Monthly Archives: May 2017

Even Erin Maier is surprised how her academic journey at the University of Iowa has turnedout.

The graduating senior from Hudson, Ohio, enrolled at the UI to study creative writing, then accidentally fell into astronomy, shesays.

Its a good thing she didfor her and for theuniversity.

Hometown: Hudson, Ohio

Area of study: Physics and astronomy

Graduation: May 2017

Activities and honors:

Maier helped design and build sophisticated instruments for UI-commissioned telescopes that are exploring the cosmos and yielding insights into some of the most fundamental questions about theuniverse.

Along the way, she twice won National Science Foundationsponsored internships, is first author on two peer-reviewed papers, and nabbed a coveted Goldwaterscholarship.

Maier will receive aBachelor of Science in physics and astronomy on Saturday, May 13, and is one of more than 4,800 UI students who will graduate during commencement ceremonies at the end of the springsemester.

After commencement, Maier will head to the Graduate Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Arizona to pursue a doctorate with a research focus on ground-basedinstrumentation.

Its been a roundabout, strange path, but my experience here has helped me figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life, Maiersays.

Maier had no clue the UI had a physics and astronomy major when she stepped on campus in the fall of 2013. She chose the UI largely based on her high school English teachers recommendation for the universitys strength in creativewriting.

Her academic focus changed in the beginning of her firstyear when she took a General Astronomy class about the solar system taught by Robert Mutel, professor in the UIDepartment of Physics and Astronomy.

I didnt have to take that class, says Maier, adding she had enough advanced placement credits to fulfill that academic requirement. I took it because I wanted to, and Im glad Idid.

Unbeknownst to Maier, Mutel was scouting talent to help with various research projects, a practice he has employed for some time for himself and his colleagues in thedepartment.

Supported by an Iowa Center for Research by Undergraduates fellowship, Maier spent her first summer in Iowa City analyzing radio emissions from the center of the Milky Way with Cornelia Lang, UI associate professor in physics and astronomy. She also helped Mutel install a telescope in the Van Allen Observatory, located on the roof of Van Allen Hall, whichis used for classes and public viewingevents.

Erin and I spent that first summer together working on understanding the complex magnetic properties of the core of our galaxy, Lang says. She is delightful to work with and one of the most passionate and hard-working students Ive gotten to know here at the University ofIowa.

The summer after her sophomore year, Maier ventured to Northern Arizona University and partnered with other undergraduates to study how turbulence in spiral galaxies is associated with star formation. That stint, funded by the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, led to Maier being chosen as first author on two papers, one of which has been published in The Astronomical Journal. (The other paper also will be published in The Astronomical Journal.)

Though she enjoyed interpreting data gathered by the telescopes, Maier began leaning toward a focus ininstrumentation.

I just started thinking, What if I was building those instruments? That would be so cool, shesays.

Fortunately, Mutel had some ideas. In the spring of 2015, he invited six undergraduates, including Maier, to take a semester-long research class in which they prepared to install a new, $125,000 telescope funded by the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust. The students divided into teams to learn the ins and outs of telescope operation, instrumentation, andassembly.

That May, Mutel and the students traveled to Arizona. The telescope, called the Iowa Robotic Observatory, arrived in a box the size of a car, Mutel recalls, like some massive Lego set that needed to be built fromscratch.

They tested the instrument; they assembled the main telescope and the mount; they tested its capabilities; and they put on the instruments, the spectrometer, the camera, the main wheel, et cetera, Mutel says. They basically made it an operating telescope in a few days. It was very impressive,actually.

It came with some tense moments, though. For three days, Maier and her fellow students were unable to test the telescope, deterred by cloudy nights. On the last night, Maier and two others didnt sleep, instead capturing as many clear-sky viewings aspossible.

We came out of observing at five in the morning, and we were like, Yeah, we did this! shesays.

They were very dedicated, I can tell you, Muteladds.

The first images gathered by the Iowa Robotic Observatory havedrawn more than 461,000 views on the image-sharing platformImgur.

They were beautiful, gorgeous images that with the previous telescope would have taken much longer, with a fraction of the quality, Maiersays.

Maier was awarded a second NSF REU scholarship to help build a camera that would allow astronomers to make observations of star clusters in two optical wavelengths simultaneously, which cuts the background clutter in the images that are being observed. The instrument was successfully tested at the McDonald Observatory in westTexas.

At the end of this, any doubts I had with my interest in instrumentation had vanished, Maiersays.

Maier volunteered at the Van Allen Observatory and otherwise availed herself of any opportunity she could find to learn more and beinvolved.

