SPACE/COSMOLOGY
NASA detects traces of carbon dioxide on surface of Pluto’s largest moon
1 October 2024
Both Pluto and Charon are more than three billion miles from the sun.
Nasa’s Webb Space Telescope has identified new clues about the surface of Pluto’s largest moon.
It detected for the first time traces of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Charon, which is about half of Pluto’s size.
Previous research, including a fly-by from Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015, revealed that the moon’s surface was coated by water ice.
But scientists could not sense chemicals lurking at certain infrared wavelengths until the Webb telescope came around to fill in the gaps.
“There’s a lot of fingerprints of chemicals that we otherwise wouldn’t get to see,” said Carly Howett, a New Horizons scientist who was not involved with the new study.
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
Pluto, a dwarf planet, and its moons are in the far fringes of our solar system in a zone known as the Kuiper Belt.
Besides water ice, ammonia and organic materials were previously detected on Charon. Both Pluto and Charon are more than three billion miles from the sun and are likely too chilly to support life.
Scientists think the hydrogen peroxide may have sprung from radiation pinging off water molecules on Charon’s surface.
The carbon dioxide might spew to the surface after impacts, said study co-author Silvia Protopapa from the Southwest Research Institute.
The latest detection is key to studying how Charon came to be and may help scientists tease out the makeup of other faraway moons and planets.
NASA Flags Cracks in International Space Station Tunnel
NASA’s inspector general is warning of growing cracks and leaks in the more than 25-year-old International Space Station’s (ISS) Service Module Transfer Tunnel, which connects the station’s Russian segment to a docking port.
The station serves as the world’s preeminent orbiting microgravity research and development laboratory, with components of the station first placed into space in 1998 by NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos. Since then, multiple space agencies have added their own elements to the station, enhancing its capabilities.
Now, according to a Sept. 26 report by NASA’s Office of Inspector General, the station faces new challenges to stay in operation until its planned de-orbit in 2031, including supply chain challenges and growing cracks and leaks.
“On-going cracks and air leaks in the Service Module Transfer Tunnel are a top safety risk,” the report reads. “NASA and Roscosmos are collaborating to investigate and mitigate the cracks and leaks, determine the root cause, and monitor the Station for new leaks.”
First discovered in Sept. 2019, the leak was releasing 1.2 pounds of atmosphere per day. More recently, the leak peaked at 2.4 pounds of atmosphere per day in February 2024 before reaching a new high in April of 3.7 pounds per day.
The root cause for the leak is currently unknown, according to officials.
Attempting to minimize air loss, the tunnel has been kept closed when not in use as researchers look for a cause, including examining metals and welds.
“Both agencies are collaborating to investigate and mitigate the cracks and leaks; determine the root cause, which includes sharing sample metals, welds, and Roscosmos investigation reports,” according to the report.
When the tunnel was last inspected in June 2024, no other leaks were found, but neither agency has determined where to draw the line if the leak worsens, potentially resulting in a permanent closure of the tunnel.
The leaking tunnel is one of four service modules used to transport cargo. If closed, cargo delivery would be impacted, and additional propellant would be needed to maintain the space station’s altitude, according to the report.
Between the 2019 and 2023 fiscal years, the station has cost NASA a steady $1 billion per year for system operations and maintenance, but officials say costs are expected to rise. Total costs for related operations and research total $4.1 billion per year.
Since the station is expected to be decommissioned in 2030, some suppliers have or plan to decrease or cease production of needed parts, which further complicates keeping the station alive, and aging repairs and upgrades are needed.
However, in preparation, NASA and Boeing plan for future operational needs in a five-year operational needs assessment, including procuring expected parts needed ahead of time, according to the report.
Oughton collecting data on space weather events
Edward Oughton, Assistant Professor, Geography and Geoinformation Science, College of Science, received funding for the project: “RAPID: Collecting Perishable Critical Infrastructure Operational Data for May 2024 Space Weather Events.”
Oughton will use this funding to gather perishable operational decision data from critical infrastructure operators. He is taking this step to allow future generations of scientists and engineers to better understand how to model space weather hazards.
