The First Planet in the Star Cluster

The new planets discovered around a star the size of our sun by astronomers from NASA. The difference is, the star is one of the few stars who gathered close together in a cluster, not a single star like the sun.

The first finding proves that the planet can appear in a dense star. Although the new planet is uninhabitable, star studded sky is a lot more than what we see from Earth.

The two planets discovered by NASA astronomers like Jupiter, the giant gas balls boiling heat because its orbit very close to their parent stars. The two "hot Jupiter" that surround the different star in Beehive Cluster, also known as Praesepe, a collection of 1000 stars that seemed crammed around the core.

Astronomers have discovered two gas giant planets orbiting stars in the Beehive cluster, a collection of about 1,000 tightly packed stars. (Picture from: http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/)

Beehive Cluster is an open cluster, or group of stars born at the same time and emerge from a giant cloud of the same material, so that the stars that have a similar chemical composition.

Unlike the majority of star-forming-spread shortly after the young stars are still close to each other due to mutual gravitational attraction.

"We detect more planets that can thrive in extreme environments and diverse as this cluster," said Mario R. Perez, NASA's astrophysics scientist in the origins of solar system program. "Our galaxy has more than 1,000 open clusters like this, which could potentially have a physical condition that can be berths giant planets."

This image of the Beehive star cluster points out the location of its first known planets, Pr0201b and Pr0211b, or, as astronomers call them, the first ‘b’s’ in the Beehive. (Picture from: http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/)

The report, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on last week's mention that the two planets in the Beehive cluster named Pr0201b and Pr0211b, according to standard naming conventions planet. "They are the planet 'b' first Beehive," said Sam Quinn, an astronomer at Georgia State University in Atlanta, the principal investigator in this study. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | NASA | KORAN TEMPO 3999]
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Asteroid Collision in the Jupiter's Sky

Amateur astronomer George Hall
captured this image of an apparent
impact on Jupiter while recording
video telescope observations of the
planet on Sept. 10, 2012, from
Dallas Texas. (Picture from: 
http://shortformblog.com/)

Bright flash of light near Jupiter caught on camera amateur astronomers on September 10, 2012. The light was thought to have originated from an asteroid collision with the greatest planet's atmosphere.

Like the previous nights, Dan Peterson of Racine, Wisconsin busy playing a telescope mirror diameter 30 centimeters in his yard. This time, he turns his telescope to Jupiter shining almost as bright Morning Star. That's when he saw the flash of light from behind the telescope. "Brightness lasted for 1.5 to 2 seconds," said Peterson.

Other astronomy lovers, George Hall, in Dallas, gave the same testimony. This time, he has video evidence of Jupiter fireball in the sky. The video he spread through photo and video sharing site, Flickr.

The appearance is reminiscent of light astronomers to crash strands Shoemaker-Levy comet with Jupiter in 1994. The collision produces a bright light in the sky Jupiter. The trail wound black imprint on the planet for a few months.

Spaceweather.com site, which actively monitors the solar system, estimate the fireball is an asteroid or comet that struck Jupiter at high speed. Collisions like this last occurred in mid-2010. Objects that hit Jupiter when it predicted a 10 meter asteroid. Asteroids of this type are found around the Jupiter. Some of these approaches due to the gravitational pull of Jupiter. 

Reports from these amateur astronomers got a response from professional astronomers. Now astronomers from around the world to race directing their telescopes toward Jupiter. They hope to see the rest of collision.

This graphic of Jupiter by UK astronomer Pete Lawrence shows the location of the Jupiter impact region from Sept. 12, 2012, as seen through an inverting astronomical telescope. The impact site is located at longitude system II 335, latitude +12. (Picture from: http://www.space.com/)

Objects that fall to the surface of Jupiter usually drove at a speed of 30 kilometers per second. Radius of Jupiter, 11 times larger than Earth and a mass 318 times heavier than Earth make this planet can draw objects with very high speed. Ability to attract small celestial bodies are close to the sun makes the giant planet is considered the protector of the small planets, including Earth. *** [SPACEWEATHER |  SPACE | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3995]

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What Causes the Red Color of Mars?

