Learning About Space with Exoplanet Science!

Have you ever looked up to the sky and wondered what lies beyond our reach and perception?

Have you ever gazed at the infinite number of stars on a pitch black night and been awestruck by the grandiose of the universe? 

silhouette of young woman that is stargazing with a telescope in the night sky

If your answer to any one of those questions is a YES, then you and I are going to get along just fine!

Hi guys, my name is Dennis Boucher, and I like to call myself a resident of the Galaxy, the lover of planet Earth, and a nerd of all things astronomy.

I developed this passion of mine since I was a little kid, accompanying my father on his trips to The Big Bend National Park in South West Texas.

He used to say that the mark of humanity’s progress can be judged by two things – how kind we are to all living beings and the zeal at which we pursue to explore the unknown.

We camped out countless nights, looking at the stars, sipping coffee, cooking s’mores over the campfire, and having conversations about the world we live in and beyond.

I’m starting this website as a tribute to my father, who filled my mind with wonder and encouraged to turn this little bonding activity into a passion.

Even though I code for a living and spend most of my day indoors, my thoughts are firmly rooted to the collection of stargazing devices I have at home.

When I’m not working 9-to-5, I’m either re-reading some of my favorite books from the likes of Stephen Hawkings, Carl Sagan, and Neil Degrasse Tyson or listening to the delectable psychedelic tunes of the early years of Pink Floyd. And not to forget, the hours spent in my humble garage, tinkering with one of my best kids’ telescopes.

I try and test new astronomy equipment on a daily basis so that you don’t have to go through the mistakes I made as a rookie stargazer.

Need suggestions on the best telescopes?

I have them on my site, and more! It takes a lot of work to find the best telescopes for beginners and advanced users because there are just so many inferior products on the market today.

Even though I may not be an expert in technology, I have enough experience with gadgets related to astronomy to know what works and what doesn’t. And all you have to do is read.

This website is also dedicated to all you astronomy fans who go to unimaginable lengths and away from the city to catch a glimpse of the clear night sky.

With my recommendations and tips, I hope your experience will become much better. So, go ahead and check out my articles.

And lastly, don’t forget to enjoy your stay on Exoplanet Science.

This is Dennis, wishing you a “universe” of happy moments of stargazing through a telescope.

Latest Articles:

    Science News:

    Technology Debates: Can Gaming Be Educational?

    Technology Debates: Can Gaming Be Educational?

    Nowadays it can’t be debated that one of the most popular hobbies amongst both adults and children is video games. In only three decades the video game industry has made a place for itself that has become as culturally relevant and important as Hollywood. A media that was only considered as a toy for children is now a billion-dollar industry that arrivals some countries GEP. But aside from its great position in our economy, video games have become an integral part of many people’s daily lives in a way that changes many habits. It has become apparent though that video games are much more than a hobby for many people and have had a very positive impact on many people’s lives. With this in mind one of the big questions that comes up often is can video games be educational? Can they be used to help people learn things or potentially have a new application that makes it easier for people who have problems learning to learn easily?

    To many people, this might seem like a difficult question, but the reality is that there is already a lot of work being done to try and make video games as educational as possible. Ubisoft is one of the best examples of a company trying to make their game more educational by using them as educational tools. Ubisoft has been long known for its historical fantasy franchise Assassin’s Creed but what many people do not know about this franchise and Ubisoft as a company is that they are also using the elements they developed for the Assassin’s Creed franchise to make tools that are used nowadays in Canadian schools. But what does that mean exactly? Concretely what it means is that they’re using the tools that they create for making video games to make a reproduction of historical societies. So, with all this historical research they did for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla they use their tools and their contacts with history buffs to create a replica of our life in a Viking village of those times.

