Innehållsförteckning för No. 49 från All About Space

IS THE UNIVERSE A HOLOGRAM? According to current research, the reality of the cosmos may be stranger than you think Written by Colin Stuart “Even gravity might be an illusion”Daniel Grumiller, Vienna University of Technology Picture a room filled with books. Then imagine that all the books suddenly disappear. All the information they contained would be lost, right? All the plot lines, characters and happy endings would vanish into thin air. But this library is different. Here, all the information inside the room is also encoded on the floor, the walls and the ceiling. Even though the books themselves are gone, you can still retrieve all of the details they contained by looking at the surfaces that once enclosed them. Want to know how that story ended? Read the wallpaper.…

The Firewall Paradox How black holes could hint at a holographic universe Physicists get around the problem of information being lost if a copy of that data is left imprinted on the event horizon. In quantum physics, two copies of the same information technically shouldn’t exist. However, you can dodge that bullet by saying that a person inside the black hole can’t see the information on the event horizon and a person outside the event horizon can’t see the information inside it. Complications then arise due to black hole evaporation, predicted by Stephen Hawking. Once roughly half the black hole has evaporated, there is no longer enough data on the edge of the black hole to match the information inside it. General relativity predicts that anyone passing through the event…

TOP TECH High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment The MRO’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is a milestone in space-based camera technology. It’s the largest and most powerful camera ever sent into deep space and consists of a 0.5m (1.6ft) aperture reflecting telescope. It cost a whopping $40mn (£27.5mn) and can capture images of Mars’ surface with resolutions of 30cm/pixel(11.8in/pixel). It’s even caught shots of the Curiosity and Opportunity rover missions. Vital statistics 2 000 watts The amount of electricity needed for the MRO It would take five MROs to power a normal home 58.3m The height of the Atlas V rocket That’s just over half the size of Big Ben 2,180kg The weight of the MRO A touch heavier than your average 4x4 car 54.6mn km The minimum distance between…

SPACE EXPLORATION Will time travel ever be possible? Sara Cesare This is a tricky question to answer as the definition of time travel can be a little fuzzy. The general consensus on the subject seems to be that travelling back in time is probably impossible, due to our understanding of something we call entropy. This is a concept that is analogous to the ‘order’ of a system. Moving forward in time (faster than we currently are) is something that is often discussed. Using Einstein’s principles of relativity we can engineer scenarios that mean we experience the passage of time slower, giving the illusion that we have moved forward in time more rapidly than usual. JB…

Contributors Colin Stuart • Is the universe a hologram? Colin speaks to the experts at CERN, who are trying to find out if the cosmos really is much stranger than it appears. Giles Sparrow • It’s been ten years since NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter reached the Red Planet. Giles highlights the very best moments of the mission so far. Laura Mears • Ever wondered what it’s like to ski on icy moon Enceladus or walk on a neutron star? Find out from Laura on page 38. Christopher Newman • Lecturer in space law Christopher tells us about the Outer Space Treaty and whether we can own land on another planet.…

What the experts say… “Scientists have been looking for gravitational waves for decades, but we've only now been able to achieve the incredibly precise technologies needed to pick up these very, very faint echoes from across the universe. This discovery would not have been possible without the efforts and the technologies developed by the Max Planck, Leibniz Universität, and UK scientists working in the GEO collaboration.” Professor Karsten Danzmann, director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics “It is incredibly exciting to finally see the deep connections between theory and observation. This is the holy grail of science. To confirm amazing predictions of general relativity is a dream come true. We have witnessed a historic event, the confirmation of the 100-year-old predictions of Einstein regarding gravitational waves and our…

‘Dark Ages’ could come to light with lunar mission The proposed craft will be placed in the Moon’s shadow to study the distant black spots in the history of the universe NASA is planning to launch a new mission to study the ‘Dark Ages’ of the universe. The Dark Ages Radio Explorer (DARE) will be positioned in the shadow of our Moon, enabling it study the deeper reaches of the galaxy without the signal interruptions from the Earth and its man-made satellites. The cosmic dawn of the universe has always fascinated scientists, and NASA hopes this planned orbiter will finally provide us with the means to peer into this mysterious epoch, where the stars and galaxies were first formed and developed, and see through the celestial haze that’s essentially obscured…

"Reality" vs Hologram Holographic space-time Superstrings String theory is able to combine quantum physics and gravity in order to perform calculations about black holes. Field of particles A so-called conformal field theory of point particles operates on a 4-D hologram Black hole hints The study of black holes shows how a copy of the information can be stored in one fewer dimension. Hot radiation A black hole in a 5-D space-time is equivalent to hot radiation on the holographic universe "Normal" space-time Flat space According to our observations of the observable universe, we believe that the cosmos is flat Space-time The universe has the dimensions associated with space and time Curved by mass Objects in the universe, such as galaxies, planets and stars, 'curves' the fabric of space-time…

