Space news and Exploration II

[ScienceRocks]

ESA spaceplane launch gets green light
By David Szondy
January 17, 2015
7 Pictures

The European Space Agency has given the green light for the launch of its unmanned spaceplane, Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV). The original plan for a launch atop a Vega rocket from the ESA space center in French Guiana last November was put on hold due to safety concerns about its trajectory. With these issues now resolved, lift off is rescheduled for February 11.

 

[ScienceRocks]

(Detection of Potential Transit Signals in 17 Quarters of Kepler Mission Data), some very interesting new candidates :

The first of these new candidates is on KIC target 8311864 and is the subject of a discovery paper already in the works that will be submitted for publication soon (Jenkins et al. 2015). The object has an orbital period of 384.85 days, a planet radius of 1.19 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 221 K. Note that the stellar parameters for this system obtained through follow up spectroscopy are markedly different from those available to the SOC (Huber et al. 2014) for this run : the star is likely to be 1.2 Rs, providing a planet with a radius of 1.8 Re.

KIC target 5094751. This candidate has an orbital period of 362.5 days, a planet radius of 1.6 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 301 K. This is KOI 123 (Kepler-109) which already has 2 confirmed planets.

KIC target 5531953. This candidate has an orbital period of 21.91 days, a planet radius of 0.78 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 288 K. This is KOI 1681 which already has 3 dispositioned planet candidates.

KIC target 8120820. This candidate has an orbital period of 129.22 days, a planet radius of 1.84 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 290 K.

KIC target 9674320. This candidate has an orbital period of 317.05 days, a planet radius of 1.66 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 222 K.

KIC target 7100673. This candidate has an orbital period of 7.24 days, a planet radius of 0.77 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 948 K. This is KOI 4032 which already has 4 dispositioned planet candidates, all with periods shorter than this one.

KIC target 8105398. This candidate has an orbital period of 224.15 days, a planet radius of 1.71 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 292 K. This is KOI 5475.01

KIC target 8105398. This candidate has an orbital period of 5.68 days, a
planet radius of 0.55 Re, and an equilibrium temperature of 994 K. This is the second TCE detected on KOI 5475


1501.03586 Detection of Potential Transit Signals in 17 Quarters of Kepler Mission Data

Detection of Potential Transit Signals in 17 Quarters of Kepler Mission Data

We present the results of a search for potential transit signals in the full 17-quarter data set collected during Kepler's primary mission that ended on May 11, 2013, due to the on-board failure of a second reaction wheel needed to maintain high precision, fixed, pointing. The search includes a total of 198,646 targets, of which 112,001 were observed in every quarter and 86,645 were observed in a subset of the 17 quarters. We find a total of 12,669 targets that contain at least one signal that meets our detection criteria: periodicity of the signal, a minimum of three transit events, an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio, and four consistency tests that suppress false positives. Each target containing at least one transit-like pulse sequence is searched repeatedly for other signals that meet the detection criteria, indicating a multiple planet system. This multiple planet search adds an additional 7,698 transit-like signatures for a total of 20,367. Comparison of this set of detected signals with a set of known and vetted transiting planet signatures in the Kepler field of view shows that the recovery rate of the search is 90.3%. We review ensemble properties of the detected signals and present various metrics useful in validating these potential planetary signals. We highlight previously undetected planetary candidates, including several small potential planets in the habitable zone of their host stars.

 

[ScienceRocks]

NASA Exoplanet Archive

January 15, 2015: Nine more confirmed Kepler planets have a home in the archive. See data on Kepler-433 b, Kepler-434 b, Kepler-435 b, Kepler-445 b, Kepler-445 c, Kepler-445 d, Kepler-446 b, Kepler-446 c, and Kepler-446 d in the Confirmed Planets table.


Kepler-433b = KOI-206.01
Kepler-434b = KOI-614.01
Kepler-435b = KOI-680.01

1501.01486 SOPHIE velocimetry of Kepler transit candidates. XV. KOI-614b KOI-206b and KOI-680b a massive warm Jupiter orbiting a G0 metallic dwarf and two highly inflated planets with a distant companion around evolved F-type stars

 

[ScienceRocks]

Cluster satellites come within cosmic hairsbreadth
By David Szondy
January 18, 2015
2 Pictures

Space maneuvers have often been described as an orbital ballet, but the European Space Agency's (ESA) Cluster II satellites are currently in a ballet where the dancers are moving blindfolded at hypersonic speeds as they pass within a cosmic hairsbreadth of one another. That's because two of the Cluster satellites are flying within "touching distance" of one another as scientists try to learn more about the effects of solar wind on the Earth's magnetic field.

 

[ScienceRocks]

"Planet X" might actually exist — and so might "Planet Y."

Mysterious Planet X May Really Lurk Undiscovered in Our Solar System

At least two planets larger than Earth likely lurk in the dark depths of space far beyond Pluto, just waiting to be discovered, a new analysis of the orbits of "extreme trans-Neptunian objects" (ETNOs) suggests.

