After weeks of writing and posting blogs I have learned much about the field of criminal justice. I have explored many aspects of the field and often connected them back to real world experiences.
Learning about your field
Ethics and beliefs are a major part of the criminal justice system we have today. I have learned that these moral codes can be seen throughout all departments of the criminal justice system. Although ethics and codes may vary from state-to-state, and/or from department-to-department, I have learned one very important detail: The ethics, codes, and standards of each individual department must remain constant.
This claim is most apparent in my open blog post titled: "Different Styles of Policing." James Wilson claimed that each style of policing was reflective of the ethics of any particular department. Wilson also stated that the resources available to the department would be a deciding factor in the style of policing.
Wilson brings up a good point that the style of individual officers reflects the style of the department. This is the key to having a moral code that is the staple of each individual department across the United States. I have learned that it is the officer's duty to represent his department in a positive manner.
In the first question of my interview with Mr. Joel Allen, I was able to understand how clearly each department differs in mannerism. Mr. Allen said, "Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time." It is important to note the fact that Mr. Allen was never a part of the East Lansing Police Department. He was, in fact, previously hired by numerous other departments across the state.
I point this fact out because it shows just how easy it is to separate departments in terms of codes, ethics, and policing style. James Wilson was able to develop a theory that can be applied to each and every agency in the country. Wilson's theory can be used by police agencies, officers, and everyday citizens.
It has been established that each department has it's own codes of conduct, and that the officers of each department share the codes and ethics. A real life example of this would be face-to-face interaction with a police officer. In my post titled: "Practicing Your Knowledge: Police Officers at MSU," there is a real world example of an officer representing his department. The officer conducts himself in a friendly manner, which accurately depicts the community style of policing here at Michigan State University, as described by Mr. Joel Allen.
These examples show that although ethics, codes, and policing styles may vary statewide and nationwide, they remain a constant for each department individually.
Learning about your research/writing
After keeping my personal blog running for a span of 10 weeks, I have experienced a few major components of police work. Policing is a job that is repetitive, yet spontaneous everyday. In order to be successful as an officer, or as a department as a whole, it is vital to stay focused and professional.
One of the first things I was able to relate to police work was my experience of writing. According to Mr. Joel Allen officers must record things such as daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations. These processes have proven to be key factors to success in policing. Through blogging, I feel somewhat prepared for reporting things like daily activities. It is difficult to write about daily activities and findings a few times a week. Although blogging is a much more informal in style compared to police writing, it is important to learn what it is like to write everyday. Blogging has shown me how to grow and expand myself and my ways of thinking. I think that is also a goal of police writing their daily activities.
Through learning about criminal justice and law enforcement, I have also experienced what it is like to turn my findings in research into my own writing. Police officers use research to investigate criminals, evidence, and crime scenes. The police use this research to make their job easier, and to be more effective in their strategies. When I blog I do similar work. Each blog I write starts with a prompt or question (the crime). I use prior knowledge and research to help in answering the question (the research and investigation). Next, I process the facts I have gathered and finish answering the question I have been asked (the solving of the case). Finally I publish my answer online, and move on to a new question (case solved). I understand that writing a blog is not exactly equal to solving a crime, but the two processes can compare in some fashion.
Communication in law enforcement is a critical part of the field. I still have questions as to what terms I will need to know if i would like to become a police officer. I know that words used between officers and in courtrooms are learned through personal experience. Because many of these things are learned on the job, there is no great way for me to experience what it is like beforehand. My criminal justice teacher has said that much of the experience of police work comes through police training. This has given me the knowledge that it is important to work hard in training, because it is where you give yourself a foundation for the rest of your career in criminal justice.
During the blogging experience, I have discovered many things about policing. I have struggled to stay focused, which is something I will need to work on if I want to pursue a career in law enforcement. I have discovered that I am pretty good at answering questions using research I have found. I believe this will make me a good candidate.
The blogging experience was successful overall. It made me realize that maybe a profession in astronomy was not right for me. It also made me realize what some of the ins and outs of police work are like. I am glad I participated in blogging, because I feel as though I have been informed on what policing truly like, and I have also gained critical experiences in the field.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Remixing Knowledge: MSU Police on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/msupolice
The above link is the Michigan State University Police twitter page.
On the MSU police twitter, they post articles, links, tips, and a bunch of other stuff to let their followers know how to stay safe and communicate with the MSU police.
Typical ways of communicating with police: laws, face-to-face, getting pulled over in a motor vehicle... you know... that kind of stuff. It is a new era now though. One where police can communicate with citizens in very different ways than they could have 100, 50, 20, and even 10 years ago. Now police can communicate with the simple click of a button, and it has put a remix on how things used to be.
The audience: @MSUpolice followers of course. These are the people that read the tweets that show up on the twitter feed. The audience is a younger (more college aged) demographic. I would argue that most people who follow an account like this are up-to-date on today's technology.
The purpose: As I stated earlier, the purpose is to be able to communicate in a new way. This is a way that college students have become very familiar with over the past few years, so it may come a little easier for them.
