Universe Today has investigated the significance of studying impact craters‚ planetary surfaces‚ exoplanets‚ astrobiology‚ solar physics‚ comets‚ planetary atmospheres‚ planetary geophysics‚ cosmochemistry‚ and meteorites‚ and how these scientific fields contribute to researchers and the public gain greater insight into our place in the universe and finding life beyond Earth. Here‚ will discuss the field of radio astronomy with Dr. Wael Farah‚ who is a research scientist at the SETI Institute‚ about how radio astronomy teaches us about the myriad of celestial objects that populate our universe‚ along with the benefits and challenges‚ finding life beyond Earth‚ and how upcoming students can pursue studying radio astronomy. But what is radio astronomy and why is it so important to study? “Radio astronomy is a branch of astrophysics dedicated to studying the universe at radio wavelengths‚ which represent the lowest energy form of the electromagnetic spectrum‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “Originating in the late 1930s‚ radio astronomy transformed astronomers’ perceptions of the cosmos. Before the serendipitous discovery of radio emissions from the Milky Way‚ scientists believed that radio emissions from space‚ attributed to stars and other hot bodies‚ could only be produced by the “black body” law (or Planck’s law)‚ which accurately predicted that radio emissions should be very weak and undetectable from Earth. However‚ the discovery of an entirely new emission process‚ synchrotron radiation‚ provided an unprecedented lens to view the cosmos through. This opened up a whole new world of discoveries.” As its name implies‚ radio astronomy uses radio telescopes to listen to the sounds of the universe‚ and while radio astronomy is often interpreted as just listening for aliens (which is one branch)‚ most of radio astronomy consists of listening to radio waves from other celestial sources‚ some of which are millions of light-years from Earth‚ including gas giant planets‚ gas clouds‚ pulsars‚ the birth and death of stars‚ galaxy formation and evolution‚ and the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation. The size of radio telescopes range between small‚ homemade antennas to massive dishes that collect radio waves from space and use computers to boost (also known as “amplify”) the radio signals‚ followed by using computer programs to translate the signal into easy-to-understand data. Astronomers then use this data to conduct studies on the aforementioned celestial objects‚ thus increasing our understanding of the universe. But even with all the science being accomplished and the required technology‚ what are some of the benefits and challenges of study radio astronomy? “Radio astronomy is an inherently interdisciplinary field‚ intersecting science‚ engineering‚ and computing‚ which presents both benefits and challenges‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “Speaking of challenges‚ there’s no shortage of them! Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) poses a significant challenge for radio astronomers. Almost every communication device‚ from radios and cell phones to satellites and WiFi routers‚ operates within the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. These devices interfere with radio telescopes and can cause substantial damage to equipment and data. We’re constantly endeavoring to modify our hardware and software to adapt to‚ or even mitigate‚ this increasingly detrimental environment.” Radio astronomy is often described as “observing the invisible universe”‚ and one example is studying magnetic fields around planets‚ stars‚ and even galaxies. This is accomplished through measuring what’s known as synchrotron radiation‚ which are radio waves created by magnetic fields‚ and have been identified around black holes‚ allowing researchers to learn more about the black hole’s behavior and characteristics‚ including how they digest stars. Within our own solar system‚ radio astronomy can be used to study the magnetic fields comets‚ the gas giants‚ Jupiter and Saturn‚ and even our Sun. This is because radio telescopes “see” the universe differently than optical telescopes‚ or visible light. Other examples include quasars‚ which look like normal stars but can emit powerful radio bursts that radio astronomers collect to learn more about them‚ including their formation and evolution. But with all these fascinating celestial objects to study‚ what are some of the most exciting aspects of radio astronomy that Dr. Farah has studied during his career? Artist’s illustration of a red dwarf star’s magnetic field. (Credit: Dana Berry; (NRAO/AUI/NSF)) “One of my research interests is the study of Fast Radio Bursts (or FRBs in short)‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “FRBs are brief but incredibly intense bursts of radio waves‚ seemingly originating from sources halfway across the universe. Despite their enigmatic nature‚ our leading theories suggest that FRBs may be linked to highly magnetized neutron stars known as magnetars. FRBs hold the imprint of the medium they travel through‚ offering a unique window into the universe. I am also interested in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (or SETI). Radio astronomy is a promising avenue for discovering life beyond our planet‚ seeking to address one of humanity’s most profound and enduring questions: ‘are we alone in the universe?’