DOCSLIB.ORG

Lowell Observatory Issue 101 Fall 2014

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lowell Observatory Issue 101 Fall 2014 THETHE LOWELL OBSERVER | Fall 2014 1 LOWELL EXPANDING OUR UNIVERSE OBSERVER The quarterly newsletter of Lowell Observatory Issue 101 Fall 2014 Chairman Gerard van Lowell Hosts Cool Belle acted as emcee during the conference. Stars 18 Conference Here he introduces invited speaker Marc by Gerard van Belle Pinsonneault (OSU) for the conference’s debate Lowell Observatory recently had between Pinsonneault and the honor of hosting a major international Martin Asplund (ANU) on astronomy conference, “Cool Stars 18”, “The Ins and Out of Solar from June 8 to 13, 2014. More than 350 Abundances”. astronomers from 28 different countries our own star. This is attended — including Germany, Australia, especially pertinent as India, Chile, Japan, Turkey, and of course we consider questions from throughout the United States. I of how the sun served as the meeting chair, with Lowell’s influences our own Evgenya Shkolnik as my deputy chair. world. The formal name of the meeting The discovery was “The 18th Cambridge Workshop on in 1995 of planets Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun”, orbiting other sun-like and represented the 18th installment of a stars has expanded meeting series that has been convening on the relevance of considering stars as entire a trans-Atlantic switching tradition of the a roughly biennial basis since 1980. Cool systems of hosts and companion planets. series), and at the closing banquet for the Stars 17 was held in Barcelona, Spain, An indication of the importance of the meeting, Lowell Observatory announced and it was at this meeting that Lowell Cool Stars series is that astronomers it was passing the torch for Cool Stars 19 Observatory led an ultimately successful who obtained the first extrasolar planet to our colleagues at Uppsala University bid to have the following Cool Stars come discovery chose Cool Stars 9 as the venue in Uppsala, Sweden. It was a tremendous to Flagstaff. for their announcement. Results from the amount of work to organize this meeting, In astronomy, researchers tend to wildly successful Kepler spacecraft (on but also a tremendous honor. The entire specialize in specific topics, in part due to which Lowell astronomer Ted Dunham is a Lowell staff — including, in particular, Catie the tools and techniques that are unique co-investigator) were a featured part of this Blazek, Mattie Harrington, and Sarah to the investigation of those topics. These year’s Cool Stars, including new extrasolar topics include stellar astrophysics — the planet discoveries, and ‘asteroseismology’ Conant — pitched in magnificently and the study of stars — and heliophysics — the study results, where the internal vibrations of overwhelming success of this event is due of our sun. In each of these two cases, the stars have been sensed through varying to their dedication. telescopes and instruments designed for brightness levels, giving insight into the observations are quite disparate from each internal structure of these stars. A similar other; a solar telescope typically looks quite technique, helioseismology, has been used IN THIS ISSUE different from a telescope that is intended on the sun; both of these techniques to look at distant, faint stars. However, the provide exquisite constraints on the underlying physics is the same. otherwise hidden interiors of these objects. The Cool Stars series offers a unique The focus on cool stars is connected opportunity for astronomers who specialize to the physics of stellar interiors. Stars that in these two often-separated communities are the temperature of our sun and cooler to discuss areas of common interest. The tend to be structured internally and behave proximity of the sun provides us with a in very similar ways. Indeed, the discussion unique star for which a wealth and detail of of the very coolest stars and even the sub- knowledge can be obtained, unparalleled stellar ‘brown dwarf’ objects has come to by any other star. The study of other stars be a significant recurring theme throughout gives us multiple laboratories with varying the Cool Stars meetings. conditions — different sizes, temperatures, Multiple proposals from Europe compositions, and ages all provide us with were evaluated during Cool Stars 18 for additional