Our Planet

Super Saturn: J1407b

Exoplanet J1407b and its rings — J1407b is an infamous gas giant with a gargantuan ring system which is located 434 light-years away from Earth. It can also be a brown dwarf - which is bigger than a gas giant, but still, are not massive enough to sustain nuclear fusion. Its star, 1SWASP J140747.93−394542.6 (also known as 1SWASP J140747, J1407, and Mamajek's Object) is a star similar to the Sun. J1407b's ring system estimated at is nearly 120 million kilometers, more than two hundred times as large as the rings of Saturn, in diameter. Image source: University of Rochester website

The exoplanet J1407b is simply “Super Saturn”. If you read Isaac Asimov‘s 1986 novel “Foundation and Earth”, you’ll remember how the main characters of the book (Councilman Golan Trevize, historian Janov Pelorat, and Gaian Bliss) were amazed by Saturn’s rings. They were thinking the gas giant with preeminent rings in old stories was just a myth. But after seeing Saturn, they made sure that they found the solar system which contains the Earth, the original home of humanity.

Earth from Space Space Exploration

A Year Along the Geostationary Orbit [Short Film]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date August 4, 2019
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Our beautiful yet fragile Earth from the Geostationary orbit. “A Year Along the Geostationary Orbit” is a 16-minute short film by the German engineer Felix Dierich. He used the Japanese weather satellite Himawari 8 data made publicly available by the Japanese and Australian governments to craft a timelapse while producing this amazing time-lapse of Earth from space.

Environment

Strategies Businesses Are Taking to Reduce Their Single-Use Plastic Use

Post author By Our Planet
Post date August 2, 2019
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Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g.: plastic bottles and much more) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized into micro-, meso-, or macro debris, based on size. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by humans are high. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors have led to a high prominence of plastic pollution in the environment. Single-use plastics can be convenient, but more often than not, they have a lasting negative impact on our planet. They end up in our landfills, oceans, and ecosystems creating problems for animals and plants alike. In fact, half of all plastic in the world was created in just the last 13 years, and according to National Geographic, only 9% of that plastic is actually recycled. That is 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste with nowhere to go. These plastics are then unable to biodegrade, so they just continue to break down into smaller and smaller microplastics which causes more systemic problems.

Single-use plastics can be convenient, but more often than not, they have a lasting negative impact on our planet. They end up in our landfills, oceans, and ecosystems creating problems for animals and plants alike. In fact, half of all plastic in the world was created in just the last 13 years, and according to National Geographic, only 9% of that plastic is actually recycled. That is 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste with nowhere to go. These plastics are then unable to biodegrade, so they just continue to break down into smaller and smaller microplastics which causes more systemic problems.

Astronomy Space Exploration

Terrascope: Turning Earth into a Giant Telescope

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date August 2, 2019
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We can turn Earth into a giant telescope. According to a recent study titled “The ‘Terrascope’: On the Possibility of Using the Earth as an Atmospheric Lens”, published by David Kipping of Columbia University, our planet offers an opportunity for pronounced lensing.

People Environment

Why Connecting With Nature Will Make Us Less Stressed

Post author By Frankie Wallace
Post date August 1, 2019
1 Comment on Why Connecting With Nature Will Make Us Less Stressed

Spending time in nature helps to relieve both stress and anxiety and can also have a positive impact on our moods. Though modern life has evolved to consist mostly of screens and time spent indoors, we still have a deep connection to nature. When we go outdoors and spend time in the woods or by a lake, we distance ourselves from the constant noises of modern-day life. The tranquility of nature is soothing and relaxing, and because we've stepped away from the constant reminders of our worries, it's easier to forget about our problems and relax for a little while. Image source: Pixabay

In today’s constantly busy world, we encounter many stressors every day. Concerns over money, careers, relationships, and health can quickly pile up, leaving us to function in a constant state of stress. But we don’t have to live that way.

Space Exploration Physics

LightSail 2 raised its orbit using sunlight alone

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date July 31, 2019
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LightSail orbiting the Earth - artist conception — Artist's concept of LightSail orbiting the Earth

The Planetary Society has announced that the LightSail mission is a success and LightSail 2 just raised its orbit around Earth using sunlight alone on their Twitter account @exploreplanets.

Moon Landing Space Exploration

Descending to the Moon [scientists reconstruct what Buzz Aldrin saw]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date July 20, 2019
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Lunar landing video reconstruction (screenshot) — The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) team reconstructed the last three minutes of the landing trajectory (latitude, longitude, orientation, velocity, altitude) using landmark navigation and altitude call outs from the voice recording. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon. In operation since 2009, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) is a system of three cameras mounted on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) that capture high-resolution photos of the lunar surface.

“Tranquility Base here. The eagle has landed.” Neil Armstrong said so as the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle touched down on the lunar surface on Sunday, July 20, 1969, at 20:17 UTC.

Solar System Astronomy Space Exploration

Where are the spacecraft and planets now? [NASA animation]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date July 17, 2019
No Comments on Where are the spacecraft and planets now? [NASA animation]

Solar system map as of July 17, 2019. NASA has published an amazing 3D animation showing exactly where the spacecraft and the celestial bodies (planets and other astronomical objects) really are

To see exactly where the spacecraft and the celestial bodies (planets and other astronomical objects) really are, right now, you can use NASA’s real-time, 3D solar system model.

Environment People

What Impact Are Vape Pens and E-Cigarettes Having on the Environment?

Post author By Frankie Wallace
Post date July 16, 2019
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Is vaping a safer alternative? Probably not. — While we're still developing an understanding of the environmental impact posed by e-cigarettes, the overall health implications of vaping are more clear. It's true that e-cigarettes lack the harmful carcinogens found in traditional tobacco smoke, but it would be a mistake to call vaping a "safer" alternative to cigarettes. Memory and attention can be negatively affected by vaping, and oral health can be significantly impacted as well. Nicotine from vaping may contribute to the development of gingivitis, as well as gum recession and periodontitis. What's more, nicotine can mask the symptoms of gum disease, making it more difficult to diagnose the condition.

The environmental impact of cigarettes is well documented: For more than 30 years, cigarette butts have been the most collected type of beach litter. Cigarette butts also account for approximately 38% of litter items globally and can take about a decade to biodegrade.

Astronomy

NASA has published the amazing map of 4,000 exoplanets

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date July 12, 2019
No Comments on NASA has published the amazing map of 4,000 exoplanets

Over 4,000 Exoplanets — Even as late as 1991, we had no hard evidence of planets existing outside our solar system, known as "exoplanets". Today, over 4000 exoplanets are known to exist. NASA has published an amazing video-map showing them in the Milky Way galaxy on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website.

Even as late as 1991, we had no hard evidence of planets existing outside our solar system (a centuries-old quest), known as “exoplanets”. Today, over 4000 exoplanets are known to exist. NASA has published an amazing video map showing them in the Milky Way galaxy on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website.