NASA | Observations in Astronomy

$500,000 Grant Helps Space Programs in Florida

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As scientists and other researchers continue to build bigger and better technological advances for space exploration, the current race among universities and other astronomical associations is to locate Earth-like planets. While these planets don’t need to have continents, mountains, or other things you may associate with Earth, they do need to have an atmosphere that can support life. The new research tools are continuing to expand the range of exploration, leading to the possibility that an Earth-like planet is just around the proverbial corner.

While it certainly sounds fun to be at the forefront of space exploration, devoting time and resources to finding Earth-like planets takes funding. For one university, a new grant will take care of that need, allowing researchers to focus on finding proof of another habitable planet. The Dharma Endowment Foundation of Alachua recently donated $500,000 to the University of Florida in order to help the university further the knowledge of the universe. The grant also supports the search for extra solar planets that could harbor life.

Jian Ge is the lead astronomer with the university and the main recipient of the grant. He hopes to find an Earth-like planet near bright stars. Ge will be able to use the grant to build the third high precision Exoplanet Tracker and form a network for research. The university hopes to have seven instruments to use in its exploration. The instruments will scan the sky on a 24-hour basis rather than waiting until nightfall.

The Exoplanet Tracker will use technology developed over several years and will incorporate the Doppler technique. Researchers have used the Doppler technique to find over 80 percent of the discovered planets. The technology may make it easier to detect exoplanets with less mass.

Using the funds from the grant, the university expects to have the network completed by 2014. The university will continue to raise funds to try to complete the network sooner.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Andrew Howard, Astronomy, Earth, Extrasolar planet, Kepler Mission, NASA, Planet, University of Florida

Mars Water Still a Mystery

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Despite the advances in astronomical tools, such as new high-powered telescopes like the Spitzer and Mars space rovers, the red planet still holds mysteries for researchers. From previous study, astronomers and astrophysicists can tell that Mars once had oceans. But, one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the planet is the disappearance of the water.

Even though NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is stuck in action, the device is still transmitting valuable data. It appears to have found proof that water did seep underground from the planet’s surface. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express probe discovered the first evidence of ice/water on Mars. Later, NASA confirmed the discovery with its Phoenix lander and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Using the new information from Spirit, researchers hypothesize that the water turned into ice, which then melted. At that point in time, the dirt may have absorbed the melting water. Ironically enough, the new information may be a result of Spirit’s unfortunate condition. The rover has been stuck in a sand trap. The machine’s wheels continue to churn in the sand, digging the machine deeper into the Martian dirt. This process has actually allowed the rover to expose layers of dirt.

Just as geologists and other scientists can tell much about Earth’s history from its dirt layers, researchers may be able to use the date from these newly uncovered layers to learn more about the red giant. For example, it looks like the layers have different mineral compositions. One layer has silica, while another has hematite and gypsum. Layers with ferric sulphates show at deeper levels.

The major changes to Mar’s surface may relate to the lack of a moon. Without something to help stabilize the rotation, the planet tends to tilt. These tilts may in fact cause major elemental changes in the planet’s conditions. As astronomical and space exploration tools continue to develop, many hold out hope that the mystery of Mar’s water may one day have an answer.

Filed Under: Planets Tagged With: European Space Agency, Mars, Mars Exploration Rover, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA, Phoenix (spacecraft), Planet, Water

New Space Buckyballs

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Recently, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also known as the JPL, said it has been able to use NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope to discover a large amount of buckyballs in space. Buckyballs are clouds formed when dying stars release, or shed, material. Buckyballs shaped like soccer balls and have a molecular structure of 60 carbon atoms linked together. The name comes from architect Buckminster Fuller, whose designs include geodesic domes. Some researchers call Buckyballs by the more scientific-sounding name fullerences.

Researchers discovered buckyballs in 1985, but it took until July 2009 to confirm the existence of buckyballs using the advanced astronomical tool Spitzer. When scientists came across the first group, they were unable to determine whether the buckyballs would be rare or more common, as more research comes in from the latest batch of NASA space telescopes.

