Category Archives: Astronomy

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious object emitting a radio wave beam that pulsed every 20 minutes.

The team behind the discovery believe the object could be a new class of slowly rotating neutron star with an ultra-powerful magnetic field. The repeating signals were detected during the first three months of 2018, but then disappeared, suggesting they were linked to a dramatic, one-off event, such as a starquake.

It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because theres nothing known in the sky that does that, said Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, who led the team that made the discovery.

Despite the unusual nature of the signal, the team believe the source is likely to be a spinning object rather than a technologically advanced civilisation reaching out across the cosmos.

Its definitely not aliens, said Hurley-Walker. The team briefly considered this possibility, but ruled it out after determining that the signal one of the brightest radio sources in the sky was detectable across a broad spectrum of frequencies, meaning that an immense amount of energy would have been required to produce it.

The object, believed to be about 4,000 light years away in the plane of the Milky Way, also matches a predicted astronomical object called an ultra-long period magnetar, a class of neutron star with the most powerful magnetic field of any known object in the universe.

Its a type of slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted to exist, theoretically, said Hurley-Walker. But nobody expected to directly detect one like this because we didnt expect them to be so bright.

A neutron star is the dark, dense remnant left behind after a supermassive star casts off its outer material in a supernova and undergoes gravitational collapse. Reduced to the size of a small city, neutron stars initially spin incredibly quickly just as a figure skater accelerates in a spin as they pull their arms in to be more compact.

Fast-spinning neutron stars are detectable as pulsars that flash on and off within milliseconds or seconds.

Over time, the neutron star would lose energy and slow down. But as they slow down youd expect them to fade away, said Prof Andrew Norton, an astrophysicist at Open University. Once they drop below a theoretical calculation known as the death line, you shouldnt be able to see them.

Astronomers are perplexed as to why the newly found object if it is a magnetar was still emitting enough energy to be detectable when it was observed between January and March 2018. Somehow its converting magnetic energy to radio waves much more effectively than anything weve seen before, said Hurley-Walker.

Another question is why the signal then vanished. One possibility is that the signals are linked to a transient event such as a starquake, in which the neutron stars incredibly dense crust undergoes a sudden adjustment releasing a large blast of energy into space and, potentially, repeated pulses of radio waves after the event.

The findings are published in the journal Nature.

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Astronomers discover mysterious pulsing object that may be new class of star - The Guardian

The temperature of a planets atmosphere decreases with increasing altitude, unless a shortwave absorber that causes a temperature inversion exists. Ozone plays this role in the Earths atmosphere. In the atmospheres of highly irradiated exoplanets, the shortwave absorbers are predicted to be titanium oxide and vanadium oxide. Using high-resolution transmission spectroscopy, astronomers have now detected titanium oxide in the atmosphere of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-189b. Moreover, they have detected metals, including neutral and singly ionized iron and titanium, as well as chromium, magnesium, vanadium and manganese.

An artists impression of an ultrahot Jupiter. Image credit: Sci-News.com.

WASP-189 is a 730-million-year-old A-type star located 322 light-years away in the constellation of Libra.

Also known as HD 133112, the star is larger and more than 2,000 degrees Celsius hotter than the Sun, and so appears to glow blue.

Discovered in 2018, WASP-189b is a transiting gas giant about 1.6 times the radius of Jupiter

It sits around 20 times closer to the star than Earth does to the Sun, and completes a full orbit in just 2.7 days.

WASP-189b has a high equilibrium temperature of 2,368 degrees Celsius due to its close proximity to its hot A-type host star, said Lund University astronomer Bibiana Prinoth and colleagues.

It is one of the brightest transiting planet systems currently known, making it very amenable for spectroscopic studies of its atmosphere.

The system is well characterized, thanks to extensive photometric observations with CHEOPS, including a precise measurement of the orbital parameters.

The astronomers observed the spectrum of WASP-189 during three transit events with the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) spectrograph at ESOs 3.6-m telescope in La Silla Observatory, Chile.

We measured the light coming from the planets host star and passing through the planets atmosphere,

The gases in its atmosphere absorb some of the starlight, similar to ozone absorbing some of the sunlight in Earths atmosphere, and thereby leave their characteristic fingerprint.

With the help of HARPS, we were able to identify the corresponding substances.

The gases that left their fingerprints in the atmosphere of WASP-189b included iron, chromium, vanadium, magnesium and manganese.

The researchers were also able to detect titanium oxide in the atmosphere of WASP-189b.

Titanium oxide absorbs short wave radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, said University of Berns Professor Kevin Heng.

Its detection could therefore indicate a layer in the atmosphere of WASP-189b that interacts with the stellar irradiation similarly to how the ozone layer does on Earth.

In our analysis, we saw that the fingerprints of the different gases were slightly altered compared to our expectation, Prinoth said.

We believe that strong winds and other processes could generate these alterations.

And because the fingerprints of different gases were altered in different ways, we think that this indicates that they exist in different layers similarly to how the fingerprints of water vapor and ozone on Earth would appear differently altered from a distance, because they mostly occur in different atmospheric layers.

The results were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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B. Prinoth et al. Titanium oxide and chemical inhomogeneity in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-189b. Nat Astron, published online January 27, 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41550-021-01581-z

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Astronomers Detect Titanium Oxide and Several Metals in Atmosphere of WASP-189b - Sci-News.com

The Peterborough Astronomical Association (PAA) meets via Zoom Friday, beginning at 6 p.m., and community members are invited to tune in. The format includes novice astronomy classes, a main presentation, and a question-and-answer period.

This month, the novice astronomy classes start anew with Lesson 1, An Introduction to Astronomy. Find out how we fit in the universe. This session looks at our position in space and the Universe, our cosmic address. It will also explore the myriad of objects visible in the night sky as well as a sampling of more exotic phenomena such as black holes, dark energy, and dark matter.

The novice astronomy class begins at 6 p.m. and runs for approximately 45 minutes prior to the main meeting. These classes focus on the practical aspects of learning about astronomy, introducing astronomy related subjects at a very basic level, in a logical sequence. Participants in these classes are welcome to stay for the meeting that follows, but there is no obligation to do so.

The main presentation, beginning after a short meeting at 7 p.m., is Amateur Radio and Amateur Astronomy. Because many amateur astronomers are also amateur radio operators, including PAA president Mark Coady, amateur radio operator VE3LJQ (Mark) will show how the two hobbies are intertwined.

The Sky This Month, a regular meeting feature, will be posted on the club website for all to access. For viewing visit peterboroughastronomy.com.

There will also be an opportunity during the meeting to have any questions you may have answered.

To participate in the meeting, open a free Zoom account on the device you wish to use. Then register in advance by visiting peterboroughastronomy.com/zoom_register.php. You will be provided with the Zoom password and link to the presentation.

There is no cost and the meeting is open to all ages and anyone interested in seeing what the PAA is all about. For further information visit peterboroughastronomy.com. The PAA can also be followed on Twitter (@PtbAstronomical) and Facebook (@Peterborough Astronomical Association).

Activity Haven

Activity Haven is reopening. Drop-in programs begin Jan. 31 and instructional programs start the week of Feb. 7. You must preregister for all programs by calling the office.

Entrance and screening will take place at the back door. Masks are required and you must show proof of the enhanced COVID-19 vaccination certificate with QR code prior to entry each time.

Instructional programs offered include strength training, beginner bone building, line dancing (beginner and level 3). Several different yoga classes are available including stretch, gentle/hatha, chair yoga, yin and hatha yoga.

