NASA is planning to launch an artificial star into space – here’s why

NASA is preparing to launch an innovative artificial star into space, on a mission aimed at improving the accuracy of astronomical measurements.

This pioneering project, called Landolt missionThis involves deploying a small satellite equipped with lasers that mimic light from stars and other celestial bodies, providing a new tool for astronomers to calibrate their instruments with unprecedented accuracy.

NASA’s Landolt mission and its objectives

the Landolt missionnamed after the late astronomer Arlo Landoltbest known for creating impressive catalogs of stellar brightness, is scheduled to launch in 2029. The mission features a toaster-sized device equipped with eight lasers, designed to emit light at a known rate of photons.

This artificial star will revolve around the Earth from an altitude of 22,236 miles, and will move at the same rate as the Earth’s rotation, thus appearing stationary in the night sky. This fixed position will make it an easy and reliable target for ground-based telescopes.

The mission’s primary goal is to enhance the accuracy of stellar brightness measurements, a crucial factor in understanding various cosmic phenomena. like Tyler Richie Yuill“This is really new for us to have some kind of artificial star out there that we can go to and rely on and use,” explains the postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory. This level of accuracy is difficult to achieve with natural stars, as their exact light emission is unknown and Earth’s atmosphere absorbs and distorts some of their light.

Improving the accuracy of astronomical measurements

One of the main goals of the mission is to significantly improve telescope calibration. By using consistent, well-defined artificial star brightness levels, astronomers can eliminate much of the guesswork involved with current calibration methods. Jimmy is a pilotAn assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Florida highlighted the importance of this mission, saying: “Much of our understanding of the universe depends on our ability to measure the brightness of celestial objects.”

the Artificial star It will help astronomers measure light emitted by stars up to ten times more accurately than current methods. This increased resolution will enable more accurate assessments of stellar properties such as size, volume and age. “For each star, you have to know exactly how much energy is coming from the star, exactly how far away the planet is, etc.,” Tayar noted, underscoring the mission’s potential to advance our understanding of exoplanets and their habitability.

Wider implications of NASA’s “artificial star” for astronomy

the Landolt mission It is expected to have far-reaching effects on various fields of astronomy. By providing a reliable calibration source, it will aid in the study of phenomena ranging from… Nearby stars to Distant supernovae. This could also help address one of the biggest challenges in cosmology: precisely determining the expansion rate of the universe. Existing methods produce slightly different values, and this task can provide the data needed to resolve these discrepancies.

Understanding the rate of expansion is crucial to the study Dark energy, the mysterious force believed to drive the accelerating expansion of the universe. Data obtained from the Landolt mission can help astronomers better understand this force and its effects on the future of the universe.

Tyler Richie Yuill He summed up the potential impact of the mission by saying: “So anything from small, small planets to the full size of the universe depends on our understanding of stars and how bright they are and what kind of light they emit. I really think so. It will be revolutionary in astronomy.”

the Landolt mission It represents a major advance in astronomical research, and provides a new tool to enhance the accuracy of stellar measurements. As the mission progresses, it promises to provide insights that could change our understanding of the universe, from the smallest exoplanets to the vast expanses of the universe.