Oughton received $84,999 from the National Science Foundation for this project. Funding began in Aug. 2024 and will end in late July 2025.
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Munshi conducting comprehensive study of low surface brightness galaxy formation & evolution
Ferah Munshi, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, is studying the formation of Low Surface Brightness (LSB) galaxies. Galaxies are observed to come in many sizes and luminosities. Of particular interest are galaxies that, for their mass, are large and dim, called Low Surface Brightness (LSB) galaxies. These galaxies are everywhere, making up nearly 50 percent of the universe, and scientists still do not understand why they are as dim and as large as they are.
This proposal will help Munshi and her collaborators understand why LSBs look the way they do, including understanding the mysterious matter we can’t see: dark matter. As a tool, this research will use large-scale supercomputer simulations which are able to model the universe from the big bang to present day.
Munshi and her collaborators intend to identify formation channel(s) of LSB galaxies, explain their evolution, and understand their dark matter (DM) content and distribution in the context of Cold Dark Matter (CDM). CDM is a specific type of dark matter that moves very slowly compared to the speed of light and does not interact with normal matter outside of gravity.
The researchers will statistically study the formation of LSB galaxies as a function of their mass and environment using an existing simulation volume and then will create their own LSB galaxies by running zoom-in simulations capable of resolving the interplay between the matter we can see (stars and gas) and the underlying invisible dark matter distribution.
Finally, they will use the Genetic Modification Technique (GM) to tweak the simulations and study how small changes in the initial conditions of the simulation might change the appearance of the LSB. This work could solve the mystery of LSB formation as well as constrain the nature of dark matter.
This proposal will also support George Mason’s Women Leaders in STEM (WLIS) by funding expert education and STEM speakers to be hosted on campus for events. This will support the WLIS’s efforts to support undergraduate students through their STEM journeys, by providing professional development, networking strategies, study skills, and future job resources.
Munshi received $322,295 from the National Science Foundation for this project. Funding began in Sept. 2024 and will end in late Aug. 2027.
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What is the moon's true origin story?
The Earth may have captured the rocky satellite from space, rather than forming it from collision particles during planetary formation, researchers report
Penn State
image:
New research by Darren Williams, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Behrend, pictured here, and Michael Zugger, a senior research engineer at the Applied Research Lab at Penn State, offers a new possibility for how the moon formed: a binary-exchange capture as two objects passed near a much-younger Earth.
view moreCredit: Penn State Behrend
ERIE, Pa. — Over six missions to the moon, from 1969 to 1972, Apollo astronauts collected more than 800 pounds of lunar rock and soil. Chemical and isotopic analysis of that material showed that it was similar to the rock and soil on Earth: calcium-rich, basaltic and dating to about 60 million years after the solar system formed.
Using that data, the planetary scientists who gathered at the Kona Conference in Hawaii in 1984 came to the consensus that the moon formed from debris after a collision on the young Earth.
But that might not be the moon’s true origin story, according to two Penn State researchers. New research published in The Planetary Science Journal by Darren Williams, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State Behrend, and Michael Zugger, a senior research engineer at the Applied Research Lab at Penn State, offers another possibility: That the moon was captured during a close encounter between a young Earth and a terrestrial binary — the moon and another rocky object.
“The Kona Conference set the narrative for 40 years,” Williams said. But questions still lingered. For example, a moon that forms from a planetary collision, taking shape as debris clumps together in a ring, should orbit above the planet’s equator. Earth’s moon orbits in a different plane.
“The moon is more in line with the sun than it is with the Earth’s equator,” Williams said.
In the alternative binary-exchange capture theory, the researchers said, Earth’s gravity separated the binary, snagging one of the objects — the moon — and making it a satellite that orbits in its current plane.
There is evidence of this happening elsewhere in the solar system, Williams said, pointing to Triton, the largest of Neptune’s moons. The reigning hypothesis in the field is that Triton was pulled into orbit from the Kuiper Belt, where one of every 10 objects is thought to be a binary. Triton orbits Neptune in a retrograde orbit, moving in the opposite direction of the planet’s rotation. Its orbit is also significantly tilted, angled 67 degrees from Neptune’s equator.
