Looking for Lurkers: Objects Co-Orbital with Earth As SETI Observables
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Discovery of Earth's Quasi-Satellite
Meteoritics & Planetary Science 39, Nr 8, 1251–1255 (2004) Abstract available online at http://meteoritics.org Discovery of Earth’s quasi-satellite Martin CONNORS,1* Christian VEILLET,2 Ramon BRASSER,3 Paul WIEGERT,4 Paul CHODAS,5 Seppo MIKKOLA,6 and Kimmo INNANEN3 1Athabasca University, Athabasca AB, Canada T9S 3A3 2Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, P. O. Box 1597, Kamuela, Hawaii 96743, USA 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 5Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA 6Turku University Observatory, Tuorla, FIN-21500 Piikkiö, Finland *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (Received 18 February 2004; revision accepted 12 July 2004) Abstract–The newly discovered asteroid 2003 YN107 is currently a quasi-satellite of the Earth, making a satellite-like orbit of high inclination with apparent period of one year. The term quasi- satellite is used since these large orbits are not completely closed, but rather perturbed portions of the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun. Due to its extremely Earth-like orbit, this asteroid is influenced by Earth’s gravity to remain within 0.1 AU of the Earth for approximately 10 years (1997 to 2006). Prior to this, it had been on a horseshoe orbit closely following Earth’s orbit for several hundred years. It will re-enter such an orbit, and make one final libration of 123 years, after which it will have a close interaction with the Earth and transition to a circulating orbit. -
Origin and Evolution of Trojan Asteroids 725
Marzari et al.: Origin and Evolution of Trojan Asteroids 725 Origin and Evolution of Trojan Asteroids F. Marzari University of Padova, Italy H. Scholl Observatoire de Nice, France C. Murray University of London, England C. Lagerkvist Uppsala Astronomical Observatory, Sweden The regions around the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points of Jupiter are populated by two large swarms of asteroids called the Trojans. They may be as numerous as the main-belt asteroids and their dynamics is peculiar, involving a 1:1 resonance with Jupiter. Their origin probably dates back to the formation of Jupiter: the Trojan precursors were planetesimals orbiting close to the growing planet. Different mechanisms, including the mass growth of Jupiter, collisional diffusion, and gas drag friction, contributed to the capture of planetesimals in stable Trojan orbits before the final dispersal. The subsequent evolution of Trojan asteroids is the outcome of the joint action of different physical processes involving dynamical diffusion and excitation and collisional evolution. As a result, the present population is possibly different in both orbital and size distribution from the primordial one. No other significant population of Trojan aster- oids have been found so far around other planets, apart from six Trojans of Mars, whose origin and evolution are probably very different from the Trojans of Jupiter. 1. INTRODUCTION originate from the collisional disruption and subsequent reaccumulation of larger primordial bodies. As of May 2001, about 1000 asteroids had been classi- A basic understanding of why asteroids can cluster in fied as Jupiter Trojans (http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ps/ the orbit of Jupiter was developed more than a century lists/JupiterTrojans.html), some of which had only been ob- before the first Trojan asteroid was discovered. -
The Maunder Minimum and the Variable Sun-Earth Connection
