Astronomy

For the last total solar eclipse, in 2017, I drove 4 hours to get to the path of totality. This time, I'm not traveling farther than just down the street.

As much as 85 percent of U.S. emissions of sulfuryl fluoride—a rare greenhouse gas and common pesticide used to treat termites—comes from California

Eco-anxiety is common around the world, especially among young people, and while the symptoms are the same as anxiety, the way to reduce them is not

Evidence points to more children today feeling anxious than a few years ago, with a complicated picture emerging encompassing everything from the pandemic to social media

The covid-19 pandemic saw a pronounced uptick in anxiety levels globally, but levels were rising in some countries before the pandemic began. The race is on to explain this trend

Eco-anxiety is common around the world, especially among young people, and while the symptoms are the same as anxiety, the way to reduce them is not

Evidence points to more children today feeling anxious than a few years ago, with a complicated picture emerging encompassing everything from the pandemic to social media

The covid-19 pandemic saw a pronounced uptick in anxiety levels globally, but levels were rising in some countries before the pandemic began. The race is on to explain this trend

An earthquake scientist discusses what we know about Taiwan’s magnitude 7. quake so far and what may happen next

ESA gives new names to its key contributions to the lunar Gateway, which is set to become the first space station around the Moon.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted hints of a third planet in the disk of gas and dust that surrounds an infant star, as well as signs of moon formation.

Intuitive Machines recently had a major breakthrough, successfully becoming the first non-governmental entity to land on the Moon in February. At least the landing was partially successful – the company’s Odysseus lander ended up on its side, though its instruments and communication links remained at least partially functional. That mission, dubbed IM-1, was the first in a series of ambitious missions the company has planned. And they recently released a paper detailing features of a unique hopping robot that will hitch a ride on its next Moon mission.

Known as South Pole Hopper (or S.P. Hopper), the robot will be the first of a new class called µNova. Weighing in at only 35 kg and standing only 70 cm tall, this miniaturized craft is a stand-alone spacecraft that can operate entirely autonomously. It must do this to complete its mission of exploring the region around the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar south pole.

Specifically, the craft has four distinct objectives: 

1. Determine the geologic properties of a specific ridge at the south pole, including inside a PSR
2. Determine the surface brightness temperatures of both areas bathed at least partially in the Sun’s rays and also in the PSR.
3. Research the “surface roughness” and “thermal inertia” of the Moon’s regolith at its landing location.
4. Determine how much hydrogen there is in the general area – with the understanding that, most likely, it will be tied up in water.

Video about the IM-2 Mission
Credit – NASASpaceNews

None of those objectives individually require S.P. Hopper’s most notable feature – but it sure would be helpful to complete them – it can “hop” by thrusting itself off the lunar surface and landing in an area it chooses completely autonomously – even in a PSR. It can do so at an angle of up to 10 degrees, the company is quick to point out, given its recent difficulties with spacecraft angle. 

The paper describes several technical features of the hopper – including the fact that it will use a wireless LTE system to communicate. To collect the data required for its mission, it has three main scientific instruments: a set of CMOS cameras, whose primary task is to help with autonomous navigation but can also send pictures back to Earth to be analyzed; the LRAD thermopile sensor system; designed to capture brightness measurements of the regolith, and the PLWS, a miniature neutron spectrometer, specifically designed to look for hydrogen in space.

However, perhaps the most interesting part of the paper details its flight plan. S. P. Hopper is designed to make 5 – possibly 6 – hops when it lands at the lunar south pole. The first will be a “commissioning hop” that will only traverse 20 m or so. Next will be a 100 m “proof of concept” hop that will demonstrate that a hopping robot is a viable mode of transportation on the Moon.

Following those initial flights, S. P. Hopper will fly about 300 m to the rim of Marston crater, part of the Shackleton – de Gerlache ridge. It will then fly into the crater itself, which is a PSR, and then fly back out to the ridge again. If there’s enough fuel left, Intuitive Machines plans a 6th exploratory flight to look at anything interesting in the vicinity. 

Fraser discusses Intuitive Machine’s lunar landing.

Currently, IM-2, the flight that will take S.P. Hopper to the South Pole, is scheduled for launch sometime this year. Given Intuitive Machine’s relative success with the Odysseus lander, there’s a lot of optimism about the success of this mission as well. For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see if the company can pull off an even more successful follow-on mission.

Learn More:
Martin et al – S.P. HOPPER: IN-SITU EXPLORATION OF THE SHACKLETON DE GERLACHE RIDGE
UT – NASA is Going Ahead With a Hopping Lander to Explore the Lunar Surface
UT – China’s Chang’e-7 Will Deploy a Hopper that Jumps into a Crater in Search of Water Ice
UT – Drones Could Help Map the Lunar Surface with Extreme Precision

Lead Image:
View of the S.P Hopper.
Credit – Martin et al.

The post A Robot Hopper to Explore the Moon’s Dangerous Terrain appeared first on Universe Today.

Looking at prospects for eclipse day and totality.