You must be a member to participate in instructional or drop-in in programs. Membership is open to those 50 years and up and costs just $30 per year. For further information call the office at 705-876-1670. Activity Haven is located at 180 Barnardo Ave.

Food and gender

The Seasoned Spoon presents, Consuming Gender, a virtual roundtable discussion on the intersection of food and gender Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 5:30 until 7 p.m.

The event will feature industry professionals Prof. Lucy Godoy (a chef), cellarman Aaron King, marketing and communications manager Kyra Dietsch and food systems researcher Dr. Mary Anne Martin who will speak on their experiences of how gender is constructed within their male-dominated fields of academia, culinary arts and brewing.

The Seasoned Spoon is a non-profit, vegetarian, co-operative caf located in Champlain College at Trent University. The caf is committed to serving locally, and whenever possible, organically sourced food at affordable prices.

The roundtable event is free, but registration is required. Register at eventbrite.ca/e/consuming-gender-tickets-257213310937. The Zoom link will be provided ahead of the event.

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Opinion | Northcrest Ward: Astronomy club explores connection between space and amateur radio - ThePeterboroughExaminer.com

Pete Williamson is one of the UKs leading freelance astronomers

As it settled on Mars seven months later, and began its explorations of the Red Planet, the name of Whittington was buried deep in one of its microchips. The villages name is still there now as Perseverance scuttles around, drills into rocks, gets blasted by tornadoes of dust and continues to seek Martian life.

The man responsible for Whittingtons presence 30 million miles from Earth is Pete Williamson, who has lived in Shropshire for the past 32 years. Pete responded to NASAs open invitation to personalise the Mars probe with reminders of home, adding the name of his north-west Shropshire village as a way of getting fellow residents energised by his passion for space.

I was sitting at home, and I thought, Im sitting here doing what Im doing but nobody round here really knows what I do, Pete says.

"I thought Id get the village involved. I put a post up [on the Nextdoor social network] that the village had gone to Mars and away it went. The village is interested now, and I like to see the fact that were on Mars.

When Pete, aged 65, is doing what hes doing, he is one of the UKs leading freelance astronomers, regularly in contact with major space agencies across the world. He works mostly for Cardiff University, accessing data sent from Perseverance to NASAs labs and processing spectacular images captured by the probe.

His photographic posts on Nextdoor, which he titles 'Whittington on Mars' or 'Whittington in Space', are greeted with reliable awe from a dedicated following. Some photos depict breathtaking rock formations and craters; dramatic and barren landscapes. Others show dazzling nightscapes and incredible nebulae captured above familiar landmarks in Shropshire or North Wales.

One Nextdoor commenter wrote: I might not have got to be an astronaut but you have made me a very happy earthbound person.

Its all in a days work for Pete, who is both a researcher and an educator on everything related to space, and a talented photographer.

Before Covid intervened, he used to give more than 200 talks a year to schools and associations, either introducing the world of astronomy to young students, or relaying the latest developments to captivated crowds. He presents a programme about astronomy on BBC Radio Shropshire, manages an astronomy-themed radio station from his home and organises, with his daughter Sarah, the Solarsphere Astronomical & Music Festival, in Builth Wells.

He has remote access to telescopes located across the globe South Africa, Australia, Hawaii with which he can peer across our galaxy and beyond. He is a true space explorer, without ever leaving the Whittington home that he shares with his wife Sybil.

Its a very surreal job, he says. One minute I am working with data live from the surface of Mars, the next wandering round an ancient castle for a break. Or at night you log on and you're looking on Mars. You can see the surface. Then you step outside, look up, and see that little dot and think I've been working on there.

Pete first fell in love with astronomy as a 12-year-old and built himself his first crude telescope a year later. Although a career in music meant he could pursue astronomy only as a hobby for much of his adult life he was in several successful bands an injury to tendons in his left arm meant he could no longer play bass guitar. Musics loss became astronomys gain.

By that point, he had moved to Whittington and founded what became the Shropshire Astronomical Society, with help from Sir Patrick Moore. He had also created an early astronomy bulletin board, with Queens Brian May among the first subscribers. Pete is still in touch with May, who is a keen astronomer, but its not Petes only brush with celebrity. He also became friends with Neil Armstrong, a hero to all stargazers.

I was 13 when they landed on the moon, Pete says. We look at the pictures now and theyre hazy and blurred and you can hardly see anything. But at the time it was Wow! Thats the moon! Hes on the moon!

Pete says the wow factor is crucial to get young people involved in science, and space offers hundreds of fantastic facts and staggering stats. He demonstrates one on the table in the Whittington Castle tea room, where we meet. Placing one finger next to another, he says: If I put the Earth there and Pluto there where would the nearest star be apart from the sun? I tell him I dont know.

New York.That's the scale we're talking.

He says he loves watching young people discover space for the first time.

When I first go into schools, or if I've got kids at a telescope, I show them the moon, Pete says.

You can't miss it. But to see it through a telescope they look at it and they see craters and mountains.They realise its real, it's here. And then maybe Saturn with its rings around it.

Like many astronomers, Pete is tormented more than anything these days by light pollution and talks with dismay about the proliferation of residential security lights, plus intrusive street lighting, whose ambient glow makes stargazing much more difficult.

When we first moved here 30-odd years ago, it was very rural, he says.

Youd go and stand in the garden and youd never see a light. But now you just step in the garden and its like living in the middle of a city.

He has campaigned to the council to install lights from which there is less leakage, but says he hasnt gained much traction. He also points out that its not just astronomers whose lives are adversely affected by the lights.

If youve got something lit up all the time, the wildlife doesnt know if its night or day and tends to stay away, Pete says.

It affects the ecology. Those animals move out of the area and other animals will move in. It changes things.

Pete is officially retiring this year but shows few signs of giving up any of his numerous roles. After an enforced two-year break, tickets are selling fast for the 2022 Solarsphere Festival, while Pete is lining up more guests for the radio and arranging new talks and lectures for recent space converts.

And Pete himself remains as fascinated by everything as ever.

Its Harry Potter stuff, he says. To be able to operate all this stuff remotely, as far as Mars, or going round Jupiter. When I was a kid, did I ever imagine Id be able to do that? No. We hadnt even been into space.

"Its a surreal experience. I never undervalue what Im doing.

Learn the night sky - where and when different constellations are up

Decide whether you need a telescope. Pete recommends binoculars to start with.

Join an astronomy club and test their telescopes

Decide what you want to look at and learn which telescope is best

Assess your surroundings and tailor your stargazing to your rural or city setting

Dark Sky Discovery Sites, Carding Mill

Alwyn Reservoir, Corwen, North Wales

Horseshoe Pass, outside Llangollen

Originally posted here:

Meet the astronomer who sent a little bit of Shropshire to Mars - expressandstar.com

Dean Regas| Special to Cincinnati Enquirer

The Grand Canyon is indescribable, visitors to the iconic national park often say after they see it.Then, one month later, they are possessed to write long articles, essays and books trying (and failing) to accurately describe it.This is my pitiful attempt.

From Nov. 16-Dec. 8, I served as the Astronomer in Residence at the Grand Canyon in Arizona for the National Park Service.This meant that, for 22 days and nights, I lived, worked, taughtand stargazed from one of the best, darkest and most pristine locations in the United States.

During my month as Astronomer in Residence, I gave 11 public programs to hundreds of people from around the world, hiked to the bottom of the canyon, observed a lunar eclipse, planets, sunrises and sunsets, and shared my passion for astronomy. It was truly a life-changing experience.

Walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon fills one with a variety of emotions.Wow! No way? What? Oh my gosh … Is this real? Gulp.