The success: I would say that the account is very successful. It comes off in a way that is friendly to students. Most people carry some sort of fear towards police and this account is put in place to do two things: get information out, and show it in a friendly/efficient way.
The above link is the Michigan State University Police twitter page.
On the MSU police twitter, they post articles, links, tips, and a bunch of other stuff to let their followers know how to stay safe and communicate with the MSU police.
Typical ways of communicating with police: laws, face-to-face, getting pulled over in a motor vehicle... you know... that kind of stuff. It is a new era now though. One where police can communicate with citizens in very different ways than they could have 100, 50, 20, and even 10 years ago. Now police can communicate with the simple click of a button, and it has put a remix on how things used to be.
The audience: @MSUpolice followers of course. These are the people that read the tweets that show up on the twitter feed. The audience is a younger (more college aged) demographic. I would argue that most people who follow an account like this are up-to-date on today's technology.
The purpose: As I stated earlier, the purpose is to be able to communicate in a new way. This is a way that college students have become very familiar with over the past few years, so it may come a little easier for them.
The success: I would say that the account is very successful. It comes off in a way that is friendly to students. Most people carry some sort of fear towards police and this account is put in place to do two things: get information out, and show it in a friendly/efficient way.
Exploring Writing Process: Mr. Joel Allen
Mr. Allen is my Intro to Criminal Justice teacher this semester at MSU. I was going to conduct an interview Judy Mathews, but as I have stated before, I have changed my field from astronomy to criminal justice. Therefore, it is more appropriate for me to interview someone in the field of criminal justice.
Here are a few questions my professor was able to answer for me:
Q: How would you describe the style of policing here at MSU?
A: Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time.
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages to using Uniform Crime Reports?
A: Advantages: We are able to compare with past performance
Disadvantages: If you don't have your own method of crime reporting, you can be late when turning in files each year.
Q: Besides UCR's, what are some other things officers have to write down or put on file?
A: Daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations.
Q: How would you describe the style or form of writing that is used in law enforcement?
A: I would describe it as a formal style of writing. Using formal styles can reduce the amount of bias an officer may have when writing UCR's.
Q: Where do you see law enforcement in 10-15 years in terms of police/citizen relations?
A: I see improvement. Info sharing will also improve along with improvement of technology. Citizens will be able to go online and see what agencies are doing and how they are doing it.
Here are a few questions my professor was able to answer for me:
Q: How would you describe the style of policing here at MSU?
A: Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time.
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages to using Uniform Crime Reports?
A: Advantages: We are able to compare with past performance
Disadvantages: If you don't have your own method of crime reporting, you can be late when turning in files each year.
Q: Besides UCR's, what are some other things officers have to write down or put on file?
A: Daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations.
Q: How would you describe the style or form of writing that is used in law enforcement?
A: I would describe it as a formal style of writing. Using formal styles can reduce the amount of bias an officer may have when writing UCR's.
Q: Where do you see law enforcement in 10-15 years in terms of police/citizen relations?
A: I see improvement. Info sharing will also improve along with improvement of technology. Citizens will be able to go online and see what agencies are doing and how they are doing it.
Works Cited
Allen, Joel. Personal interview. 31 Oct. 2012.
Observing Community: An Open Blog Post
S.P.O.T. is the Spartan Prison Outreach team.
I stumbled across this group as I was browsing through our University's 600+ student organizations. I was looking to find a community that would fit my newly chosen Criminal Justice career path. I was going to do the 'Observing Community' post through the Science Theatre club, but after I changed my field from astronomy to criminal justice, it just didn't fit.
After exchanging a few emails with a member of SPOT, I was able to learn about some of the group's ethics and morals. The group aims to help incarcerated individuals. They look to help specifically in the rehabilitation process of these individuals. After talking with SPOT, I really got the sense that they believe all beings have a good side. SPOT looks to bring that good side out of these individuals by using theatre as its tool. SPOT actually works WITH prisoners, they don't just perform for them. This is a key step towards showing the prisoners that SPOT is there to help, and get them through it as a team. SPOT shows a lot of faith in people, even those that have made poor choices, which is something you don't see a lot of today.
Recognizing Significance: Officer McCall
Police academy and police training has become a vital part in the field of Criminal Justice today. Recruiting is a process that is much more strict now that it has ever been. Police of today's world must be ready for situations of all kinds.
Officer McCall of OCPD did just that while off duty.
Please read the following article (or watch the video): http://kfor.com/2012/07/03/off-duty-police-officer-saves-life-changes-many/
Although the article is fairly short, I think it has a lot of value towards showing how important policing is in our society. This act could be categorized as a community style of policing. McCall was off duty and acted in a way that was selfless and better for society. Who knows if Cooper would have survived without officer McCall's help? This, combined with important everyday acts is what makes our police force so valuable towards society. Although this article did not directly point out the importance of my field, it did a good job of doing so by reporting a notable example.
Officer McCall of OCPD did just that while off duty.