5 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT Red dwarfs @ Alamy The nearest star to us is a red dwarf Proxima Centauri, which is very likely to form part of a triple star system with binary Alpha Centauri, is an astronomical stone’s throw away of 4.24 light years. Despite being our closest star, it is faint and cannot be observed with the naked eye. Many host super-Earths According to observations from the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) installed on the European Southern Observatory’s 3.6-metre (11.8-foot) telescope in Chile, around 40 per cent of red dwarfs host a super-Earth planet in their habitable zones, where liquid water can exist. They are the most common star in our galaxy When we look around the neighbourhood of our Sun, the most common type of…

Anatomy of the MRO Boasting the most powerful camera ever sent to deep space, the orbiter has been studying the topography and composition of Mars for ten years with some fascinating discoveries Gimbals Two mechanisms make sure the solar arrays point toward the Sun, and another ensures the High Gain Antenna points toward Earth. Solar panels The MRO's only source of power is sunlight. Each panel is approximately 10m2 (107.6ft2) and capable of generating 1,000 watts. HiRISE The largest and most powerful camera ever sent to deep space, the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is the MRO’s most important instrument. MARCI The Mars Color Imager is a wide-angle, low-resolution camera that can see in five visible and two ultraviolet bands. High Gain Antenna The High Gain Antenna is the Mars…

HOW TO… map the Martian surface 1 Providing some context In order to know where to point the powerful HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera, the MRO uses the Context Camera to determine the most suitable region. The Shallow Subsurface Radar is used if the presence of underground polar ice caps is also factored in. 2 Capturing the spectrum In order to correctly capture the likeness of the Martian surface, the MRO uses a spectrometer. One of the craft’s main spectrometers, CRISM, has the power to see 544 near-infrared channels, allowing the MRO map to now include vital mineralogy and surface composition data. 3 Global scale Before the HiRISE camera is put into action, the onboard Mars Color Imager (MARCI) begins taking wide-angle shots in relatively low resolution. It…

Who owns the MOON ? Outside the confines of the Earth’s atmosphere, All About Space uncovers who can stake claim on other bodies in the Solar System and beyond Written by Christopher Newman For the first time since the Apollo era, human space exploration is capturing the zeitgeist, with science fact and fiction blurring in a flurry of media excitement. Private companies are seeking investment to mine asteroids and groups of individuals are looking to raise money to embark on the colonisation of Mars. Never in human history has outer space seemed so accessible or replete with possibility. But along with the formidable technical and engineering challenges facing such ventures are more prosaic issues regarding the rules and regulations for human space endeavour. As humanity moves away from low Earth…

Why we should mine asteroids Asteroids provide natural resources to fuel the exploration of space and the prosperity on Earth as our population continues to grow © Adrian Mann; NASA; ESA; T.M. Brown (STScI); SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA Water-rich asteroid A single asteroid could produce enough fuel for every rocket launched throughout history One single 500m (1,640ft) water-rich asteroid An asteroid of this size would produce over £3.47 trillion ($5 trillion) worth of water for use in space. It currently costs about £13,892 ($20,000) to send a litre of water from Earth to deep space. Uses of water in space Fuel for rockets Air to breathe Water to drink Plantinum-rich asteroid This type of asteroid contains more platinum metals than we have currently mined from the Earth to date One…

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY OUR EXPERTS In proud association with the National Space Centre www.spacecentre.co.uk Sophie Allan NationalSpaceAcademy EducationOfficer • Sophie studied astrophysics at university. She has a special interest in astrobiology and planetary science. Josh Barker EducationTeam Presenter • Having earned a master’s in physics and astrophysics, Josh continues to pursue his interest in space at the National Space Centre. Gemma Lavender DeputyEditor • Gemma holds a master's degree in astrophysics, is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Associate Member of the Institute of Physics Robin Hague FreelanceScienceWriter • Robin has a degree in physics with space technology and a master's in hybrid rocket engine design. He contributes regularly to All About Space.…

ASTRONOMY Will there be devices that can peer through light pollution in the future? Ben Heart Radio telescopes can be used to observe the universe in a part of the electromagnetic spectrum not affected by light pollution. However, not everyone has their own radio telescope! Some technology does exist to minimise the impact of light pollution but there is no perfect solution. Light pollution reduction (LPR) filters only allow through specific wavelengths of light – ideal if the wavelengths you want to observe are different from those within the light pollution. You can easily cut out the light from sodium street lights, but this will only cut out one source of light pollution. If you’re looking at specific objects, such as emission nebula, you can use narrowband filters, although they…

