Indholdsfortegnelse for No. 69 i All About Space

TRAPPIST-1’s planets likely to be like Mars The planetary system may be twice as old as our Solar System, and its potentially life-bearing worlds may actually be like the Red Planet ©NASA/JPL-Caltech  Scientists studying TRAPPIST-1 – the system comprised of a red dwarf star orbited by seven planets similar in size to Earth – claim they are a step closer to determining its age. Having made several observations of the star system along with other red dwarfs, the astronomers have concluded it is at least 5.4 billion years old. Indeed, they say it could even be 9.8 billion years of age, which would make it twice as old as our own Solar System. The findings will help scientists determine whether life could survive on the planets. “ If there is…

72 HOURS UNTIL IMPACT What would we do if an asteroid was on a collision course with Earth? All About Space reveals the plan to save humanity from extinction Written by Libby Plummer © Daniel Sinoca A civilisation-destroying asteroid may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but the threat is very real. These rocky fragments range in size from mere metres to hundreds of kilometres across, and while most orbit the Sun in a belt between Mars and Jupiter, the gravitational pull of planets can sometimes alter their path. If an asteroid, or a fragment of one – known as a meteoroid – makes it to the Earth’s atmosphere, it usually burns up as a meteor or shooing star. However, some explode in a massive fireball, and some make…

In the event of an impact A step-by-step guide to what happens if an asteroid is hurtling towards Earth 1 Potential hazard is spotted Survey telescopes constantly scan the sky for new NEOs. When spotted and confirmed, they are added to the list for monitoring, and if close to Earth, they get priority for closer inspection. 2 Data shared and predictions made If one of the flagged asteroids appears to be on a course to strike Earth, the information is shared with other observatories and space agencies around the world so that they can compare data. 3 Governments and rescue agencies informed If a strike is imminent we would have about three weeks’ notice for a 40- metre asteroid. At this point, experts would inform government and rescue agencies so…

What we know about Andromeda As one of the most prominent non-stellar objects in the sky, the spiral galaxy has fascinated astronomers for centuries © NASA; ESO; Andrew Dunn, 1989; Adrian Mann; Photo by Print Collector/Getty Images; Adam Evans; Clark Telescope, Lowell Observatory A spiral 'nebula' Hubble got its catalogue number, M31, from French astronomer Charles Messier, who listed star clusters and cloud-like nebulae in his catalogue of 1771. In 1850, astronomer William Parsons used his giant telescope to sketch Andromeda’s spiral shape. The 72-inch Great Telescope at Birr Castle, County Offaly, Ireland A galaxy beyond our own In 1925, Edwin Hubble identified Cepheid variable stars in images of Andromeda – a type of star whose variations indicate its true brightness. This revealed Andromeda’s true, enormous distance, and that M31…

Interview Exomoon discovery Have we found the first exomoon? Sifting through data from NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, astronomers believe that we could have picked up the first signal of an alien moon. Co-discoverer and astronomer Alex Teachey reveals if we should be getting our hopes up Interviewed by Lee Cavendish “ If similar moons turn out to be habitable in other parts of the galaxy, then this expands the number of places where life could arise” Why do think that exomoons play such an important role in understanding our universe? I think that there's a couple of reasons why we're so interested in exomoons. First of all, I think that they could really tell us a lot about the formation of our Solar System, and the formation of other solar…

A look at Cassini These instruments have been key to collecting data on our Ringed Giant and its satellites Fields and particles pallet These instruments measure the charged and neutral particles in Saturn’s ionosphere as well as larger dust grains, some of which may come from outside the solar system. Radio and plasma wave antenna Three long antennae measure the radio signals from Saturn and the changes in the electrical field caused by interactions between the solar wind and the atmospheres of both Saturn and Titan. Radar bay Bouncing radar signals off Titan’s surface allowed Cassini to measure the height of the terrain, even through thick clouds. A passive radar system also listens to signals emitted by Saturn. Remote sensing pallet A suite of visible light, infrared and ultraviolet cameras…

Processing spacecraft images Create images from Spacecraft Data Space agencies need you! Learn how you can get involved in processing images – and contribute to space science Written by Stuart Atkinson “ Most of the scientists involved in interplanetary missions now realise how important it is for the public to feel involved” Although we’d never admit it, space enthusiasts are spoiled rotten these days. We take for granted that we live at a time when the Solar System is scattered with space probes exploring its incredible planets, moons and small bodies. Look up at a planet in the night sky and there’s a good chance it’s either being studied by a robot sent from Earth at that very moment, or was recently. We also take for granted the fact that…

