Astronomers have discovered what is likely a rogue planet-- a planet zipping through space independently, unconnected to any star-- just 100 light years away. The object, at four to seven times the mass of Jupiter, may also be a brown dwarf, a body not quite big enough to become a star, but current odds are that it's a planet ejected from a solar system.
Astronomers think such rogue worlds are common throughout the galaxy, and they are delighted to have found one so close by. Since they won't have to deal with the overpowering glare of a host star, they look forward to learning a lot about this object fairly quickly, and using that knowledge to extrapolate about others of its kind.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Naming Exoplanets
Astronomers estimate there are 160 billion planets in the Milky Way galaxy. Giving each world an unique nane would seem a daunting task, so Uwingu, a new company dedicated to finding new ways to fund space research, is throwing the process open to the public, allowing people to submit names, and to vote on the most popular.
Of course, giving each world its own name probably isn't necessary. Most of them are huge dead rocks, or balls of gas and ice, that will never be important to us. Naming exoplanets that might harbor life and giving all the others simpler designations would probably be sufficient.
Of course, giving each world its own name probably isn't necessary. Most of them are huge dead rocks, or balls of gas and ice, that will never be important to us. Naming exoplanets that might harbor life and giving all the others simpler designations would probably be sufficient.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Martian Life Revisited
Fifteen years ago, a team of NASA scientists announced they thought they'd found evidence for life on Mars in a meteorite that had originated on the Red Planet. The science community generallly never bought that conclusion, but the team has not backed away from it.
Various studies have since shown that all the features the NASA team points to as evidence of life could be produced non-biologically, The science consensus is, therefore, that we should assume they were produced non-biologically unless or until we have powerful additional evidenc to the contrary. Scientists generally don't want to declare they've found alien life only to be proven wrong. It's a good, solid, conservative position. Whether it leads to the correct answer or not is yet to be determined.
Various studies have since shown that all the features the NASA team points to as evidence of life could be produced non-biologically, The science consensus is, therefore, that we should assume they were produced non-biologically unless or until we have powerful additional evidenc to the contrary. Scientists generally don't want to declare they've found alien life only to be proven wrong. It's a good, solid, conservative position. Whether it leads to the correct answer or not is yet to be determined.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Life Colors
There are various indicators that could suggest a planet might harbor life. The location of its orbit is the first; if it's within the host planet's habitable zone, there's a shot. Free oxygen in the atmosphere is another good indicator. Methane's presence means the possibility of life must be seriously considered.
A new study points out that the overall color of a planet is another indicator. A small planet that is basically blue and within the habitable zone, for example, could indicate a water world. A similar world similarly positioned, but greenish, may mean that world is awash in chlorophyll, suggesting vegetation. Spectroscopic analysis of the light bouncing off such a planet-- breaking down the light into its constituent parts-- could then give more details about the makeup of an alien atmosphere.
A new study points out that the overall color of a planet is another indicator. A small planet that is basically blue and within the habitable zone, for example, could indicate a water world. A similar world similarly positioned, but greenish, may mean that world is awash in chlorophyll, suggesting vegetation. Spectroscopic analysis of the light bouncing off such a planet-- breaking down the light into its constituent parts-- could then give more details about the makeup of an alien atmosphere.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
NASA's L2 Plans
According to reports, NASA and the Obama administration have been quietly at work developing a new plan for U. S. manned spaceflight.
NASA wants to build a manned outpost at the Earth-Moon L2 point. That's a point in space beyond the Moon where the gravitational influences of the Earth and Moon cancel each other out. A spacecraft placed there would stay there with little or no further expenditure of fuel. NASA, therefore, thinks an outpost there-- which could be built with international partners-- would be the ideal place to learn to live in deep space. It could also serve as a staging site for missions deeper into space. Finally, astronauts stationed there could teleoperate a fleet of rovers on the lunar surface, conducting an exploration of the Moon's far side.
The plans calls for establishing the outpost by 2021, before sending astronauts to an asteroid by 2025. The proposal will not call for an increase in NASA's budget.
NASA wants to build a manned outpost at the Earth-Moon L2 point. That's a point in space beyond the Moon where the gravitational influences of the Earth and Moon cancel each other out. A spacecraft placed there would stay there with little or no further expenditure of fuel. NASA, therefore, thinks an outpost there-- which could be built with international partners-- would be the ideal place to learn to live in deep space. It could also serve as a staging site for missions deeper into space. Finally, astronauts stationed there could teleoperate a fleet of rovers on the lunar surface, conducting an exploration of the Moon's far side.
The plans calls for establishing the outpost by 2021, before sending astronauts to an asteroid by 2025. The proposal will not call for an increase in NASA's budget.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Chinese Space Plane
China seems to be developing a small space plane similar to the U. S. Air Force's secretive X-37B, Space analysts aren't sure exactly what the X-37B is designed to do, and China watchers are even further away from understanding the Chinese craft, named Shentong.
Some see Shentong as a waste of resources trying to match the Americans, much as the Soviets wasted resources on Buran, their version of a manned space shuttle. It never flew. Others, however, say Shentong is the next step in an increasingly aggressiive manned space program. Still others point out that the Chinese space program is run by the People's Liberation Army and suggest Shentong may have military implications. Hopefully, Western intelligence has a better handle on Chinese intentions than Western academia has.
Some see Shentong as a waste of resources trying to match the Americans, much as the Soviets wasted resources on Buran, their version of a manned space shuttle. It never flew. Others, however, say Shentong is the next step in an increasingly aggressiive manned space program. Still others point out that the Chinese space program is run by the People's Liberation Army and suggest Shentong may have military implications. Hopefully, Western intelligence has a better handle on Chinese intentions than Western academia has.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Life Abode?
A dwarf star 44 light years away has a system of six planets. The outermost of the six orbits squarely within the star's habitable zone. That makes it an early candidate for possibly being a home of life.
Better yet, it is a Super-Earth about seven times as massive as our world. We, therefore, wouldn't be very comfortable there in all likelihood, but it's probably a rocky world, and liquid water could exist on its surface-- a big plus for possible life.
The next generation space telescopes should be able to image the planet directly in a few years. That picture could possibly be a turning point in human history.
Better yet, it is a Super-Earth about seven times as massive as our world. We, therefore, wouldn't be very comfortable there in all likelihood, but it's probably a rocky world, and liquid water could exist on its surface-- a big plus for possible life.
The next generation space telescopes should be able to image the planet directly in a few years. That picture could possibly be a turning point in human history.
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