SOLAR SYSTEM Does the Moon really have a dark side? Tanya Banks © Alamy; NASA; NOAA; GSFC No – this is a common misconception given that we can’t see the other side of the Moon from our perspective on Earth. However, just because we’re unable to see the farside of our lunar companion, it doesn’t meant that it’s dark. Looking at the Moon’s phases easily disproves this myth. During a full Moon, the side that we can see is fully illuminated and the other side really is in complete darkness, but at other times of the month, we can only see part of the Moon. The rest of the light is falling on the far side. Photographs by the USSR’s Luna 3 show the far side of the Moon to…

Mare Humboldtianum A favourable libration makes this elusive lunar sea an intriguing target this month © NASA This month we turn to the very edge of the Moon and take a look at one of the most elusive lunar seas visible from Earth – Mare Humboldtianum. Located on the Moon’s northeastern limb, Mare Humboldtianum is a dark patch of lava some 270 kilometres (170 miles) across on the lunar nearside, whose eastern edge just touches the 90 degrees east line of longitude. Since the Moon rotates once on its axis in precisely the same time as it takes to revolve around Earth (keeping the same face turned towards us), it might be thought that Mare Humboldtianum should always be on view whenever it is illuminated by the Sun. But this…

The Leo Triplet and the ‘Realm of the Galaxies’ March sees the constellations of spring gracing our skies with a selection of must-see galaxies © ESO; INAF-VST; OmegaCAM; ESA; Hubble; NASA; The LEGUS Team Leo the Lion is probably one of the more easily recognised constellations and it rides high in the south during March. It is a very ancient constellation that was known to the ancient Greeks and many others. It contains a welter of deep-sky objects, of which some are easier to see than others. Due to its position in space during the Northern Hemisphere spring, during the night the Earth looks out into extragalactic space – in other words, away from the objects in our own galaxy, which certainly are very far away. Instead, we look out…

WIN A DIGISCOPING KIT We've got a spotting scope and accessories for casual astronomy to give away this month Olivon Spotting Scope T800 20-60x80  From: Optical Hardware Ltd Cost: £349.99 (approx. $506) Featuring a multicoated, high-resolution 20-60x80 zoom eyepiece, along with BAK4 prisms for exquisite, crisp and clear views of bright night-sky objects, the T800 is ideal for those just breaking into astronomy. This spotting scope is suitable for those who enjoy gazing upon the cratered surface of our lunar companion, as well as bright planets and star clusters. Manufactured with a fully waterproof and fog-resistant design, the T800’s rugged build promises to last for years of observations. Olivon smartphone camera adapter From: Optical Hardware Ltd Cost: £59.99 (approx. $87) An incredibly useful piece of kit for an astrophotographer who…

News in Brief relay Space in laser orbit The European Space Agency (ESA) has finally sent its SpaceDataHighway laser relay into space following a successful launch in January 2016. The European Data Relay System (EDRS-A) will form part of a new satellite network that will aim to provide data transfers at near-real-time speeds of an impressive 1.8 gigabits per second. affects Moon activity rainfall on Earth According to research by a group of scientists at the University of Washington, the gravitational pull of the Moon can actually diminish rainfall back on Earth when it is overhead – although only slightly. The Moon’s gravity purportedly causes the Earth’s atmosphere to bulge, increasing its size and reducing the size of rain pockets. improve Apollo 14 future to lunar missions The obstacles and…

10 YEARS AROUND MARS A decade ago, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) arrived at the Red Planet. All About Space celebrates its ten-year anniversary Written by Giles Sparrow Mission objectives Understand the present climate of Mars Work out the nature of the complex Martian terrain Search for evidence of aqueous and hydrothermal activity Identify landing sites for future Mars missions Return data from craft on the surface during relay phase 2006 10 March 2006 Arrival at Mars The MRO arrives in Martian orbit, initially entering a highly elliptical orbit over the planet’s poles. After initial checks, MRO begins an aerobraking manoeuvre that takes five months to complete, taking advantage of the natural brake provided by friction with the atmosphere to save thruster fuel. By the time the process is complete…

The Space Race It was the growth of the rivalry between the United States and the USSR that saw the need for the Outer Space Treaty USSR USA 24 April 1990 The Hubble Space Telescope is sent into space and into Earth orbit to image the universe 20 November 1998 The launch of the first element of the International Space Station 4 October 1957 Launch of the very first artificial Earth satellite 31 January 1958 Launch of the first American artificial satellite 12 April 1961 The first manned space flight of Yuri Gagarin 20 February 1962 The first orbital manned flight (John Glenn) 16 June 1963 The first flight of female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova 18 March 1965 Alexey Leonov becomes the first person to enter open space 31 March 1966…

