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TRAPPIST-1 vs Alpha Cen, Catching The Voyagers, Lunar Space Elevator | Q&A 243

Fraser Cain・37 minutes read

The Trappist-1 system is ideal for James Webb telescope observations, while plans for a Big Space Telescope with advanced technology and larger size are in consideration to enhance exoplanet observation, including potential extraterrestrial life. Total solar eclipses offer a unique and captivating experience, with the upcoming one in 2024 passing through Mexico, the United States, Canada, and the Arctic.

Insights

  • The Trappist-1 system, with six Earth-sized planets, is a prime target for observation by the James Webb telescope due to its red dwarf star and planets in the habitable zone.
  • Space-based assembly of telescopes, like the proposed Big Space Telescope, combined with technologies such as interferometry and the solar gravitational lens, holds promise for unprecedented observations of exoplanets, potentially including the search for extraterrestrial life.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Trappist-1 system?

    A system with six Earth-sized planets ideal for observation.

  • How can a space elevator be feasible on the Moon?

    Lower gravity on the Moon makes a space elevator feasible.

  • What is the solar gravitational lens?

    A lens located 1000 astronomical units from the Sun.

  • What is the concept of interferometry?

    Combining light from multiple telescopes to act as one.

  • What is the Artemis 2 mission?

    A flyby mission around the Moon to test capabilities.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring Exoplanets with Advanced Telescope Technology

  • The Trappist-1 system, with six Earth-sized planets, is ideal for observation by the James Webb telescope due to its red dwarf star and habitable zone planets.
  • James Webb's coronograph is not powerful enough to observe planets around Alpha Centauri, but the Nancy Grace Roman telescope and the Habitable Worlds Observatory will have advanced coronographs for this purpose.
  • Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun, has not been observed yet, but the Tman spacecraft is being developed to detect planets around Alpha Centauri by observing the movement of its stars.
  • The concept of a space elevator, allowing access to space without rockets, is more feasible on the Moon due to its lower gravity, requiring materials like Kevlar or carbon nanotubes.
  • The solar gravitational lens, located 1000 astronomical units from the Sun, offers a magnification factor of 30,000, enabling detailed observations of exoplanets.
  • Space-based assembly of telescopes, similar to the International Space Station, could allow for larger telescopes to be built in space without the constraints of fitting within rocket fairings.
  • A hypothetical mission with no funding limitations could combine technologies like the solar gravitational lens and space-based telescope assembly to observe exoplanets in unprecedented detail.

14:21

"Space Telescope Assembly at L2 Point"

  • NASA is considering a space-based assembly for a Big Space Telescope, where a smart box with robotic arms is sent to the L2 Point to assemble itself with additional components like a propulsion module and solar panels.
  • The telescope would be larger than current ones like James Webb and the Habitable Worlds Observatory, potentially reaching sizes of 20, 30, or even 50 meters.
  • Interferometry, combining light from multiple telescopes to act as a virtual telescope, is a promising technology for achieving resolutions equivalent to a 100-meter telescope.
  • The possibility of combining space-assembled telescopes with interferometry and utilizing the solar gravitational lens for enhanced observations, including potentially observing extraterrestrial life, is exciting.
  • Observations of the TRAPPIST-1 system have not yet yielded information on the planets' atmospheres, with two possibilities being either no atmospheres found or rigorous confirmation processes ongoing.
  • Red dwarf stars may not be ideal for searching for atmospheres due to intense radiation, leading to a need for better equipment to observe Earth-sized planets around stars like our sun.
  • Plans for a massive interferometer the size of Earth's orbit for radio observations exist, but visible light telescopes of such scale face technological challenges in alignment precision.
  • Catching up with the Voyager spacecraft is theoretically possible with a rescue mission, potentially involving gravitational slingshot maneuvers and advanced propulsion systems.
  • Artemis 2 will be a flyby mission around the Moon, akin to Apollo 8, to test the SLS's capability to launch humans to the Moon and assess the Orion capsule's ability to sustain astronauts in deep space.

29:14

"Space Exploration, Ice Planets, and Solar Eclipses"

  • The plan is to launch emis 2 in November 2024 without any known delays, aiming to keep humans alive in deep space.
  • There are believed to be more water worlds in the solar system than terrestrial planets, potentially harboring life under thick ice sheets with liquid oceans beneath.
  • Ice planets farther from stars, no longer in habitable zones, could support life under thick ice layers, shielded from harmful radiation and solar storms.
  • Neutrinos from a supernova can be detected on Earth minutes or hours before the visible light of the explosion, aiding in early warning systems for astronomers.
  • A supernova warning network is being developed to detect neutrino bursts from nearby supernovae, allowing astronomers to observe the subsequent explosion.
  • Total solar eclipses are rare events that offer a unique experience, with the upcoming one on April 8th, 2024, passing through Mexico, the United States, Canada, and the Arctic.
  • Observing a total solar eclipse, experiencing the sky turning into twilight, animals quieting down, and witnessing the solar corona, is an unparalleled and captivating event worth the effort to witness.
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