insight into the behavior of the next hosting opportunity (continuing 2 THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Fall 2014 8-13 was not a quiet week at about the organizers, the Second, I was again Lowell Observatory. The 18th science, and the venue and reminded just how much fun Cambridge Workshop on Cool setting. During the conference, astronomy is. Hearing the Stars, Stellar Systems, and I was especially struck by two talks and reading the posters the Sun convened at the High things. was exciting, intellectually Country Conference Center, First, it was a clear stimulating, and generated lots ably led by Gerard van Belle demonstration of Flagstaff’s of good conversations with and with outstanding support status as a major hub of colleagues I hadn’t seen in some time. I’ve heard many from Mattie Harrington, Catie research in astronomy and astronomers — at Lowell and Blazek, Sarah Conant, and planetary science — not merely elsewhere — comment that we many volunteers. Nearly 400 at Lowell, but at the U.S. are lucky to be able to do what astronomers from around the Naval Observatory, Northern we do. I hope that through Director’s world gathered for a week of Arizona University, and the the Observer and our other Update sharing the latest discoveries U.S. Geological Survey. Being programs, we convey that in stellar atmospheres, star and selected for a Cool Stars excitement and sense of happy by Jeffrey Hall planet formation, exoplanets, conference is a testament to wonder at the Universe to all and the sun itself. At the end Flagstaff’s long tradition and of you. Unlike the status of the week, they all went their outstanding reputation in quo at Lake Wobegon, June ways with many compliments astronomy. immediately followed by the observatory hosting one of the Big Red Leads Flagstaff’s Fourth largest annual astronomical of July Parade gatherings, the “Cool Stars” Percival Lowell’s 1911 Stevens-Duryea Model “Y” convention for the next several touring automobile, a.k.a Big Red, led this year’s days, the staff was flat out Fourth of July parade in downtown Flagstaff. The making sure everything came car carried Grand Marshal and Trustee Emeritus off well. My thanks to Gerard Bill Putnam, Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours and his van Belle for his work over the family, Earl and Gloria Slipher, and Mike and Karen past year as chair of the Cool Kitt. Several Flagstaff landmarks are visible in this Stars organizing committee photo, including Lowell’s historic Clark Telescope and to the entire team at dome in the distance on Mars Hill. Lowell for their hard work. Trustee’s A primary part of my job is making sure the observatory Update has the long term financial by W. Lowell Putnam underpinnings to operate successfully. On an annual I hope your summer basis a major difference is the is going well. It has certainly amount of either unrestricted gotten off to a great start at or specific program support the observatory. The annual we receive from our Friends. Advisory Board meeting was Your contributions in this way well attended and produced a help us keep innovating new number of good conversations programs and sustaining efforts and recommendations. Add across the organization. If you to that the official opening of are interested in supporting the new Collection Center specific programs or research, and then a successful Gala I urge you to reach out to with a great talk from Mark Antoinette Beiser or me and Kelly and you have a very good we will be happy to discuss and busy week. Since it was what works well for you. THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Fall 2014 3 were sold out except for a couple of spots in the oldest age bracket. Tykes Camp is offered year-round on Saturdays for three-to-five-year-olds and is in its second year. Currently 240 children participate yearly. Christensen said this is a unique program because Lowell educators are teaching astronomy and physics concepts to such a young age group. Tykes Camp has three years of curriculum and alternates between physics and astronomy topics. For example, after learning about the sun, campers learn about electricity and magnetism. Christensen sees the Tykes Camp as not only a fun exercise for participants, but also a language experiment of sorts. “Children at that age are geared toward learning languages,” Christensen