.” Dr. Farah has frequently spoken about the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) in northern California‚ whose mission is to continue SETI research and provides researchers the opportunity to search the heavens for radio signals from other intelligent civilizations seven days a week. The ATA was heavily-funded by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation‚ for which the array is named after‚ and began operations in 2007. One of the most famous radio telescopes in the world was the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico‚ which boasted a massive dish that measured 305-meters (1000-feet) in diameter‚ and contributed to radio astronomy‚ radar astronomy‚ and the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) during its service between 1963 and 2020. Unfortunately‚ Arecibo encountered funding lapses in the early 2000s as NASA put an emphasis on newer radio telescopes‚ and the disk sustained damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017. In December 2020‚ support cables that hoisted the instrument platform snapped‚ causing the platform to crash into the dish. After that‚ the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced plans to not rebuild the site‚ but instead have an educational facility put at the location. The Arecibo Observatory was featured in the film Contact‚ which Jodie Foster was using to listen for signals from extraterrestrials. While only featured in the beginning of the film‚ it nonetheless underscored the importance of Arecibo’s role in conducting vital scientific research to help us better understand our place in the universe. The radio observatory that served as the location for Jodie Foster identifying the radio signal from Vega occurred at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in Socorro‚ New Mexico‚ which is currently operated by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) with funding from the NSF and is actively being used for SETI research. Therefore‚ what can radio astronomy teach us about finding life beyond Earth? Image of radio telescopes at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array‚ located in Socorro‚ New Mexico. (Credit: National Radio Astronomy Observatory) “Technosignatures‚ which are indicators of non-anthropogenic technology‚ serve as one proxy for detecting intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “As an emerging civilization ourselves‚ humans have utilized radio waves for various purposes like communication services‚ radar‚ and sensing. Therefore‚ it is reasonable to assume that an extraterrestrial civilization would also develop and utilize radio technology‚ and perhaps even broadcast their existence across the galaxy. Unlike other forms of light that could carry the evidence of life beyond our solar system‚ radio waves can propagate unobscured by interstellar gas and dust‚ making them easily detectable across vast distances.” There are currently more than 100 operational radio telescopes around the world and on all seven continents‚ with a few space-based radio telescopes‚ as well. These include the aforementioned VLA but also includes the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China‚ which surpassed Arecibo as the world’s largest filled-aperture radio telescope‚ which conducts studies on pulsars‚ interstellar molecules‚ and SETI research. Given the myriad of science and celestial objects that radio astronomy studies‚ success requires constant collaboration from scientists across the globe and equally from a myriad of backgrounds‚ including astronomy‚ physics‚ astrophysics‚ chemistry‚ computer science‚ electrical engineering‚ geology‚ and geophysics. Therefore‚ what advice does Dr. Farah offer upcoming students who wish to pursue studying radio astronomy? “Radio astronomy is deeply rooted in physics‚ mathematics‚ and computer science‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “Having a solid understanding of these subjects‚ as they form the basis of many concepts in radio astronomy‚ can be extremely helpful when studying the field. I would also encourage upcoming students to try and gain research experience by seeking out opportunities to participate in research projects‚ internships‚ or summer projects. Radio observatories often offer positions like telescope operators that can be equally fulfilling and rewarding. Reaching out to potential mentors for projects that one might find intriguing is also very crucial; sometimes a short but concise email that shows passion and interest can go a long way! Radio astronomy is a fascinating field‚ you can never go wrong!” As technology continues to help advance our knowledge of the universe‚ radio astronomy will be at the forefront of gaining that knowledge‚ and possibly even be responsible for receiving a radio signal from an extraterrestrial civilization from somewhere in the cosmos. This incredible field has allowed thousands of scientists from all over the world to gain new insights about black holes‚ galaxies‚ quasars‚ and even about our Sun and the planets with our solar system. Given the more than 100 active radio telescopes across all seven continents‚ the future is bright for radio astronomy and the cutting-edge science it can achieve. “Despite being a relatively young field‚ radio astronomy has already made significant contributions to astronomy and science‚ greatly advancing our understanding of the universe‚” Dr. Farah tells Universe Today. “This impact has been recognized at the highest levels. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded in 1974 for pioneering techniques in radio astrophysics and the discovery of pulsars. In 1978‚ the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background and evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. Additionally‚ in 1993‚ another Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the discovery of binary pulsar systems‚ which enabled novel methods for studying gravitation. As major discoveries continue to unfold‚ I anticipate the possibility of another few Nobel Prizes in the coming years. This underscores the scientific richness of the field.” How will radio astronomy help us better understand our place in the universe in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell‚ and this is why we science! As always‚ keep doing science &; keep looking up! The post Radio Astronomy: Why study it? What can it teach us about finding life beyond Earth? appeared first on Universe Today.