Searching for Planet 9 We caught up with astronomer Dr Mike Brown who, along with his colleague Dr Konstantin Batygin at Caltech in the US, has found evidence of a ninth planet on the outskirts of the Solar System Interviewed by David Crookes INTERVIEWBIO Dr Mike Brown Professor of planetary astronomy at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Dr Mike Brown is well known for being the man who killed Pluto (indeed, his Twitter handle is@plutokiller). Named one of TIME’s ‘100 Most Influential People’ in 2006, his team has discovered many trans-Neptunian objects including the dwarf planet, Eris.. In January, your work hit the headlines when it was revealed yourself and Dr Konstantin Batygin had discovered convincing evidence of a planet beyond Pluto. Is it true your daughter, Lilah, insisted…

SPACE EXPLORATION Can we make the International Space Station bigger? Derek Rigsby Yes, we can make the International Space Station bigger and, in fact, we have done so several times during its career. One of the benefits of the design of the orbital laboratory is that it is completely modular in design. The station in its current layout would be completely impossible to fly in one piece. It is far too big and, currently, there are no rockets big enough to lift it. Since the first component was launched in 1998, the station has slowly been built and expanded, one piece at a time. Recently, there have been several announcements that the International Space Station has been finished. However, we still see small changes to the station itself. All the…

ASTRONOMY Can I replace a chipped telescope lens? Terry Oak Unfortunately, lenses are often the most expensive element of a telescope. Getting a high quality lens can be costly, as the better the optic system the better the pictures and resolution a user can expect. If one of these elements is damaged, the quality of the scope will deteriorate. But replacing these elements should return the telescope to its full standard, although it can be a little tricky depending on the size and precision required for the lens. The smaller the lens the cheaper it will be to repair or replace, and the easiest solution would be to get in contact with a local optical specialist and ask for a quote. SA…

SOLAR SYSTEM If you squashed the planets together, how much space would they take up? David Hogan If we add up the masses of the planets from Mercury to Neptune, we get a combined mass of 2.7 x 1027 kilograms (6 x 1027 pounds), that is a 27 (or a 60 for pounds) followed by 26 zeros! That is absolutely huge! Now that we have the mass, we need to know the density of the material of the planets. Everything is made up of atoms, which contain protons, neutrons and electrons. Since the electrons are tiny we will ignore them and say that the planets are made up of a collection of protons and neutrons (nucleonic matter). Nucleonic matter has a very high density, but now we can use the…

Ben Miller on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence Comedian, actor and lover of all things science, Ben Miller has documented the search for alien life in a new book with optimism for the future. Are we really alone in the universe? Interviewed by David Crookes “It’s my belief that bacterial life will be widespread and common, and within a decade we might detect that with our telescopes” INTERVIEWBIO Ben Miller Known in the UK as being one-half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller, Ben Miller has appeared in a number of films and TV series, including The Worst Week of My Life. He began – and abandoned – a PhD in physics in favour of comedy but his love of science and astronomy remains strong. Having presented an episode…

Naked eye targets This month’s naked eye targets Early spring skies are resplendent for naked eye and binocular observers The Sickle Asterism Marking the head and mane of Leo the Lion, the Sickle Asterism (an easily recognisable pattern of stars) looks like a backward question mark in the sky. Denebola The star that marks the tail of the Lion, Denebola is thought to vary slightly in brightness over the period of a few hours – in other words, it pulsates. Sextans One of the most sparse and inconspicuous constellations in the entire night sky, Sextans the Sextant represents an old astronomical instrument and consists of only two stars. Regulus At the bottom of the Sickle Asterism is a very bright star. This is Regulus, meaning ‘little king’ and it is…

Shooting a total solar eclipse Keep safe when imaging one of nature’s breathtaking spectacles It’s easy in the excitement to forget to fit a solar filter, so check everything is as it should be before you use any equipment. Check filters for damage, too. If in doubt, don’t! There will be lots of other people taking pictures, so just enjoy the eclipse. If everything is okay though, take lots of shots and vary exposure times a little between shots. You’ll need to do this anyway as the eclipse nears totality, as light levels will drop dramatically – don’t forget your safety. Put filters back on to the optics as soon as totality is over. 1 Find an ideal destination Know where you’re going to observe the eclipse from and have…

Meade LightBridge Mini 114 Ideal for those looking to get into astronomy, this portable reflector is a worthy purchase for those on a budget “For the telescope’s low price, the eyepieces are of very good build quality” Telescope advice Cost: £185 / $149 From: Hama Products Ltd Type: Newtonian reflector Aperture: 4.5” Focal length: 17.7” Best for... Beginners Small budget Planetary viewing Lunar viewing Bright deep-sky objects It’s said that you should avoid purchasing a cheap telescope, however, this certainly shouldn’t be applied to the Meade LightBridge Mini – the “baby” version of the Meade LightBridge. It might be small, but – overall – this telescope is a worthy purchase for those looking to get into astronomy. If you have children that have been pestering you for a scope for…