Williams and Zugger determined that Earth could have captured a satellite even larger than the moon — an object the size of Mercury or even Mars — but the resulting orbit might not have been stable.
The problem is that the "capture" orbit — the one the moon follows — began as an elongated ellipse, rather than a circle. Over time, influenced by extreme tides, the shape of the orbit changed.
“Today, the Earth tide is ahead of the moon,” Williams said. “High tide accelerates the orbit. It gives it a pulse, a little bit of boost. Over time, the moon drifts a bit farther away.”
The effect is reversed if the moon is closer to Earth, as it would have been immediately after capture. By calculating tidal changes and the orbit’s size and shape, the researchers determined that the moon’s initial elliptical orbit contracted over a timescale of thousands of years. The orbit also became more circular, rounding its path until the lunar spin locked into its orbit around the Earth, as it is today.
At that point, Williams said, the tidal evolution likely reversed, and the moon began to gradually drift away.
Every year, he said, the moon moves 3 centimeters farther from Earth. At its current distance from Earth — 239,000 miles — the moon now feels a significant tug from the sun’s gravity.
“The moon is now so far away that both the sun and Earth are competing for its attention,” Williams said. “Both are pulling on it.”
His calculations show that, mathematically, a binary-exchange captured satellite could behave as Earth's moon does. But he's not certain that's how the moon came to be.
“No one knows how the moon was formed,” he said. “For the last four decades, we have had one possibility for how it got there. Now, we have two. This opens a treasure trove of new questions and opportunities for further study.”
The Penn State Consortium for Planetary and Exoplanetary Science and Technology supported this research.
Journal
The Planetary Science Journal
Method of Research
Computational simulation/modeling
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Forming Massive Terrestrial Satellites through Binary-exchange Capture
Giant Magellan Telescope launches Universo Expansivo program to enhance accessibility in astronomy education
New education program provides multisensory learning experiences across Chile and the United States
GMTO Corporation
image:
Students interact with a multisensory model of the solar system from Universo Expansivo’s ‘Astronomy for All Senses’ tactile kit.
view moreCredit: Carnegie Science, Las Campanas Observatory
PASADENA, CA — September 30, 2024 — The Giant Magellan Telescope today announced the launch of Universo Expansivo, a new education program designed to increase accessibility in astronomy education, particularly for students with vision loss, through tactile astronomy kits and accompanying lesson plans. Materials for Universo Expansivo were developed in collaboration with Parque Explora in Colombia and Red Aprender in Chile, and is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Chile and its network of 14 “American Spaces.” Following a successful pilot phase with six community organizations across Chile and the United States, the Giant Magellan now welcomes interested educators and members of the public to utilize the initiative’s free resources in both countries.
“Universo Expansivo reflects both the Giant Magellan’s priority in making astronomy more accessible, and our commitment to working with partner organizations to co-develop and implement equity-driven initiatives,” said Valerie Hirschberg, Education and Outreach Manager for the Giant Magellan Telescope. “We are incredibly grateful for our collaborators who have helped make Universo Expansivo a reality throughout Chile and the United States.”
Universo Expansivo was developed in both English and Spanish for flexible use across various educational settings, including both formal and informal learning environments. The tactile kit, designed by Parque Explora with the support of the International Astronomical Union, empowers students to explore astronomy concepts in our Universe — such as the scale and relative distances of celestial bodies — through tactile materials. The complementary manual of lesson plans, designed by Red Aprender, engages students in learning about astronomical phenomenon — such as eclipses — through auditory, kinesthetic, tactile, and multisensory activities.
“We are excited and proud to have created the teaching manual for Universo Expansivo,” said Francisca Schweitzer, Executive Director of Red Aprender. “In the process, we spoke with many people and learned a great deal about both astronomy and the importance of inclusion and accessibility. We believe in highlighting diverse abilities. Everyone needs adaptations — there is no ‘average’ human being. Embracing the creation of diverse learning experiences opens new mental pathways, making it a journey that fosters learning and sparks curiosity in everyone.”