Researchers studied 13 ETNOs — frigid bodies such as the dwarf planet Sedna that cruise around the sun at great distances in elliptical paths.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Dawn delivers new image of Ceres
42 minutes ago

Dawn delivers new image of Ceres
The Dawn spacecraft observed Ceres for an hour on Jan. 13, 2015, from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers). A little more than half of its surface was observed at a resolution of 27 pixels. This animated GIF shows bright and dark features. Credit: NASA

(Phys.org)—As NASA's Dawn spacecraft closes in on Ceres, new images show the dwarf planet at 27 pixels across, about three times better than the calibration images taken in early December. These are the first in a series of images that will be taken for navigation purposes during the approach to Ceres.

Dawn delivers new image of Ceres

 

[Judicial review]

Amazing thread mathew.

 

[ScienceRocks]

China discusses rocket larger than US Saturn V for 2028 that could launch 130 tons

According to an earlier report by China News Service, Liang Xiaohong, deputy head of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, disclosed that the Long March-9 is planned to have a maximum payload of 130 tons and its first launch will take place around 2028. "China is discussing the technological feasibility and requirements of the...

Read more »

 

[ScienceRocks]

Two planets as big as Earth ‘could be on edge of solar system’

At least two as-yet undiscovered planets as big as Earth or larger may be hiding in the outer fringes of the solar system, scientists believe.

The secret worlds are thought to exist beyond the orbits of Neptune, the furthest true planet from the Sun, and the even more distant tiny “dwarf planet” Pluto.

The evidence comes from observations of a belt of space rocks known as “extreme trans-Neptunian objects” (Etnos).

Orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune, Etnos should be distributed randomly with paths that have certain defined characteristics. But a dozen of the bodies have completely unexpected orbital values consistent with them being influenced by the gravitational pull of something unseen.

http://www.theguardi...th-solar-system

A good outpost if we ever find this to be true!


-------------------------------------

A little space telescope teamwork confirms clear skies and water vapor on this exoplanet 120 light-years from Earth. HAT-P-11b, an exoplanet about four times the size of Earth, is the smallest planet from which molecules of any kind have been detected!

NASA Telescopes Find Clear Skies and Water Vapor on Exoplanet NASA

Astronomers using data from three of NASA's space telescopes -- Hubble, Spitzer and Kepler -- have discovered clear skies and steamy water vapor on a gaseous planet outside our solar system. The planet is about the size of Neptune, making it the smallest planet from which molecules of any kind have been detected.

“This discovery is a significant milepost on the road to eventually analyzing the atmospheric composition of smaller, rocky planets more like Earth,” said John Grunsfeld, assistant administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Such achievements are only possible today with the combined capabilities of these unique and powerful observatories.”

Clouds in a planet’s atmosphere can block the view to underlying molecules that reveal information about the planet’s composition and history. Finding clear skies on a Neptune-size planet is a good sign that smaller planets might have similarly good visibility.

"When astronomers go observing at night with telescopes, they say 'clear skies' to mean good luck," said Jonathan Fraine of the University of Maryland, College Park, lead author of a new study appearing in Nature. "In this case, we found clear skies on a distant planet. That's lucky

NASA Telescopes Find Clear Skies and Water Vapor on Exoplanet

 

[ScienceRocks]

Obama Hails NASA Astronaut Set for 1-Year Space Voyage in State of the Union

President Barack Obama recognized the first American astronaut who will spend a year in space during the State of Union address Tuesday night (Jan. 20).

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, scheduled to launch to the International Space Station for a 12-month stay in March, was hailed for his role in advancing Obama's goal of sending astronauts to Mars. Kelly attended the speech as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama.

At least Obama has a plan. Where yours republicans? Seriously, slash and burn isn't going to keep us a ahead of nations like China very long.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Huge asteroid to whip past Earth on Monday
3 hours ago by By Marcia Dunn

An asteroid up to 1,800 feet (550 meters) across is headed Earth's way. But don't worry: It will miss us by 745,000 miles, about three times the distance between Earth and the moon.

Read more at: Huge asteroid to whip past Earth on Monday

Fund nasa and give them a mission of discovering them with enough time to put in place a plan.

 

[Old Rocks]

Just as with global warming, they will not do this until there is a major catastrophe. Sad, but you can see that from the attitude of the majority of people on this board.

 

[westwall]

Just as with global warming, they will not do this until there is a major catastrophe. Sad, but you can see that from the attitude of the majority of people on this board.

Really? No one I know has ignored the threat from an asteroid impact. Unlike the supposed disasters that will occur with a warmer globe (none of which have ever happened when it was in fact warmer mind you...but don't let facts get in the way of a good lie) there is NO DOUBT that an asteroid strike will end civilization. None.

We are the first creatures on this planet who have the ability to change that outcome and assholes push the non dangerous global warming horseshit to make money and gather power, while all the time an asteroid is getting closer and closer to impact.

Assholes.

