#AstroMiniBR: Do you know what cosmic dust is?

Each week, TecMundo and #AstroMiniBR bring together the most relevant astronomy curiosities produced by collaborators Twitter profile To spread the knowledge of this science, which is the oldest science. Check it out below!

#1: Importance of dust in astronomy

When we think of the universe it is common to think of things of fantastic dimensions: stars, nebulae, galaxies… but much of what is done in astronomy is also to look at very small ones.

In the cosmos there is a permeating veil of bodies as small as grains of sand: cosmic dust, tiny particles of solid particles floating in interstellar space.

These small pieces of debris are actually fragments of ancient structures such as shattered stars and planets. Its composition can vary widely, from small silicates and minerals to complex organic compounds. Detecting cosmic dust is a challengehowever, astronomers use various techniques to study these celestial particles, such as observations in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Cosmic dust is of immense importance in astronomy, as it acts as a kind of cosmic archivist preserving clues about the formation of stars and planets and even the chemical evolution of the universe. Cosmic dust also plays an important role in the formation of planetary systems and the absorption and scattering of starlight, directly affecting our ability to observe and understand the universe around us.

#2: A blue supermoon that isn’t blue

We’ve had a series of supermoons over the past two months, but none as widely announced around the world as the 30th in the sky. However, the name does not do this phenomenon justice.

The term “super” comes from the fact that the Full Moon is closer to our planet than average when it orbits around Earth, creating a brighter and slightly larger surface in the night sky. The term “blue” refers to the second Supermoon in a month, not strictly the color of the Moon as its luminosity remains whitish yellow, making it “rare”. A second Full Moon in a single month is a rare event and occurs approximately every 2.7 years.

When these two events coincide, astronomy enthusiasts have the opportunity to witness a naturally beautiful Supermoon, driven by the momentum of the event being widely publicized on digital and social media.

#3: A cosmic sleep aid!

In May of this year, an international team of astronomers presented impressive results to the scientific community: Possible detection of tryptophan molecule in star cluster IC 348, about a thousand light-years from Earth.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid for protein formation in terrestrial organisms and is also the precursor to serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for regulating mood and sleep in humans.

Its presence in a star cluster suggests that complex organic molecules can form in a variety of cosmic environments; this is a fact that expands our understanding of the chemistry of the universe. In addition, the detection of tryptophan is of particular importance for astrobiology, since the presence of this molecule on Earth is inherently linked to the functioning processes of metabolism.

This finding, if confirmed, will shed new light on the complex chemical interactions that occur in space and about the impact of detecting complex organic molecules on the search for life beyond our planet.

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