Mars, the red planet, as seen from space. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

Curiosity spacecraft that landed on Mars in another week has sent a number of photographs showing the condition of the red planet. Unlike the Earth looks blue from space, Mars actually red. Why red?

A simple explanation of the color red planet's surface is regolith or material that contains iron oxide. The compound is a corrosive material and blood red. But what makes scientists wonder is why Mars has so much iron? Why iron is oxidized? And why iron oxide red look?

It started at 4.5 billion years ago. When the solar system formed, many planets have little iron. Heavy elements is surrounded by a vortex cloud of gas and dust are attracted by gravity to form the sun and planets.

Mars is red now, but it may have looked like charcoal in the past. (Picture from: http://www.foxnews.com/)

This theory is difficult to prove because of the iron in the Earth's buried deep in the Earth's core when the planet was young and not yet solidified. Scientists from the U.S. space agency (NASA) tried researching it on Mars, which are smaller and less differentiated gravity is so weak. Mars does have an iron core, but abundance of iron content was also found in the lining of the planet's surface.

Iron plain black looks shiny. The element was only reddish when exposed to oxygen and oxygen requires large enough to turn it into iron oxide composed of two atoms of iron and three atoms of oxygen.

There are various theories why the iron on the surface of Mars is oxidized to rust, starting early storm when Mars was young and wet oxidation process that lasts up to billions of years, when the sun break down carbon dioxide and other molecules in the atmosphere to produce oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and ozone. In 2009, a group of Danish scientists suspect Mars sandstorm to destroy the rusty iron making quartz crystals are also present in the regolith so that oxygen-rich surface exposed. *** [LIVESCIENCE | KORAN TEMPO 3971]

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Can Curiosity Uncover a Mountain on Mars?

Curiosity rover that landed on Mars on Sunday (August 5, 2012), has sent a picture of Mount Sharp. "The mountain is 3.4 miles (5.5 kms) higher than Mount Whitney in California," said Mike Watkins, Manager Curiosity landing mission.

This image taken by NASA's Curiosity shows what lies ahead for the rover -- its main science target, informally called Mount Sharp Monday, Aug. 6, 2012. The rover's shadow can be seen in the foreground, and the dark bands beyond are dunes. Rising up in the distance is the highest peak of Mount Sharp at a height of about 3.4 miles (5.5 kilometers), taller than Mt. Whitney in California. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

According to Watkins, the mountain looming in the distance from the landing of Curiosity in Gale Crater. Spacecraft is planned near Mount Sharp and investigate layers of soil. This is in line with the main focus of Curiosity in the field of geology and chemistry.

Here, NASA provides some perspective for that first, cockeyed landscape photo. The black-and-white scenes on either side of the tipped-up center rectangle are computer simulations built from data provided by two orbiting satellites, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the European Space Agency's Mars Express. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

These are the first two full-resolution images of the Martian surface from the Navigation cameras on NASA's Curiosity rover, which are located on the rover's "head" or mast. The rim of Gale Crater can be seen in the distance beyond the pebbly ground. The topography of the rim is very mountainous due to erosion. The ground seen in the middle shows low-relief scarps and plains. The foreground shows two distinct zones of excavation likely carved out by blasts from the rover's descent stage thrusters. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spots the landing sight of Curiosity. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

To explore Mars, NASA team installed monitoring camera at the Curiosity front wheels. There are six wheels, and each has its own motor.

Of a number of images transmitted to Earth, only the Sharp Mountain is visible: clear. The remainder is gravel and shadow alone. "Though vague, these are the most beautiful picture I've ever seen," said Watkins.

A view from one of Curiosity's navigation cameras shows the rim of Gale Crater, the rover's landing spot. (Picture from: http://www.cbsnews.com/)

Sarah Milkovich, ilmuwart HiRISE at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., said Sharp Mountain Curiosity snapped when plunging into the Martian surface at high speed. If Curiosity snapped a second faster or longer, would be an empty space in sight. "Without a picture of the mountain," said Milkovich.