 

[ScienceRocks]

NASA and Microsoft team up for virtual Mars exploration
By David Szondy
January 23, 2015

Years before the first astronauts set foot on Mars, scientists will already be there – virtually. Thanks to a collaboration between NASA and Microsoft aimed at advancing human-robot interactions, the space agency's OnSight software will allow researchers to explore a virtual Martian landscape created from data sent back by the Curiosity rover.

I hope they add the other rovers too. I'd spend some time when they put it online.

 

[ScienceRocks]

New Horizons probe eyes Pluto for historic encounter
BBC News - New Horizons probe eyes Pluto for historic encounter
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News

When it gets to Pluto, the New Horizons probe will have a packed schedule of observations
A Nasa probe is to start photographing the icy world of Pluto, after travelling 5bn km (3bn miles) and nine years to get near the dwarf planet.

The mission to Pluto is being billed as the last great encounter in planetary exploration.

It is one of the first opportunities to study a dwarf planet up close.

The pictures are critical to enable the New Horizons probe to position itself for a closer fly-by later this year.

As the probe is still 200 million km away, Pluto will be hardly discernable in the images - just a speck of light against the stars.

But the mission team says this view is needed to help line up the spacecraft correctly for its fly-by on 14 July.

"Optical navigation is one of those techniques where we image Pluto repetitively on approach to determine the position of the spacecraft relative to Pluto," explained Mark Holdridge, from the Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) in Baltimore.

"We then perform a number of correction manoeuvres to realign our trajectory with the reference trajectory, thus ensuring we hit our aim point to travel through the Pluto system."

Any initial correction is likely to be made in March.

 

[ScienceRocks]

How Many Earths New Scientist

 

[ScienceRocks]

Dawn probe data indicates ancient flowing water on Vesta
By David Szondy
January 25, 2015
2 Pictures

The last place you'd expect to find signs of water erosion is in the Asteroid Belt, but researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory say that data collected during the Dawn spacecraft's visit to Vesta indicates that it not only once had water, but that it formed gullies and other erosion features on its surface.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Modeling giant extrasolar ring systems in eclipse and the case of J1407b: sculpting by exomoons?
1501.05652 Modeling giant extrasolar ring systems in eclipse and the case of J1407b sculpting by exomoons

The light curve of 1SWASP J140747.93-394542.6, a ∼16 Myr old star in the Sco-Cen OB association, underwent a complex series of deep eclipses that lasted 56 days, centered on April 2007. This light curve is interpreted as the transit of a giant ring system that is filling up a fraction of the Hill sphere of an unseen secondary companion, J1407b. We fit the light curve with a model of an azimuthally symmetric ring system, including spatial scales down to the temporal limit set by the star's diameter and relative velocity. The best ring model has 37 rings and extends out to a radius of 0.6 AU (90 million km), and the rings have an estimated total mass on the order of 100MMoon. The ring system has one clearly defined gap at 0.4 AU (61 million km), which we hypothesize is being cleared out by a <0.8M⊕ exosatellite orbiting around J1407b. This eclipse and model implies that we are seeing a circumplanetary disk undergoing a dynamic transition to an exosatellite-sculpted ring structure and is one of the first seen outside our Solar system.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Gigantic ring system around J1407b much larger, heavier than Saturn's
8 hours ago

Astronomers at the Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands, and the University of Rochester, USA, have discovered that the ring system that they see eclipse the very young Sun-like star J1407 is of enormous proportions, much larger and heavier than the ring system of Saturn. The ring system - the first of its kind to be found outside our solar system - was discovered in 2012 by a team led by Rochester's Eric Mamajek.

Read more at: Gigantic ring system around J1407b much larger heavier than Saturn s

 

[ScienceRocks]

An ancient extrasolar system with five sub-Earth-size planets
1501.06227 An ancient extrasolar system with five sub-Earth-size planets

The chemical composition of stars hosting small exoplanets (with radii less than four Earth radii) appears to be more diverse than that of gas-giant hosts, which tend to be metal-rich. This implies that small, including Earth-size, planets may have readily formed at earlier epochs in the Universe's history when metals were more scarce. We report Kepler spacecraft observations of Kepler-444, a metal-poor Sun-like star from the old population of the Galactic thick disk and the host to a compact system of five transiting planets with sizes between those of Mercury and Venus. We validate this system as a true five-planet system orbiting the target star and provide a detailed characterization of its planetary and orbital parameters based on an analysis of the transit photometry. Kepler-444 is the densest star with detected solar-like oscillations. We use asteroseismology to directly measure a precise age of 11.2+/-1.0 Gyr for the host star, indicating that Kepler-444 formed when the Universe was less than 20% of its current age and making it the oldest known system of terrestrial-size planets. We thus show that Earth-size planets have formed throughout most of the Universe's 13.8-billion-year history, leaving open the possibility for the existence of ancient life in the Galaxy. The age of Kepler-444 not only suggests that thick-disk stars were among the hosts to the first Galactic planets, but may also help to pinpoint the beginning of the era of planet formation.