    As you can imagine tools like this help when you are trying to learn history, but this isn’t the only educational application of video games there is. When it comes to playing video games or setting up video games there happens to be a lot of things that you need to understand or learn to be able to make games play the way you want them to. Whether it is about learning to mod video games or set up a server to play online with your friends these things require a lot of knowledge that is not always easily available. You see many people who play video games learn these things by themselves as they want to be able to do things that they wouldn’t learn anywhere else. This is often the starting point of many people’s coding career whether it is because of their involvement in mod-making or because they learned out to set up servers and understand connectivity by themselves. For many gamers learning that an unmanaged VPS is always cheaper or whether to code in C++ for their favorite game comes from their love of video games.

    The love for video games that many people have pushes them to learn things and experience new things that they wouldn’t otherwise. One such thing is language. For many people who don’t have English as their first language video games were a great way to not only come in contact with the language but also start to learn it. Since localization wasn’t what it is today many people especially in the early days of video gaming had to make do and learn English to be able to understand a video game they were playing. While to some this might seem like a low level of access ability it also made it more important for many people to speak English to be able to understand. The importance of being able to both speak can understand English became more apparent once video games became mostly a multiplayer online platform. There is no hiding it English is the most prevalent language in the Western world. With this in mind, it’s important to understand that if you play online you could play with somebody from any country in the world one of the languages that most people know nowadays to communicate with people from other parts of the world is English. So, in a certain way, video games are perfect to allow people to immerse themselves in a place where everybody speaks English making it much easier to learn it by speaking it.

    As you can see video games can both be made as an educational tool, but they can very well teach people things by themselves without being made with this in mind. Like every other hobby people learn things by doing them and that’s not a surprise if you look at video games with a larger point of view than simply video games being toys. Nowadays video games are being used to tell grand emotional tails as well as create intricate and hard-to-solve puzzles. They allow people to experience beautifully woven narratives as well as intense skill-based gameplay that forces people to not only learn how to master the game but also practice their reflexes when it comes to making their place in this virtual world. Whether it is true it’s great design choices or thanks to the friends and people you meet online video games can benefit your life and be profoundly educational.

    Our Top Picks for Best Home Gadgets of 2023

    Our Top Picks for Best Home Gadgets of 2023

    The Summer season is nearly upon us. And with it comes the most amazing time of year, Christmas Day! Of course, for those in the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated in the depths of the winter months. While we lucky Australians get to enjoy Xmas under the sweltering sun.

    Xmas is a time to shower your loved ones with gifts. But it isn’t always easy to find that perfect present. But you can never go wrong with gadgets. Especially if your friends or family are homeowners. We have put together this guide of our top picks for the best home gadgets of 2023. Hopefully, you might be able to find some good gift ideas here.

    Google Home

    A Google Home is not so different from an Alexa, functionally speaking. They are both voice-operated home assistants that double as a speaker. But, in our opinion, Google Home is a huge improvement over Alexa. In fact, we would rank the Google Home, and the smaller Google Nest, as the best bluetooth speaker / virtual assistant on the market.

    The Google Home speakers are of an amazing quality. Their bluetooth range is large enough that your phone can stay connected wherever you are in your house. And our testing has shown them to suffer far less wi-fi connectivity issues than its competitors. When searching the web, Google Home pulls up better results and provides much more vocal information as well.

    Google Home products are also compatible with most other smart home technologies, except Apple products. They can easily be linked up to different devices. This allows you to control all your smart devices with your Google Home. Nothing says Sci-Fi like asking your Google Home to turn on your shower or unlock your front door.

    Home Security Cameras

    Home security is something a lot of people take for granted. People are far too lax with it, until it is already too late. Which is why a home security camera is a fantastic investment or gift. Often, the mere presence of a security camera on your property is enough to deter potential intruders. And, if something bad does happen, the recorded footage will help you make a claim on your insurance.

    Most of the home security cameras available in Australia are now smart home compatible as well. This means you can access the camera feed from your phone from anywhere, provided you have an internet connection. They can also be linked up to motion detectors and your home security system. This will improve your home’s security and give you peace of mind while you aren’t at home.