Have you picked out your site to observe the eclipse on April 8th? Next Monday, the shadow of the Moon crosses Mexico, the contiguous United States from Texas to Maine, and the Canadian Maritimes for the last time for this generation. And while over 30 million people live in the path of totality, millions more live within an easy day drive of the path. I’m expecting that many folks will decide to make a three-day weekend of it, and eclipse travel traffic will really pick up this coming Saturday, April 6th.

We’ve written previously on observing and safety in our big guide to the April 8th total solar eclipse, and the science campaigns underway to meet the eclipse.

So, what can we expect on the big day? While eclipses and celestial mechanics are a definite, not all eclipses are the same, as key variables both cosmic and terrestrial play a role in the experience.

Watching the Weather

Of course, the major question mark that everyone is watching is weather and cloud cover. As the day nears, weather models begin to merge and agree. While climate models typically favor clear skies in early April for the southwest portion of the track and clouds to the northeast, predictions now actually show a reverse trend for the afternoon of the 8th. This means clear skies for New England, and clouds (and perhaps, even afternoon storm and tornado warnings) to the south towards Texas. Keep in mind, a Nor’easter is also inbound for New England late this week… we actually opted to head to northern Maine early for this very reason. Good sites to check include Pivotal Weather, and NOAA’s cloud cover forecast. On eclipse day, we’re watching the GOES-East live view page on North America to see what’s actually occurring.

Cloud cover prospects of April 8th, versus the eclipse path. Credit: Pivotal Weather.

It’s always tough to know if the Sun will be obscured by a cloud for the scant few minutes of totality days prior. Remember: you don’t need a pristine clear sky for a solar eclipse… just a good view of the Sun and Moon. April over North America can be a fickle month.

Sometimes, seeing the eclipsed Sun through thick fast-moving clouds can provide a memorable view. This was the case for us in 2017 when we caught the eclipse from PARI, North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains.

Solar Activity

We’re now headed towards the peak of Solar Cycle No. 25, so expect the Sun to be active, come eclipse day. Sunspots rotating into view now will also be visible during the partial phases of the eclipse leading up to totality. The Sun is uncharacteristically quiet this week, but we do have a few sunspots rotating into view to add a photogenic look to the Sun.

Sunspot activity rotating into view as of April 3rd. NASA/ESA/SOHO The Corona’s Appearance

Did you know: long-time eclipse chasers can actually identify which eclipse a given photo is from… just from the appearance of the corona. Predictive Science Incorporated actually runs a forecast for the appearance of the corona come eclipse day, and it looks like we’re in for a memorable one:

The latest prediction for the appearance of the solar corona on eclipse day. Credit: Predictive Science Inc.

Catching the International Space Station transiting the partially eclipsed Sun can be a memorable observation. ISS Transit Finder is a good site to predict transits of the station for a given location.

A transit of the ISS captured during the 2015 partial solar eclipse. Credit: Thierry Legault. Last Minute Plans

Mobility is key, come eclipse day. Plan your eclipse expedition like a heist, complete with a plan to go mobile and an escape route. Tales of totality are replete with stories of eclipse chasers driving down back roads and even taking off running on foot to stay ahead of incoming clouds.

Skywatching During Totality

Though totality is fleeting, do take about half a minute to stargaze. Jupiter and Venus will be visible, along with several +1st magnitude stars. Comet 12P Pons-Brooks is also at +4.5 magnitude in the constellation Aries, 25 degrees from the Sun. A well-placed outburst from this tempestuous comet could always vault it into binocular or even naked eye visibility.

Skywatching during totality. Credit: Stellarium. Animal Activity During Totality

Finally, keep an eye (and ear) out for any anomalous phenomena during totality. Temperatures may drop, roosters may crow, and nocturnal creatures may briefly emerge, fooled by the false twilight. In 2017, we faced a sudden onslaught of mosquitoes as midday darkness descended.

If you have the means, do make sure you’re in the path of totality come eclipse day. This one has a special significance for us, as it’s the only total solar eclipse that passes over our hometown of Mapleton, Maine in our lifetimes.

Good luck, safe travels to totality, and clear skies!

The post Inside a Week to Totality: Weather Prospects, Solar Activity and More appeared first on Universe Today.

A quantum computer built by Quantinuum uses “logical quantum bits” designed by Microsoft to run simple computational routines with an unprecedented level of reliability

A quantum computer built by Quantinuum uses “logical quantum bits” designed by Microsoft to run simple computational routines with an unprecedented level of reliability

A quantum computer built by Microsoft and quantum computing firm Quantinuum uses “logical quantum bits” to run simple computational routines with an unprecedented level of reliability

China's state-owned space contractor plans to catch its new reusable rockets with constricting wires, as a new video dramatically shows.

There can be no doubt that extreme anxiety is highly debilitating, but at moderate levels, our nervous feelings can make us smarter problem solvers and fuel original thinking

There can be no doubt that extreme anxiety is highly debilitating, but at moderate levels, our nervous feelings can make us smarter problem solvers and fuel original thinking

Image: Images from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission show a large dust storm originating from the Sahara Desert that has engulfed skies across the central Mediterranean Basin.