said. “We think of that so literally — Camp counselor Joshua Begay uses an inflatable model of Jupiter to teach kids about the difference between a planet’s revolution and its rotation around the sun, represented here by a light bulb. English, Spanish, French — but math is really a language, and science in some sense is really a language…I think we do the country visit for special programs Youth Camps a our children a disservice by not really given by educators. These might include Big Hit anything from a virtual tour through the exposing them to [science and math] at this by Cecile LeBlanc solar system enhanced with demonstrations age.” using dry ice and liquid nitrogen to an in- She gave an example of the power of It’s a Saturday morning at Lowell depth walking tour of the telescope used to these workshops. One boy camper learned Observatory and the children at camp discover Pluto. about gravity in a Tykes Camp. Months are having fun. On one Saturday ten Flagstaff organizations also contact later he was building a bird nest on a paper boisterous three-to-five-year-olds learned Outreach Manager Samantha Christensen plate using glue and sticks after learning about the sun.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Planetary Research Center Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, Arizona 86002
    N 8 4 - °1* R 7 <• PLANETARY RESEARCH CENTER LOWELL OBSERVATORY FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA 86002 NASA GRANT NSG-7530 POST-MISSION VIKING DATA ANALYSIS FINAL REPORT ; SUBMITTED: 26 APRIL M-A,- BAUM-- ' KARI_LUMME .__ PRINCIPAL-INVESTIGATOR< -? CO-^INVESTIGATOR J, .WTIN -• LAWRENCE H, WASSERMAN CO-INVESTIGATOR CO-INVESTIGATOR Page 2 PERSONNEL—" Averaged over the time interval (3.7 years) that funds were expended under this grant, the following staff devoted the indicated percentages of their time to it: W. A. Baum, Principal Investigator, 18$ time L. J. Martin, Co-Investigator, 52% K. Lumme, Co-Investigator, 19% L. H. Wasserman, Co-Investigator, S% T. J. Kreidl, Computer Programmer, 5% Others (combined), ResearctuAssistants, 7-$ • ~ -> "Others" include H. S. Horstman, M. L. Kantz, and S. E. Jones. In addition, there are several Observatory employees paid through overhead who provide services such as library, bookkeeping, and maintenance. BACKGROUND Work under this grant was a continuation of our participation in the Viking Mission. That participation commenced in 1970 with Baum's membership on the Viking Orbiter Imaging Team and continued through the end of team operations in 1978. This grant then commenced in 1979 at the start of the Mars Data Analysis Program (MDAP). MDAP was planned by NASA as a 5-year program, and our initial MDAP proposal was scaled to that expectation and to a funding level consistent with the Mars research projects in which we were already engaged. As it turned out, there were subsequent reductions in MDAP funds, and we (like many of our colleagues at other institutions) had to adjust the scope of our Mars research projects accordingly.
    [Show full text]
  • Lowell Observatory Communications Office 1400 W. Mars Hill Rd
    Lowell Observatory Communications Office 1400 W. Mars Hill Rd. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 www.lowell.edu PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 12, 2015 ***Contact details appear below*** Image attached LOWELL OBSERVATORY TO HOST PLUTO AND BEYOND GALA ON JUNE 13 Flagstaff, Az- Lowell Observatory will host its fourth annual fundraising gala, Pluto and Beyond, on June 13. Sponsored by APS, it will take place on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and feature experts sharing the latest Pluto news, auctions showcasing a variety of travel packages and astronomy-themed collectibles, and live music. Proceeds support Lowell’s mission of astronomical research and outreach. Lisa Actor, Lowell’s Deputy Director for Development, said, “This will be an exciting event in this year when we’re celebrating the 85th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto at Lowell Observatory! I’m anxious to meet and personally thank the many Flagstaff area supporters of the observatory.” Pluto and Beyond kicks off with the Kuiper VIP Reception at 5:30 p.m. Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, this champagne and cocktail gathering will meet in the 1899 Bar & Grill. The main event happens in the High Country Conference Center, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and a sit-down dinner served at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, experts from Lowell Observatory will discuss the astronomy news story of the year—the New Horizons spacecraft’s July approach to Pluto after an incredible nine-year journey. This program will start with a look at Clyde Tombaugh’s improbable discovery of this icy world at Lowell in 1930 and continue with the latest news from New Horizons as it prepares to capture the first-ever close-up images of Pluto’s surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Astro2020 APC White Papers the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer
    Astro2020 APC White Papers The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer Type of Activity: Ground Based Project Space Based Project Infrastructure Activity 4 Technological Development Activity State of the Professions Consideration4 Other Principal Author: Name: Gerard van Belle Institution: Lowell Observatory Email: [email protected] Phone: 928-255-7865 Co-authors: (names, institutions, emails) J. Thomas Armstrong (NRL, [email protected]), Ellyn Baines (NRL, [email protected]), Joe Llama (Lowell, [email protected]), Henrique Schmitt (NRL, [email protected]) Abstract: The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI) is one of the premier U.S. long-baseline optical interferometric facilities, capable of providing sub-milliarcsecond imaging in the visible. We outline a plan for NPOI for 2020-2030 that will cement its leadership as the highest resolution optical system on the planet, with multi-kilometer baselines. This capability will serve a wide variety of Astro2020 science needs, resolving the sizes and shapes of stars, resolving AGNs, imaging protoplanetary disks, and observing the passage of exoplanets across their stellar disks. 1 1 Introduction The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI), a long baseline optical interferometer located on Anderson Mesa, near Flagstaff, Arizona, is operated as a partnership between Lowell Observatory, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the US Naval Observatory (USNO). It features a Y-shaped layout with 250 m arms, telescopes that can be moved among 30 stations along the arms, visible-band beam combiners, and a vacuum feed system to avoid ground seeing and differential longitudinal dispersion. NPOI currently operates with up to six telescopes simultaneously feeding the beam combination laboratory with 12-cm effective apertures, on baselines (separations between the apertures) up to 98-m.
    [Show full text]
  • TENURE-TRACK Or TENURED ASTRONOMER Lowell Observatory
    TENURE-TRACK or TENURED ASTRONOMER Lowell Observatory invites applications for one or more tenure-track or tenured research positions in astronomy or planetary science. We invite applicants at any career level who can build on current strengths or open new areas for Lowell. A Ph.D. in astronomy, planetary science, or a related field is required, as is an outstanding record of research and demonstrated ability or potential to obtain external research funding. Candidates are invited to describe how they would make use of our observational facilities, but we will give equal consideration to all research areas. The start date for this position is flexible but desired by Fall 2016. Lowell Observatory is an independent, non-profit research institution. Our astronomers have access to our new 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, operated in partnership with Boston University, the University of Toledo, the University of Maryland/GSFC, Northern Arizona University, Yale University, and Discovery Communications. Lowell also maintains 1.8-m, 1.1-m, and 0.9-m telescopes equipped with optical and IR imagers and spectrographs. We partner with the US Naval Observatory and the Naval Research Laboratory in the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer. Lowell offers numerous opportunities for involvement in education and outreach as well. To apply: Send applications electronically to [email protected]. Applications should include (1) a cover letter and CV, (2) a research plan of 3 pages or less, and (3) names and mail/email addresses of three individuals who have agreed to serve as references. Do not ask for reference letters to be sent in advance.