Please read the following article (or watch the video): http://kfor.com/2012/07/03/off-duty-police-officer-saves-life-changes-many/
Although the article is fairly short, I think it has a lot of value towards showing how important policing is in our society. This act could be categorized as a community style of policing. McCall was off duty and acted in a way that was selfless and better for society. Who knows if Cooper would have survived without officer McCall's help? This, combined with important everyday acts is what makes our police force so valuable towards society. Although this article did not directly point out the importance of my field, it did a good job of doing so by reporting a notable example.
Works Cited
Meyer, Ali. "Off-duty Police Officer Saves Life, Changes Many." KFORcom Oklahoma City News Weather from KFOR Television Oklahomas News Channel 4. News Channel 4, 3 July 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Police on Twitter and Facebook: An Open Blog Post
MSU Police are now on Twitter: https://twitter.com/msupolice and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/msupolice
I have recently learned that the Michigan State University police are on Twitter and Facebook!
Awesome! I think this is a great way to keep students updated and connected with our police officers here on campus. It also relates back to that idea of "service" style policing. When police and students are able to connect, it makes the university and the community a safer and more complete place.
Police are able to use these tools to let students know what to watch for, and how to reach police if they need. Students can feel comfort in knowing that police are always there to help, and having police on social networks can act as a constant reminder of that fact!
Practicing Your Knowledge: Police Officers at MSU
I have talked in earlier blog posts about the different styles of policing.
Well this past Saturday I was able to experience the Service style of policing first hand. At a MSU vs. U of M football game party in my dorm's lounge last weekend there was snack food, drinks (non-alcoholic), games, and "water"-pong. There was also a policeman who decided to join our party. He played some pong, hung out, and talked with some people at the party.
As I watched the MSU officer socialize with some of the students I realized that he was demonstrating a style of policing where connecting with the community is important. Police at MSU feel the need to create a feeling of trust between them and students and this officer was showing that perfectly.
I was moved by the officer's actions and I actually did feel more comfortable. I now feel that I have a connection with police here at MSU. And as a service style unit, this is exactly what they strive for.
Police Suicide: An Open Blog Post
Studies have shown that Police officer suicide rates are close to double that of the rest of the American population.
Here is the link for suicide statistics of 2010:
As you can see, the police suicide rate per 100,000 persons is significantly higher than that of the general population.
Suicide is a very touchy subject, and it becomes even more important to protect against it when we find that the rate increases for policemen and policewomen.
Police are subject to a line of work that requires them to work under stressful conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to:
-Use of lethal force
-Protection of the public
-Overwhelming amount of work
-Feeling that their work is insignificant
-Always being considered a role model figure
-Need to always stay calm
I would think that in areas where police are more exposed to this type of stress, the suicide rates increase.
I never knew that police struggled with suicide more than the general population. It does make me feel better to know that there are programs put in place to help police officers that are struggling with stress, depression, and suicide.
Works Cited
"THE BADGE OF LIFE." THE BADGE OF LIFE. Badgeoflife.com, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.
Different Styles of Policing: An Open Blog Post
James Wilson was a political scientist that developed the theory that there are three different styles of policing. The type of community and the available resources will determine which style of policing each department may follow.
The first style of policing is the watchman style. Police departments that follow this type of policing emphasize maintaining order. Some criminal offenses will be overlooked as long as order can be maintained. These types of police are often found in communities where police resources are scarce.
The second style emphasizes professionalism and enforcement of the law and is called legalistic. Police officers of the legalistic style often stay out of situations in which laws are not broken. The legalistic style looks to efficiently enforce the laws of the land.
The third and final style of police is service. Police in upper-middle class suburban communities often observe the service style of policing. They look to enhance lives of citizens often by focusing on individual needs.
Each style of policing has advantages for the society it provides for. Policing styles reflect the ethics and morals of an entire police unit and not just of the individual officers.
The first style of policing is the watchman style. Police departments that follow this type of policing emphasize maintaining order. Some criminal offenses will be overlooked as long as order can be maintained. These types of police are often found in communities where police resources are scarce.
The second style emphasizes professionalism and enforcement of the law and is called legalistic. Police officers of the legalistic style often stay out of situations in which laws are not broken. The legalistic style looks to efficiently enforce the laws of the land.
The third and final style of police is service. Police in upper-middle class suburban communities often observe the service style of policing. They look to enhance lives of citizens often by focusing on individual needs.
Each style of policing has advantages for the society it provides for. Policing styles reflect the ethics and morals of an entire police unit and not just of the individual officers.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Contemplating Controversy: The Death Penalty
The death penalty is a very controversial topic in the United States and in law enforcement today.
CLICK HERE to read many different viewpoints on the death penalty.
I think both sides of the argument have a lot of legitimacy. The side that argues that the death penalty is immoral states a few reasons why they believe so:
-The possibility of sentencing due to racial bias/prejudice
-Cannot have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Killing is always wrong, no matter the context
All of these points made be the PRO side seem well supported and reasonable.