The accessible multisensory approach of Universo Expansivo was successfully piloted earlier this year in workshops at the Braille Institute of America, California Science Center, Fundación Mustakis, Las Campanas Observatory, Museo Interactivo Mirador, and in several schools across the Pasadena Unified School District. Workshops involved more than 100 participants in the Chilean communities of Santiago and the Coquimbo region surrounding the Giant Magellan site, and California communities in Los Angeles County near the Giant Magellan’s headquarters.
“The hands-on space exploration piqued students’ curiosities and creatively expanded their understanding of space. What a memorable program for our students!” said Madeleine Hernandez, Manager of National and Youth Programs for the Braille Institute of America.
“Universo Expansivo exemplifies the Giant Magellan Telescope’s commitment to promote science education and open opportunities to engage with astronomy to everyone. The students not only receive valuable learning experiences, but the curiosity fostered extends far beyond the classroom,” said Oscar Contreras-Villarroel, Vice President and Representative in Chile for the Giant Magellan Telescope. “With the support of the U.S. Embassy in Chile and its 14 ‘American Spaces’ around the country, the alliance strengthens Chilean STEM education through Universo Expansivo.”
Universo Expansivo is now ready for broader implementation in Chile and the United States, featuring free tactile kits, teacher workshops and lesson plans, as well as free public educational resources available for download. The Giant Magellan Telescope welcomes new partners and communities interested in engaging with Universo Expansivo at universoexpansivo.org.
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About Giant Magellan Telescope
The Giant Magellan Telescope is the future of space exploration from Earth. Using seven of the world’s largest mirrors, the 25.4-meter telescope will produce the most detailed images ever taken of our Universe. It will uncover the cosmic mysteries of dark matter, investigate the origins of the chemical elements, and search for signs of life on distant planets. The Giant Magellan Telescope is the work of the GMTO Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and international consortium of 14 universities and research institutions from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan. The telescope is being built in America and will be reassembled and completed in Chile by the early 2030s. The Universe Awaits at giantmagellan.org.
Magnetized magma intrusions being sources of two lunar magnetic anomalies revealed by 3D inversion
image:
In the first row, from left to right, the four panels show the distribution of magnetization in the profiles of depth versus latitude at 302°E related to depth constraints of the inversion region at 30, 60, 90, and 120 km. In the second row, the distribution of magnetization in profiles of depth versus longitude at 7.4°N are shown. The horizontal slices of magnetization at the depth related to maximum magnetization are shown in the third row. The bottom row shows the forward-calculated surface anomalies related to the four depth constraints. The dashed white contours denote 20% of the maximum magnetization.
view moreCredit: Beijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.
This work studied a weak magnetic anomaly in Mare Tranquillitatis and a strong famous one called Reiner Gamma in Oceanus Procellarum. The surface magnetic anomaly model is calculated from the orbit measurements of Lunar Prospector and Kaguya spacecraft. The surface ages of the two studied areas are 3.6 and 3.3 billion years just on either side of the famous intensity drop of the ancient magnetic field. According to the results from model test, the boundary of spherical magnetized body could be estimated by the contour at 20% of the maximum magnetization reconstructed by inversion. From the boundary, the authors derived the depths to the bottom and the thickness of the magnetized body. The depth to the bottom of the magnetic carriers under Mare Tranquillitatis is about 50 km, and that under Reiner Gamma is about 30 km. The results indicated that magnetized magma intrusion rather than impact melt layer is the source of the magnetic carriers in lunar crust. The maximum magnetization reconstructed by inversion is about 3.0 A/m under Reiner Gamma. Since the magnetized materials under Reiner Gamma may be older than the surface materials, the intensity of ancient magnetic field deduced by the magnetization is about some microteslas 3.3 billion years ago.
See the article:
https://doi.org/10.26464/epp2024040
Journal
Earth and Planetary Physics
Article Title
Magnetized magma intrusions being sources of a weak and a strong lunar magnetic anomaly revealed by 3D distribution of magnetization
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