You might remember the SLIM lunar lander that managed to land upside-down! The probe from the Japanese Space Agency has survived its second night on the Moon and returns a new photograph. Despite the solar panels pointing away from the Sun during the day it was still able to capture the image and transmit to Earth. All that while surviving the harsh -130C lunar night.  The Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) sent SLIM (the Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) back in January but the lightweight spacecraft landed completely wrong. Despite the wonky landing‚ SLIM touching down in one piece made Japan the fifth nation to land on the surface without crashing. The biggest problem for the mission was the solar panels pointing the wrong way. To the surprise of JAXA though they were able to announce the probe awoke for a second night.  The lander’s purpose was to research and test the pinpoint landing technology for future lunar missions. The hope is that it will pave the way for future missions to land where we want them to rather than where it is safest and easy to land. This will have benefits for landing on the Moon and on other astronomical bodies.  The black and white image sent back revealed the rocky surface and a lunar crater. It was released on the SLIM official social media platform with the accompanying text ‘Since the Sun was still high in the sky and the equipment was still hot‚ we recorded images of the usual scenery with the navigational camera‚ among other activities for a short period of time.’ The post came shortly after an American unscrewed lander known as Odysseus had failed to wake. The craft became the first American spacecraft to land on the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. It also became the first privately funded probe to land safely on the Moon’s surface. In a similar landing to SLIM‚ Odysseus (which came in at just over 4 metres tall) also managed to topple over onto its side following an approach that was too fast. The manufacturers of the Odysseus spacecraft‚ Intuitive Machines based in Houston‚ had hoped that it might awake just like SLIM but sadly this does not seem to have occurred.  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rises from its Florida launch pad to send Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus moon lander spaceward. (NASA via YouTube) Aside from testing the precision landing technology‚ SLIM also aims to study part of the Moon’s mantle which it is thought was accessible at the landing site. After its landing‚ it switched off to save power but the incoming sunlight managed to switch it back on again to enable a couple of days to scientific observations. Given that the probe was not designed to survive the lunar nights‚ it was a fabulous surprise and bonus for the team. Source : Japan moon probe survives second lunar night The post Against all Odds. Japan’s SLIM Lander Survived a Second Lunar Night Upside Down appeared first on Universe Today.

Neutron stars‚ the remains of massive stars that have imploded and gone supernova at the end of their life‚ can still create massive flares. These incredible bursts of energy release X-rays that propagate through space. It is a complex process to simulate but astronomers have turned to a supercomputer to help. Modelling the twisting magnetic fields‚ the interaction with gas and dust‚ the surface of flaring neutron stars has been revealed in incredible 3D. Throughout a stars life‚ the inward force of gravity is balanced by the outward pushing thermonuclear force. Stars like our Sun will experience the thermonuclear force overcoming the force of gravity. The force of gravity wins over the thermonuclear force in more massive stars as the star’s core collapses‚ leading to a rebound and supernova explosion. The result is a super dense core where the space between the protons and neutrons are eradicated during collapse. The result‚ is a great big neutron a few kilometres across. A composite image of the remnant of supernova 1181. A spherical bright nebula sits in the middle surrounded by a field of white dotted stars. Within the nebula several rays point out like fireworks from a central star. G. Ferrand and J. English (U. of Manitoba)‚ NASA/Chandra/WISE‚ ESA/XMM‚ MDM/R.Fessen (Dartmouth College)‚ Pan-STARRS It is quite possible for neutrons stars to have a companion star and‚ as the stars orbit‚ the neutron star strips material off its companion. The material will build up on the neutron star‚ become compressed under the force of gravity which leads to a thermonuclear explosion and a release of X-rays. Understanding this X-ray release and how it spreads across the neutron star’s surface can tell us a lot about the neutron star and its composition.  A team of astrophysicists from the State University of New York and the University of California have been attempting to simulate the X-ray bursts in 2D and 3D models. One of the challenges in achieving this is the immense amount of computing power required to achieve the task. To overcome this‚ the team used the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility’s Summit super computer to analyse and compare models.  The Summit supercomputer is well suited to the task. Combining high-performance CPU and an accelerated graphics processing unit the team were able to run the simulations. By delegating the task of running the simulations to the graphics processing unit the central processing unit was freed up to compare the models. The researchers were able to restrict the size of the source so that they could calculate the neutron star radius. Typically a neutron star has a mass of up to 2 times the mass of the Sun even though they are usually up to 12km across. Studying the flares means the mass and radius of a neutron star can be deduced due to the way matter behaves under extreme conditions.  The generated models in 3D were informed from previous 2D models. Using models under different star surface temperature and rotation rate‚ the flames propagation was explored. the 2D study showed that different physical conditions led to a different rate of flame spread. The 3D simulations looked at the evolution of a flare across the surface of a neutron star with a surface temperature several million times more than the Sun and a rotation rate of 1‚000 hertz or 1‚000 revolution per second. In these simulations the flame does not remain circular and the resultant ash was used to learn how quickly the burning progressed.  The results revealed that the 2D model burning was slightly faster than the 3D model but both were similar. If more complex interactions are required such as turbulence then the 3D model will be required. Exciting times are ahead for the time as they continue to strive to be able to model the whole flame spread across the entire star.  Source : Scientists use Summit supercomputer to explore exotic stellar phenomena The post It Takes a Supercomputer to Properly Simulate a Neutron Star’s Surface appeared first on Universe Today.