Space & Astronomy
Exploring "Why" questions about Space & Astronomy
480 articles
Why is the presence of complex organic molecules discovered on Comet 67P and other objects not enough evidence to definitively say that life exists beyond Earth?
Complex organic molecules can form and exist without life. By complex, we are talking simple amino acids, nitrogenous bases, super-simple polycarbons. These are not the same as the long polymers you w
why does looking at the Sun trigger a sneeze?
> A photic sneeze results from exposure to a bright light and is the most common manifestation of the photic sneeze reflex. This reflex seems to be caused by a change in light intensity rather than
Why do Curiosity and other ‘space cameras’ take photos in individual RGB layers?
Cameras you're used to using are designed to be able to capture a full image quickly. This means that things don't have to stand still all that long (or may even be moving if you have a fast enough sh
Why do radio stations always start with a K or W
K is used in the western US, W is used in the east. I believe the Mississippi River is the dividing line, but I'm not sure on that.
Why is SpaceX attempting to land on a barge rather than land?
It's all about the trajectory. The Blue Origin rocket went straight up and down, so it could land on it's own launch pad. All it did, trajectory-wise is go up and down.
Why watches, weather apps etc. indicate the phase of the moon. Why is the moon phase so significant that people need to know?
Some people use moon phase, rise, set and when it is directly overhead, or underfoot along with the position of the sun to determine the best times to fish or hunt. The moon does have an effect on som
Why is it easier to look at the Sun with one eye than it is with two?
the total amount of light your brain says is safe to take in is averaged across both eyes. closing one reduces the perceived light intake to ~1/2 and said brain says, "it's cool fam you can look and n
Why do we only start to see fog yards away from where we are standing and not at our feet?
If fog is very very thick, you can see it at your feet. The nature of fog is that you can see through some of it but not all of it (that is, some but not all light passes through). So, when you don't
Why do astronomers look for planets that could possibly support life when it is technically impossible to transfer the population into it? And even traveling would take many, many years.
Many years ago going to the moon seemed Imposible, Negativity ain't gonna bring ya nowhere bruh
Why do some songs on pop radio stations just now start to be played when they are months to a year old?
The record labels control when radio starts playing music. I don't listen to pop radio much, but I feel like "Take me to Church" became popular without radio, then the label released it to radio.