If we take a look at the CON side of the argument we can see the issue from a entirely different perspective. The side that argues that the death penalty is not immoral believes:
-They are following laws of the land
-Can have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Honors dignity and makes people think twice
The basic difference between sides is the notion of life and death of a human being. When someone's life is at stake it can cause people to become very emotionally invested in what they believe is right and wrong.
CLICK HERE to read many different viewpoints on the death penalty.
I think both sides of the argument have a lot of legitimacy. The side that argues that the death penalty is immoral states a few reasons why they believe so:
-The possibility of sentencing due to racial bias/prejudice
-Cannot have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Killing is always wrong, no matter the context
All of these points made be the PRO side seem well supported and reasonable.
If we take a look at the CON side of the argument we can see the issue from a entirely different perspective. The side that argues that the death penalty is not immoral believes:
-They are following laws of the land
-Can have an 'eye for an eye' policy
-Honors dignity and makes people think twice
The basic difference between sides is the notion of life and death of a human being. When someone's life is at stake it can cause people to become very emotionally invested in what they believe is right and wrong.
Works Cited
"Is the Death Penalty Immoral?" Is the Death Penalty Immoral? - Death Penalty - ProCon.org. Procon.org, 30 Aug. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2012.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Evaluating Sources: The Effects of Stress of Police Officers
Read this:
Very interesting, I thought.
This speech also correlates with the material in my Criminal Justice class really well.
This speech was exactly what I expected when discussing the topic of stress in the area of law enforcement. Stress obviously plays a large role in day-to-day police life and I thought that the speech made that fact very clear. It also argues that all police deal with certain levels and types of stress. Some police deal with cynicism, while others have family issues. Policemen need to maintain a good balance between life at home and life on the job to reduce these levels of stress. The speech offers a solution to the problems that policemen face: admittance of a problem and acceptance of help.
I think the points that were made are very valid. The information about law enforcement that I have learned so far supports this speech. My Criminal Justice class teaches us that these kinds of stress do really occur and that these are major problems in the field of law enforcement.
I also think that the points Mr. Dan Goldfarb makes in his speech are valid because he is a Police Psychologist. He studies criminal justice and law enforcement as a daily job. Therefore, before he makes a speech, he probably wants to make sure his facts are straight.
Works Cited
"The Effects of Stress on Police Officers." Effects of Stress on Police Officers. Heavybadge.com, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Becoming a Police Officer: The Process - An Open Blog Post
I'd like to do a few posts about how to become a police officer, and what it is actually like to be one.
Please read the link below before proceeding:
On this site they have posted a general outline of the process of becoming an officer. It's about what you would expect.
Getting involved is the key step here. Knowing what police actually do on a daily basis will give you knowledge about the field that you might have otherwise not have learned. It will give you a leg-up on other people competing for that position.
Going to college and receiving a good education is also very important. Although they do not require more than a High School diploma, it will give you a great advantage to have an associate's or bachelor's. This will also give you the study skills you need to be successful on the exams.
Being physically fit is important in many jobs. Police see it as a must have. In their line of work, you must be able to complete certain tasks to ensure the safety of the public. Being fit is the way to do this.
Lastly, as I stated before, passing the exams is important. And with a college degree I feel I will be ready for this step in the process.
Works Cited
"How to Become a Police Officer." How to Become a Police Officer. Policeone.com, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Defining Ethics in Law Enforcement
You may have noticed... the title of my blog has changed!
Although I love a lot of aspects about astronomy, I had a change of heart recently. I'm enrolled in an intro to Criminal Justice class and it has captured my interest. Most of the posts from here on out will deal with law enforcement (I will throw in a few about astronomy here and there because it is still an interesting subject and I'm not giving up on it completely).
So, today's post is about ethics in law enforcement.
Please read this before going any further.
My values and beliefs definitely shadow the words of this document from the DPS. I look to be courageous and official in everyday life. I think it is important to be a trustworthy and honest individual in America. I think that is part of our duty as citizens of our country and policemen are the finest examples of that.
In discussing how this document will help shape my journey through my college experience I have come up with three main goals:
1. Not letting friendship, prejudice, or feelings get in the way of school and personality. I must learn to accept everyone here. There will be good times and bad and I will have to stay strong through them all if I want success here at school and in law enforcement. There will be times where my friendships and feelings are tested and it will be key for me to make the correct decisions.
2. Staying strong. A big part of being successful in both school and in law enforcement is being strong. If you let your mind wander and be weak, it will have a negative effect on performance. You can't stay down on yourself, no matter the situation. This is something I definitely need to keep in mind throughout the entirety of my journey.
3. Stay honest. This has always been my number one life goal. Be honest in every situation. I hate liars. And liars will not go far in law enforcement. Telling the truth is the key component in my new field of study. Honesty is REQUIRED if you even consider a job in this field.