The Maunder Minimum and the Variable Sun-Earth Connection (Front illustration: the Sun without spots, July 27, 1954) By Willie Wei-Hock Soon and Steven H. Yaskell To Soon Gim-Chuan, Chua Chiew-See, Pham Than (Lien+Van’s mother) and Ulla and Anna In Memory of Miriam Fuchs (baba Gil’s mother)---W.H.S. In Memory of Andrew Hoff---S.H.Y. To interrupt His Yellow Plan The Sun does not allow Caprices of the Atmosphere – And even when the Snow Heaves Balls of Specks, like Vicious Boy Directly in His Eye – Does not so much as turn His Head Busy with Majesty – ‘Tis His to stimulate the Earth And magnetize the Sea - And bind Astronomy, in place, Yet Any passing by Would deem Ourselves – the busier As the Minutest Bee That rides – emits a Thunder – A Bomb – to justify Emily Dickinson (poem 224. c. 1862) Since people are by nature poorly equipped to register any but short-term changes, it is not surprising that we fail to notice slower changes in either climate or the sun. John A. Eddy, The New Solar Physics (1977-78) Foreword By E. N. Parker In this time of global warming we are impelled by both the anticipated dire consequences and by scientific curiosity to investigate the factors that drive the climate. Climate has fluctuated strongly and abruptly in the past, with ice ages and interglacial warming as the long term extremes. Historical research in the last decades has shown short term climatic transients to be a frequent occurrence, often imposing disastrous hardship on the afflicted human populations. -
Ice& Stone 2020
Ice & Stone 2020 WEEK 51: DECEMBER 13-19 Presented by The Earthrise Institute # 51 Authored by Alan Hale COMET OF THE WEEK: The Great Comet of 1680 Perihelion: 1680 December 18.49, q = 0.006 AU The Great Comet of 1680 over Rotterdam in The Netherlands, during late December 1680 as painted by the Dutch artist Lieve Verschuier. This particular comet was undoubtedly one of the brightest comets of the 17th Century, but it is also one of the most important comets in history from a scientific perspective, and perhaps even from the perspective of overall human history. While there were certainly plenty of superstitions attached to the comet’s appearance, the scientific investigations made of it were among the beginnings of the era in European history we now call The Enlightenment, and indeed, in a sense the Great Comet of 1680 can perhaps be considered as one of the sparks of that era. The significance began with the comet’s discovery, which was made on the morning of November 14, 1680, by a German astronomer residing in Coburg, Gottfried Kirch – the first comet ever to be discovered by means of a telescope. It was already around 4th magnitude at that time, and located near the star Regulus in the constellation Leo; from that point it traveled eastward and brightened rapidly, being closest to Earth (0.42 AU) on November 30. By that time it was a conspicuous naked-eye object with a tail 20 to 30 degrees long, and it remained visible for another week before disappearing into morning twilight. -
Asteroid Regolith Weathering: a Large-Scale Observational Investigation
University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 5-2019 Asteroid Regolith Weathering: A Large-Scale Observational Investigation Eric Michael MacLennan University of Tennessee, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Recommended Citation MacLennan, Eric Michael, "Asteroid Regolith Weathering: A Large-Scale Observational Investigation. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2019. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/5467 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Eric Michael MacLennan entitled "Asteroid Regolith Weathering: A Large-Scale Observational Investigation." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Geology. Joshua P. Emery, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Jeffrey E. Moersch, Harry Y. McSween Jr., Liem T. Tran Accepted for the Council: Dixie L. Thompson Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) Asteroid Regolith Weathering: A Large-Scale Observational Investigation A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Eric Michael MacLennan May 2019 © by Eric Michael MacLennan, 2019 All Rights Reserved. -
1950 Da, 205, 269 1979 Va, 230 1991 Ry16, 183 1992 Kd, 61 1992
Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-09684-4 — Asteroids Thomas H. Burbine Index More Information 356 Index 1950 DA, 205, 269 single scattering, 142, 143, 144, 145 1979 VA, 230 visual Bond, 7 1991 RY16, 183 visual geometric, 7, 27, 28, 163, 185, 189, 190, 1992 KD, 61 191, 192, 192, 253 1992 QB1, 233, 234 Alexandra, 59 1993 FW, 234 altitude, 49 1994 JR1, 239, 275 Alvarez, Luis, 258 1999 JU3, 61 Alvarez, Walter, 258 1999 RL95, 183 amino acid, 81 1999 RQ36, 61 ammonia, 223, 301 2000 DP107, 274, 304 amoeboid olivine aggregate, 83 2000 GD65, 205 Amor, 251 2001 QR322, 232 Amor group, 251 2003 EH1, 107 Anacostia, 179 2007 PA8, 207 Anand, Viswanathan, 62 2008 TC3, 264, 265 Angelina, 175 2010 JL88, 205 angrite, 87, 101, 110, 126, 168 2010 TK7, 231 Annefrank, 274, 275, 289 2011 QF99, 232 Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET), 71 2012 DA14, 108 Antarctica, 69–71 2012 VP113, 233, 244 aphelion, 30, 251 2013 TX68, 64 APL, 275, 292 2014 AA, 264, 265 Apohele group, 251 2014 RC, 205 Apollo, 179, 180, 251 Apollo group, 230, 251 absorption band, 135–6, 137–40, 145–50, Apollo mission, 129, 262, 299 163, 184 Apophis, 20, 269, 270 acapulcoite/ lodranite, 87, 90, 103, 110, 168, 285 Aquitania, 179 Achilles, 232 Arecibo Observatory, 206 achondrite, 84, 86, 116, 187 Aristarchus, 29 primitive, 84, 86, 103–4, 287 Asporina, 177 Adamcarolla, 62 asteroid chronology function, 262 Adeona family, 198 Asteroid Zoo, 54 Aeternitas, 177 Astraea, 53 Agnia family, 170, 198 Astronautica, 61 AKARI satellite, 192 Aten, 251 alabandite, 76, 101 Aten group, 251 Alauda family, 198 Atira, 251 albedo, 7, 21, 27, 185–6 Atira group, 251 Bond, 7, 8, 9, 28, 189 atmosphere, 1, 3, 8, 43, 66, 68, 265 geometric, 7 A- type, 163, 165, 167, 169, 170, 177–8, 192 356 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-09684-4 — Asteroids Thomas H. -
Planetary Science Division Status Report
Planetary Science Division Status Report Jim Green NASA, Planetary Science Division June 12, 2017 Presentation at SBAG Planetary Science Missions Events 2016 March – Launch of ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter * Completed July 4 – Juno inserted in Jupiter orbit September 8 – Launch of Asteroid mission OSIRIS – REx to asteroid Bennu September 30 – Landing Rosetta on comet CG October 19 – ExoMars EDM landing and TGO orbit insertion 2017 January 4 – Discovery Mission selection announced February 9-20 - OSIRIS-REx began Earth-Trojan search April 22 – Cassini begins plane change maneuver for the “Grand Finale” August 21 – Total Solar Eclipse across the US September 15 – Cassini crashes into Saturn – end of mission September 22 – OSIRIS-REx Earth flyby 2018 May 5 - Launch InSight mission to Mars August – OSIRIS-REx arrival at Bennu October – Launch of ESA’s BepiColombo November 26 – InSight landing on Mars 2019 January 1 – New Horizons flyby of Kuiper Belt object 2014MU69 https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/subject-matter-experts Discovery Program Discovery Program NEO characteristics: Mars evolution: Lunar formation: Nature of dust/coma: Solar wind sampling: NEAR (1996-1999) Mars Pathfinder (1996-1997) Lunar Prospector (1998-1999) Stardust (1999-2011) Genesis (2001-2004) Comet diversity: Mercury environment: Comet internal structure: Lunar Internal Structure Main-belt asteroids: CONTOUR (2002) MESSENGER (2004-2015) Deep Impact (2005-2012) GRAIL (2011-2012) Dawn (2007-TBD) Exoplanets Lunar surface: ESA/Mercury Surface: Mars Interior: Trojan Asteroids: Metal Asteroids: Kepler (2009-TBD) LRO (2009-TBD) Strofio (2017-TBD) InSight (2018) Lucy (2021) Psyche (2022) NEW Discovery Missions Launch in 2022 Launch in 2021 14 JAXA: Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission • Phobos sample return, Deimos multi-flyby • Launch 2024, Return sample in 2029 or 2030 • NASA to provide (pending formal agreement) a neutron & gamma-ray spectrometer (NGRS) • Proposals for NGRS instrument solicited through Stand-Alone Missions of Opportunity Notice (SALMON-3). -
Cosmic Search Issue 02
