logo
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#855661 02/09/14 04:29 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
In May 2013, the Kepler planet-hunting spacecraft lost the use of a second reaction wheel. It needs three to keep it stable enough for the precision observations it makes. NASA put the craft through a series of tests to see if either of the failed reaction wheels could be made to work again. Nope, they couldn't.

NASA invited proposals for projects that could be done with Kepler which wouldn't require the precision pointing that looking for exoplanets does. One of the proposals was an ingenious plan to get Kepler planet-hunting again.

The new mission K2 uses the radiation pressure of sunlight to act as the third wheel. It was successfully tested last week with an observation of WASP 28b - this isn't a new discovery, but adds to existing data.

Sponsored Post Advertisement
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,583
BellaOnline Editor
Chipmunk
Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Chipmunk
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,583
Well done whoever thought of that smile


Ian - Pagan Editor

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."

"With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world. "

Dalai Lama
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
Yes, this is highly creatively smart. Perhaps we'd get more smart thinking if being smart weren't something viewed with such suspicion.

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,583
BellaOnline Editor
Chipmunk
Offline
BellaOnline Editor
Chipmunk
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,583
What's that wonderful quote? "Smart people look like crazy people to dumb people". Very strange.


Ian - Pagan Editor

"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."

"With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world. "

Dalai Lama
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
On Wednesday the Kepler mission announced the discovery of 715 new planets. No, this doesn't mean the spacecraft has been working overtime in order to make up for being out of action for so long. It happened by scientists using a new technique to analyze existing data. (And it's worth remembering that there is still a lot of data which no one has had time to analyze yet.)

Kepler's Planet Bonanza

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
Here is a video in which Tony Darnell explains what the Kepler mission is about. Nice animations by NASA / ESA, and you can get subtitles in a choice of languages.

Kepler's new Universe

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
At last! An Earth-sized planet in a star's “habitable zone”. Hurrah for Kepler!

The habitable zone is the region around a star where surface water could be liquid. This doesn't mean the planet does have life, but it's a good start. Planets previously found in a star's habitable zone have been notably bigger than Earth. But Kepler-186f is actually close to Earth's size and therefore probably rocky. There are also at least four other planets in its system. They orbit very close to the star and would be too hot to sustain life.

Kepler-186f may be similar in size to Earth, but it's no twin sister. Its star is cooler than ours so even though the planet is close enough to its Sun to orbit in 130 days, it still doesn't get as much light as we do. High noon there would be more like an hour before sunset on Earth.

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
OP Online Content
BellaOnline Editor
Renaissance Human
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,915
Likes: 30
They showed that the ingenious idea for stabilizing the Kepler spacecraft could work, but was there any money for continuing the mission? Yes, it's official! There is two-year funding for K2. The first mission starts at the end of next week.

More details about the K2 mission.


Moderated by  Mona - Astronomy 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Brand New Posts
Make It Sew Easier
by Cheryl - Sewing Editor - 03/27/24 04:34 PM
2024 - on this day in the past ...
by Mona - Astronomy - 03/27/24 01:31 PM
Planner Template Kit - Weekly Layout Template
by Digital Art and Animation - 03/26/24 07:39 PM
Planner Template Kit - Yearly Layout Template
by Digital Art and Animation - 03/26/24 07:37 PM
How to Use Digital Planner Template Kit
by Digital Art and Animation - 03/26/24 07:36 PM
Review - 20 Illustrator Color tips Helen Bradley
by Digital Art and Animation - 03/26/24 07:32 PM
March Equinox to June Solstice
by Mona - Astronomy - 03/26/24 12:27 PM
Hobotrader unleashes never seen opportunity with i
by Jamal molla - 03/26/24 11:55 AM
Psalm for the day
by Angie - 03/25/24 09:05 AM
Genealogy, Sort of
by Angie - 03/24/24 05:39 PM
Sponsor
Safety
We take forum safety very seriously here at BellaOnline. Please be sure to read through our Forum Guidelines. Let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Privacy
This forum uses cookies to ensure smooth navigation from page to page of a thread. If you choose to register and provide your email, that email is solely used to get your password to you and updates on any topics you choose to watch. Nothing else. Ask with any questions!


| About BellaOnline | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Become an Editor |
Website copyright © 2022 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5