Abstract
This paper explains the composition of comets and clarifies what happens that gives them their shimmering appearance. It explains the various types of comets and elucidates the close link between the orbit of comets and the orbit of meteor showers. It lists the commonly seen features when a comet is near the sun and concludes by looking at factors resulting in a change in the behavior of a comet.

From the Paper
"In outer space there are many things that man is still trying to fathom, and he has been intrigued by many things high up in the sky, but yet has not been able to figure out what they are or what they may mean. The field of astrology is one that began thousands of years ago with the Egyptians being the first known astronomers. They were the ones who created the first map of the North Star that is used till today to trace the movements of our planet and the heavenly bodies around it."

Tags:composition, appearance, types, orbit, meteor, showers, features, change, behavior

Abstract
This paper explains that going back in time to visit historical times in real life may sound like the work of an H.G. Wells novel, but physicists are getting surprisingly closer to actually being able to travel in time, as demonstrated by the theory of relativity, light speed, paradox theories, and the work of modern scientists as they search for the secrets to the 4th dimension. The author points out that Dr. Stephen Hawking's theory and the recent discovery of black holes show the potential for an area where the laws of relativity may not exist. The paper relates that Dr. Ronald Mallett at the University of Connecticut has developed an idea that present-day people can communicate with the past by sending electrical particles through a spiral series of laser beams to accelerate them to the speed of light.

Table of Contents
Introduction
What Is Time Travel?
The Fourth Dimension?
Time and Space
Theories Past and Present
What Is Matter?
Applicable Relativity Theory
We Cannot Get There from Here
Modern Research of Time Travel
Newton
Einstein
Stephen Hawking
Paradox Theories
Time Travel Mutual Fund
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Theory of Relativity states that fundamentally our ideas of space and time. We must accept that time if not completely separate from and independent of space, but is combined with it to form an object called space-time. Newton developed laws of motion that until Einstein were not contested. Einstein expanded this law in his special theory of relativity, which states that mass increases as speed approaches the speed of light. We must remember that the more mass we have the larger that mass will become as light speed is reached. The speed of light and time space is closely related. It has been said that light speed is the key to time travel. At this time the theory of relativity limits our ability to move mass at the speed of light, but as I will explain, there are current theories that will allow moving electrical energy in the form of data back in time."

Tags:wells, hawking, einstein, mallet, laser

Abstract
This paper explains that by viewing the gas that surrounds stars as a dynamic atmosphere, undergoing cycles of materials similar to those that go on in the Earth's own protective gases, astronomers are understanding more and more about the processes involved in the formation of stars. The paper deals with the questions of how the supernova of massive stars affect the formation of stars in the future, why star formation seems to occur in relative bursts, and how long the Milky Way will continue to produce stars.

From the Paper
"Beyond applying the atmospheric model to intergalactic gas, astronomers have also been studying more carefully exactly what components make up the gas and at what temperature these components exist. About 90% of the constituents of intergalactic atmosphere are various forms of hydrogen, with close to 10% being helium, and everything else, from lithium to uranium -- the whole spectrum of the periodic chart -- making up less than 0.1%. The majority of the hydrogen is present as neutral hydrogen, termed H I by astronomers. This form of hydrogen gas is identified by the spectral frequency of the light that it emits, namely 1,420 megahertz. Although scattered throughout the galaxy, the majority of H I is located around the galactic midplane, and forms a gaseous disk about 300 parsecs thick (Reynolds, 2002, p. 40)."

Tags:galaxy, hydrogen, gas, milky, way

Abstract
This paper discusses how the Big Bang theory is considered by many to be the most plausible model concerning creation and how modern educational institutions, especially from elementary school to undergraduate university level, continue to teach the Big Bang without question or qualification. It provides an overview of the physics of the theory and also looks at other theories, such as the Steady State theory, which have departed form the original model.

From the Paper
"From the beginning of the recording of human consciousness, man has looked up to the skies of heaven and pondered the creation of the universe. The earliest recorded writings on the subject addressed the universe, and its nature, from the most basic origins. These writings included the questions of whether a "higher power/omniscient being" was responsible for its creation, if the universe was based on a singular "event" that resulted in its evolution, to the most basic, and seemingly logical idea (to many ancient sources, anyway) that the universe was simply infinite, uncreated, and forever unchanging."

Tags:cosmos, space, hubble, steady, state

Abstract
The paper defines the term 'aurora' and explains what causes these luminous arcs and swirls of light to appear at different times during the year. It explains the difference between the auroras of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere and the effect that the sun, in the form of solar wind, has on auroras.