How to… Estimate star magnitudes You have probably noticed that some stars seem brighter than others, which will help you to work out their magnitude " A dim star nearer to us can look brighter than a very bright star a long way away" You’ll need: • Star chart • Red torch • Notebook Every star in the night sky is like our own Sun, although some are larger and others smaller, and all have different brightness. All the stars rest at differing distances, and this too will affect just how bright a star will seem to be. A dim star nearer to us can look brighter than a very bright star a long way away. Add to this that nearly half of all the stars in the sky are…

How to… Photograph planets using your smartphone Modern smartphone cameras are of remarkably-high quality and sensitivity – use this to your advantage to take amazing images of our Solar System You’ll need: • Smartphone • Phone bracket • A tracking mount • At least a telescope with a small aperture Smartphone cameras are ubiquitous and often of very good quality. They can take both still and video images with good colour balance, and, best of all, they fit in your pocket! All of this makes them a very useful tool to record those amazing views you can get through a telescope of planets such as Jupiter and Saturn. Most smartphones have HD quality cameras, which means that the images you get are sharp and clear. With this in mind, you…

Your astrophotography Astroshots of the month Send your astrophotography images to space@spaceanswers.com for a chance to see them featured in All About Space Peter Louer Llanito Perera & Teide National Park, Tenerife “Tenerife is one of the top sites in the world for astronomy. The Caldera in Teide National Park is at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, with a dry atmosphere and limited light pollution. It proved to be the ideal location to combine my hobbies of photography and astronomy. Apart from the Moon rising over north Tenerife, the images were taken in Teide National Park.” Paco Bellido Cordoba, Spain Telescope: Coronado SolarMax 60 DS II A couple of months ago we reached the maximum temperature ever recorded in this city, 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit), so we…

Behaviour of supergiant star locked down A study has sought to find out why Antares is expelling so much matter as it gets close to the end of its life ©Judy Schmidt What happens when a red giant nears the end of its life has been the subject of a fascinating new study in Chile. Keiichi Ohnaka, a researcher at Catholic University of the North, has been studying the red supergiant star Antares, to gain a more solid grasp of its late-life behaviour. Using a pioneering technique, he was able to see how the gas in the star's outer atmosphere was moving. He did so with the intention of better understanding how it expels large amounts of matter off its surface as it gets closer to becoming a supernova –…

LAUNCH PAD NASA shortlists six 'Explorer' missions Scientists are being asked to state their case in the hope of being selected in the near future Six potential space missions have been earmarked by NASA, as the space agency vows to continue unravelling the mysteries of the universe. The astrophysics proposals aim to look at the emissions of gamma-rays and X-rays from both galaxy clusters and neutron star systems. They are also seeking to study infrared emissions from galaxies in the early universe, along with the atmospheres of exoplanets. The planned missions are split into two categories: Medium-Class Explorer and Missions of Opportunity. Those in the former are Arcus, which will study stars, galaxies and clusters of galaxies using hi-res X-ray spectroscopy to characterise the interactions between these and the gas…

How to... get NuSTAR into orbit Setting for the skies This journey begins with the ‘Stargazer’ L-1011 aircraft being launched from Kwajalein Atoll, with the Pegasus XL rocket and NuSTAR payload attached. Passing the baton When Stargazer reaches an altitude of approximately seven miles, the Pegasus XL rocket is detached and continues to a low Earth orbit position. Reaching its orbit The NuSTAR payload is released from the rocket and finally reaches its 375-mile altitude orbit, where the space observatory will set up camp. © Adrian Mann Deploying the mast The final stage in the configuration is the deployment of the mast, so the ten-metre focal length is now set up and ready for observations. Unveiling of the solar panels The first item on the deployment agenda is to get…

Potential risks to planet Earth NASA’s JPL keeps a constantly updated tally of potentially hazardous asteroids using its Sentry System (410777) 2009 FD Detected by: Spacewatch Likely size: 160m When it could hit: 2185-2198 One of thousands of Apollo asteroids – the largest group of near-Earth asteroids – this binary asteroid could hit Earth between 2185 and 2198. 101955 Bennu Detected by: Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) Likely size: 490m When it could hit: 2175-2199 A C-type asteroid – one that’s made up largely of carbon – Bennu is the target of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-gathering mission. (29075) 1950 DA Detected by: Carl A. Wirtanen, Lick Observatory Likely size: 1.3km When it could hit: 2880 This massive asteroid has the highest known probability of impacting Earth and would cause major…

