AboutJesse Martinez Expertise General and specific questions about solar system and galactic astronomy, cosmology, are what I can easily answer off the top of my head. For example, what is the largest planet in the solar system? How far away is the moon? Have there been any confirmed planets in orbit around stars other than the sun? How many stars are there? The tougher ones like explaining the big bang theory and black holes I will leave to the PhD’s. Even though I could muster an answer, but would have to research it more than I would like. Would also like to answer questions that involve Astronomy with other sciences, chemistry, biology, physics, geology and mathematics as long as they are not PhD level.
Experience I have been into astronomy since I was 8 years old. I have kept detailed journals of my observations through small telescopes. Over the years I have participated in amateur observation projects for organizations like ALPO. My personal research has involved "discovering" the moons of Jupiter with a 4½-inch Newtonian reflector. In a summer long project, I determined the existence of and plotted the orbits of the four major moons of Jupiter. From these observations, my data on orbital elements was surprisingly accurate (e.g. orbital radius and orbital period).
Education/Credentials 80 hours of college credits while studying physics and geophysics. Completed correspondence photography course while in high school. Took two semesters of electronics training at a community college. Studied computers and graduated from a technical school at the turn of the millennium, gaining A+ and Microsoft Certified Professional credentials.
Hablo Español. Si quieres preguntar en Español, estoy a su servicio.
Thuban AKA, Alpha Draconis was known to the ancients. It was the brightest star closest to the north pole at the the time the pyramids were being built around 2,700 B.C. It was our "North Star" between 6000 and 4000 years ago.
It is not known who actually discovered it. It was believed to be brighter at that time. The name means "Serpent's Head" or "Serpent" in Arabic. That is strange in the fact that it is considered to be in the tail of Draco. Which would make sense if it was brighter. I believe the orientation of the constellation was reversed in those times. Back then it was the brightest star in the constellation Draco. Today it is the fourth brightest. It is believed that it has stopped hydrogen fusion and is dying.
So, there is no one particular person that can take credit for its discovery. Although the Arabic name has remained throughout the years, and the Greek designation alpha, which indicates that at one time it was considered the brightest and/or most important star in the constellation, I am sure it was known by the other civilizations of the time.
Interesting fact. Our pole star changes over the years in a 26,000 year cycle due to one of the Earth's minor cyclical motions called precession. See the image I have attached of the cycle the north pole makes through the stars. In approximately 18,300 years from now it will once again be as close to the north pole as it will ever get, but this will be irrelevant if it has faded too much to be of any practical use.
Thuban is 310 light years away from the solar system. It is a White Giant type A class which is unusual. As far as the size, It compares in size more with the sun. It is 265 times wider than the sun, which makes it about 29,150 times the width of the Earth. Or in other words, 233,000,000 miles across. Wow! Certainly not the biggest, but huge nonetheless. But it only weighs about 3.4 times the sun's mass, so it is not heavy at all.
I really enjoyed answering your question. Too bad there isn't a specific answer. Take care. Ask me anything, anytime.
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