A two-year project cost U.S. $ 2.5 billion this seeks to find a signal of such low levels of microbial life on Mars. Vehicle for the car Mini Cooper will explore the crater 150 kilometers wide Gale. In the previous mission discovered ice and indications that water once flowed on the red planet.

In order to analyze the soil on Mars, Curiosity has the tools that are named ChemCam. This tool is capable of firing a laser beam on a small piece of stone. Evaporated material was analyzed to identify the composition of rocks. Other devices are Turret, containing a magnifying camera, a spectrometer. These cameras break down the chemical elements. *** [FOXNEWS | CBSNEWS | CORNILA DESYANA | KORAN TEMPO 3965]

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Curiosity Landing on Mars

To land a spacecraft on Mars is not new for the U.S. space agency (NASA). Throughout the history of NASA, they have six spacecraft landed on that red planet. But Curiosity landing is an experience that is completely new.

The engineer or NASA officials had created tension for seven minutes, waiting for the nuclear-powered robotic explorers really dug the wheels on the surface of Mars.

The success of the spacecraft traveling from Earth to Mars as far as 566,489,088 kilometers that lasted eight and a half months, is determined landing for seven minutes.

Curiosity landing infographic. (Picture from: http://www.theregister.co.uk/)

In the first phase of friction Curiosity must pass a thin atmosphere of Mars since the altitude of 125 kilometers with just a metal as a protective shield. At an altitude of 11 kilometers, the parachute was developed to slow the fall of the robot. After slowing in the pace of 125 meters per second at an altitude of 8 kilometers, the shield is released.

At an altitude of 1.6 kilometers, turn the parachute is released. At this stage the robot slows down to a speed of 80 meters per second. Holding a set of rockets falling robot. At a height of 20 meters, the robot is separated from the shell to be derived from sky crane cables. Curiosity Mars after touching the ground, sky crane landing away from the robot.

Curiosity finally landed smoothly on Sunday (August 5. 2012), 1:31 EDT or Monday (August 6, 2012), 12:32 WIB in Gale Crater. Despite a smooth landing, the robot explorers that have three times the maneuver to escape the gravity of Mars.

Occurs very smooth landing. Robot lowered at a speed of 60 centimeters per second and just swinging by 4 centimeters per second.

"The landing has been confirmed," said Allen Chen, the engineer who oversees the Curiosity. "We safely on Mars."

Curiosity Rover (Mars Science Lab). (Picture from: http://www.mindtalk.com/)

With a budget of U.S. $ 2.5 billion, Curiosity is the most expensive spacecraft today. But scientists expect that kind of money commensurate with the remarkable discovery as well.

"We're back on Mars," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden through a press release. "It's really great."

One of the first images from Mars taken by the Curiosity rover. (Picture from: http://teknologi.news.viva.co.id/)

A few minutes after landing confirmation received on Earth. The robot explorer rover, instantly transmit images in black and white image of its wheels and image of it running on the surface of Mars.

The successful landing of Curiosity cheering NASA engineers in the control room in Pasadena. Robotic rover is assigned to look for life on the Red Planet as well as gathering data in preparation for human missions to the planet. Curiosity is a running laboratory that roam the surface of Mars. NASA had sent three vehicles similar to the Mars study, the Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity. If the previously-sized robot no bigger than a wheelbarrow, Curiosity-sized family wagon, making it the largest explorers robot ever sent to Mars.

Detail of Curiosity Rover (Mars Science Lab). (Picture from: http://www.mindtalk.com/)

The robot weighs 900 kilograms has a variety of tools to investigate the climate, geology, and traces of life. Rock samples were collected using a robotic arm and its contents analyzed. Geological analysis of this equipment is the most comprehensive such as chromatographs, mass spectrometers, a laser spectrometer, up to X-ray diffraction. All data sent to the relay station called Odyssey in Gale Crater to be sent to the station on Earth.