In discussing how this document will help shape my journey through my college experience I have come up with three main goals:
1. Not letting friendship, prejudice, or feelings get in the way of school and personality. I must learn to accept everyone here. There will be good times and bad and I will have to stay strong through them all if I want success here at school and in law enforcement. There will be times where my friendships and feelings are tested and it will be key for me to make the correct decisions.
2. Staying strong. A big part of being successful in both school and in law enforcement is being strong. If you let your mind wander and be weak, it will have a negative effect on performance. You can't stay down on yourself, no matter the situation. This is something I definitely need to keep in mind throughout the entirety of my journey.
3. Stay honest. This has always been my number one life goal. Be honest in every situation. I hate liars. And liars will not go far in law enforcement. Telling the truth is the key component in my new field of study. Honesty is REQUIRED if you even consider a job in this field.
Works Cited
"Law Enforcement Code of Ethics." DPS.unc.edu. Department of Public Safety, 01 Mar. 1998. Web.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
10 Cool Astronomy Facts and My Thoughts - An Open Blog Post
Today I literally Googled: cool astronomy facts.
I'm the kind of person that likes hearing weird facts, especially ones about the universe and earth. I think there's a word for that?
Oh.
Geek.
Here's the link for the facts I read: http://space.about.com/od/humor/a/AstronomyFacts.htm
I will talk about my reactions to some of these facts, but I also encourage you to google search facts about astronomy... or even your favorite study, there's some really interesting stuff at your disposal!
The first fact is about how only 5% of our universe is matter, and the rest is dark matter and dark energy. Kind of interesting to think that we think we see all that is out there, but it's really only a small portion that we see. Click the link to dark matter and dark energy on about.com's website, also some interesting stuff there.
The second fact is pretty much impossible for me to comprehend. You're telling me a soup-bowl portion of this star would have more mass then our moon? The densest thing I can think of is like... lead.
Light can't escape from a black hole. Hmm. I didn't know light could even be "sucked-up" like that. A later blog post might go into more depth on black holes!
According to fact #6 you can see the past without a video camera. Who knows how many stars have already died but we just don't know about it yet because the light hasn't reached us? Weird to think about.
Could you imagine if our planet was anything like mercury? Nighttime extremely long and cold, while the other side of the planet is being scorched. Ouch. We're lucky we have a good atmosphere here on earth
That's it for today's post. Hope you enjoyed the facts!
"10 Strange and Amazing Astronomy Facts." About.com Space / Astronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Works Cited
"10 Strange and Amazing Astronomy Facts." About.com Space / Astronomy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Observing a Community: Science Theatre at MSU
So I recently sent an Email to MSU's Science Theatre group. I told them that I was looking to find an organization on campus related to my field of study. I'd like to join a meeting or event of theirs to find out a little more about what they do, and then blog about my experience in a later post.
On their site (http://sciencetheatre.org/) it says they like to teach other people about the "wonders" of science. This got me very interested in Science Theatre. Sounds like a fun way to teach people about science. I think kids would get a lot out of it too. They also say that appearances are made free of charge, which is a great way to give back to the community.
After spending some time on their site, I am excited to go and ask more about their history, what it's like to be a part of science theatre, and what their future plans are. They have videos and an about us page that answered lots of my questions already. I hope to meet the group face-to-face though! They seem friendly and I already know that we share some common interests.
The next time I talk about the Science Theatre community should be in an open blog post after I have participated in one of their events!
On their site (http://sciencetheatre.org/) it says they like to teach other people about the "wonders" of science. This got me very interested in Science Theatre. Sounds like a fun way to teach people about science. I think kids would get a lot out of it too. They also say that appearances are made free of charge, which is a great way to give back to the community.
After spending some time on their site, I am excited to go and ask more about their history, what it's like to be a part of science theatre, and what their future plans are. They have videos and an about us page that answered lots of my questions already. I hope to meet the group face-to-face though! They seem friendly and I already know that we share some common interests.
The next time I talk about the Science Theatre community should be in an open blog post after I have participated in one of their events!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
How the Planets Got Their Names - An Open Blog Post
Last week I talked about why Pluto was no longer considered a planet. This week we will talk about how and why each planet got their respective names.
We can start by saying that each planet was named after a Roman God or Goddess (with the exception of Earth and Uranus).
Mercury, the first planet, was named after the god of travel because it is observed to orbit very quickly around the sun.
Venus, the brightest planet, was considered the most beautiful, and was named after the goddess of love.
Earth, the one we live on! Also, the only planet not named after a Roman god (besides Uranus). Earth stems its name from German roots. Germans called our planet "Erde" which literally means: soil or ground.
Mars, the Roman god of war. Because of the red, blood-like color of Mars, the Romans named it after their god of war.
Jupiter. Because Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, the Romans named this planet after the king of gods: Jupiter. The planet was considered to be the largest and most powerful.
Saturn, the god of time. It is believed that this planet was named after the god of time because its orbit around the Sun was the slowest of all the planets. Saturday is also named after this god.
Uranus, yeah, the one with the funny name. Uranus was actually named after the Greek god of the sky.