    Smart Lighting

    There is nothing that pulls a home together quite like nice ambient lighting. Sometimes the way you have decorated a room, or the mood you are trying to set, can’t be complete with normal lighting. In those cases you might want soft red, or dark blue, or even light green lighting. Which is why you should consider getting some smart lights.

    Smart lights come in many different shapes and sizes. You could change all your light bulbs with smart lights, allowing you to fully control a room’s ambient lighting with ease. Or you could get some LED strip lights and create a more focused lighting effect around your TV or computer screen. Smart lights can be controlled from your phone, or by your voice assistant device like the Google Home.

    USB Mug Warmer

    There is nothing worse than making yourself a cup of tea or coffee and forgetting about it. When you finally remember it is there, it has gone stone cold. It is an issue many people who work from home face. Which is why a USB Mug Warmer is the perfect gadget for anyone who spends a lot of time at their desk.

    The premise is simple. Plug it into your computer, place the mug on the pad, and it will keep your cup warm for as long as you need. You can modify the temperature of the pad as well, ensuring your drink is kept at whatever temperature is perfect for you.

    Arc Reactor Wireless Charger

    Wireless charging pads are one of the best technological advancements we have seen in recent years. They work by passing through the coils to create an electromagnetic field. This field is then put through the magnetic plate into your phone, charging it.

    There are hundreds of different wireless charging pads available. But our top pick has to be the Arc Reactor pad. If you are a Marvel comics fan then this is perfect for you. Designed to resemble the Arc Reactor found in the center of Iron Man’s suit. The device even plays the suit-up noise when you place your phone upon it.

    5 Ways to Make Money Online

    5 Ways to Make Money Online

    Something that we all look for is money-making opportunities. That is especially the case right now, as the economy is pretty much in shambles and we are all pretty desperate for ways to make money. We have also become a society that spends the majority of our time online and so if we can make money online, that is something that is going to appeal to us. You will be glad to know that there are many online money making opportunities. Here are 5 ways to make money online.

    Sell Items Online

    One way to make money online is to utilize online sales platforms to sell items. This can be anything from handmade crafts, to antiques, to electronics, or even services like home repairs. Platforms such as eBay, Etsy, and Amazon allow individuals to create their own store and sell goods to customers around the world. Additionally, there are websites such as Craigslist, OfferUp, and LetGo that allow for local sales and purchases. With the right product or service, anyone can make money online by selling items. You can make a considerable amount of cash from using sites like these and so it is worth looking into

    Play Games

    Playing online games is a great way to make some extra money online. There are several websites and apps that allow you to play games for real money. You can compete against other players to win cash prizes, or you can even become a game tester and get paid to play the latest video games. You can also enter tournaments and competitions to win even bigger rewards. With the right strategy and dedication, you can make some serious money playing online games. For a lot of people, rewarded play is a new concept but it is a really fun and easy way to make some extra cash when you need it.

    Stream

    Streaming services such as Twitch and YouTube are becoming increasingly popular and provide an opportunity to make money by streaming content such as gaming, tutorials, or other creative content. Many streamers have found success by creating a loyal following and charging a monthly subscription fee for access to exclusive content or donations. Streamers can also monetize their streams through affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and advertisements. Additionally, streamers can create their own merchandise to make an additional income. If you do not feel comfortable enough to stream, you don’t even have to show your face to be a success.

    Do Surveys

    Doing surveys is one of the easiest ways to make money online. There are numerous survey sites available online that offer rewards such as cash, vouchers and points for taking part in online surveys. The surveys are usually quite short, taking no more than 10-15 minutes to complete and can sometimes offer quite generous rewards. Some survey sites also offer surveys that can be completed on a daily basis, allowing you to earn a steady income from taking surveys. You can also sign up to multiple sites, which means that you can do a large variety of surveys.

    Work Remotely

    Working remotely is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to make money online. With the internet providing more and more opportunities to work from the comfort of one’s own home, freelancing, online tutoring, and telecommuting are just a few of the ways to make money from home. With the ability to choose your own hours and the freedom to work from anywhere, it can be an incredibly attractive option for those looking to make money online. Additionally, with the right skillset, you can find a variety of jobs that are flexible and offer good pay.

