Herschel solves mystery of Jupiter's water!!

(news courtesy ESA)

Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact site G

24 April 2013

Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System, is mostly made of the gases hydrogen and helium. Tiny amounts of water have been found in its upper atmosphere, but, until now, no one was sure where this water came from. The answer to the long-standing mystery has been given by ESA’s Herschel space observatory, the most sensitive infrared telescope ever launched. Herschel has found conclusive evidence that the water was delivered by multiple comet impacts in July 1994!

Collisions with incoming cosmic debris are a continuous threat to the planets of the Solar System, including Earth. However, few impacts have actually been observed by scientists. The first direct observation of such an event occurred at Jupiter, 19 years ago. Astronomers watched in astonishment as 21 pieces of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 plunged into the planet’s upper atmosphere and exploded.

Water in Jupiter's Atmosphere

ESA’s Infrared Space Observatory, launched in 1995, was the first to detect and study water in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. Scientists were able to exclude an internal source, such as water rising from below. But if the water was delivered from outside, where did it come from?

It was widely speculated that comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 may have been the origin of this water, but direct proof was missing. Now Herschel’s sensitive infrared eyes have solved the mystery. The space observatory has found 2-3 times more water in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter than in the northern hemisphere. The traces of water are only found at high altitudes and most of it is concentrated around the sites of the 1994 comet impacts.

Even more detailed observations of the gases that make up Jupiter’s massive atmosphere will be made by ESA’s JUICE mission, which is planned for launch towards the giant world in 2022.

Comets can do so much and more!! 

Here come the Perseids!

Here come the Perseids!
(news courtesy ESA)

Perseids meteor shower (Credits: Ali Jarekji, Reuters)

1 August 2013

Sky watchers will be in for a treat in mid-August, when the annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak! If you have never before seen a meteor, this is the ideal opportunity. The shower lasts from late July until 20 August, with maximum activity expected between 11 and 13 August. The sky will be dark, as the crescent Moon will be setting below the horizon in mid-evening. And the night should also be warm, so you won’t even need to wrap up! Just keep away from bright lights, let your eyes adapt to the darkness, then lie back and stare at the sky.

Perseids are named after the constellation of Perseus, from which they seem to radiate outwards. However, they can appear anywhere in the sky. The best direction to look is wherever your sky is darkest, probably straight up. The constellation is low in the north-northeast before midnight and rises higher above the horizon during the early morning. The shower is best observed from 11 pm or midnight onward, when you may see 60-100 meteors per hour.

Credits: NASA

The Perseids are sand - to pea - sized bits of rocky debris that were ejected long ago by comet Swift-Tuttle. The comet is slowly disintegrating as it orbits the Sun. Over the centuries, its crumbly remains have spread along its orbit to form a stream of particles hundreds of millions of kilometers long.

Earth’s path around the Sun carries us through this comet debris every mid-August. The particles, or meteoroids, are travelling at 60 km per second with respect to Earth. When one of them hits the upper atmosphere, it creates a white-hot streak of super-heated air. Occasional brighter ones may survive for several seconds, leaving short-lived trails of glowing smoke and gas.

The Perseids are ideal for digital imaging. Attach your camera to a tripod, preferably with a wide angle lens and a high ISO (darkness) setting. Keep the shutter open for 10-15 seconds at a time (longer in a really dark place). With a bit of luck, you should capture one or more Perseids streaking across the photo!

Enjoy observing the August Night Sky!!

Space & Science Workshop Conducted at Delhi Public School, Nashik

Our team from Delhi was recently in Nashik to conduct a Science Workshop at the newly inaugurated Delhi Public School (Nashik). The school is nicely situated at the outskirts of the city with a fine infrastructure and a very cordial staff. ­

Around 40 students of 4th& 5th Standard attended this 3 day workshop. The aim of the workshop was to impart learning by involving kids in various hands on activities related to space and science like Circumference of Earth, Sun Spots Observation, Hydro Rocketry & Evening Sky Observation. Learning is always fun when you can practically apply what is taught to you!!