One feels awe, wonder, fear, disbelief and appreciation all at the same time. Something so large, so deep, so vast.Its scary and wonderful and terrible at the same time. It is not just a hole in the ground. Its a spectacular hole in the ground.

The Astronomer in Residence program was the brainchild of National Park Service Ranger, Rader Lane.Lanes idea was modeled after the parks Artist in Residency program where they welcome artists to get inspired by the parks and create art in all media.Before Lane finished telling me his idea, and Im thinking it would be so cool if we could get astronomers to live … I said, Im in!

The Astronomer in Residency program began in June 2021 with astronomer and artist Dr. Tyler Nordgren serving as the first resident.I applied for the fall stint and was accepted to the program.Lane hopes that 3-4 Astronomers in Residence will serve per year and that the program expands to other parks.

The highlight of my residency was giving astronomy programs at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, at Phantom Ranch, a small community about 10 miles from the South Rim and the destination for adventurers. But first, I had to get there.

The task was daunting: hike the South Kaibab trail, 7.5 miles and 4,780 feet down. I was all too pleased to have Ranger Lane go with me.He and other rangers take turns for weeklong assignments at Phantom Ranch delivering programs and responding to any emergencies (and there are always emergencies).

The first descent is a series of switchbacks that resemble an M.C. Escher drawing.Then the trail straightens out as you hike the spine of a ridge with sweeping vistas.I stopped at Ooh Ahh Point, the appropriately named picture spot, and marveled at the horizontal lines of color, the layers of rock that I was now inside of.We continued to Cedar Ridge, had a snack, then down to Skeleton Point.After hiking for hours, this was where I first saw the Colorado River, the fast-flowing body of water that helped carve this massive canyon.But I was still only halfway down.

The next stop was the Tip Off, the spot most day hikers should turn around. Its a dangerous idea hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up in one day.We passed several hikers who were attempting to do so, some of which needed assistance later in the day as they slowly, painfully trudged back up in the pitch dark.

Past the Tip Off, the end was in sight. I had continuous views of the verdant valley surrounding Phantom Ranch.The curve of the green river and the roar of the rapids echoing off the canyon walls took my mind off my increasingly sore legs.We passed through a section of bright red rocks and soil that reminded me of the pictures from a Martian rover.I was entering an alien world.

Down more switchbacks and more switchbacks and finally, we came to river level.With a deep breath, we entered a small tunnel that opened onto the Black Bridge, one of two suspension foot bridges that span the Colorado River.We stopped at the middle of the bridge to take in the scene: river rushing beneath us, red canyon walls to the left and the green oasis of cottonwood trees and scrub brush at the delta of the Bright Angel Creek to the right.It looked like a Garden of Eden amidst the desert I just descended.

That was my home for the next four nights.I hiked by day, exploring the Colorado River valley and the nearby cliffs.At night, I gave star and constellation talks in their little outdoor amphitheater.It was so dark that we could see the Andromeda Galaxy clearly with the naked eye.The canyon walls obscured a portion of the night sky, but they acted as mere frames to the real star show twinkling above.We even had a telescope to share views of planets, star clusters and galaxies.

The visitors to Phantom Ranch formed an informal community a bond of adventure. Each person had gone through a lot to get there, whether hiking, riding a muleor rafting through the rapids.After an arduous journey, it was a privilege to be there.I wanted to appreciate every single second.

My four days at Phantom Ranch went all too quickly.Then I had to hike back up.For the return route, I trekked the Bright Angel Trail, 9.5 miles and 4,380 feet up.From my cabin, I crossed the Silver Bridge and turned right to walk along the Colorado River.Before the last bend, I turned to take one last look at this magical place at the bottom of the world.With a heavy sigh, I turned back to the trail and started up.

I made it to the top of the Grand Canyon without incident.The hike was more waking dream than reality.I traversed the steep and stark landscapes, the mini oasis of cottonwood trees at Havasupai Gardenand then the brutal final 3,000 feet up.

Over the next week, I set up telescopes for passersby.I shared views of Jupiter and its moons, Saturn and its ringsand several star clusters.

Several people told me that seeing so many stars and viewing through a telescope was, the highlight of my trip. Even amidst the most breathtaking earthly scenery of the Grand Canyon, the night sky stole the show.

The vast majority of people in the United States cannot see the Milky Way where they live.Seeing a truly dark sky full of stars is just as much of an attraction as the Grand Canyon itself.The parks new slogan is Half of the park is after dark.

The parks are striving to reduce light pollution, create darker skies and expand evening programming.My residency was just one small part of a huge effort.When you plan your next vacation, seek out dark places and make time to soak in a real night sky.

Dean Regas is the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory, and author of the books "100 Things to See in the Night Sky" and "Facts from Space!" He can be reached at dean@cincinnatiobservatory.org

What:Dean Regas chronicles his journey to the Grand Canyon and his month-long residency at this incredible location.Hell share his tales from the road, driving the 2,000 miles there (and back) as well as what it was like to explore the canyon and the night sky.

When: Available until Feb. 14.

Tickets: $10 per household.

Website: cincinnatiobservatory.org.

Information: After you sign up, youll get a link to watch the recorded presentation at your convenience.All proceeds benefit the Cincinnati Observatory.

Read more:

Soooo ... I got to be 'Astronomer in Residence' at the Grand Canyon. Here's how THAT went - The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHYS0834. Exploring the Cosmos. 3 Credit Hours.

This GenEd course will use the fascinating science surrounding the makeup, origin, and future of our Universe to teach the methods by which scientists study nature. The course will also explore the (sometimes controversial) history of the subject, including the intersections of ethics and science as well as the role of different cultures. Note: Students may not receive credit for both PHYS 0846 (The Universe As We Know It) and PHYS0834 (Exploring the Cosmos).

Course Attributes: GS

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS0839. Powering the Future. 3 Credit Hours.

How can we provide inexpensive, safe, environmentally clean energy supplies for the United States and the world as a whole despite rising population and increasing affluence? Study problems of our conventional fossil and nuclear fuel use, and how they might be relieved; explore the physical and technological possibilities for using energy much more efficiently; investigate various renewable-energy sources (such as solar, hydrogen cells, hydropower, and biofuels) that significantly reduce effects on the environment. In the course lab projects, you will research and develop a sustainable energy proposal for your own home, campus, or community. NOTE: This course fulfills a Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students under GenEd and Science & Technology Second Level (SB) for students under Core. Students cannot get credit for this course if they have successfully completed Physics 0939.

Course Attributes: GS

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS0847. How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life. 3 Credit Hours.

How does a computer store information? Do humans and other animals see color the same way? What is stopping terrorists from developing nuclear weapons? What makes certain musical notes sound good together? What are the facts about global warming? Does the radiation from cell phones cause cancer? A basic knowledge of science is essential to being a smart consumer, an informed voter, and a full participant in society. How Things Work will survey a variety of important, topical questions relevant to technology, the natural world, and current events using lectures combined with illustrative in-class demonstrations such as a rocket powered by water, a magnet made to levitate using superconductors and liquid nitrogen, a crank-operated electric generator, a CT scan machine, and an engine fueled by ice. NOTE: This course fulfills a Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students under GenEd and Science & Technology Second Level (SB) for students under Core.

Course Attributes: GS

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS0872. The Science of Sound. 3 Credit Hours.