Neptune, the blue planet, was named after the god of the sea because of its vivid blue color.
Pluto, the one that is no longer even considered a planet, was named after the Roman god of the underworld.
For my next open blog post I would like to talk about some theories as to how the planets were formed, and why they orbit the sun.
We can start by saying that each planet was named after a Roman God or Goddess (with the exception of Earth and Uranus).
Mercury, the first planet, was named after the god of travel because it is observed to orbit very quickly around the sun.
Venus, the brightest planet, was considered the most beautiful, and was named after the goddess of love.
Earth, the one we live on! Also, the only planet not named after a Roman god (besides Uranus). Earth stems its name from German roots. Germans called our planet "Erde" which literally means: soil or ground.
Mars, the Roman god of war. Because of the red, blood-like color of Mars, the Romans named it after their god of war.
Jupiter. Because Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, the Romans named this planet after the king of gods: Jupiter. The planet was considered to be the largest and most powerful.
Saturn, the god of time. It is believed that this planet was named after the god of time because its orbit around the Sun was the slowest of all the planets. Saturday is also named after this god.
Uranus, yeah, the one with the funny name. Uranus was actually named after the Greek god of the sky.
Neptune, the blue planet, was named after the god of the sea because of its vivid blue color.
Pluto, the one that is no longer even considered a planet, was named after the Roman god of the underworld.
For my next open blog post I would like to talk about some theories as to how the planets were formed, and why they orbit the sun.
Works Cited
"How the Planets and Satellites Got Their Names." FactMonster.com. Pearson Education, 2007. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.
Asking Questions - MSU Astronomy Librarian - Judy Matthews
This post will be used to jot down questions I have for Judy Matthews, the Astronomy Librarian here at Michigan State University. Note that the actual interview, and answers to most of these questions (and some new ones), will be posted on a later date after the interview has been conducted. Also note that some, if not most, of these questions will changed or be discarded as I will want to ask questions that are relevant to the discussion and topic.
1. As our university's subject librarian for astronomy, what is your job?
2. What are some things you have published?
3. What would you say your style of writing is?
4. Is there anything about MSU's program for astronomy that sets us apart from other schools?
5. Can you tell me more on how our buildings on campus can be beneficial to students studying astronomy?
6. What about the planetarium? What exactly is it used for?
7. Any new advancements in astronomy at MSU specifically?
8. What are some things we can do today here on campus that we couldn't do maybe 20/50/100 years ago?
9. How has technology improved in general, and not just at MSU?
10. What about astronomy makes you want to wake up and go to work everyday?
11. How useful is astronomy in our everyday lives? What are some everyday applications that might be looked over by most?
12. What are some of today's hot topics in the field?
13. Where will we be in the next 10-20 years?
1. As our university's subject librarian for astronomy, what is your job?
2. What are some things you have published?
3. What would you say your style of writing is?
4. Is there anything about MSU's program for astronomy that sets us apart from other schools?
5. Can you tell me more on how our buildings on campus can be beneficial to students studying astronomy?
6. What about the planetarium? What exactly is it used for?
7. Any new advancements in astronomy at MSU specifically?
8. What are some things we can do today here on campus that we couldn't do maybe 20/50/100 years ago?
9. How has technology improved in general, and not just at MSU?
10. What about astronomy makes you want to wake up and go to work everyday?
11. How useful is astronomy in our everyday lives? What are some everyday applications that might be looked over by most?
12. What are some of today's hot topics in the field?
13. Where will we be in the next 10-20 years?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Why is Pluto NOT a Planet? An Open Blog Post
My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.
So why no Pluto? Sure he's really small and really cold, but that's no reason to hate a guy! It's a little more than the physical aspects of Pluto that no longer classify it as a planet.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on a new definition of the word "planet" some time ago. The new definition: A full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. In addition, a planet has to dominate the neighborhood around its orbit.
Well, most scientists agree that pluto doesn't exactly dominate the neighborhood around its orbit. Therefore, it is no longer considered a planet.
What DOES dominate the neighborhood then?
I think we'll have to change it to My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos. No more Pizza! It's a shame because I was kind of in the mood for pizza!
If you're a little lost right now it might be because your 3rd grade teacher didn't tell you about the same mnemonic that mine did. The first letter of each of the 9 words (now 8) represents a planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and (Pluto).
So why no Pluto? Sure he's really small and really cold, but that's no reason to hate a guy! It's a little more than the physical aspects of Pluto that no longer classify it as a planet.The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on a new definition of the word "planet" some time ago. The new definition: A full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. In addition, a planet has to dominate the neighborhood around its orbit.
Well, most scientists agree that pluto doesn't exactly dominate the neighborhood around its orbit. Therefore, it is no longer considered a planet.
What DOES dominate the neighborhood then?
Although Pluto is the largest object in the immediate neighborhood, its moon Charon is about half the size. Other planets are much larger than their surrounding moons. So Pluto is (in a sense) being kicked out for being too small. Well, at least relative in size to Charon.
What does this all mean?
