The Kuiper Belt
The Kuiper belt is a circumstellar disk located 30 to 50 astronomical units from Neptune. The region has many smaller bodies that primarily consist of metal and rock, with most of these bodies comprising volatiles such as water, ammonia, and methane (Werner & Eisenhardt, 2019). The Kuiper belt houses most objects that astronomers consider dwarf planets, such as Quaoar, Orcus, and Pluto and is the origin or Triton, Neptune’s moon. Astronomers rediscovered the Kuiper belt 62 years after discovering Pluto. The lesson allowed me to discover the solar system and universe are complex and need an intense study to ensure some heavenly bodies do not go unnoticed as in the Kuiper belt scenario. These will assist me in academic work to recognize the connection between varying bodies as all comets come from the Kuiper belt. I learnt that my future job requires extensive study and the necessity for intrigue as evidenced by Kuiper’s interest in objects beyond Pluto.
The Evolution of a Star
The evolution of a star is my favorite lesson. I learned the immense nature of the solar system and its objects. For instance, the development of different types of stars is fascinating as they rest at the heart of every galaxy, literally. A star starts as a Nebula; over time, gravity pulls the dust to form a protostar. It grows bigger while its gravity gets stronger. When the particles are hot enough, hydrogen nuclei fuse, forming helium in nuclear fusion, giving a large amount of energy and elevating the body to a main-sequence star (Werner & Eisenhardt, 2019). The star soon runs out of hydrogen, reducing nuclear fusion. Gravity takes over and contracts the mass, nuclear fusion renews and the star expands once more, forming a red giant. However, the star forms heavier elements than helium, such as Iron (Werner & Eisenhardt, 2019). A red supergiant continues for several cycles until it explodes, forming a supernova or a black hole. I would like to learn about blackholes and their development and if there are varying forms of blackholes. This knowledge would satisfy my curiosity while answering some of life’s greatest answers.
Reference
Werner, M. W., & Eisenhardt, P. (2019). More things in the heavens: How infrared astronomy is expanding our view of the universe. Princeton University Press.