants of life were any different than the observer knows them to be, then life as he or she knows it would not exist. Basically, the anthropic principle questions the origin of everything in the universe. The author reports that Brandon Carter, who presented his ideas about the anthropic principle in 1974, claims that the principle was meant only to caution astrophysicists and cosmologists of possible errors in the interpretation of astronomical and cosmological data unless the biological constraints of the observer were taken into account. The paper relates that the anthropic principle presents no definitive answers, only the suggestion that everything in the universe is interrelated and interdependent, and perhaps there is some type of intelligent design, a fundamental core that holds all these variable together.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Anthropic Principle
Thought Leaders
From the Paper "The most significant premise of the anthropic principle is that our place in the universe is special. Further, we occupy a unique segment of cosmic history. This of course is the controversy of the principle. Since the early days of scientific thought, it has been believed that there is nothing special about our place in the universe. Believers in the anthropic principle hope to disprove this. Theologically, the anthropic principle has led to a revival of the argument from design, which had lost its intellectual respectability when Darwin came along."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in the not so distant past, schoolchildren all over the world learned that the planet farthest away from the sun in our solar system was Pluto. The writer relates that they learned mnemonic devices to remember the names of all nine planets, made models and mobiles, all with Pluto orbiting at the very end of their dioramas. The writer then describes that in August 2006, after many years of intense debate, astronomers declared that Pluto was officially not a planet. The writer maintains that perhaps the real question about the usefulness of the new definition of planet will not revolve around Pluto, however dearly the old model may still be cherished in our culture, but how the definition is useful in classifying new solar systems. The writer also points out that the question of roundness and what is meant by clearing one's orbit and other points of contention will continue to generate lively debate within the scientific community and in schools, whatever Pluto's official status.
From the Paper "To say that Pluto is suddenly not a planet though, of course, is somewhat incorrect, as Pluto has remained unchanged, rather it is the scientific definition and astronomer's perceptions (and voting patterns within the organization) that have shifted."
"Surprisingly, until 2006, astronomy textbooks never had a single, universally agreed-upon definition for the word planet, as the IAU had never established exactly what constitutes a planet, and set specific scientific standards. However, defining a planet, or any astronomical body is always extremely difficult, as the definition must be universally applicable, to all solar systems, not just our own."
Abstract This paper explains that archaeoastronomy is the study of the astronomical practices, celestial lore, mythologies, religions and world-views of all ancient cultures. The author points out that many of the great monuments and ceremonial constructions of early civilizations, such as the Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt, were astronomically aligned. The paper relates that many of the major structures of Mesoamerica have been found to have an astronomical connection. The author states that the astronomical knowledge of these ancient people from different parts of the world were not connected in any known way yet they undertook some similar approaches to studying the skies and to building monumental structures with astronomical purposes. The paper examines the Mesoamerican sites of the Olmec, the Teotihuacan, the Toltec, the Mayan, the Zapotec and the Aztec civilizations.
From the Paper "The links between the Olmec and the later Maya are numerous, and some believe that the Olmec may have been Maya speakers. Olmec emerged around 1,500 B.C. and came to dominate most of Mesoamerica. Olmec-style monumental art and architecture developed in the northwestern and southeastern edges of the lowlands. Much of this monumental art shows squat figures topped by rounded hats as a key feature of this art. In the southern lowlands during the Classic period, progressive growth and increasing complexity were the norm."
Abstract This paper provides a history of the Hubble Space Telescope. The paper first notes that the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble and that it is presently in orbit around the Earth, just outside the planet's atmosphere, providing a great advantage over telescopes that are based on the surface. The paper then looks at how the Hubble was launched in 1990 and has grown to be one of the more valuable astronomical instruments in history. In addition, the paper looks at how breakthroughs in astrophysics have been made with the assistance of the increased abilities allowed with the HST.
Outline:
Introduction
Conception, Design, and Aims
Proposals and Funding
Engineering and Construction
Support from Earth
New Instruments and Servicing Missions
Servicing Missions 1, 2, 3A, and 3B
Scientific Results and Data
Astronomical Impact
Transmission to Earth
Use of the Telescope
Scheduling Observations
Observations by Amateur Astronomers Conclusion
From the Paper "In 1983, a struggle for power between NASA and the entire scientific community led to the establishment of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Run by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), the STScI is located on the Johns Hopkins University campus in Baltimore, Maryland. The STScI has the primary responsibility of operating the telescope and delivering data to the astronomy community. Engineering support is located nearby, just south of the STScI, in Greenbelt at the GSFC under NASA's management. Since it was launched, the HST operation has been monitored on a twenty-four hour basis, seven days per week by four separate teams of controllers referred to as Hubble's Flight Operations Team (Hubble Space Telescope, 2007)."