Curiosity advantages compared to other robotic explorers are located in the fuel tank. This robot is no longer using solar energy as fuel but nuclear energy. The heat from plutonium-238 provides power of 110 watts and can be used at least one Martian year is equivalent to 687 Earth days. *** [NASA | AP | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3963]
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Blue Moon on August

In August we had the opportunity to watch a rare astronomical event, which witnessed two times the full moon. The first full moon took place on August 1, 2012 and the second followed a full moon on August 31, 2012.

A number of almanacs and calendars states, when the two moon occurs in a calendar month, the second full moon is called a blue moon. Despite the so-called blue moon, it does not mean the moon is blue.

Blue moon. (Picture from: http://www.metrolic.com/)

The full moon on that night will look the same as regular full moon. Luminous white surface. But in fact the moon was able to change color under certain conditions.

After forest fires or volcanic eruptions, the moon will appear blue, even purple. Ash and soot particles, which flew far up into the Earth's atmosphere, can make the moon appear bluish.

Smoke from widespread forest fires in western Canada created a blue moon is seen throughout eastern North America in late September 1950.

Major eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991 led to the moon, even the sun, bluish around the world.

The term "blue moon" in the event of two full moon in a calendar month actually first appeared in 1824 and refers to a rare occurrence, though fairly common. Blue moon occurs every 2.66 years. In 1999, it happened twice in the span of just three months.

But not everyone can see a blue moon in August. For those who live in the region of Kamchatka in the Russian Far East as well as the citizens of New Zealand, the moon will take place after midnight so it falls on 1 September 2012.

"For them, a new blue moon occurs in the month of September as they watched two full moon," said Joe Rao, an instructor and guest lecturer at the Hayden Planetarium, New York. "You have to wait until 30 September 2012 to declare it as a blue moon." *** [SPACE | KORAN TEMPO 3958]

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Vanishing Trick of Houdini in Space

This artist's concept illustrates a dusty planet-forming disk, similar to the one that vanished around the star called TYC 8241 2652. (Picture from: http://www.time.com/)

Astronomers get a surprising finding, which was never seen before, namely the disappearance of the giant dust cloud that was surrounding a star. This dust cloud vanishing was so mysterious to astronomers call it a disappearing trick of legendary magician, Harry Houdini.

"The disappearance of the dust was like a classic magic trick. Now you see it, the next he was gone," said Carl Melis, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, which became the principal investigator in this research. "Only, in this case, we discuss a set of dust is enough to fill the inner solar system and the dust was suddenly gone."

Benjamin Zuckerman, professor of physics and astronqmi at the University of California, Los Angeles, stating that the events of the disappearance of the giant dust cloud as if the ring that surrounds the planet Saturn disappearing. "This event is even more surprising because of the dust disk of rubble stone was much larger and wider than the rings of Saturn," said Zuckerman, who is also involved in such research.

Artist's conceptualization of the dusty TYC 8241 2652 system as it might have appeared several years ago when it was emitting large amounts of excess infrared radiation. (Picture from: http://www.theepochtimes.com/)

"The disc surrounding the star, if it is in our solar system, will be stretched up to half the distance of the sun to the earth, near the orbit of Mercury."

Research about the disappearing act in the space, which occurred around stars within 450 light years from Earth, the direction of the constellation Centaurus, published in the journal Nature in early July 2012.

Artist's conceptualization of the TYC 8241 2652 system as it might appear now after most of the surrounding dust has disappeared—based on observations by the Gemini Observatory and other ground and space-based observatories. (Picture from: http://www.theepochtimes.com/)

"This discovery is puzzling because we have no satisfactory explanation to explain what is happening around the star," Melis said. "The disappearance of the dust is apparently free from the influence of stars because there is no evidence that the star dust destroy it with a kind of a big solar storm or other major event."

Melis describes the star, who was named TYC 8241 2652, as a young star like the sun. Just a few years ago the star was showing all the characteristics of "the host of the solar system was formed" before it changed completely. Now, a little warm dust material is thought to originate from the collision of new planet is still clearly visible.