I would say shes what you might call a good citizen, Mutel says. Shes been involved in the Society of Physics students (a student leadership program). She goes to seminars in the department. In that sense, shes much more like faculty and graduate students, who are invested in the life of thedepartment.

See more here:

Graduating UI senior takes 'roundabout' journey to astronomy - Iowa Now

During its time studying comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft revealed that comets are active, dynamic objects with shifting landscapes and complex chemistry. One of Rosettas many discoveries, announced in 2015, was the production of molecular oxygen gas, or O2, on the comet. O2, which is abundant on Earth thanks to biological processes, is otherwise quite rare in the cosmos because it is quickly broken up via chemical processes. While astronomers have had difficulty puzzling out the presence of molecular O2 on 67P, a professor at the California Institute of Technology has found a simple way to explain the comets O2, thanks to his own research in the field of chemical engineering.

Professor Konstantinos P. Giapis and postdoctoral researcher Yunxi Yao have published their results in Nature Communications. In their study, they explain the production of O2 on the comet based on a mechanism seen in their chemical engineering research. In the lab, Giapis and Yao focus on the results of collisions between charged particles, called ions, and the surfaces of semiconducting materials. Their goal is to develop better computer chips with faster response times and increased memory capacity for next-generation electronics. But collisions of this type can also take place on the surface of comets as they near the Sun, providing the source of the O2 measured in comet 67Ps atmosphere as well.

After looking at measurements made on Rosetta's comet, in particular regarding the energies of the water molecules hitting the comet, it all clicked, says Giapis in a press release announcing the study. What I've been studying for years is happening right here on this comet.

How does such a reaction happen? As a comet nears the Sun, its temperature rises as increased radiation strikes the surface. This causes ices on and near the surface to vaporize, throwing off molecules that include water vapor. These molecules encounter ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, which is comprised of highly energetic particles, and lose electrons in the process, becoming charged ions (like those in Giapis lab). These ions are blown back onto the comet by the solar wind, where they encounter materials such as rust, sand, and ice that contain oxygen bound within them. The collision causes the ionized molecules to pick up additional oxygen atoms, resulting in the formation of O2.

Previously, the only explanation for the O2 found in the comets atmosphere was primordial O2 locked away as ices since the formation of the solar system, roughly 4.6 billion years ago. This explanation was problematic, however, as astronomers believed that even as ice, O2 should have reacted with other chemicals over the comets history, rather than remain pristine.

Giapis and Yaos explanation fits much better with the emerging picture Rosetta has painted of comets as dynamic systems. Instead of unlocking primordial O2, reactions between the comet and the increasing sunlight create new O2 in real time. We have shown experimentally that it is possible to form molecular oxygen dynamically on the surface of materials similar to those found on the comet," says Yao.

Because, as Giapis says, [a]ll necessary conditions for such reactions exist on comet 67P, this finding has far-reaching implications for not only our understanding of cometary chemistry in our own solar system, but also the production and presence of O2 on, say, extrasolar planets. If life is not a likely requirement for the presence of O2, it will affect the ways in which astronomers search for potentially habitable or potentially currently inhabited exoplanets in the future.

The study also highlights the benefits of applying science across varying disciplines, showing that mechanisms studied in specialized labs can have amazing applications beyond Earth-based technology.

Here is the original post:

Comet 67P is making its own oxygen gas - Astronomy Magazine

A University of Wyoming professor and the endowed chair of physics will bring his experience with solar eclipses to Gillette on May 16 to prepare local residents for the Great North American Solar Eclipse in August.

Gillette and much of Wyoming is in the path of the total solar eclipse Aug. 21 that will be the first to hit the contiguous United States in 38 years, and the first one to cover so much of the U.S. since 1918.

As a result, many people from across the world are traveling to the state where the view will range from 97 percent total in Gillette to 99 percent in Casper.

Tim Slater will bring an interactive presentation to Gillette on how to safely watch a solar eclipse and use computer simulations to explain why scientists from all over the world are coming to Wyoming to observe the once-in-a-lifetime event. Hell speak about the nature of eclipses and also hand out free eclipse-viewing glasses.

Of his six presentations planned in Gillette, four are open to the public free of charge.

Hell present his 30-minute lecture to astronomy classes at Campbell County High School at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. May 16 at the North Campus.

Then hell give two more programs, open to the public, at the Campbell County Public Library at 4 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

That will be followed by two programs, also open to the public, at 7 and 7:45 p.m. in the planetarium at Sage Valley Junior High. Those interested in attending the planetarium classes still have to reserve a seat online, but the program is free. Visit supersaas.com/schedule/CCSD/Planetarium to reserve a seat, email planet@ccsd.k12.wy.us or call 307-682-4307 to leave a message.

