UNISTELLAR’s Post

📃Scientific paper: Astronomy, Doughnuts, and Carrying Capacity Abstract: I examine the applicability of ecological concepts in discussing issues related to space environmentalism. Terms such as "ecosystem"", "carrying capacity"", and "tipping point" are either ambiguous or well defined but not applicable to orbital space and its contents; using such terms uncritically may cause more confusion than enlightenment. On the other hand, it may well be fruitful to adopt the approach of the Planetary Boundaries Framework, defining trackable metrics that capture the damage to the space environment. I argue that the key metric is simply the number of Anthropogenic Space Objects (ASOs), rather than for example their reflectivity, which is currently doubling every 1.7 years; we are heading towards degree scale separation. Overcrowding of the sky is a problem astronomers and satellite operators have in common. ;Comment: Seven pages, two figures. To be published in "Astronomy and Satellite Constellations: Pathways Forward", proceedings of IAU Symposium 385, eds. C.Walker, D.Turnshek, P.Grimley, D.Galadi-Enriquez, and M.Aube. For consistency with IAU policy, the version posted here is the submitted text under review Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/hzD ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

A very relevant source of recommendations and thoughts for the discussions on the draft EU Space Law coming out soon and for ongoing review and reform processes of national space law. Gratulations to IAU CPS for the immense works and lobbying activities over the past months. #spacelaw #spaceindustry #newspace #bholegal #iisl #escl #euspace

Unleash Your Inner Stargazer with Free Astronomy Magazines! Do you have a passion for the cosmos, but lack the resources to delve deep? Look no further than the wealth of free astronomy magazines available online! These publications offer a captivating blend of: a. Engaging articles on current astronomical research, space exploration, and celestial phenomena. Stunning visuals like astrophotography and illustrations that bring the universe to life. b. Accessible explanations of complex topics, making them perfect for astronomy enthusiasts of all levels. In this article, I explore 5 top free astronomy magazines: 1. Sky & Telescope 2. Astronomy Magazine 3. Mercury 4. The Universe Today 5. SPACE. com Each magazine offers unique content and caters to different interests. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a curious beginner, there's a free astronomy magazine waiting to ignite your passion for the cosmos! Click here to check out the article and discover your new favorite resource for exploring the universe: https://lnkd.in/g2gPJMQU #astronomy #spaceexploration #freeresources #sciencecommunication

This is a fantastic overview from the IAU CPS on the impacts of increasing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation deployments on ground based optical and radio astronomy, and the need to protect them along with access to the natural night sky for all of humanity. The precautionary principle puts the onus on us as space engineers to understand the wider impacts of our activities and mitigate them where necessary. That way we can ensure we achieve the amazing benefits possible from our technology without destroying other vital areas of activity and the wider space environment. To help in this there are some really valuable recommendations that I encourage any spacecraft or network development team to consider as a core element in their design process. As part my own research The University of Manchester into the development of direct to handset space based extensions to the terrestrial mobile communications network I am now looking at how access to lower orbits will enable smaller, lower power spacecraft. These can then be dimmer and quieter across a range of frequencies and more rapidly traverse the field of view, minimising or removing these terrestrial impacts whilst still enabling ubiquitous, high speed, low latency connectivity. #DarkandQuietSkies #SpaceTechnology #Astronomy #SpaceEngineering #SpaceSustainability

Are there exoplanets similar to Earth, where life can exist? How do these exoplanets evolve over time? To get one step closer to answering these questions, a team of astronomers, including UvA researchers Saugata Barat and Jean-Michel Desert, investigated the atmosphere of a very young exoplanet. They published their results in Nature Astronomy. There is a lot of research on a category of exoplanets with sizes between Earth and Neptune. However, crucial knowledge about the origin and evolution of these planets is lacking. The astronomers therefore observed the atmosphere of the young exoplanet named V1298 Tau b using the Hubble Space Telescope. They also revealed the first-ever transmission spectrum of a young planet. The researchers found that the planet’s atmosphere spans around 1000 kilometres and mostly consists of hydrogen and helium, with traces of water vapor. This is very different from the types of atmospheres of solar bodies like Titan. Titan’s atmosphere only spans approximately 50 kilometres and contains mostly heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen. By directly comparing the atmospheric spectrum of the young exoplanet with its mature counterparts, the researchers found many differences in their nature, chemistry, and composition. One of these differences is that the young exoplanet has fewer heavy elements compared to more mature exoplanets. Building upon this research, scientists want to delve deeper into the atmospheres of young exoplanets with the James Webb Space Telescope to further unravel the mysteries of planetary evolution. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dU-kYsX4 #astronomy #exoplanets 

What is the Transit Method? 🤔 It’s a technique used in astronomy to detect exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) and the upcoming #SolarEclipse actually provides a great opportunity to learn more! ☀️🌑 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gR9YM4Dy

Want to learn about the fascinating history of artists who shaped astronomy? From 19th-century astro-sketchers to 21st-century image processors, artists and astronomers have worked hand-in-hand for centuries. The results have been out of this world. Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q02dtG440 #YearInReview #Highlights2023

📰 Recent Article Spotlight: In astronomy, a stellar occultation occurs when a small body within the Solar System passes in front of a background star. Such events provide a way of measuring the shapes and sizes of these small objects. In a recent article, Ben Attwood creates software to perform high-speed, automated photometry on spool files containing large volumes of images from the European Southern Observatory's 1.54 m Danish Telescope. The article describes the methodology behind the code and shows its use in successfully detecting three occultation events, which could be compared to previous literature. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eQF9sa6T

🌌 Exciting News in Astronomy 🚀 🔭 I predict that the discovery of Gliese 12 b will revolutionize our understanding of the universe and potentially pave the way to finding new forms of life. 🌍 This Earth-sized exoplanet, with its temperate conditions, holds tantalizing promise for the existence of habitable environments beyond our solar system. 🌟 The proximity of Gliese 12 b—just 40 light-years away—is practically next door in cosmic terms, making it an accessible target for further exploration. 🛰️ The search for extraterrestrial life has reached new heights with this breakthrough, fueling our curiosity and pushing the boundaries of astronomical discovery. 🔬 As scientists delve deeper into the mysteries of this distant world, we anticipate even more insights that could reshape our understanding of the cosmos. 🌠 The discovery of Gliese 12 b is a testament to the tireless efforts and collaborative nature of international scientific research in pushing the boundaries of what we know about the universe. ✨ Stay tuned as we embark on this incredible journey of exploration and expand our horizons beyond the familiar confines of our own planet. Exciting times lie ahead in the quest for understanding the vast expanse of space!

An international team of astronomers have used National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (NRAO) Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to determine key characteristics of a newly-discovered magnetar, Swift J1818.0-1617, to unprecedented levels of precision. When a neutron star forms with a fast pulsar-like spin and a magnetic field thousands of times stronger than a typical neutron star, it’s given the designation magnetar. These stars pack roughly double the mass of our Sun into a physical size on the scale of tens of kilometers— the size of a city. Full article: https://lnkd.in/e_DmEura