For living things the ability to hear sounds is an essential tool for survival, and sound is central to speech and languages. In the arts sound also plays a fundamental role, above all in music. The close connection between music, mathematics, and physics has long fascinated scientists. Advances in electronics and computing are revolutionizing the composition, production, and recording of sound. Science of Sound is an interdisciplinary course involving elements of physics, physiology, psychology, music, and engineering. After a four-week introduction to the fundamental physics of sound waves, we will consider human hearing and the human voice; scales, harmony, and sound production by musical instruments; architectural acoustics; and the electronic reproduction of sound. The course includes many in-class demonstrations. NOTE: This course fulfills a Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students under GenEd and Science & Technology Second Level (SB) for students under Core. Students cannot get credit for this course if they have completed Physics 1003: Acoustics.

Course Attributes: GS

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS0939. Honors Powering the Future. 3 Credit Hours.

How can we provide inexpensive, safe, environmentally clean energy supplies for the United States and the world as a whole despite rising population and increasing affluence? Study problems of our conventional fossil and nuclear fuel use, and how they might be relieved; explore the physical and technological possibilities for using energy much more efficiently; investigate various renewable-energy sources (such as solar, hydrogen cells, hydropower, and biofuels) that significantly reduce effects on the environment. In the course lab projects, you will research and develop a sustainable energy proposal for your own home, campus, or community. (This is an Honors course.) NOTE: This course fulfills a Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students under GenEd and Science & Technology Second Level (SB) for students under Core. Students cannot get credit for this course if they have successfully completed Physics 0839.

Cohort Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Cohorts: SCHONORS, UHONORS, UHONORSTR.

Course Attributes: GS, HO

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS1001. Physics: Matter and Motion. 4 Credit Hours.

An introduction to the ideas and techniques used in the study of motion. Application to a wide variety of physical systems ranging from air molecules to footballs to black holes. Mostly descriptive using photographic techniques, films, and demonstrations. NOTE: (1) No laboratory. (2) This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Science & Technology First Level (SA) requirement. To determine if this course in combination with another course can satisfy the GenEd Science & Technology requirement, see your advisor. (3) Students who have taken a higher number introductory physics sequence cannot take this course for credit.

Course Attributes: SA

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (any MATH course numbered 0701 to 0702, any MATH course numbered 0800 to 4999 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MC3, 'Y' in MC4, 'Y' in MC5, 'Y' in MC6, 'Y' in MC3A, 'Y' in MC6A, STAT1001 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in STT2, STAT1102 (may be taken concurrently), STAT1902 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MATW, or 'Y' in MC3S)

PHYS1004. Introduction to Astronomy. 3 Credit Hours.

After a description of local space which includes the universe of galaxies, red shift, and the big bang will be discussed. White dwarfs, red giants, pulsars, black holes, and quasars will be covered. The treatment will be mostly descriptive, utilizing slides, NASA films, and several trips to our planetarium. NOTE: (1) No laboratory. (2) This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Science & Technology Second Level (SB) requirement. To determine if this course in combination with another course can satisfy the GenEd Science & Technology requirement, see your advisor.

Course Attributes: SB

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (MATH1021, any MATH course numbered 1022 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MC5, 'Y' in MC6, 'Y' in MC6A, STAT1001, 'Y' in STT2, STAT1102, STAT1902, or 'Y' in MATW)

PHYS1005. Light, Art, and Nature. 4 Credit Hours.

An introduction to the properties of light, whether interpreted as rays, waves, or photons. Discussion of the basic ideas of geometric and wave optics, with application to the analysis of photography, color, vision, and modern physics. Emphasis is on factors that permit the artist and observer to understand and more fully control the design and interpretation of images of all kinds. Demonstrations, experiments, and video and computer simulations to analyze signals received by the eyes or instruments. NOTE: (1) Course is primarily designed for students interested in the visual arts, but is open to anyone. Minimal mathematics. (2) This course can be used to satisfy the university Core Science & Technology First Level (SA) requirement.

Course Attributes: SA

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (any MATH course numbered 0701 to 0702, any MATH course numbered 0800 to 4999 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MC3, 'Y' in MC4, 'Y' in MC5, 'Y' in MC6, 'Y' in MC3A, 'Y' in MC6A, STAT1001 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in STT2, STAT1102 (may be taken concurrently), STAT1902 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MATW, or 'Y' in MC3S)

PHYS1006. Medical Physics. 3 Credit Hours.

Medical Physics is an introductory science elective course that is open to students with little exposure to science or mathematics. With nominal (high school level) mathematics preparation, students can learn how basic principles of physics are utilized in medical processes. Topics to be examined include: the nature of radiation, radiation exposure, nuclear medicine, CT and MR imaging, and ultrasound techniques.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (MATH1021, any MATH course numbered 1022 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MC5, 'Y' in MC6, 'Y' in MC6A, STAT1001, 'Y' in STT2, STAT1102, STAT1902, or 'Y' in MATW)

PHYS1007. Science & Science Fiction in Film. 3 Credit Hours.

This course takes a captivating look at physical phenomena depicted in a collection of popular science fiction films. These include Deep Impact (1998) in which Earth is threatened by a giant comet, The Peacemaker (1998) where a terrorist's atomic bomb is planted in New York City, I Robot (2007) with a detective fighting to prevent a takeover of the human race by robots, and Contact (1997) featuring an astronomer who discovers the first real message from an alien civilization. Other films deal with global warming, astronomy, electricity and magnetism.

There are no in-person meetings of this class. Students discuss films on the course web site and submit answers to weekly questions via the Internet at times that are individually convenient for each student. E-Mail the course instructor, Dr. Dubeck, at ldubeck@temple.edu for access to the course web site.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS1008. Physics Seminar I. 1 Credit Hour.

Physics Seminar I serves as a survey introduction to physics of the 21st century and the numerous, diverse career paths followed by those with a physics degree. The intent of this course is to build a community of physics majors while they are at the beginning of their typical course of study, with the introductory physics courses providing common points of discussion. Students will attend talks, lab tours and open-ended question-and-answer roundtable discussions given by physics degree holders. One section of the class will focus on speakers from across the spectrum of physics related research at Temple University, including solid state, optical, nuclear, medical and chemical physics. The course will also provide a venue for those from non-academic sectors where the physics degree is highly valued, such as national laboratories, industrial research, patent law, finance and others. This is a required course for BS and BA in Physics and BS in Physics with Teaching majors and is recommended for other physics related majors.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (PHYS1021 (may be taken concurrently), PHYS1061 (may be taken concurrently), PHYS1961 (may be taken concurrently), PHYS2021 (may be taken concurrently), or PHYS2921 (may be taken concurrently))

PHYS1021. Introduction to General Physics I. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This course is an algebra-based introduction to physics. Topics covered in this course include mechanics, waves and oscillations, and elements of thermodynamics. Biological applications discussed where appropriate.

NOTE:

(1) Completing a 2 semester physics sequence will satisfy your Science and Technology (GS) GenEd requirements. (2) Two sections are required for this course: a 0.0 credit Laboratory section and the 4.0 credit Lecture & Recitation section. The course number for the Lecture & Recitation are the same for the Laboratory, but have unique section numbers. (3) Some pre-professional health programs require a calculus-based course such as Physics 1061.

Course Attributes: SA

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (MATH1021, any MATH course numbered 1022 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MC5, 'Y' in MC6, 'Y' in MC6A, STAT1001, 'Y' in STT2, STAT1102, STAT1902, or 'Y' in MATW)

PHYS1022. Introduction to General Physics II. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This second semester algebra-based introductory physics course is a follow-up to Physics 1021. Topics covered in this course include electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics. Biological applications discussed where appropriate.

NOTE:

(1) Completing a 2 semester physics sequence will satisfy your Science and Technology (GS) GenEd requirements. (2) Two sections are required for this course: a 0.0 credit Laboratory section and the 4.0 credit Lecture & Recitation section. The course numbers for the Lecture & Recitation are the same for the Laboratory, but have unique section numbers. (3) Some pre-professional health programs require a calculus-based course such as Physics 1062.