This means textbooks must be changed, maps of our solar system too. It also means Pluto will have to be on the outside looking in for a very long time. I was surprised when I heard the news. I mean, we were always taught that there were nine planets in the solar system. You don't expect that one day someone will change the definition on you and BAM! you have one less planet. It doesn't truly have an impact on anything (other than Pluto's feelings). Pluto is still there, doing what it has been doing for millions of years. That won't change. The only thing that changes is our definition of a planet.
Works Cited
Inman, Mason. "Pluto Not a Planet, Astronomers Rule." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 24 Aug. 2006. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.
Considering Delivery and Style When Comparing Astronomy Publishings
You can click here, to see the first of the two publishings. This is a scholarly article by Michael G. Burton. I found his work by browsing through MSU's online astronomy article collection.
Please click here to see the second publishing by a website called IceStories. I found this article simply by running a search engine with the keywords: Astronomy in Antarctica.
Both articles cover the same topic: Astronomy in Antarctica. I felt it necessary to have each article address equal situations because it would make the comparison/contrast more effective.
Please read both articles before reading any further into my post. I have set it up in this particular order to be most beneficial.
DELIVERY
There are two ways in which we can compare the delivery of each post. The first includes what medium was used to get information to the reader. Easily enough, both submissions are electronically (or digitally) entered. So they have that in common.
The second way writers can deliver information involves genre, or what category of writing each post falls under. I would say that the first publishing by Michael G. Burton is written in a manner that is very factual and report-like. Mr. Burton tells us exactly why Antarctica has prime conditions for Astronomical research, and he doesn't throw in a lot (if any) "fluff." He is to-the-point in the way he writes because he wants to explain to readers exactly why astronomy in Antarctica is the way it is. In the second publishing from IceStories, we see a delivery that is much more "friendly." Just in reading the first couple of paragraphs, we as readers can see that the genre is more like a novel or story. This type of delivery is used to capture readers attention, and NOT to just spew information at them.
STYLE
Style includes the way each author follow the conventions of their genre. In the scholarly article, the style is more of a constant flow of information. It is used to be factual, not so much entertaining. The point of the article is to spread information about Astronomy in Antarctica to readers and other scientists. Using a so-called "boring" style of writing is probably the most effective way to tell straight facts. In the online article by IceStories readers will see a more of a story type delivery. This will cause the style of the writing to feel a little more personal to readers. The style has a little more flare and a little more fluff. It is a much easier read for someone who isn't currently studying the amount of red-shift in stars billions of miles away. The average person will find this article more useful, especially because it is broken up into separate paragraphs. Each style will appeal differently to each reader. It's the same way with novels, books, and short stories.
Bottom Line: Delivery and style have a HUGE impact on the way facts in Astronomy are relayed to the audience.
Please click here to see the second publishing by a website called IceStories. I found this article simply by running a search engine with the keywords: Astronomy in Antarctica.
Both articles cover the same topic: Astronomy in Antarctica. I felt it necessary to have each article address equal situations because it would make the comparison/contrast more effective.
Please read both articles before reading any further into my post. I have set it up in this particular order to be most beneficial.
DELIVERY
There are two ways in which we can compare the delivery of each post. The first includes what medium was used to get information to the reader. Easily enough, both submissions are electronically (or digitally) entered. So they have that in common.
The second way writers can deliver information involves genre, or what category of writing each post falls under. I would say that the first publishing by Michael G. Burton is written in a manner that is very factual and report-like. Mr. Burton tells us exactly why Antarctica has prime conditions for Astronomical research, and he doesn't throw in a lot (if any) "fluff." He is to-the-point in the way he writes because he wants to explain to readers exactly why astronomy in Antarctica is the way it is. In the second publishing from IceStories, we see a delivery that is much more "friendly." Just in reading the first couple of paragraphs, we as readers can see that the genre is more like a novel or story. This type of delivery is used to capture readers attention, and NOT to just spew information at them.
STYLE
Style includes the way each author follow the conventions of their genre. In the scholarly article, the style is more of a constant flow of information. It is used to be factual, not so much entertaining. The point of the article is to spread information about Astronomy in Antarctica to readers and other scientists. Using a so-called "boring" style of writing is probably the most effective way to tell straight facts. In the online article by IceStories readers will see a more of a story type delivery. This will cause the style of the writing to feel a little more personal to readers. The style has a little more flare and a little more fluff. It is a much easier read for someone who isn't currently studying the amount of red-shift in stars billions of miles away. The average person will find this article more useful, especially because it is broken up into separate paragraphs. Each style will appeal differently to each reader. It's the same way with novels, books, and short stories.
Bottom Line: Delivery and style have a HUGE impact on the way facts in Astronomy are relayed to the audience.
Works Cited
"Astronomy in Antarctica | Ice Stories: Dispatches From Polar Scientists." Astronomy in Antarctica | Ice Stories: Dispatches From Polar Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.
