UT: Universe Puzzle #1

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bystander
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UT: Universe Puzzle #1

Post by bystander » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:19 am

Universe Puzzle #1
Universe Today - 2010 Feb 17

What do David, Nicholas, and Ferdinand have in common?

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UT: Universe Puzzle #2

Post by bystander » Tue Feb 23, 2010 3:22 am

Universe Puzzle #2
Universe Today - 2010 Feb 21

What's the next number in the sequence? 1655, 1671, 1672

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UT: Universe Puzzle #3

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:36 am

Universe Puzzle #3
Universe Today - 2010 Mar 01

Which is the 'odd one out'? And why?

aragonite, diamond, ice, olivine

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #3

Post by neufer » Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:02 pm

bystander wrote:Universe Puzzle #3
Universe Today - 2010 Mar 01

Which is the 'odd one out'? And why?

aragonite, diamond, ice, olivine
aragonite : only one not found in comets/meteorites.
-------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivine wrote:
<<The mineral olivine (when gem-quality also called peridot) is a magnesium iron silicate with the formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. It is one of the most common minerals on Earth, and has also been identified in meteorites and on the Moon, Mars, and comet Wild 2.>>
-------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond wrote:
<<Very small diamonds of micrometer and nanometer sizes, known as microdiamonds or nanodiamonds respectively, have been found in meteorite impact craters. Such impact events create shock zones of high pressure and temperature suitable for diamond formation. Impact-type microdiamonds can be used as an indicator of ancient impact craters.

Not all diamonds found on Earth originated here. A type of diamond called carbonado that is found in South America and Africa may have been deposited there via an asteroid impact (not formed from the impact) about 3 billion years ago. These diamonds may have formed in the intrastellar environment, but as of 2008, there was no scientific consensus on how carbonado diamonds originated.

Presolar grains in many meteorites found on Earth contain nanodiamonds of extraterrestrial origin, probably formed in supernovas. Scientific evidence indicates that white dwarf stars have a core of crystallized carbon and oxygen nuclei. The largest of these found in the universe so far, BPM 37093, is located 50 light-years (4.7×1014 km) away in the constellation Centaurus. A news release from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics described the 2,500-mile (4,000 km)-wide stellar core as a diamond. It was referred to as Lucy, after the Beatles' song "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds".>>
-------------------------------------
Art Neuendorffer

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UT: Universe Puzzle #4

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:59 pm

Universe Puzzle #4
Universe Today - 2010 March 08

What's the next number in the sequence?

401, 172, 85.2

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UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:01 am

Universe Puzzle #5
Universe Today - 2010 March 15

What do the following have in common?

Alice, Hanny, Kate, Pamela

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by makc » Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:13 am

these are all female names?

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by rstevenson » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:29 pm

They are all astronomers.

Rob

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by neufer » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:44 pm

rstevenson wrote:They are all astronomers.
Members of the Galaxy Zoo with their own astronomy blogs.
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by BMAONE23 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:20 pm

I know Alice, Hanny and Pam but haven't run across Kate

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by neufer » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:30 pm

BMAONE23 wrote:I know Alice, Hanny and Pam but Haven't run across Kate
Are you a member of the Zoo?
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:52 pm


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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #5

Post by BMAONE23 » Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:03 pm

neufer wrote:
BMAONE23 wrote:I know Alice, Hanny and Pam but Haven't run across Kate
Are you a member of the Zoo?
Yes I am, since July 2007

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UT: Universe Puzzle #6

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 22, 2010 3:40 pm

Universe Puzzle #6
Universe Today - 2010 March 22

Name three well-known astronomers – or physicists whose work contributed to astronomy – and whose names …

… are constellations. For a gold star, say why your three are more prize-worthy than anyone else's!

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UT: Universe Puzzle #7

Post by bystander » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:18 pm

Universe Puzzle #7
Universe Today - 2010 March 29

What do the following objects have in common?

NGC 6822, NGC 598, NGC 221, NGC 224, and NGC 5457.


Of course, there are several easy answers to this puzzle – a few minute's googling will show you that they are all galaxies, for example – but the real puzzle is to work out the best answer.

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UT: Universe Puzzle #8

Post by bystander » Mon Apr 05, 2010 12:09 pm

Universe Puzzle #8

What comes next in the sequence?

0.789, 0.854, 0.941

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UT: Universe Puzzle #9

Post by bystander » Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:06 pm

Universe Puzzle #9

Which is the odd one (or two!) out?

Crawford Hill, Dover Heights, Kootwijk, Richmond Park, Seeberg Hill, Wheaton.

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UT: Universe Puzzle #10

Post by bystander » Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:45 pm

Universe Puzzle #10
Universe Today - 19 Apr 2010

What is brightest …

… pre-telescopic nova?


As in: a nova before telescopes were used to observe the heavens.

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle

Post by wonderboy » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:55 am

I think I know the answer purely because I read it somewhere before.... I think.

The 1054 Supernova which created the Crab Nebula, http://seds.org/messier/more/m001_sn.html


Paul.
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark" Muhammad Ali, faster than the speed of light?

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UT: Universe Puzzle #11

Post by bystander » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:11 pm

Universe Puzzle No. 11
Universe Today - 26 Apr 2010

Where is the green …

… valley? What are the hills/mountain range(s)/ridges which border it? How did it get its name?

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle

Post by wonderboy » Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:03 am

Was i right about the supernova? I would like to know you know!


I'll find out about this valley as well
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark" Muhammad Ali, faster than the speed of light?

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle

Post by bystander » Tue Apr 27, 2010 8:45 am

If the answer has been posted, just click on the link posted in the puzzle.

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Re: UT: Universe Puzzle #11

Post by wonderboy » Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:00 am

bystander wrote:Universe Puzzle No. 11
Universe Today - 26 Apr 2010

Where is the green …

… valley? What are the hills/mountain range(s)/ridges which border it? How did it get its name?
The Green Valley of Vastitas Borealis, called the green valley by nasa based on the safety of the landing site with green being the safest and red being high risk.

It is known for its polygonal appearance created by freeze thaw on the surface of the red planet. I hope this is right!
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark" Muhammad Ali, faster than the speed of light?

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UT: Universe Puzzle #12

Post by bystander » Mon May 03, 2010 4:21 pm

Universe Puzzle #12
Universe Today - 03 May 2010

Which is the "odd one out"? And why?

α, β, γ, μ, ν, and τ.


In case the Greek symbols don't display properly, these are (lower case, or small) alpha, beta, gamma, mu, nu, and tau.

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UT: Universe Puzzle #13

Post by bystander » Tue May 11, 2010 3:34 pm

Universe Puzzle #13
Universe Today - 11 May 2010

Well, this week's Universe Puzzle is:
  • Who is the most famous …

    … astronaut you've never heard of?
And for 'astronaut' let's include cosmonauts, taikonauts, and so on.

Be sure to explain your pick.

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