Course Attributes: SB

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (PHYS 1011, PHYS1021, PHYS1061, PHYS2021, or PHYS2921)

PHYS1031. Basic Core Physics I. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This is the first semester of general physics for post-baccalaureate students. It includes a quantitative introduction to kinematics, dynamics, work, energy, momentum, static equilibrium, fluids, vibrations, waves, sound, temperature, kinetic theory, heat, and the laws of thermodynamics. Special emphasis is given to applications of these topics to health sciences.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS1032. Basic Core Physics II. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This is the second semester of general physics for post-baccalaureate students. It includes a quantitative introduction to electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic, molecular, and nuclear physics. Special emphasis is given to applications of these topics to health sciences.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PHYS1061. Elementary Classical Physics I. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

Calculus-based introductory physics focused on developing algorithmic problem-solving skills and intended as a preparation for advanced courses in physics as well as preparation for further study in upper division science and engineering. Topics include elementary vector algebra, one-dimensional motion, particle dynamics, work and energy, conservation of energy, conservation of linear momentum, collisions, rotational kinematics and dynamics, conservation of angular momentum, oscillations, waves, and gravitation.

NOTE:

(1) By completing a 2 semester physics sequence you will satisfy your Science and Technology (GS) GenEd requirements. (2) Students cannot receive credits for both Physics 1061 and 2021. (3) Two sections are required for this course: a 0.0 credit Laboratory section and the 4.0 credit Lecture & Recitation section. The course numbers for the Lecture & Recitation are the same for the Laboratory, but have unique section numbers. (4) Some pre-health programs require a calculus-based course such as this course, Physics 1061.

Course Attributes: SA

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- (except where noted) in (MATH1041 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH1941 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH 1038 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH1042 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1044 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1942 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1951 (may be taken concurrently), any MATH course numbered 2043 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MA06, 'Y' in MATW, 'Y' in CRMA08, or 'Y' in CRMA21)

PHYS1062. Elementary Classical Physics II. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This second semester calculus-based introductory physics course is a follow-up to Physics 1061. The course focuses on developing algorithmic problem-solving skills and is intended as a preparation for advanced courses in physics as well as preparation for further study in upper division science and engineering. Topics include temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics, electrical charges, the electric field, Gauss's Law, electrostatic potential, capacitors and dielectrics, current, resistance, Kirchhoff's laws, the magnetic field, Ampere's Law, Faraday's Law, inductance, geometrical optics, and interference and diffraction of light.

NOTE:

(1) By completing a 2 semester physics sequence you will satisfy your Science and Technology (GS) GenEd requirements. (2) Students cannot receive credit for both Physics 1062 and 2022. (3) Two sections are required for this course: a 0.0 credit Laboratory section and the 4.0 credit Lecture & Recitation section. The course numbers for the Lecture & Recitation are the same for the Laboratory, but have unique section numbers. (4) Some pre-health programs require a calculus-based course such as this course, Physics 1062.

Course Attributes: SB

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (PHYS1061, PHYS2021, or PHYS2921) and (MATH1042 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1044 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1942 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1951 (may be taken concurrently), any MATH course numbered 2043 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), or 'Y' in MATW)

PHYS1083. Directed Reading/Study. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.

Independent study in physics. NOTE: This course may be repeated for credit.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

PHYS1961. Honors Elementary Classical Physics I. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This undergraduate level course is intended for Honors students majoring in physics and related fields. Physics 1961 is the first part of a two-semester course in classical physics starting with classical mechanics for Physics 1961 and electricity and magnetism for Physics 1962. Topics for Physics 1961 include one- and two-dimensional motion; forces and particle dynamics, work and energy, conservation of energy, linear momentum, and angular momentum; collisions, rotational kinematics and dynamics, gravitation, oscillations, waves, and fluid dynamics. This course differs from the Physics 1061 course in the number of topics and a more mathematical treatment and discussion. A strong background in algebra and trigonometry and some understanding of vector algebra is required. A math review will take place during the first week of classes including basic elements of algebra, trigonometry, vector algebra and some calculus. This course is taught in the Studio Physics format combining elements of lecturing and recitation supplemented with a separate, but integrated lab. Each student is assigned to a certain lecture section (Lecture plus Recitation) and lab section. This course requires registration for a 0.0 credit Laboratory section in addition to the 4.0 credit Lecture and Recitation section. The Laboratory sections corresponding to a course are listed under the same course number as the Lecture and Recitation sections, but have unique section numbers.

Cohort Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Cohorts: SCHONORS, UHONORS, UHONORSTR.

Course Attributes: HO

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- (except where noted) in (MATH1941 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH1041 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH 1038 (C or higher; may be taken concurrently), MATH1942 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1042 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1951 (may be taken concurrently), any MATH course numbered 2043 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), 'Y' in MA06, 'Y' in MATW, 'Y' in CRMA08, or 'Y' in CRMA21)

PHYS1962. Honors Elementary Classical Physics II. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

This undergraduate level course is intended for Honors students majoring in physics and related fields. Physics 1962 is the second part of a two semester course in classical physics starting with classical mechanics for Physics 1961 and electricity and magnetism for Physics 1962. Topics for Physics 1962 include temperature, heat and the first law of thermodynamics, kinetic theory of gases, entropy and the second law of thermodynamics, electrical charges, the electric field, Gauss's Law, electrostatic potential, capacitors and dielectrics, current, resistance, the magnetic field, Ampere's Law, Faraday's Law, inductance, geometrical optics, and interference and diffraction of light. This course differs from Physics 1062 in the number of topics and a more mathematical treatment and discussion. A strong background in algebra and trigonometry along with elementary understanding of vector algebra is required. Basic understanding of calculus is helpful. A math review will take place during the first week of classes including basic elements of vector algebra and calculus, in particular vector calculus. This course is taught in the Studio Physics format combining elements of lecturing and recitation supplemented with a separate, but integrated lab. Each student is assigned to a certain lecture section (Lecture plus Recitation) and lab section. This course requires registration for a 0.0 credit Laboratory section in addition to the 4.0 credit Lecture and Recitation section.

Cohort Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Cohorts: SCHONORS, UHONORS, UHONORSTR.

Course Attributes: HO

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (MATH1942 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1042 (may be taken concurrently), MATH1951 (may be taken concurrently), any MATH course numbered 2043 to 3080 (may be taken concurrently), or 'Y' in MATW) and (PHYS1961, PHYS1061, PHYS2921, or PHYS2922)

PHYS2021. General Physics I. 0 or 4 Credit Hours.

Calculus-based introductory physics. Topics include mechanics, gravitation, energy conservation, fluids and waves. Biological applications discussed where appropriate. NOTE: By completing a 2 semester physics sequence you will satisfy your Science and Technology (GS) GenEd requirements. Students cannot receive credits for both Physics 1061 and 2021. This course is an option for pre-health, neuroscience and genomic medicine majors.

Two sections are required for this course. This course requires registration for a 0.0 credit Laboratory section in addition to the 4.0 credit Lecture & Recitation section. The Laboratory sections corresponding to a course are listed under the same course number as the Lecture & Recitation sections, but have unique section numbers.

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Physics (PHYS) < Temple University

Unistellars eVscope has proven its ability to do serious astronomy, with more to come in 2022.