North American AstroPhysical Observatory (NAAPO) Cosmic Search: Issue 2 (Volume 1 Number 2; March 1979) [All Articles & Miscellaneous Items] Webpage Table of Contents (Bookmarks) (Internal links to items in this webpage) [Note. Use Back button (or <Alt>+<Left Arrow>) to get back to this Table of Contents after you have clicked on a link and viewed the article.] Codes Used Below: P: Starting page of article in magazine; A: Author(s); T: Title of article P: 2; A: Carl Sagan; T: The Quest for Extraterrestrial Intelligence P: 9; A: Editors; T: Letters; SETI Courses P: 10; A: Don Lago; T: Circles of Stone and Circles of Steel P: 15; A: Bernard M. Oliver; T: Editorial: Let's Get SETI Through Congress P: 16; A: Gerard K. O'Neill & John Kraus; T: Gerard K. O'Neill on "Space Colonization and SETI" P: 24; A: Editors; T: A Single Vote (An Historical Fable by Sedgewick Seti) P: 25; A: Richard Berendzen; T: The Case for SETI P: 30; A: Editors; T: The SEnTInel (SETI News) P: 35; A: Jerome Rothstein; T: Generalized LIfe P: 39; A: John Kraus; T: ABCs of SETI P: 47; A: Editors; T: In Review: P: 48; A: R. N. Bracewell; T: Man's Role in the Galaxy P: 52; A: Mirjana Gearhart; T: Off the Shelf P: various; A: Editors; T: Miscellaneous: Information from the Editors, Quotes & Graphics ● Information About the Publication (Editorial Board, Editors, Table of Contents) ● Coming in COSMIC SEARCH ● Cosmic Calendar ● Distance Table ● Glossary ● SEARCH AWARDS ● SEARCH PUZZLE; Solution to Jan. 1979 Puzzle ● Miscellaneous Quotes ● Miscellaneous Photos ● Miscellaneous Graphics The Quest for Extraterrestrial Intelligence By: Carl Sagan [Article in magazine started on page 2] A masterful overview of SETI and its meaning to humanity — a classic — Eds. -
Notes and News Results of the BAA Essay Competition
How and whhhy did you become interested in astronomy? Notes and News Results of the BAA essay competition Earlier this year, the BAA received an offer from HarperCollins, publisher of Wonders of the Universe by Professor Brian Cox, to donate several copies of the book to be given as competition prizes. I thought this would be an opportunity for us to do something for our younger members by holding an essay competition. We invited them to tell us in not more than 500 words how and why they became interested in astronomy, who were their main influences and what they are now doing to pursue their interest. The competition was open to all Young Members of the Association. We received an excellent set of responses which made it difficult to decide upon the best entry but after careful deliberation, a panel of three members of Council eventually chose Sam Hawkins in the 15 and over age group, and Adam Cooper (under 15) as joint winners of the competition. Runners-up were Duncan Bryson, Ravier Gardon and Tom Butler in the younger age group, and Guy Booth, Helena Bates and Michael Smith in the over-15s. All were given an Amazon voucher in recognition of the high quality of their entries. Sam and Adam received their prizes from the President at Burlington House in August. They both said they enjoyed the day and were very grateful to the BAA for the opportunity to look round the historic premises. We encouraged them to continue to enjoy astronomy and wished them well in their chosen careers, particularly if these include astronomy. -
UNIVERSITY of HAWAII at MANOA Institute for Astrononmy Pan-STARRS Project Management System
Pan-STARRS Document Control PSDC-xxx-xxx-00 UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA Institute for Astrononmy Pan-STARRS Project Management System Appearance of and response to interesting and rare objects discovered by MOPS Richard J. Wainscoat Pan-STARRS Solar System Group Institute for Astronomy October 28, 2006 c Institute for Astronomy 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution Pan-STARRS Moving Object Processing System PSDC-xxx-xxx-00 Revision History Revision Number Release Date Description 00 2006.10.20 First draft Interesting and rare objects—definition and followup ii October 28, 2006 Pan-STARRS Moving Object Processing System PSDC-xxx-xxx-00 TBD / TBR Listing Section No. Page No. TBD/R No. Description Interesting and rare objects—definition and followup iii October 28, 2006 Contents 1 Overview 1 2 Referenced Documents 1 3 Facilities available for followup observations 1 4 Fuzzy objects—comets or outgassing asteroids 2 4.1 Introduction .................................................. 2 4.2 Signature ................................................... 2 4.3 Response ................................................... 2 4.4 Followup ................................................... 2 4.5 Naming of Comets discovered by Pan-STARRS ............................... 3 5 Objects with high inclination, retrograde, or highly eccentric orbits 3 5.1 Introduction .................................................. 3 5.2 Signature ................................................... 3 5.3 Response .................................................. -