    [Show full text]
  • Planetary Patrol - an International Effort
    136 COMMISSIONS 16, 17 AND 40 ments devoted to the passage through the asteroid belt which precedes the Jupiter rendezvous. Emphasis was placed on the anticipated contributions of these three programs to our understanding of the solar system. In discussion Carl Sagan stressed that mission B of the Mariner Mars 1971 program is designed to have an orbital period four-thirds the Martian rotational period so that every four days the space­ craft observes the same area under the same lighting conditions. In this way intrinsic Martian albedo changes can be distinguished from effects due to the scattering phase function of surface material. He also mentioned the possibility that photographic mapping of Phobos and Deimos by the Mariner Mars 1971 mission would provide cartography of these moons superior to the best groundbased cartography of Mars. PLANETARY PATROL - AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT W. A. Baum Lowell Observatory Abstract. An international photographic planetary patrol network, consisting of the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii, the Mount Stromlo Observatory in eastern Australia, the Republic Observa­ tory in South Africa, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in northern Chile, and the Lowell Observatory, has been in operation since April 1969. The Magdalena Peak Station of the Mexico State University also participated temporarily. New stations are now being added at the Perth Observatory in western Australia and at the Kavalur Station of the Kodaikanal Observatory in southern India. During 1969 Mars and Jupiter were photographed through blue, green, and red filters; and the network produced more than 11000 fourteen-exposure filmstrips with images of a quality suitable for analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • 1400 West Mars Hill Rd | Flagstaff, Arizona 86001-4499 | USA 928.774.3358 | Lowell.Edu
    1400 West Mars Hill Rd | Flagstaff, Arizona 86001-4499 | USA 928.774.3358 | lowell.edu POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT Multi-Cultural Outreach Astronomer DUTIES: Serve as a Public Program Educator and act as the “Meet an Astronomer” professional for our observatory several times a month. Develop new educational materials and translate existing educational materials for the Spanish speaking community. Participate directly in the Lowell Observatory Camp for Kids programs. These hands-on day camps offer kids the opportunity to learn about STEM through activities such as science investigations, games, story time, music, engineering, art, and more. Partner with schools each year within the Native American Astronomy Outreach program and participate in expansions of that program to other cultures in the region. Partnerships are sponsored by National Science Foundation and private donors. Develop and deliver informal education talks about astronomy, with an emphasis on the most recent astronomy-related news and events, as well as the current and past research done at Lowell Observatory. Engage with visitors and lead tours of the Lowell Observatory campus including occasional tours in Spanish. Deliver public lectures for historical observatory exhibitions. Operate public telescopes, lead outdoor stargazing programs and special pre-K-12 programs. Other duties as assigned, which may include: lead tours of other Lowell telescopes and facilities, assist with design and delivery of new programs, and assist with exclusive programs both on and off-site. REQUIREMENTS: Master’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, or a closely related field or the foreign academic equivalent, plus 1 year of experience in an astronomy related position. Alternatively, Lowell will also accept Bachelor’s degree, in Astronomy, Physics, or a closely related field, with 6 years of experience in an astronomy related position in lieu of a master’s degree and 1 year of experience.
    [Show full text]
  • New Horizons 2 Alan Stern (Swri), Rick Binzel (MIT), Hal Levison
    New Horizons 2 Alan Stern (SwRI), Rick Binzel (MIT), Hal Levison (SwRI), Rosaly Lopes (JPL), Bob Millis (Lowell Observatory), and Jeff Moore (NASA Ames) New Horizons is the inaugural mission in NASA’s New Frontiers program—a series of mid-sized planetary exploration projects. This mission was competitively selected in 2001 after a peer review competition between industry-university teams. The mission is on track toward a planned launch in January 2006—just over 6 months hence. The primary objective of New Horizons (NH) is to make the first reconnaissance of the solar system’s farthest planet, Pluto, its comparably sized satellite Charon. If an extended mission is approved, New Horizons may be able to also flyby a Kuiper Belt Object (KBOs) farther from the Sun. The exploration of the Kuiper Belt and Pluto-Charon was ranked as the highest new start priority for planetary exploration by the National Research Council’s recently completed (2002) Decadal Survey for Planetary Science. In accomplishing its goals, the mission is expected to reveal fundamental new insights into the nature of the outer solar system, the formation history of the planets, the workings of binary worlds, and the ancient repository of water and organic building blocks called the Kuiper Belt. Beyond its scientific ambitions, New Horizons is also breaking ground in lowering the cost of exploration of the outer solar system—for it is being built and launched for what are literally dimes on the dollar compared to deep outer solar system missions like Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini. The New Horizons spacecraft carries a suite of seven advanced, miniaturized instruments to obtain detailed imagery, mapping spectroscopy, thermal mapping, gravitational data, and in situ plasma composition, density, and energy sampling of the exotic, icy Pluto- Charon binary and a modest-sized (~50 km diameter) KBO.