Theres a revolution underway in how amateur astronomers contribute to modern astronomy. Smartscopestelescopes controlled remotely via tablets or smartphonesare making there way into the modern amateur telescope market and out into the field. These have the ability to not only bring deep-sky astronomy to light-polluted urbanites, but to lower the bar for entry into deep-sky astrophotography. One of the leading manufacturers of smartscopes is Unistellar. First offered as a Kickstarter project in 2017, Unistellars line now includes the eVscope eQuinox, and the new eVscope2.

The Age of Smartscopes

But beyond just providing pretty pictures and a tour of the night sky, eVscope users are contributing to some serious science, in a big way. This is always the hallmark of any new breakthrough in technology: you never know what wild and wonderful directions that people will take it in, once its unleashed. We recently caught up with Unistellars Chief Scientific Officer Franck Marchis, (also Senior Planetary Astronomer at the SETI Institute), on where astronomy with these unique telescopes may be headed.

As an astronomer, when you arrive in a control room, everything is ready: you just enter the coordinates, or just the name of the target, says Marchis. I always wondered why we dont do that for amateur astronomers.

Weve recently reviewed the eVscope, eQuinox telescope, and the main competitor on the market, Vaoniss Stellina. Unistellars eVscope and eQuinox are built around a simple 4.5-inch mirror reflector. The unit is ultra-portable and lightweight at 19.8 lbs (9kg). Setup is as simple as locking the unit on the tripod, bonding it to the app via WiFi, adjusting the focus, and letting the scope plate-solve its location and pointing direction in the sky.

But its the science efforts underway with Unistellar that really set it apart. The Unistellar application has a tab devoted just to science and astronomy campaigns.

One unique effort is looking at asteroid occultations of bright stars. These events feature a background star winking out briefly as the foreground asteroid moves in front of it, casting a shadow across the Earth. If enough observers can catch and time these cords, we can outline the profile shape of the asteroid. Tiny unseen moonlets of asteroids have also been observed as brief events near the main occultation. Already, Unistellar campaigns have looked at Patroclus, Orus and 11351 Leucus, in support of NASAs Lucy Mission to the Trojan asteroids.

Next up, Unistellar campaigns have made followup observations of transiting exoplanets. Thats right. Amateurs can now detect the tiny fluctuation in brightness as an unseen world passes in front of its host star, from their own driveway. Already, Unistellar has demonstrated this ability during campaigns to monitor Kepler-167b and HD 80606 b, and sends out alerts for periodic upcoming events.

Unistellar citizen astronomer Kevin Voeller also recently collected data on exoplanet WASP-148b.

Which begs the question of the possibility for users to discover planets as well. Certainly, the ability is there for dedicated networks of Unistellar scopes. The telescope could also be used to monitor variable stars and follow and discover galactic novae and extra-galactic supernovae as well.

Teams have also followed near-Earth asteroids with the Unistellar telescope, characterizing their rotation rate as they fluctuate in brightness. One such recent campaign revolved around the close Earth flybys of asteroids 1994 PC1 and 4660 Nereus. This is all part of Unistellars planetary defense effort; you cant have too many telescopes out there worldwide looking for flying space rocks.

And speaking of distant objects, users have recently used Unistellar telescopes to track the James Webb Space Telescope en route to its new home at the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. Nearly a million miles from the Earth, JWST moves like a distant satellite against the starry background. Unistellar has documented 110 JWST observations thus far, and noted the variability of the observatory after sunshield deployment as a 6 hour flash or glint, seen mainly due to the rotational position of the observer on Earth.

Our community is excited that they see this, that they connect to JWST so its very good outreach, and good science, says Marchis. learning that the glint off JWST happens and why it happens could be useful in the future.

This also raises the possibility of using a Unistellar telescope to track satellites (perhaps even classified, unpublished satellites) in distant High Earth (HEO) or geostationary/geosynchronous (GEO) orbits.

Finally, the eVscope has the potential to track and find comets. Already, weve seen users follow the fine apparitions of comet F3 NEOWISE in 2020 and A1 Leonard at the end of 2021.

Whats next for Unistellar? Later this year, the team plans to lead efforts to follow an occultation of asteroid Didymos near Abu Dhabi, leading up to the impact of NASAs DART mission on the asteroids tiny moon Dimorphos on September 26th, 2022. The team also has plans for satellite tracking, to include characterizing the brightness of Starlink and OneWeb satellite constellations, improved access to data cloud storage and more.

The important part is that were not just a company that which is building telescopes, says Marchis. We see ourselves as a company that is democratizing astronomy, so people can enjoy the dark sky.

Just the recent Unistellar user statistics alone are impressive:

2021 summary statistics for exoplanet transits:

-413 observations by 100 different observers in 17 countries, with 92 detections.

2021 summary statistics for planetary defense:

-11 campaigns, by 95 users submitting 290 observations from 20 countries.

2021 summary statistics for asteroid occultations:

-214 occultation events attempted with 395 observations, 106 are positive (for a~27% positivity rate)

With the advent of the eVscope, we may be seeing as big a revolution in amateur astronomy as the introduction of Celestrons orange-tube C8 telescope in the early 1970s. Having lived through the last half-century of amateur astronomy, its simply amazing how much has changed. Watch for more exciting astronomy to come!

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Unistellars Plans for Science and Astronomy in 2022 - Universe Today

A mysterious object unlike anything that astronomers have seen before has been discovered in our galactic backyard.

In research published Wednesday, scientists described the strange, spinning mass, which is said to release an enormous burst of energy every 20 minutes.

That radiation, which crosses the line of sight of telescopes on Earth for 60 seconds at a time, is one of the brightest radio sources in the sky.

It was detected by a team at the Australia-based International Center for Radio Astronomy Research, who were mapping radio waves in the Universe.

They believe that the cosmic flasher could be a super-dense star or a white dwarf collapsed cores of stars with a powerful magnetic field.

This object was appearing and disappearing over a few hours during our observations, said Dr. Natasha Hurley-Walker, an astronomer from Curtin University in Australia who led the team.

That was completely unexpected. It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because theres nothing known in the sky that does that.

And its really quite close to us about 4,000 lightyears away. Its in our galactic backyard.

The object was discovered using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in the Australian outback.

Its whats known to astronomers as a transient an object in the night sky that turns on and off, such as a dying star.

So-called slow transients appear over the course of several days and vanish after a few months. One example is a stellar explosion called a supernova.

Fast transients such as a type of neutron star called a pulsar flash on and off within seconds or even milliseconds.

The newly discovered object is unusual because it fits neither category, beaming its radio waves across the galaxy in bouts lasting roughly a minute.

Study co-author Dr. Gemma Anderson said that the space thingamajig is smaller than the Sun but incredibly bright.

Its firing out highly-polarised radio waves, suggesting that it has a powerful magnetic field.

Dr. Hurley-Walker said the observations match the description of a hypothetical object called an ultra-long period magnetar.

Its a type of slowly spinning neutron star that has been predicted to exist theoretically, she said.

But nobody expected to directly detect one like this because we didnt expect them to be so bright.

Somehow its converting magnetic energy to radio waves much more effectively than anything weve seen before.

The team is continuing to monitor the object with the MWA to get a better idea of what it might be.

More detections will tell astronomers whether this was a rare one-off event or a vast new population wed never noticed before, Dr. Hurley-Walker added.

The research was published in the journal Nature.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission.

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Astronomers spot 'spooky' object in our 'galactic backyard' that's unlike 'anything ever seen - New York Post

Learn more about the James Webb Telescope

Scientists across the UC system have played a major part in the James Webb Telescope project. Learn more about the role of UC Santa Cruz astronomers and project adviser UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics Garth Illingworth here.