Future Tech Spinning a Space Station British company Magna Parva have a machine that could weave the space structures of your dreams © Adrian Mann “ Robots might be able to build us the space stations of our dreams, spun from fibres made from asteroidal material" Carbon fibre Bulk carbon fibre can be launched into space in a much smaller payload volume than sending up assembled hardware. Epoxy resin Once processed into finished composite material, the resin holds the fibres together as a solid rather than a fabric. In-space materials The ultimate way of building up space structures would be to use material sourced there, rather than launched from Earth. Carbon fibre and resins could be made from these resources. Composite beam The beams can be used to construct more…

Evidence of a smash up: How the Milky Way met Andromeda When the galactic duo collided, tidal effects threw material across the Local Group, but the large galaxies survived more or less intact © Tobias Roetsch; Hubble/European Space Agency Closing to collision According to the MOND models, Andromeda and the Milky Way closed on each other at speeds of more than 100 kilometres (62 miles) per second. Outer ring The outermost material forms a ring around the Local Group, now about 10 million light years across. Disrupted arms As the galaxies approach, tidal forces pull on their approaching edges, causing their spiral arms to unwind into space. The power of MOND Modified Newtonian Dynamics means that the gravitational grasp of each galaxy extends further, even if they lack dark matter.…

Moon tour Clavius crater Find one of the largest lunar impacts, made famous in a science fiction film that helped shape the Space Age © NASA If you’re a fan of the classic 1968 science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey, this month’s lunar ‘celebrity feature’ will need no introduction. No, not the bright-rayed crater Tycho, where the alien monolith was unearthed; Tycho is 430 kilometres (267 miles) to the north of our destination. We’re going on a tour of the vast crater Clavius. Clavius is so huge it is easily visible to the naked eye when it lies near the terminator, appearing as an obvious notch between the areas of light and dark. Clavius’ diameter of 225 kilometres (140 miles) makes it the third largest crater on the side…

Shoot planets with your phone Planning for superb astrophotography shots Being prepared and following a methodical approach is key to imaging the Solar System If you are methodical in your approach you will get some remarkably good results quite quickly. A bracket, which holds the phone firmly in place directly above the eyepiece, will improve your chances of getting really clear images, so use one if you can. Try to avoid holding onto the camera when you are taking the pictures, as this tends to introduce vibrations into the telescope and camera, which will blur your images. Practise often and you will quickly see improvement in the quality of your shots. 1 Decide on a planet to image Find and centre the planet you wish to image through your telescope…

Gerard Kuiper This determined astronomer changed our understanding of the Solar System © Everett Collection Historical / Alamy Stock Photo “ He possessed extraordinary sight – Kuiper could apparently decipher the stars to a faint magnitude of 7.5!” Growing up as a village boy in northern Holland, Gerard Kuiper eventually ended up as arguably one of the fathers of modern planetary science. The American-Dutch astronomer has many achievements to his name. The most literal and notable of these achievements is the proposal of the ‘Kuiper Belt’ – named after him upon discovery. Although he’s best known for his belt, he also discovered and predicted many aspects of our Solar System that altered the planetary sciences. He was born in Tuitjenhorn, Holland on 7 December 1905, the son of a tailor.…

It may snow on the Red Planet tonight Violent snowstorms are understood to batter the fourth rock from the Sun in the middle of the night when the atmosphere becomes cold enough © NASA A simulation of the weather conditions on the Red Planet suggests there can be intense snowstorms during the night. The surprising find for a planet that is generally perceived as being dry and dusty has been made by a team of French and American astronomers. They say the global temperature drops at night, leading water-ice particles to form clouds. When they become unstable, they release water-ice precipitation to the surface of the planet in bursts that can last for several hours. Many of the flakes fail to reach the ground, leading to only a slight dusting…

Neil’s notes on the universe Pluto should remain a dwarf planet Tyson says anyone upset at Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet status in 2006 should get over it. “Pluto is happier now. It's one of the largest of the dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt,” he says. Time is a dimension Tyson says Einstein's discovery of general relativity means time is a fluid concept. “Time is relative, so time can be stretched, for me relative to you.” As for time travel, we are “prisoners of the present.” We are living in a simulation It may not be Tyson's own theory, but he has no argument against it. “If you have tremendous computing power,” he states, “you could simulate every possible thing that could occur.” © NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI; ESA; ESO Dark matter…