Paul Zeleski, director of the planetarium, said Slater contacted him about offering programs in Gillette because Slater is also one of his science instructors. Slater has offered the same program in other areas of the state, including Lander and Star Valley.

Hes a smart guy, Zeleski said. Hes energetic and extremely knowledgeable.

Slater joined the UW College of Education faculty in 2008-09 as the first recipient of the Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Chair in Science Education. He was an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona at the time, where he founded the internationally recognized Conceptual Astronomy and Physics Education Research Team.

Throughout May, hes traveling across Wyoming to visit schools, public libraries and community centers to build awareness, generate excitement and help children, parents, teachers and community leaders prepare for the total eclipse of the sun.

The rest is here:

UW astronomy expert brings eclipse lessons - Gillette News Record

A South Derbyshire observatory is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative to help build an observatory which has been years in the planning. Rosliston Astronomy Group has secured most of the funding for the new facility, but also hopes to build a ramp which will enable people with disabilities to use the space-gazing building.

Now, organisers are urging people to vote for the project in Tesco and if their project wins the overall vote, they could be presented with 4,000 all raised from the 5p plastic bag levy.

The group's overall project is called "Outreach to the Stars", which aims to develop its work with a number of community groups around Burton and South Derbyshire.

With the observatory set to be completed in July 2017, they are hoping to raise the funds to provide an access pathway to the observatory, suitable for everyone, including those with disabilities.

Heather Lomas, treasurer for the group said: "A pathway is crucial to the success of our overall project - and will benefit a much larger group of people, young and old, interested in the sun and the stars."

"Rosliston Astronomy Group has been carrying out a range of community "outreach" activities for 17 years.We believe in encouraging lifelong learning and raising aspirations for all community groups not just our members.

"We voluntarily support Rosliston Forestry Centre, providing the astronomy aspect, at their events for the general public such as weekend science days, "Bat, Moth and Astronomy" evenings, and we hold our own events such as the solar eclipse - when more than 200 people attended.

"We work regularly with primary and secondary school class groups, with scouts, guides, and give practically-based talks to various adult groups.

"Over time at Rosliston we have noted that a number of people in the general public and community groups have found outdoor 'observing' very challenging, both during the day and even more so during the evening - using an unfamiliar object like an eyepiece, having to balance on uneven ground, in often cold temperatures, frequently in the dark - especially children, the elderly, infirm, and those with disabilities, including wheelchair users.

"To resolve these problems we have for the last two years been raising funds to build an observatory.

"Burton Mail readers have helped with this. We are grateful to South Derbyshire District Council for leasing us the land, and to the Forestry Commission for supporting us.

"The observatory will give us a safe, indoor environment with all its health and safety, enabling us to engage with an even-wider community, such as parent and child 'shared' learning, and disability groups, in addition to all the other groups - both for solar and night sky observing.

"We will be able to deliver 'practically based' learning and experiences to a much wider audience, including those who would never be able to access or afford such equipment themselves.

"However, none of this can happen unless we have a suitable access pathway, and this is why we are asking the people using Tesco Stores in and around Burton, Swadlincote, Woodville and Measham, and anyone else who are able to do so, to please help us by choosing our project ' Outreach to the Stars' for your tokens - please ask for one."

Voting is open in stores throughout May and June. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.

Tesco's Bags of Help project has already delivered over 28.5 million to more than 4,000 projects up and down the UK.

Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco's regions will be awarded funding.

Lindsey Crompton, head of community at Tesco, said: "We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for May and June. There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can't wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities."

The new community-use observatory will be built this summer after the South Derbyshire astronomy group hit their fund-raising target of 20,000. It is hoped it will allow people young and old to discover the wonders of the universe.

They were boosted by a 10,000 grant from the South Derbyshire Community Partnership Fund.

All this means that work can begin in earnest within the grounds of Rosliston Forestry Centre. Astronomy group treasurer Heather Lomas said she was "thrilled" that they had hit their target.

Mrs Lomas said: "Gaining the last few thousand pounds was tough but Derbyshire County Council helped us out with the last bit and now it's all systems go. We're hoping that building can begin in either June or July and it will be a great facility for us to share with the community, the elderly, local schools and other community groups."

Members plan to invite schools, groups and individuals to visit the new centre to learn about and explore the universe.

*Read more of today's top news stories here.

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Rosliston Astronomy Group is asking shoppers to vote for them to win Tesco Bags of Help cash - Burton Mail