NASAs latest and snazziest mission, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched on Christmas Day, deployed its 21-foot-wide mirror a mere two weeks ago and reached its orbital destination earlier this week. With a flashy new telescope now nearly a reality, astronomers at the University of California, Berkeley, are chomping at the bit to start observing.

After months of anxiety about whether the $10 billion telescope 25 years in the making and the successor to the highly successful Hubble Space Telescope would even survive launch, let alone unfold from its chrysalis into a gold-blinged telescope, these astronomers feel confident enough to plan summertime observations of nearby galaxies and of some of our closest neighbors in the solar system.

Im so thankful that it launched and everything appears to be working. I think its going to be just incredible, said Ned Molter, a UC Berkeley doctoral student working with campus astronomer Imke de Pater, who leads one of 13 teams given the chance to make early observations with the JWST. I speak for many of us to say were over the moon about the launch.

What a beautiful Christmas present to have the James Webb Space Telescope launch on Christmas Day, echoed Dan Weisz, a UC Berkeley associate professor of astronomy who leads another team awarded observing time as part of the early release science program. The whole of 2022 is going to be a Webb extravaganza. The first part of the year well get the telescope up to speed and commissioned, and in early summer and fall well start observing and then publishing a slew of papers about the first results. It is going to be the year of Webb. Its fantastic.

After its launch exactly one month ago, on Dec. 25, the JWST began coasting through space to its final destination, a point referred to as L2: a special place in the solar system a Lagrange point where the gravitational pull on the telescope by Earth is exactly balanced by the gravitational pull of the sun. The JWST settled into orbit around L2 on Monday, Jan. 24, where it will remain forever, looking outward into the cosmos from the side of Earth that is opposite the sun.

As the telescope transited to that point 945,000 miles from Earth and four times farther from Earth than the moon scientists began aligning the primary mirror, which is a cluster of 18 smaller, gold-plated hexagonal mirrors, with the secondary mirror to get the sharpest images possible. Other scientists tested the many instruments onboard to make sure they work properly to record infrared light from objects in space.

Following the six-month-long commissioning phase, 13 teams chosen by NASA will take the new telescope for a spin, putting its instruments through their paces by targeting astronomical objects that will be the major focus of scientists during the telescopes planned 10 years of operation, and probably much longer.

To have two of the 13 led by people at Berkeley was pretty exceptional, said de Pater, a Distinguished Professor of the Graduate School and Distinguished Professor Emerita of astronomy and earth and planetary science who wrote her proposal in 2017 before her retirement from teaching last year.

Given the JWSTs primary mission to study dim, distant galaxies and faint exoplanets, the observations planned by de Pater and her team of about 50 astronomers may seem out of character: They will turn the telescope on one of the brightest objects in the sky, Jupiter.

They (NASA) wanted to get involvement from the astronomy community to see what is feasible, what Webb can do, and really pushing it to the limits, de Pater said. We came up with the idea to look at the Jovian system, because Jupiter is extremely bright, but next to Jupiter, you have these really faint rings and some really faint satellites. Moreover, we will look at faint spectral features on Io and Ganymede while they are eclipsed in Jupiters shadow, a quite challenging experiment since the two bodies will be very close to Jupiter and invisible at visible wavelengths. We thought it would make a really nice proposal to look at these large differences in brightness.

During her decades-long career, de Pater has used radio telescopes and optical and infrared telescopes, such as the pair at the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the Hubble Space Telescope, to study the atmospheres of our solar systems large planets, with particular attention to Jupiters large storm, the Great Red Spot; the volcanoes of Jupiters moon, Io; the icy surface of another Jovian moon, Ganymede; and Jupiters rings. She is particularly eager to take advantage of the JWSTs ability to detect mid-infrared light, which will give her access to different layers of Jupiters atmosphere, ones she has not been able to explore using earthbound telescopes.

We hope to find out more about the dynamics in the Great Red Spot and the aurora over the South Pole, and the chemistry and physics of the troposphere and into the stratosphere, she said.

Molter, who expects to graduate in August and remain with de Pater as a postdoctoral fellow to work with the JWST, plans to use the telescopes Aperture Masking Interferometer to study the individual volcanoes on Io. With new mid-infrared data, he hopes to accurately measure the temperatures of the volcanoes, which will allow comparison with volcanoes on Earth.

As a new graduate student back in 2017, he had hoped to write his thesis using JWST observations of Ios volcanoes, but as the launch date was pushed further and further out, he elected to study the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune instead.

We sort of pivoted away from the Io science when Webb was being delayed so much, Molter laughed. I had to graduate in a certain amount of time, so I found other projects.

Weisz, an associate professor of astronomy, and his team will use their allotted time with the JWST to observe the Milky Way Galaxy and its nearby satellite galaxies. Weiszs main interest is galaxy formation, and in particular, the role of dark matter the still mysterious stuff that makes up 85% of the matter in the universe in galaxy formation.

He and his team of about 50 astronomers are focused on three different targets. One is M-92, one of the oldest globular clusters in the Milky Way and one of the most photographed by Hubble. The hope is that the JWST can detect the oldest and faintest stars and thus provide a more precise age for the cluster previewing what the JWST could do for all of the 100 or so globular clusters in the Milky Way.

Another target is an ultrafaint dwarf galaxy a satellite of the Milky Way 98,000 light years from Earth that has surprisingly little normal, visible matter, but instead appears to be mostly dark matter. The JWST should be able to detect the galaxys very faint stars and, with data from Hubble, map their motions in 3D, allowing astronomers to precisely weigh the dark matter and plot its distribution, constraining some of the theories of what dark matter may actually be.

Even farther away 3.26 million light years is a star-forming galaxy that Weisz hopes will test the resolution of the JWST, and perhaps improve the cosmic distance ladder used to measure the expansion of the universe. All three targets will require exploring the capabilities not only of the telescope, but of the detectors that produce the data.

Were building the software needed to basically take the JWST images and turn them into scientifically useful data products, like radiation fluxes, luminosities of individual stars, and galaxies and star clusters in our Milky Way and nearby universe, he said. And then, were releasing all the analysis software, the pipelines used to reduce it, the catalogs were making all of that stuff is just going to be made public as soon as were done, so the community can immediately take it and apply it to their use observing or use it to plan future proposals.

While Weisz expects the JWST to help advance his field of galaxy formation in the local universe and refine distance measurements in the cosmos, he predicts the greatest discoveries will be about the very early universe and the conditions on planets around other stars, which were NASAs primary goals for the JWST. Some key questions about the history of the universe and of life in the universe could be answered in the next few years all potentially worth the price of the JWST.

I think Webb has gotten a lot of negative attention because of its $10 billion price tag when it was only supposed to be a couple billion, Weisz said. But at the end of the day, you look at this and you say, Boy, if this is now going to last 10, 15 years, and its going to open windows onto planets and ancient stars in the early universe and tell us about how we got here, it really is just kind of in line with all the other amazing things that NASA has done. You look at it in terms of its discovery potential, and I really think its a great value.

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Astronomers to put new space telescope through its paces - University of California

Next time you are in Uttarakhand, look up Starscapes: Indias only chain of astronomical observatories that lets you have a date with the night sky.

Paul Savio, Co-Founder and CEO of the venture talks about the inception, offerings, and future plans of this unique endeavour.

Paul Savio: Starscapes was born out of a passion project that started in 2015. Ramashish Ray, who is the founder, had a cottage in Kausani, Uttarakhand, which had a telescope. Tourists and guests enjoyed the dark skies there. This led to us setting up a small observatory at Kausani with ticketed shows. Initially, none of those who came to the observatory came looking for an astro-tourist experience they just happened to discover it when in Kausani. But the responses of those who did visit us ranged from a wholesome delightful session to being quite overwhelmed by it all. This was the primary insight we gathered theres a huge base of tourists who delight in finding new experiences wherever they go, especially linked to nature. While theres plenty of avenues to discover wildlife, mountains and oceans, there isnt much for those who would enjoy exploring the skies. And more significantly, most people dont know that they would enjoy this experience till they go through it.

