The 14th of February, Comet C/2021 S3 (PANSTARRS) This would make a nice Valentine’s Day gift for Martians if they existed and celebrated love and consumerism, since this encounter happened so close to the orbit of Mars. Next time, Earthlings will enjoy the closest approach to our planet. March 14th, although it is expected to be seen before the end of the month. Of course, it cannot be observed with the naked eye, but with the help of a telescope or camera with a lens adapted for astrophotography. Those who have one of these options and love to immortalize the sky are in luck because not only will they be able to capture the beautiful sight, but they will also be able to contribute to solar wind research from a scientist University of Reading.
Near Sarah Watson, a graduate student who considers PANSTARRS an ideal experiment for her research. When it is very close to a star, solar winds are expected to hit its tail, causing it to break away from the rest of the comet. Sarah could capture it with her telescope and photograph it, but she would do so from a specific location at a very specific time of night. Ideally, take pictures from different places in the world, where the night will occur at different times. In this way it was possible to perpetuate Evolution of the influence of solar winds on a comet.
For this, the scientist did Appeal to astrophotography lovers. Your pictures can help a lot. And what’s even better: she won’t just get help. Knowledge of the behavior of the solar wind is also necessary to protect terrestrial telecommunications. Citizen science has never been more needed.
From solar winds to comets
To understand Sarah Watson’s research, two basic concepts must be clearly understood. First of all, solar winds. This streams of charged particles which begin in the Sun’s upper atmosphere and are associated with solar activity that follows cycles of approximately 11 years. Being made up of charged particles, very intense solar winds can interfere with Earth’s satellites and affect our telecommunications systems. That is why it is important to know them thoroughly and be able to anticipate them.
As for comets, they are celestial bodies consisting of dust, rocks and ice particles that orbit the Sun. a long queue behind them. They form when, as a comet approaches a star, the pressure exerted by its radiation and solar winds causes gas, dust and particles to move in the opposite direction.
Therefore, solar winds are responsible for the formation of the tail. However, if they are very intense, they can push it in the opposite direction so much that it breaks away from the comet. This is what Sarah Watson wants to learn and what she needs astrophotography lovers.
What can astrophotography provide for research?
Sarah Watson hopes astrophotography enthusiasts around the world will send her their photos of the comet. Ideally, you should hunt it at the moment when it begins to separate from the tail. However, everything goes. Any zigzag In it, he can help you study the effects of solar winds.
If they send you images from many places around the world, you will certainly be able to reconstruct its evolution much better and understand how it is affected by the solar winds. So if you love astrophotography and have a telescope or a good lens, feel free to collaborate.
The best photos will also be sent to British Astronomical Association To your file. Instructions for photographing a comet can be read online and are not difficult for those familiar with astrophotography. Once the images are taken you should email them to Sarah. srwatson@pgr.reading.ac.uk. Do you dare?
Source: Hiper Textual