    [Show full text]
  • Hubble Reveals Possible New Moons Around Pluto 31 October 2005
    Hubble Reveals Possible New Moons Around Pluto 31 October 2005 taken in a single filter centered near 606 nanometers (yellow), so no color information is available for them. (Credit: NASA, ESA, H. Weaver (JHU/APL), A Stern (SwRI), and the Hubble Space Telescope Pluto Companion Search Team) "If, as our new Hubble images indicate, Pluto has not one, but two or three moons, it will become the first body in the Kuiper Belt known to have more than one satellite," said Hal Weaver of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md. He is co-leader of the team that made the discovery. Pluto was discovered in 1930. Charon, Pluto’s only confirmed moon, was discovered by ground-based observers in 1978. The planet resides 3 billion miles from the sun in the heart of the Kuiper Belt. "Our result suggests that other bodies in the Kuiper Belt may have more than one moon. It also means Using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to probe that planetary scientists will have to take these new the ninth planet in our solar system, astronomers moons into account when modeling the formation of discovered that Pluto may have not one, but three the Pluto system," said Alan Stern of the Southwest moons. Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. Stern is co- If confirmed, the discovery of the two new moons leader of the research team. could offer insights into the nature and evolution of the Pluto system, Kuiper Belt Objects with satellite The candidate moons, provisionally designated systems, and the early Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, were observed to be is a vast region of icy, rocky bodies beyond approximately 27,000 miles (44,000 kilometers) Neptune’s orbit.
    [Show full text]
  • Lowellobserver
    THE ISSUE 105 FALL 2015 LOWELL OBSERVER THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF LOWELL OBSERVATORY HOME OF PLUTO Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft looked back toward the Sun and captured a near- sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains and flat ice plains extending to Pluto’s horizon. (NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI) IN THIS SPECIAL EXTENDED ISSUE 2 Director’s Update 2 Trustee’s Update 3 Bound for Chile! New Horizons Unveils Pluto’s Secrets By Will Grundy Astronomers can normally study memes. Importantly, the focus remained distant objects only through their light, so almost entirely on the science, not hare- a unique appeal of solar system science is brained conspiracy theories or umbrage the possibility to send spacecraft to study at off-the-cuff remarks of team members. bodies in ways that could only be done Pluto, the real star of the show, up-close. Such spacecraft exploration isn’t certainly rose to the occasion, revealing 4 Education On Board SOFIA cheap, and competition is fierce over which incredible complexities and stark beauty. missions should be flown. The opportunity But much about the encounter was 5 Pluto Occultation Team to participate in one is a rare and cherished attributable to the hard-working team 6 Lowell Hosts Pluto Palooza opportunity for a planetary scientist like who delivered Pluto to the world. How myself. That’s especially so for a first-ever was this done, and what was it like being encounter with a previously unexplored involved? The key was practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1301.7656V1 [Physics.Hist-Ph]
    Origins of the Expanding Universe: 1912-1932 ASP Conference Series, Vol. 471 Michael J. Way and Deidre Hunter, eds. c 2013 Astronomical Society of the Pacific What Else Did V. M. Slipher Do? Joseph S. Tenn Department of Physics & Astronomy, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, 94928, USA Abstract. When V. M. Slipher gave the 1933 George Darwin lecture to the Royal Astronomical Society, it was natural that he spoke on spectrographic studies of planets. Less than one–sixth of his published work deals with globular clusters and the objects we now call galaxies. In his most productive years, when he had Percival Lowell to give him direction, Slipher made major discoveries regarding stars, galactic nebulae, and solar system objects. These included the first spectroscopic measurement of the rotation period of Uranus, evidence that Venus’s rotation is very slow, the existence of reflection nebulae and hence interstellar dust, and the stationary lines that prove the existence of interstellar calcium and sodium. After Lowell’s death in 1916 Slipher con- tinued making spectroscopic observations of planets, comets, and the aurora and night sky. He directed the Lowell Observatoryfrom 1916 to 1954, where his greatest achieve- ments were keeping the observatory running despite very limited staff and budget, and initiating and supervising the “successful” search for Lowell’s Planet X. However, he did little science in his last decades, spending most of his time and energy on business endeavors. 1. Introduction Vesto Melvin Slipher, always referred to and addressed as “V. M.” (Giclas 2007; Hoyt 1980b) came to Flagstaff in August 1901, two months after completing his B.A.