Our goal was to create a platform for such people, who can get to experience something new, and find a unique connect with nature, while satiating their curiosity about the cosmos.

Paul Savio: While the experience started in 2015, it became a business around 2017, known as Stargate Observatories (now called Starscapes). For the next three years, we experimented with various products, some of which became a staple offering. We conducted astro-tours to Spiti Valley and Narkanda, conducted astrophotography workshops at our observatory in Kausani and other remote dark sky locations like the Sandhan Valley in Maharashtra, and held multiple school and college workshops. During the annular solar eclipse in 2019, we conducted an online photography contest which saw participation from places like Sri Lanka and the Middle East. However, we had to cease operations in 2020 as tourism dropped to zero. Over the last two years, we focused on rebuilding the company base-up, with a focus on going to the customer with a value proposition comprising varied experiences related to astronomy. We rebranded as Starscapes Experiences in 2021, and opened up observatories in Bhimtal and Jaipur. (We have also partnered with Club Mahindra, currently at their property in Madikeri (Coorg).) In December 2021, we partnered with the Government of Uttarakhand in conducting an Astro Party at Benital Astro Village, a location designated to become Indias first astro-tourism spot.

Paul Savio: Starscapes has observatories in Kausani and Bhimtal in Uttarakhand. We have recently launched a mobile observatory in Jaipur.

By May 2022, we plan to launch observatories in Coorg and Ooty. By the end of the year, we plan to have operations at Munnar, Pondicherry, Shimla and Goa.

Our locations are all tourist spots, chosen based on light pollution (darkness of the sky), weather (number of cloudless days) and accessibility (how well connected the place is). Since our objective is to reach out to casual astronomy enthusiasts, we find it is critical to our business model to be present at locations which are a drive away from big towns. The locations we finalise have fairly dark skies, measuring four or lesser on the Bortle Scale (a measure of night-sky darkness, one being extreme remote locations and nine being inner cities). The locations are also importantly tourist spots, since novel experiences are sought out and best enjoyed by tourists.

Paul Savio: Our business is designed to reach out to people looking for new experiences, and not just those who seek out astronomy experiences. Thus, we aim to introduce many people to this field.

Our offerings have a particular inclination towards younger audiences. Rocket-building, modelling a sundial, and many other activities get children to experientially understand things that are normally taught theoretically in school. Our observatory shows too are structured as discussions, and not as lectures. And children dont hesitate in asking questions, without any fear of sounding inane. This always increases the entire groups engagement and enthusiasm.

Children lead the conversation today, and set the trend for tomorrow. Helping them experience the universe and the science that goes into exploring it, in a fun way, will help grow their interest in astronomy. Their friends, parents, and eventually the rest of society will follow.

Paul Savio: Ironically, the act of physically setting up the observatory is the easy part. Once the location is finalised based on light pollution (dust pollution is usually inconsequential in places where light pollution is low) and weather, we need to identify a spot that has maximum visibility of the sky.

The difficult part is getting in place the team that conducts the shows. Our observatories are not just places where one can come and look at certain objects in the sky. There are detailed shows at set timings. You buy a ticket for a 45 minute show, during which our expert StarGuide takes you on a journey across the night sky, blending science, history and mythology into a thrilling storytelling session. You will learn to identify stars and constellations, and various other celestial objects. And then you would get to look at some of them through a state-of-the-art telescope, which the StarGuide undergoes over a months worth of training to be able to effectively use.

We are particular about choosing StarGuides from the vicinity of the observatory, thus lending a local flavour to our shows. Also, our StarGuides are primary conversationalists, and most of them do not have a science background. Since our shows are structured to be discussive, the guests feel like theyre having a fireside chat with an equal, and not attending a lecture from someone who is an expert. All our StarGuides have learnt how to conduct shows during their month-long induction, and constantly get refresher-training sessions from our team of trainers. Our very first StarGuide was a teacher at an ashram for girls in Kausani. With absolutely no knowledge of astronomy, he picked up everything on the job and is today a trainer of others. He incidentally still teaches at the ashram.

Herein lies our biggest challenge identifying individuals living in the small towns or villages where our observatory is, selecting them for their skills in having conversations with guests and working with children, and training them on the subject about which they may possibly have no clue. By the end of the training, they will know how to operate telescopes, identify deep sky objects, read the sky with ease, conduct workshops for children, and click photos of celestial objects as well as any astrophotographer would. They are our biggest assets.

Paul Savio: Our offerings are primarily focused on getting you out of your home and becoming one with nature. Having said that, we do have some and soon will be ranging other services that can be accessible anytime anywhere. We conduct photography contests that can be participated in remotely. We will soon be bringing mobile observatories in towns, where we can put up a temporary setup at your condominium and conduct workshops and activities, along with a sky show through a telescope. And well soon launch an online community where astronomy enthusiasts can avail services such as setting up your own backyard observatories, buying telescopes, planning astronomy themed parties, and many more.

Paul Savio: Starscapes will regularly host a number of engaging sessions related to stargazing. Some of the activities include

Paul Savio: It is possibly the first memory of stargazing I have, as a child in primary school. I had already learned to identify stars before this moment. On this day we were at a village in Kerala, and it was a clear summer sky. Having lived in a city all along, seeing so many stars in the sky was a novel experience. The sky was absolutely cloudless, except for one wispy trail. I mentioned this to my father who was also there with me, and his response was thats not a cloud. Thats the Milky Way. Discovering in a flash that what I was staring at was not many droplets of water, but millions of stars, was a humbling experience like never before.

Paul Savio: The pandemic has certainly made people miss the outdoors. This has spurred travel in the interludes between the waves, and made people look for something new to do. Having said that, conversation around astronomy has been growing for the last 10 years. Space has been in the news for all the good reasons: ISRO has faced repeated successes and will soon be sending humans to space, NASA is going back to the Moon, and private players have entered space travel, bringing with them a fair amount of glamour. All these have piqued the interest of the rest of us into identifying and taking part in conversations related to astronomy.

Paul Savio: The star-studded skies over the Himalayan peaks at the Pangong Lake would definitely be among my favourite spots that I have visited. But if we would like to talk about accessible locations, Kausani (a small hill station 10 hours drive from Delhi) is a stellar location, in every sense of the word. Its altitude and remoteness yield clean air and dark skies, that make it a worthy location for idyllic stargazing. Recently, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Madikeri in Coorg (just six hours from Bengaluru) has a brilliant night sky. In fact, it falls in the same Bortle Scale class as Kausani.

Paul Savio: Two events I am really looking forward to in the next couple of years are incidentally two that I have wanted to experience ever since I was a child. The first is to be at the beach at Sri Harikota, when Gaganyaan III lifts off with the first completely Indian space crew ever. It is expected to happen by August 2023. The second will be to visit the USA and experience first-hand the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. This will be the next total solar eclipse over easily accessible land (theres one in 2023 over Papua and a few other islands of Indonesia but getting there wont be easy). This is especially significant considering that from India, the next total solar eclipse visible wont be till March 2034 in Kashmir, and the one following that will be in June 2114!

Related: Check Out 9 Of The Best Hotels Around The World For Stargazing!

This story first appeared in Travel and Leisure India

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This start-up will inspire you to go stargazing in Uttarakhand - Prestige Online