From the Paper
"One of the reasons that the auroras seem so mysterious to us is that they are a product of magnetism, which is a force that most of us are at least generally familiar with but one that is also, of course, invisible. Because both magnetism and the plasma field around the earth (which is simply a cluster or layer of charged particles) are invisible, we cannot see the physical underpinnings of the auroras, making them seem highly mysterious to us."

Tags:borealis, australis, astronomer, magnetic, poles, hydrogen

Abstract
This paper looks at black holes in terms of the most prevalent theories. It first, defines what we have come to understand as a black hole. It then touches upon how black holes are documented and measured. Thirdly, it examines the black hole believed to be at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy. Finally, it explores the prevalent hypothesis that black holes are in fact the genesis of all galaxies.

From the Paper
"Gravity is the cause of black holes. A black hole is the unlimited and irresistible force of ultimate gravity in the universe. To understand how a black hole is created, it is helpful to understand a bit about the basics of gravity. Imagine shooting an arrow into the sky. The harder you shoot the arrow, the farther it will go in attempting to escape the pull of the Earth's gravity. If you were to use a big enough bow with enough force you could help the arrow reach speeds exceeding 7miles per second which is the escape velocity for the Earth. Escape velocity indicates the minimum speed necessary to beat the pull of the planet's gravitational core (Cowen , 390). The strength of the gravitational pull of the core is determined by the density and mass of the core. The denser and more massive that the core is, the greater the gravitational pull. If you were to drop a ball to the center of the earth, the gravitational forces would crush it into an ever shrinking volume requiring even greater amounts of force to help it reach escape velocity. As the greatest theoretical speed for any physical object in the universe is that of light (which travels at 186 thousand miles per second) a mass large and dense enough can actually exert so much force that not even light can achieve escape velocity. The object that can pull even light into it and keep it from escaping is a black hole."

Tags:earth, gravity, milky, way, galaxy

Abstract
This paper first explains that the plate tectonic theory, which suggests that the Earth is made up of a dozen rigid plates, moving independently of each other, is used to explain the movement of the plates on the Earth's lithosphere. Next, the author relates the history of the development of this theory starting from the work of Alfred Wegener, a German geophysicist and meteorologist, in 1912. The paper examines that the studying ocean floor and earthquake and volcanic activity are commonly used as evidence to support the plate tectonic theory.

From the Paper
"By scanning the ocean floors with magnetometers, they hypothesized that the oceanic crust constantly reformed at the crest of the mid-ocean ridges. The further you move away from that ridge crest, the sediment would become increasingly older. As they had been able to see evidence of seafloor spreading, it was accepted that the tectonic plates had moved. They also endeavored to determine and document the earthquake and volcano activity across the globe, to see how it related to the oceanic trenches and underwater mountain ranges."

Tags:asthenosphere, continental drift theory, paleomagnetic polar changes, magnetic field, subduction zones

Abstract
The paper defines black holes and explains what they are made up of. The paper explores common misconceptions surrounding black holes, as well as other mysteries. Finally the paper examines theories regarding how black holes eventually end.

From the Paper
"Black holes, one of space's greatest phenomenons, appear to be tremendous concentrations of matter, usually at the center of a galaxy; however, smaller back holes are possible. The matter is in the form of neutrons, protons, and electrons, tightly packed together by their mutual gravitational attraction. The beautifully descriptive name comes from the fact that light cannot exit from a Black hole. They are suspected to form in the death and collapse of a star that began with more than10 times the sun's mass (those with less mass become white dwarfs or neutron stars)."

Tags:galaxy, Albert Einstein, radiation

Abstract
This is an informative paper on what exactly a black hole is and what scientists have theorized about black holes. The paper examines the formation of black holes, past research on black holes and pondering questions still unanswered today.

From the Paper
"Ever since you were old enough to know what the sky, moon and stars were, you have always imagined what is actually up there? One of the most fascinating ideas of all is the mysterious and scary thought of a BLACK HOLE! This is perfectly normal because even today scientists are still pondering over that same question - what is a black hole and does it exist? Theories that at one time seemed reasonable are now laughed at, our skies hold an infinite space which we will never be able to explore, as a result, our questions will be infinite as well."

Tags:astronomy, black, holes, science, stars, universe, infinity

Abstract
This paper covers the following topics: what are supernovae; the history of the supernovae; supernovae in our Galaxy: how they are formed; nomenclature; how they affect us.

From the Paper
" A supernova is the cataclysmic explosion of a big mass star, which releases a huge quantity of light instantaneously, occurring approximately twice per century. Astronomers have been observing supernovae in our skies since the times of Christian Huygens, Simon Marius, Messier, Brache and Kepler. Fritz Zwicky was the first to use the term supernova to describe lights that were much brighter than any other star or planetary body visible in the sky. "

Tags:dwarves, magnetic, remnants, solar, wind