Good Science, Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States. INSTITUTION Thomas B
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 447 099 SP 039 576 AUTHOR Lerner, Lawrence S. TITLE Good Science, Bad Science: Teaching Evolution in the States. INSTITUTION Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2000-09-00 NOTE 66p. AVAILABLE FROM Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, 1627 K Street, N.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006; Tel: 202-223-5452 or 888-TBF-7474 (toll-free); Fax: 202-223-9226; Web site: http://www.edexcellence.net. PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Academic Standards; Biological Influences; Creationism; Elementary Secondary Education; *Evolution; Public Schools; *Science Education; *State Standards ABSTRACT This report discusses evolution in science education, evaluating the state-by-state treatment of evolution in science standards. It explains the role of evolution as an organizing principle for all the historical sciences. Seven sections include: "Introduction" (the key role of evolution in the sciences); "How Do Good Standards Treat Biological Evolution?" (controversial versus consensual knowledge and why students should learn about evolution); "Extrascientific Issues" (e.g., the diversity of anti-evolutionists, why anti-evolutionism persists, and how science standards reflect creationist pressures); "Evaluation of State Standards" (very good to excellent, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, useless or absent, and disgraceful); "Sample Standards"; "Further Analysis" (grades for science standards as a whole); and "Conclusions." Overall, 31 states do at least a satisfactory job of handling the central organizing principle of the historical sciences, 10 states do an excellent or very good job of presenting evolution, and 21 states do a good or satisfactory job. More than one-third of states do not do a satisfactory job. -
Artificial Intelligence for Interstellar Travel
Artificial Intelligence for Interstellar Travel Andreas M. Hein1 and Stephen Baxter2 1Initiative for Interstellar Studies, Bone Mill, New Street, Charfield, GL12 8ES, United Kingdom 2c/o Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists, 9 Union Square 123, Southbury, CT 06488, USA. November 20, 2018 Abstract The large distances involved in interstellar travel require a high degree of spacecraft autonomy, realized by artificial intelligence. The breadth of tasks artificial intelligence could perform on such spacecraft involves maintenance, data collection, designing and constructing an infrastructure using in-situ resources. Despite its importance, exist- ing publications on artificial intelligence and interstellar travel are limited to cursory descriptions where little detail is given about the nature of the artificial intelligence. This article explores the role of artificial intelligence for interstellar travel by compiling use cases, exploring capabilities, and proposing typologies, system and mission archi- tectures. Estimations for the required intelligence level for specific types of interstellar probes are given, along with potential system and mission architectures, covering those proposed in the literature but also presenting novel ones. Finally, a generic design for interstellar probes with an AI payload is proposed. Given current levels of increase in computational power, a spacecraft with a similar computational power as the human brain would have a mass from dozens to hundreds of tons in a 2050 { 2060 timeframe. Given that the advent of the first interstellar missions and artificial general intelligence are estimated to be by the mid-21st century, a more in-depth exploration of the re- lationship between the two should be attempted, focusing on neglected areas such as protecting the artificial intelligence payload from radiation in interstellar space and the role of artificial intelligence in self-replication.