This last group of buckyballs is floating between three stars, similar to the sun, that are dying. The planetary nebulae is in the Milky Way galaxy. The Spitzer also detected a batch of buckyballs near a fourth dying star in the Small Magellanic Cloud, which is a nearby galaxy. Researchers called the amount staggering. To be a quantitative measurement to that, JPL reported the mass to be equal to about 15 of Earth’s moons.

Based on these findings, researchers, like Letizia Stanghellini with Tucson’s National Optical Astronomy Observatory, are leaning toward the idea that buckyballs will be more common than originally expected. As Spitzer continues to reveal more collections of buckyballs, researchers will begin to study them to determine more information about these molecular collection.

Some hypothesize that buckyballs may be seeds for life. This theory uses the concept that buckyballs are in pockets high in hydrogen. Even the presence of hydrogen is different from previous hypotheses. With new tools and a better understanding of buckyballs, researchers may learn more about the universe.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Observatory, Telescopes Tagged With: Buckminster Fuller, Fullerene, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Milky Way, NASA, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Small Magellanic Cloud, Spitzer Space Telescope

Earth-Like Planet Lectures Come to UC Santa Cruz

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From the moment man took an interest in the stars, people have wondered what else space might hold. Is there another planet capable of sustaining human life? With new developments in astronomical tools, NASA and other space researchers are learning more now than they ever had.

That’s why Greg Laughlin, an astrophysics and astronomy professor with UC Santa Cruz, will be hosting a free public lecture on November 17. The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. at Santa Cruz’s Rio Theater, and the topic will be “The Search for Other Earths.”

The lecture is free to the public as part of the Halliday Lecture Series, which uses donor gifts to the UCSC astronomy and astrophysics department to fund public awareness events, such as Laughlin’s lecture. The professor is a recognized expert in detecting extrasolar planets. He has degrees in physics and astronomy.

In his lecture, Laughlin will present information regarding UCSC’s research to find planet with conditions like Earth’s. Many believe these habitable planets may be as close as the nearest neighbors to the sun. Researchers are using new tools, such as NASA’s Kepler space telescope and the Automated Planet Finder Telescope to learn more about these Earth-like planets. These tools are producing more data than researchers have been able to collect in a decade-long period.

Laughlin’s own research projects include studying orbital dynamics, modeling hydrodynamics and atmospheres, observing the search for plants using the newer tools, and using the latest photometric transit techniques.

In addition to teaching, Laughlin maintains a Systemic blog, where he updates the public on the latest developments in astronomy and astrophysics. Laughlin co-authored “Five Ages of the Universe: Inside the Physics of Eternity,” which is a book investigating the long-term fate of the universe, the galaxy, the Earth, and the solar system.

Those who can’t attend this lecture can check the Halliday schedule for the next free lecture.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Observatory, Telescopes Tagged With: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Earth, Greg Laughlin, Kepler Mission, NASA, University of California Santa Cruz, W. M. Keck Observatory

Kepler Spacecraft Proves its Use as a Discovery Machine

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According to Steve Kawaler, who works as a physics and astronomy professor at Iowa State University, NASA’s Kepler spacecraft is changing the study of stars. The main reason for this is the quality and the quantity of information the discovery machine is reporting.

The Kepler is part of the Kepler Space Mission that launched in March 2009. The spacecraft orbits the sun and reports the data back to researchers. The data comes from a variety of observation instruments, including a telescope and a photometer. The photometer measures the change in brightness for a star. The telescope connects to a 95 megapixel camera.

As the Kepler orbits, it keeps the tools trained on a specific part of the Milky Way, the Cygnus-Lyra region. Researchers working with the Kepler Asteroseismic Investigation hope to use the information sent from the spacecraft to discover new planets with a similar atmosphere to earth. These planets, if discovered, may be able to sustain life.