    How Technology has Changed Home Construction

    The development of new technology has a lasting effect on many of the industries we use in everyday life. Methods of construction have definitely undergone significant change in recent years, with new technology solutions making the process much simpler.

    Home construction is a very high profile industry, with homes being created around the world using technology to build new and innovative homes to be put onto the market. Here are some ways in which technology has been implemented into the process of constructing homes to make the process easier and to keep up with the modern building aesthetic.

    Design

    The initial designing process behind any building construction is fundamental to the efficient building of the home. Time must be taken working on blueprints and aesthetic design before the actual construction begins, builders will need step by step instructions to ensemble safe foundations and put the house together in the right way.

    Technology has been implemented in this process through the use of things like 3D printing and virtual design software. Using 3D printing architects can put together a scale model of the proposed building to get a feel of what the finished product will be like.

    Creating a scaled-down version of the house is a great way of looking at issues like proportions and positioning which otherwise wouldn’t be possible. Designing blueprints can also be done on virtual drawing software, this not only allows for easier customization but as it is done on an online platform many users can access the design and provide their input.

    Overall, making use of the amazing technology that is available to you to help with the preliminary design aspect of construction is a great way to start a new project. It is important that every aspect of your design is developed to not only be successful but it must also be a safe work environment.

    This new technology will help you to adhere to the many building and construction safety regulations that you must take into consideration to ensure your workforce is safe.

    Change in Construction Machinery

    Gone are the days where construction relied mainly upon physical labor, the technology used within construction is definitely something that has sped up the overall build time and allowed more work to be done in a set amount of time.

    The newer homes are very clearly constructed in a different way to older houses, large scale machines are less likely to be seen in the actual construction of the house and instead cheaper, less invasive methods can be used.

    Technology plays a huge part in the society we live in, creating homes is an important task as the market is only increasing in terms of demand. It makes sense that significant work has been put into making the process of building more efficient as there is a real need for the creation of new homes. Using technology within construction is done in a variety of ways :

    • Pollution minimizing construction methods.
    • Cheaper, lighter, greener materials.
    • New machines to make the process more efficient.

    Materials

    The materials used in the new methods of construction have definitely changed from what has been used in the past. Wood and stone harvesting over the years has become a costly issue facing the decline of the environment. This has meant that architects have been forced to look at more reusable materials in the construction of new homes in order to help preserve the world.

    By sourcing more economically friendly materials the use of technology has definitely seen an increase and there have been some pretty amazing things to come from the industry.

    Self Healing Concrete

    A common issue that is faced in the construction world is the need for maintenance on pre-existing buildings. The older materials are susceptible to damage as they have stood for a long time and gone through a variety of weather conditions.

    Concrete in particular cracks over time and would need repairs at some point after it has been placed, it is impossible to know when damage occurs so constant maintenance is necessary.

    However with the development of new self-healing concrete when cracks appear and the damage comes into contact with water, bacteria added to the concrete reactivates and the crack is fixed without the need for physical intervention.

    Vinyl Windows

    The use of vinyl windows isn’t the newest technological development and in fact, the original model was used back in the times of World War Two. The reason I have included these windows in this list is that even to this day they remain some of the most popular and innovative products to existing in the window industry.

    They have properties to help keep your house warm and keep that electricity bill as low as possible, your window frame is protected and won’t damage as easily as other materials and they are extremely long-lasting and durable too.

    Why not try upgrading to vinyl windows and see the benefits yourself, https://www.royaltywindows.com/products/vinyl-windows have some great models on the market to be used in all of your modern-day construction feats.

    Smart Bricks

    Smart bricks are used in a similar way to Lego bricks, as opposed to the use of traditional brick, smart bricks provide strength but without cost to the environment as they are made from man-made concrete-like material. These bricks are just as dense and strong as what was previously used providing ample insulation for the home.