"There has been no event like this, ever seen on hundreds of stars, the astronomers studied to examine the dust ring," said Zuckerman. "The disappearance of the dust is very fast, even in a human time scale. Disappearance of dust in TYC 8241 2652 fast so odd and so at first I thought that our observations are mistaken." *** [SCIENCEDAILY | KORAN TEMPO 3936]

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China's Heavenly Palace in the Orbit

China succeeded in docking process of the two spacecraft. One step toward building a space station.

Liu Yang became another success story of China to explore space. The woman of 33-year-old became China's first female astronaut to fly into space.

Artist illustration of the Shenzhou 9 docking with the Tiangong 1. (Picture from: http://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/)

During the week, since June 16 last, she and two other astronaut, Jing Haipeng and Liu Wang, flying the spacecraft Shenzhou-9. At an altitude of 200 miles above the earth's surface, the plane was successfully attached to a vehicle and took Tiangong-1.

Screenshot from a video of the astronauts during the automatic docking of Shenzhou-9 with the Tiangong-1 space lab. (Picture from: http://www.siliconrepublic.com/)

The crew of the Shenzhou-9. (Picture from: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/)

"I believe in the principle that says that, if you persevere, you will succeed," said Liu Yang told Xinhua. Before it was recruited to be an astronaut in May 2010, she became a pilot of China's Air Force since 1997.

Igor Lisov, a researcher at the Russian Cosmonautics magazine explains, China made great strides with sending Liu. Therefore, the astronaut is not just a display, but a crew member who works. China, he said, wanted to show the principle of "gender equality" in the aerospace industry.

According Lisov, the success of Shenzhou-9 against the Tiangong-1 is one step towards the next stage. What is it? Create and manage a space station. "Now China paves the way for creating the orbital outpost," said Lisov.

Tiangong-1 spacecraft and Chinese Space Station. (Picture from: http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/)

Tiangong-1, which weighs 9.4 tons and was placed in orbit was launched in September last year. China explained that the module is not the space station, but only the laboratory. In November last year, the Shenzhou-8 without crew successfully docked to Tiangong-1. These activities are conducted via remote control from Earth.

Dr Morris Jones, an Australian aerospace analyst, called Tiangong-1 is worth mentioning a small space station. He was referring to photographs of the interior on this vehicle, equipped with various facilities to support the lives of astronauts.

He compared it with the Spacelab module belongs to the European Space Agency is merely a laboratory. From the picture, he judged that Tiangong-1 far more interesting than the old Spacelab.

The interior is very spacious and there are two berths for sleeping. Tiangong-1 is equipped with toilet facilities, sehuah independent communication system for the astronauts, sports equipment, and other facilities for the crew. "Tiangong-1 will be home to the crew of Shenzhou and provide all the basic necessities for life in space," said Jones.

Xinhua news agency did preach Shenzhou-9 will be docked to the space station module Tiangong-1 as part of China's efforts to build a permanent station in orbit. This effort is part of the "Heavenly Palace" China National Space Administration (CNSA) program.

China's space agency has sent eight astronauts into space. Tiangong-1 is scheduled to be orbited until 2013 followed the Shenzhou-9 mission, and one other manned missions. *** [UWD | SPACEDAILY | XINHUA | BBC | KORAN TEMPO 3922]

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The First Solar Eclipse of This Year

Diagram of an eclipse. (Picture from:  
http://www.wjla.com/)

Early next week will be marked by the phenomenon of solar eclipse ring. The first solar eclipse in 2012 will occur on next Monday, May 21, 2012 and can be seen from the countries on the outskirts of the northern Pacific Ocean. In Indonesia, this phenomenon can be seen from North Sulawesi and Maluku. 

The U.S. space agency (NASA) site said ring solar eclipse occurs when the moon facing the sun so that no portion of the light reaches the earth. But this time the size of the moon is smaller than the size of the sun so that the peak of the eclipse, the outer circle of the sun still looks like a ring of light. 

