#AstroMiniBR: The universe of radio waves!

TecMundo and #AstroMiniBR bring together five relevant and entertaining astronomical curiosities each week. twitter profileSpread the knowledge of astronomy. Check it out below!

#1: The Universe of Radio Waves!

Radio telescopes are powerful tools for exploring the vastness of the cosmos. revealing the secrets of space by detecting radio waves. These telescopes collect radio emissions from distant cosmic objects such as stars, galaxies, and even quasars.

Unlike visible light, radio waves have extremely low frequencies, a property that describes the energy that can be captured by radio telescopes. And the energy of these waves is so low that if we add up everything that all the radio telescopes in the world have collected, this energy is not enough to melt a simple snowflake! Comparatively, even a small light bulb emitting higher frequency radiation can melt it in a very short time.

Although it may seem modest in terms of energy, the information contained in radio waves is invaluable to astronomy. With the help of radio telescopes, it is possible to unravel the structure of the universe, investigate the formation of stars, discover astrophysical events billions of light years away, and even detect signs of possible extraterrestrial civilizations.

#2: Winter has begun in the Southern Hemisphere!

Winter in the Southern Hemisphere began last week at the (21) solstice. But do you know what that means other than lower temperatures?

From an astronomical point of view, the main cause of winter has to do with the tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation: our planet revolves around the Sun in an elliptical orbit and has a slightly inclined axis of rotation with respect to the orbital plane. This trend is largely responsible for the changing of the seasons throughout the year, causing different amounts of solar radiation to reach the planet’s surface throughout the year.

At this time of year, the Southern Hemisphere moves away from the Sun. This means that the sun’s rays hit this area of ​​the planet more obliquely, resulting in less sunlight.. In addition, as the sun’s rays are more scattered, the sun exposure area is also reduced.

It is precisely this lower amount of direct sunlight and less intense heating that causes the coldest temperatures and the shortest days! This fact is the opposite in the Northern Hemisphere, which is now experiencing summer again.

#3: The stardust we are made of

The gorgeous image above is a perfect example of light and shadow! Located about 500 light-years from Earth, This interstellar dust cloud is in the constellation Corona Australis. and plays a crucial role in the formation of new stars.

Its high density of tiny dust and gas particles allows gravity to act like a magnet, attracting surrounding material and forming dense protostellar nuclei. These nuclei develop over time, becoming more dense and bright young stars.

Also, this cosmic cloud is the scene for the birth of planetary systems. Dust grains in the cloud coalesce to form protoplanets around newly formed stars. These planets may eventually become Earth-like worlds that harbor life.

#4: An exotic photo of the sun

The sun has never looked so dazzling!

Located deep within the Earth, Super Kamiokande is a massive neutrino detector that offers a unique opportunity to capture the majestic beauty of our Sun. Scientists have developed an innovative method for photographing our nearest star using advanced solar particle detection techniques.

Using specially designed equipment to detect high-energy neutrinos, Super Kamiokande’s cameras capture their interactions with matter in the detectors. reveals incredible images of the sun in real time!

#5: Neptune as seen by James Webb

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Revolutionizing our understanding of Neptune like never before!

With its powerful infrared vision, JWST revealed observations of the stormy and enigmatic atmosphere of our distant, icy neighbor. Detailed observations of Neptune reveal the presence of methane clouds and the dynamics of the fierce winds that shape its surface. Also, JWST recorded Neptune’s rings, showing their structure and what they’re made of!