The project’s research team has four committee members: Ron Gilliland, Hans Kjeldsen, and Jorgen Christensen-Dalsgaard who join Kawaler. To put the scope of the project into perspective, Kawaler reports the Kepler has returned as much information in one year as other projects would take 300 years to deliver. So far, the studies have resulted in eight papers.

NASA expects the Kepler to orbit earth until at least 2013. During that time, it should record over 17,000 stars. The current data already indicates a variety of stars in the galaxy from white dwarfs to binary star systems to subdwarf B stars. The light variance detected by the Kepler helps demonstrate Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which is another analytical tools the research team is using.

With all the information provided by the Kepler, the research teams hope to learn more about our galaxy, specifically the sun.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Telescopes, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Binary star, Earth, Iowa State University, Kepler Mission, Milky Way, NASA, Space, Star

Fun Facts About Comets

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If you’ve ever seen a shooting star, it’s most likely actually a comet or even an asteroid. Not many people understand what comets are, or even know much about them at all. There are some interesting facts about comets. Because of how a comet looks, the word comet actually comes originally from the word for hair in Greek. Comets are composed of rocky debris, ice, and dust. It’s believed that most comets come from some of the farthest areas of our solar system. In fact, they are so far out that even the orbit of Pluto doesn’t reach them. They are still in our solar system, though.

There is a chance that at some point in our futures a comet could hit earth and cause major destruction, but you are much more likely to win at your favorite sports betting sites than die from a comet crashing into the planet.

It was once believed that comets were a show of power from the gods. They were also seen by many as a curse, or a warning that something bad was about to happen. Others believe that a comet is the device which angels are carried through heaven.

You may see Halley’s comet again in your life, depending on your current age. It only comes around every 76 years. The next time it is estimated to come near our planet again is in the year 2061. There is at least a few meteor showers every year. In fact, the Perseid shower happens in August of each year.

Comets have been seen throughout recorded history. Some people have revered them, while others were terrified. We know today what comets are, and can track them through the skies. The orbits of comets are similar to earth’s orbit; an egg shape. Usually, these flying bits of rock and ice have a much, much larger orbit than earth.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Comets and Asteroids, General, Observatory Tagged With: Astronomy, Comet, Halley's Comet, Meteor shower, Meteoroid, NASA, Pluto, Solar System

The Mysteries of the Universe Continue to Unfold

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Since the beginning of time astronomy and space have intrigued mankind. The number of almanacs, books and guides published is an indication of the popularity of this field of study. There are even giant observatories all over the globe dedicated to star watching. Observatories can be equipped with a high powered telescope or smaller, less advanced equipment depending on location. One high tech observatory if NASA Kepler space telescope.

This vast reaches of space still continue to surprise us with their unfolding mysteries. Each year some new discovery is revealed as satellites find never before known bodies.

The discovery early in 2010 of five exoplanets was a major breakthrough in space exploration. These exoplanets are the first finds from NASA’s program to locate planets outside the Earth’s solar system. They were discovered using NASA’s Kepler space telescope which was designed for that very purpose.

In March 2009, the Kepler space telescope, a spacecraft was launched to identify other planets similar to earth that were orbiting around suns in other galaxies. The planets that have been discovered to date by the Kepler’s space telescope have been classified as giant planets. This means that they are bigger than or equal in size to Jupiter. Jupiter is 141700 km or 88,000 miles at its diameter. This makes its diameter 11 times bigger than that of the Earth. In fact, Jupiter’s mass is over 300 times more than the earth.

It is expected that over time smaller planets further away will be discovered. The major differences between the Kepler and Hubble space telescope are:

•Kepler focuses on one starfield for extended periods unlike the Hubble. In fact, 150,000 stars were selected to be the focus of Kepler. These stars are monitored continuously and simultaneously.
•Kepler’s space telescope field of view is much larger than the Hubble ever was.

It is expected that astronomy lovers will find much to amaze them in the coming years.

Filed Under: Astronomy, Planets, Satellites, Universe Beyond Tagged With: Astronomy, Jupiter, NASA, Solar System