    [Show full text]
  • Journey to the Edge of the Solar System
    Home / Space/ Special Reports Journey to the edge of the solar system History of a space discovery The existence of a planet beyond the orbit of Neptune had been predicted since the 1840s. Astronomers of the time, in fact, thought there was another large planet as yet unknown, situated on the edge of the Solar System, responsible for the disturbances and changes to the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Complex mathematical calculations based on the known mass of Neptune showed, in fact, that its orbit, as well as that of nearby Uranus, did not perfectly correspond to the predictions on the motion of bodies in the Solar System. The search for the ninth planet started seriously in the twentieth century. Percival Lowell, founder astronomer (1894) and director of the Observatory in Flagstaff (Lowell Observatory), Arizona, dedicated the last eight years of his life to the search for Planet X, a phrase used to indicate a planet beyond Neptune. Lowell died in 1916, without being able to prove the existence of the missing planet. We had to wait another 14 years and more precisely 18 February 1930 to demonstrate the existence of Planet X. On that day, the twenty four year old Clyde Tombaugh was intent on observing celestial bodies with a blink comparator, an instrument that allows images of the sky obtained at different times to be compared. Clyde Tombaugh, a Kansas farmer with a great passion for astronomy, while never having carried out any formal studies on the subject, had got a job at the Lowell Observatory, thanks to drawings of Mars and Jupiter, which he had made using a telescope he had built with pieces of old farm machinery.
    [Show full text]
  • Programme Book
    SANTANDER INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOLS FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS REACHING THE LIMITS OF THE SKY ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY PROGRAMME BOOK NOVEMBER 17 TO 28, 2014 HEIDELBERG CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICA (HCLA), SANTIAGO DE CHILE COOPERATION PARTNERS Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) Planetarium – Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH) ESO Vitacura Office ESO Observatory Cerro Paranal SANTANDER INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOLS FOR DOCTORAL STUDENTS REACHING THE LIMITS OF THE SKY ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY CONTENT Universität Heidelberg 5 Santander Universidades 5 Programme Overview 7 Detailed Programme 8 Coordinators 14 Speakers 15 Doctoral Students 17 Abstracts of Summer School Speakers 18 Abstracts of Symposium Speakers 26 Description of Doctoral Projects 28 Venues 34 4/ SANTANDER Summer School 2014 Programme Book Thema des Kapitels Universität Heidelberg, University Square UNIVERSITÄT HEIDELBERG Heidelberg University, founded in 1386, is Germany’s old- International Profile est university and one of the strongest research universities Heidelberg University is tied into a worldwide network of re- in Europe. The successes in both rounds of the Excellence search and teaching collaborations. Exchange programmes Initiative of the German federal and state governments have been established with more than 400 universities and in international rankings prove its leading role in the worldwide. Heidelberg’s marked global interconnectedness scientific community. In terms of educating students and is also evidenced by its 19 university partnerships and promoting promising young academics, Heidelberg relies three International Research Training Groups as well as its on research-based teaching and a well-structured training membership in European networks such as the League of for doctoral candidates.
    [Show full text]