New York's Armageddon What would happen if a 100 metre-wide asteroid crashed into the Big Apple? ©NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; NASA/JPL-Caltech; Jay Wong Heat Those lucky enough to escape the fireball will still be slowly cooked by the thermal radiation it creates, which will extend out 2.90km (1.84 miles) from the point of impact. Thermal radiation While the sheer heat will kill vast amounts of people near the impact point, thermal radiation will stretch out to a massive 20.11km (12.05-mile) radius, causing many more burn injuries. Crater The crater from the asteroid, along with the ‘ejecta’ – falling debris displaced by the impact – could also prove deadly. It’s estimated that a hit in midtown Manhattan would kill at least 2.5 million people. Impact The initial fireball caused by…

Andromeda crash Have we already crashed into Andromeda? Billions of years from now, the Milky Way and our nearest spiral galaxy will collide. According to recent research though, it could be a case of history repeating itself Written by Giles Sparrow © Tim Abott, CTIO/NOAO Milkomeda – you may not recognise the name, but if you’re a space enthusiast you’ll probably be aware of the concept. About 4 billion years from now, our own giant spiral galaxy will begin a vast intergalactic collision with its nearest large neighbour, the Andromeda Galaxy – currently 2.5 million light years from Earth. Head-on collisions between stars will be rare, but the huge clouds of gas and dust scattered among the stars will slam together, triggering a blaze of new star formation. Over many…

Cassini at Saturn Written by Luis Villazon Grand Finale... Why it’s not over for Cassini The spacecraft’s final encore at Saturn promises to yield the most exciting science yet! © Tobias Roetsch When Cassini reported for duty in 1997, it only signed up for an 11-year tour: seven years to fly to Saturn, then four years of science. But four years got extended to six, then 13, and now its final mission promises to be its most spectacular. On 15 September, Cassini will dive-bomb into Saturn’s upper atmosphere at 123,000 kilometres (76,429 miles) an hour and be incinerated. But why does Cassini need to be destroyed? Why not just leave it in orbit to collect data forever? Because, after 20 years in space, Cassini is wearing out. Although the plutonium-238…

Focus on SPACE X… WE HAVE A PROBLEM! The private space company’s CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the Falcon Heavy might not even reach its orbit on its maiden launch © SpaceX / Alamy Stock Photo; Adrian Mann “I encourage people to come down to the Cape to see the first Falcon Heavy mission. It’s guaranteed to be exciting” Elon Musk On 19 July 2017, Elon Musk attended the International Space Station Research and Development (ISSR&D) conference in Washington D.C., United States. At the meeting, Musk was asked a question concerning the risk of launching the first Falcon Heavy rocket, to which he responded by lowering the expectations of the Falcon Heavy launch. The entrepreneur claimed that there is a “real good chance” it will not reach its orbit.…

Deep sky challenge Treasures of the autumn Milky Way Among the richest for deep-sky observers, late September brings star clusters, nebulae and galaxies galore The Milky Way, that ribbon of light which is part of a spiral arm of our own galaxy, is still well on show during late September and early October. This means that a lot of deep sky objects, which are either embedded in it, or near to it, are also well on display. High up in the sky from mid-northern latitudes, the constellations of Cepheus (the King) and Cassiopeia (the Seated Queen) can be found sweeping around the north celestial pole throughout the course of the night. The pair of star patterns are full of star clusters and nebulae, easily available to even the most modest…

The Northern Hemisphere The Northern Hemisphere Aquarius and Pegasus grace the skies of late September and into October, marking the darker evenings © Wil Tirion;; ESA; NASA; ESO/PESSTO/S. Smartt; Ole Nielsen With the Sun setting not long after 19:00pm (BST) this month, rich pickings can be had by those with even the most modest observing equipment. The end of September affords the chance to catch the likes of Cygnus (the Swan) and Capricornus (the Sea Goat) and their wealth of deep-sky objects before they become unobservable in October. Look out for the ‘square’ of Pegasus (the Winged Horse) rising in the west while Cepheus (the King) appears in the northwest. In both constellations, a selection of binary stars can be split using small telescopes. Aquarius (the Water Bearer), Taurus (the…

In the shops In the shops The latest books, apps, software, tech and accessories for space and astronomy fans alike Model Solar System Orrery Cost: £20.90 (approx. $27.00) From: Rapid Education / Cochranes of Oxford Ltd This Solar System Orrery is a very basic representation of our Solar System, consisting of different coloured balls rotating around a central orange ‘Sun’ that lights up, that's useful for educational purposes. Some of the things that this model can be used for are, demonstrating how an eclipse occurs, the retrograde motion of Mars in the night sky or even just for explaining the structure of the Solar System to young, budding observers of the universe. However, we feel that this product is quite overpriced, based on its capabilities. For example, when the AA…