Burton, Michael G. "Astronomy in Antarctica." Astronomy and Astrophysics Review18.4 (2010): 417-69. Proquest.com. Oct. 2010. Web. 13 Sept. 2010.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Astronomy: Asking Questions and Developing a Basic Knowledge
This one is intended to give a brief background of Astronomy.
I will ask 10 basic questions about Astronomy, then do my best to find the answers to those questions in the title Principles of Astronomy by Stanley P. Wyatt.
1. The first and most basic question one might want to start with is... What exactly IS Astronomy?
Wyatt describes: "The province of astronomy stretches from here, the surface of our home planet, outward to the most remote celestial objects that can be detected by present-day optical and radio telescopes."
Interesting. So basically he describes it as the study of, well, EVERYTHING. Maybe it's not quite that broad, but it does include stars, galaxies, moons, planets, black holes, and most importantly how they are observed.
2. What do Astronomers actually do?
"The business of the astronomer, like that of any scientist, is both observational and interpretive. He has eyes, and he has instruments, that extend his sight in many ways and provide him with enormously more information than can be learned by eyesight alone."
He also goes on to explain that they are not just information "collectors." Astronomers strive to put reason to the discoveries they make. Like any old scientist they are not simply satisfied with just the "what" they want to find out the "how" and "why" and "when." They yearn to learn (yes that rhymed) why things in the outer portions of the universe behave the way they do.
3. What tools do Astronomers use?
Of course astronomers use telescopes, computers, spacecrafts, and cameras. And besides spacecrafts and maybe telescopes I'm sure everyone here knows and understands how to use the other two. But other tools ESSENTIAL to expansion of astronomical knowledge are mathematics, physics, and other sciences. These tools help astronomers calculate how far away certain stars are, how fast the speed of light is, and tons of other things.
4. So what does any of this have to do with us?
"Because [the Earth's] surface is the habitat where we live, dream, and think, the earth is the astronomical body we know most about."
Wyatt is saying that things like time of day and weather are incorporated with astronomy. If we didn't have astronomy we could tell you that it is 78.6 degrees Fahrenheit outside, but we would not be able to tell you why. We understand why there are seasons too... Because of the way Earth orbits the Sun.
5. What are some of Earth's basic characteristics?
Well, first off, Earth is not an exact sphere as some might think. It is an oblate spheroid. because the earth spins so fast, it changes shape a little bit, and flattens at the poles ever so slightly. Earth's terrain also varies by about 12 miles from Mount Everest to the Mariana trench. The Earth is still extremely smooth, though, in comparison to its size. My 11th grade physics teacher actually told me that if you shrunk the earth down to the size of a Billiard's cue ball, it would be MUCH smoother.
6. How does astronomy help with things like voyages to the moon?
Trips to the moon, mars, and other places in the solar system have been made much easier with the study of astronomy. Scientists and Physicists had to calculate how much force one needs to "lift" a shuttle into outer space. They also must calculate at what angle to re-enter earth's atmosphere, and how fast to do so. A lot of these calculations must account for the gravitational pull of the earth. Space missions are much safer today with the findings of astronomers.
7. How can we find out how old a star is?
Wyatt states that the life of every star is finite. Meaning no star will last forever. So how do we know how long these bright balls of extremely hot gases have been around? Without getting TOO much into the math behind all of this, well say that Einstein's formula (E=mc^2) is used to tell us that a star radiating energy is losing mass. And that the rate of loss of mass is proportional to the luminosity of the star. That is the basic understanding of how it is calculated, we may get into the actual math on a later post if I feel like it.
8. How are stars born?
"Each kind of star spends a minor part of its luminous life in gravitational contraction, then at age zero begins the much longer interval of hydrogen-burning, and finally there follows a shorter time of evolution."
In easier terms: there is a dense, hot cloud of gas... somewhere out in the galaxy. This cloud of gas starts to collapse and a hot core begins to form. Thus the birth of a star. A little confusing, I know. We still know only a tiny bit of how stars actually form so this answer can be a little vague at times. Maybe this is something I can study and expand our knowledge of.
9. Okay, we know the basics of how they are formed. Now how do stars die?
A star can explode its entire mass outward at such a speed that all its atoms escape their bonds.
OR
A stars nuclear and gravitational energy are completely used up, and because it can no longer radiate, it becomes a dense black sphere.
Again it is not something we can observe up close, or make realistic experiments for, so it is hard to make some astronomical information clear.
10. Is our galaxy contracting or expanding?
I stumbled upon this question as I was reading through the text. I had never thought anything in the universe we know would contract. I've always been told that it is getting infinitely LARGER. Let's see what Wyatt has to say...
"If the galaxy were growing in size, the average Doppler shift in stellar spectra would be to the red." Conversely, the shift is blue if stars were coming together. "There is at present no clear-cut evidence that the average radial velocity of the stars is other than zero."
He basically says that since we don't see stars shifting away or towards us, the galaxy is neither contracting nor expanding.
For now, at least.
Works Cited
Wyatt, Stanley P. Principles of Astonomy. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1964. Print.
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