Day 1: 22nd May’13

The workshop started around 11:00 A.M and continued till 3:00 P.M, the first topic covered was Circumference of Earth – Kids used Eratosthenes primitive yet effective way to evaluate COE. 
Later the kids observed Sun Spots using Sky Watcher EQ 3-2 (telescope) securely covered by a solar filter as we should not see the sun through naked eye. (Viewing the sun directly through naked eye can permanently damage the eyes). 

Day 2: 23rd May’13

On the second day of the workshop the kids were introduced to Hydro Rocketry. The session started with a presentation where they learnt about the dynamics and trajectory of Rockets. 

Later the students applied the concepts learned during the presentation by designing their own Double Bottle Rockets. The whole group was divided into 4 teams while designing the rockets. The kids were at their creative best and had lots of fun designing their own rockets.

The last and the most exciting step was to launch those rockets. This final step hardly lasts a few minutes but is the most fun when you see the rockets going high above the ground and crashing 100 feet away!!

Day 3: 24th May’13
The last day of the workshop had the most interesting part - Evening Sky Observation which started around 6:00 P.M and went on till 9:00 P.M. The kids observed Saturn and Moon using the Sky Watcher EQ 3-2. On this final day the kids were accompanied by their parents and even the parents actively and excitedly participated in observing these celestial objects. 

During the first half of this workshop the kids were given a presentation to make them understand the working and handling of a telescope. Later the kids were divided into 4 teams and each team was given a 3.5 inch reflector telescope which they handled themselves and observed Saturn and Moon. As expected the kids and their parents were in awe when they observed the crater’s on the Moon and the Rings of Saturn.

Lastly there was a small closing ceremony where everybody together celebrated the successful completion of the workshop. We presented the kids with certificates & medals, and the school was given a memento and in return our team was presented with return gifts as an appreciation gesture.

Bal Bharati Public School, Noida Sec-21, Night Sky Observation At Camp Mustang

On 28^th November 2011, Zlife Education organized a night sky observation session, one of 11 sessions of the astronomy clubs for Bal Bharati Public School, Sec 21 Noida.

We departed from school at around 1700 hrs on 28^th with 25 out of 27 club members and three respected school faculties. We reached camp mustang at around 1930hrs where kids were shown to their respective tents and were given an introduction about the camp, where they will be spending next 10 hours pursuing the night sky observation.

For starter kids had some rest following it was snack time when kids enjoyed the cookies and tea/coffee. At around 2030hrs, kids were divided into two groups, one of which went for the solar walk quiz and the other went to the observational area to view Jupiter and its moons with a 6’’ reflector type equatorial mount telescope. 

At around 2130 hours dinner was served with a variety of starters including salads followed by main course dishes like paneer, aaloo gobhi and dal finally topping up the appetite with a nice desert, kheer. 

After a break, at around 2230 hrs, kids were introduced to the night sky objects and methods to view the sky effectively in the orientation session, where kids learned the basic concepts like zenith, meridian, horizon, ecliptic etc and a depth understanding of reading the sky map, i.e. the planisphere. The session went for an hour and a half followed by a fifteen minute break. 

At around 0030hrs on 29^th, kids were taken out to the observational area to develop a practical understanding of the theoretical sky knowledge gained in the orientation session, for next 2 hours kids saw and understand the concept of constellations and viewed pleides star cluster and orion nebula through a telescope.

 By the end of the class, students understood the concept of star clusters, nebulae and constellations. At around 0245hrs, a health drink was served to the kids following a 15 minute break. Sketch what you saw competition, was played by the kids at 0315hrs in which they had to draw the image of the sky objects, they saw in the sky. 

After this, kids were let off to their camps to rest for an hour, while the arena was setting up for the medal distribution. Kids were wide awake and freshened up by 0530hours when the medals were distributed to the respective teams on the basis of their performance in the competitions. 

We departed the camp at 0700 hrs and reached the school at around 0930 hrs. Where and when the night sky session was concluded.

Pictures can also be checked at our Facebook Page