THE NAC NEWSLETTER

6 JUNE 2023

"Beyond the event horizon, time stands still, and the boundaries
of possibility are stretched to their limits."

NISER
Astronomy Club

@astroclub_niser NISER Astronomy Club astroclub@niser.ac.in

EVENT HORIZON 6 JUNE 2023

RESEARCH
READS
The mass of our observable
A Couple of Cool Failures: Universe :
In a first discovery of its kind, a binary system of Y-dwarfs, Presenting a rather intriguing alternative to the
the coolest and least luminous variants of brown dwarfs Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM), the currently
(also known as failed stars), has been detected using the accepted standard model of cosmology, which
NIRCam on the JWST. Read more here. needs to incorporate poorly understood Dark
Energy, this paper argues that the Universe is
basically a large black hole of a very large (but
Biosignature line ratios of [P II] in finite!) mass. Very intriguing, indeed. Read more
exoplanetary and nebular here.
environments:
The line emissivity ratios of Phosphorus, a key component of the DNA, have been described. Emissivity ratios provide
information about the relative intensities of different emission lines, which can be observed and analyzed using
spectroscopic techniques. And with several of these lines falling under the operational regime of JWST, exciting
discoveries await! Read more here.

Photochemically produced SO2 in the

atmosphere of WASP-39b:

Exciting prospects for future photochemical

observations in exoplanetary atmospheres as

scientists describe a robust explanation of the
characteristic absorption features of sulfur dioxide
through photochemical models. SO2 is sensitive to the
atmosphere metallicity and, thus, can be used as a
tracer of atmospheric properties of exoplanets. Read
more here.

The Surprising Evolution of the Shadow on the TW Hya Disk:

"A Game of Shadows" - The shadow first observed over the protoplanetary disk TW Hya has split into two. The Dyson
sphere is finally taking its shape. Read more here.

Direct Detection of Dark Photon Dark Matter Using Radio Telescopes:

Embrace the darkness, as scientists propose to search for ultraviolet dark matter in the form of dark photons.
Using the FAST radio telescope in Guizhou, China, the aim is to detect harmonic oscillations of electrons in the
telescope antenna, which are induced by a process called kinetic mixing. Read more here.

Planet swallowed after venturing too

close to its star:

Cosmic Cuisine: Star Savors Its Supper as Giant Planet

Becomes Stellar Snack! - For the first time, astronomers
have finally observed a star in its natural habitat, getting
the glorious feast it always dreamt of. Read more here.
EVENT HORIZON 6 JUNE 2023

Ethics in outer space: can we make

interplanetary exploration just?

With all the bustle of space travel on the horizon

(or is it?), one could argue that we may need to
start talking about how well we will be taking our
manners to outer space! Read more here.

How the origin of stars in the Galaxy impacts the composition of planetary building
blocks:
We are made of stardust, quite literally. An interesting read which sheds light on the nature of planetary building
blocks in relation to the metallicity of the host star. Read more here.

The cosmic timeline implied by the

JWST high-redshift galaxies:

During major cosmological events, the
concentration of radioisotopes Carbon-14,

Beryllium-10 and Chlorine-36 show considerable
increase. Fusa Miyake looked for these Carbon-
14 spikes in dicot stems of trees, specifically
Japanese Cedar. These spikes were caused by
major cosmic events at least 80 times stronger
than the ones recorded. Carbon-14 goes up 20
times the normal amount, indicating a huge
burst of cosmic radiation, the cause of which is
unclear. There have been 6 Miyake events that
we know of. 7176 BCE, 5410 BCE, 5259 BCE, 660
BCE, 774 BCE (first identified), and 993 CE are
the Miyake events currently recorded. Current
research on the cause of these events concluded the sunspot cycle is not related to it. It also brought forth that
there is a 1 % chance of a Miyaki event occurring within the next decade and could last 1-2 years, disrupting
current technology as the recorded geomagnetic storms experienced by us are much weaker and smaller in
scale compared to Miyaki events. Read more here.

Space Weather in the Saturn-Titan System:

Now, a brief from our neighborhood as we explore the effects of an interplanetary coronal mass ejection from the
Sun on Saturn and its moon, Titan. Read more here.
EVENT HORIZON 6 JUNE 2023

UPCOMING
ASTRO
EVENTS

Summer Solstice on 21 st June

The longest day of the year when the sun would be
directly above the Tropic of Cancer marking the
beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The
Arctic witnesses the prominent Midnight Sun, while the
Antarctic experiences polar night.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

on 22nd June at 15:40 IST (10:10 UTC)

In the summer sky the Moon will pass 3°47' to the

north of Mars both at a right ascension of 09h 26m
30s. Looking towards constellation Leo, the Moon
will be at a declination of +20°11' and Mars at
+16°24'. From the campus, it would be visible until
21:39.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus on

22 nd June at 06:18 IST (00:48 UTC)

In the constellation of Cancer, the Moon (mag: -10.3)

and Venus (mag:-4.4) will be at the same right

ascension (09h07m50s), with a declination of +21°40'
and +17°59' respectively. Moon will pass 3°41' to the
north of Venus. The conjunction of the Moon and
Venus will have a large angular separation, making it
unsuitable for telescopes but visible with a pair of
binoculars. From NISER campus the pair will be visible
until 21:23.

ASTROCLUB
EVENTS IN
MAY
Farewell to Batch 18 NAC members
As a token of gratitude for the contribution of our
seniors from batch 18, we planned a minimalistic
NAC newsletter team was established. way of saying farewell on the evening of May 10th.
We enjoyed a few fun games and chit-chats,
A new team was formed in the monthly Admin Meeting
meanwhile the seniors soared through their
to release a Newsletter every month. The goal is to keep
nostalgic time and shared their experience with us
NAC members and other astronomy enthusiasts
at our iconic hilltop.
informed about upcoming/past NAC events, talks, and
Here’s the link for the pictures: Astro Farewell B18
observation sessions.
EVENT HORIZON 6 JUNE 2023

Riddle NAC this...

REALMS AWAY, A MISSION TAKES FLIGHT,
TO TOUCH AND BASK IN SELENIAN LIGHT.
NAMED AFTER A GODDESS, MIGHTY AND FAIR,
A SYMBOL OF GRACE AND CYNTHIAN FLAIR.

CRAFTED WITH PURPOSE, BY HUMAN HANDS,

EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS, WHERE NO MAN STANDS.
A LANDER AND AN ORBITER, A STELLAR PAIR,
EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY, BEYOND COMPARE.

AMIDST ROCK AND ICE, SOUTH WE AIMED,

WHERE SECRETS LIE, WAITING TO BE EXPLAINED.
UNVEILING THE HIDDEN TREASURES UNTOLD,
WITH CUTTING-EDGE INSTRUMENTS,
THEN SOME BRAVE AND BOLD.

AN INTERNATIONAL ENDEAVOR, UNITED TO EXPLORE,

PUSHING BOUNDARIES, TIME FOR AN ENCORE.
OH, SEEKER OF KNOWLEDGE, NOW REVEAL,
OF WHOM WE SPEAK, OR YOUR SKIN WE PEEL.

Submit your answer

and feedback here:

Answer this first to get a mention in our next issue!

Limited spots only!