"Ring solar eclipse visible from the area along 240 kilometers, which includes Taiwan, Japan and the United States," NASA said on its website. 

Some cities are able to see the ring in the sky that is Tokyo, in Japan, as well as Albuquerque and Redding, in the United States. 

Peak of the solar eclipse can be seen ring for 5 minutes 46 seconds. As for the eclipse from the moon touches the sun to leave the sun lasts for 3.5 hours. 

In North Sulawesi and Maluku, the public can watch the solar eclipse in part.

There will be an Annular Solar Eclipse occuring on 20th May 2012 (21st May 2012 for most parts of Asia). (Picture from: http://singaporeanlifestyle.com/)

This event occurs when only part of a closed circle of the sun the moon. In the two regions in Indonesia can see the moon cover 20-40 percent of the sun's face. People who living in the two regions could see the eclipse from 06:30 AM Eastern Indonesian Time. 

Solar eclipse always happens every year, but stopping in different regions of the earth. Astronomers know the geometry of the sun, earth and moon always return to the same position every 18 years. This iteration is known as the saros cycle. Ring solar eclipse this time was recorded as the saros cycle-33 to 128 saros cycle. 

This year, a solar eclipse occurred again on November 13, 2012. When the eclipse can be seen from the islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. *** [ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 3882]

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Venus Transit Occurred 105 Years

Venus transit is the sky phenomenon that occurs when Venus disc over a small disc of the Sun. Because the disk of Venus is much smaller than the Sun and is located quite far from Earth it is in transit, Venus will appear as a small object passing in front of the Sun. This event has the same concept as the eclipse of the Sun, where the the Moon disc is almost covered the entire Sun disc facing the Earth. Thing that distinguishes only the size of the moon disc and the disc of Venus across the Sun. 

Measuring Venus transit times to determine solar parallax. (Picture from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/)

This phenomenon is considered very rare due to Venus and Earth are both around the Sun and the opportunity for the Earth, Venus, and the Sun to be on the 'line' that the same is quite rare. Unlike the case with the moon around the sun along with the Earth. In addition, the trajectory of Venus around the Sun is aligned with the Earth's path around the Sun, making it increasingly rare phenomenon of Venus transit. Venus has the inclination of the trajectory (different angles) of 3.4 ° to the path of Earth. 

In Indonesia, the Venus transit event is one phenomenon that became the historical development of astronomy. On the transit of Venus in 1769, observations were made in what is now Jakarta Batavia by Johan Mohr. Mohr founded a private observatory located at the Gang Torong estimated to be around Glodok area today. 

Venus Transit this time will occur on June 6, 2012. Duration of which is about six hours with the details, at 05:09 WIB. when the first contact or first disc of Venus will 'touch' the disk of the Sun. Peak will occur at around 8:29 WIB. and ended at 11:49 WIB. 

Venus transit on June 8, 2004.
 (Picture from: http://presurfer.blogspot.de/)

The last time the transit of Venus was on June 8, 2004. And after the transit of Venus this year, the same phenomenon will happen again in 2117, 2125, and so on. This happens because Venus transit cycle will be repeated every 105.5 years and 121.5 years. Judging from the year they are incurred, this phenomenon is the last Venus transit that most of us can observe. Because of this phenomenon will be repeated as long as 105 years. 

This phenomenon can be observed in all parts of Indonesia. However, if for the first contact, a great place to observe the eastern part of Indonesia. The more western location of the observation, it will only get a peak and finally contacts only. 

Venus transit observations were originally made for u calculate the diameter of the Sun. However, since it is now known, this phenomenon may be a separate entertainment for lovers of astronomy. This phenomenon is certainly not going to be missed by amateur astronomers and professional astronomers. 

To observe the Venus transit, better use of the telescope's sun filter for a small disc of Venus and the sight-threatening eye directly from the sun. Moreover, it can use the binoculars are projected onto a plane as if looking directly will burn the retina of the eye. If you do not have both, can also use sun glasses that have been equipped with special filters and safe way to observe the Sun. *** [RHISA AZALIAH | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 10052012]

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