S03E127: Planetary Forces and Solar Cycles, Triton Hopper Mission, and Redefining Planets

0:00 Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your friendly and engaging source for

0:03 Speaker 1: all things space and astronomy. I'm your host, Anna, here

0:06 Speaker 1: to guide you through the latest cosmic headlines. Whether you're

0:09 Speaker 1: a casual stargazer or an astrophysics enthusiast, We've got news

0:13 Speaker 1: that will spark your curiosity and keep you informed about

0:16 Speaker 1: the universe. Today we'll explore groundbreaking research linking planetary influences

0:21 Speaker 1: to the Sun's magnetic cycles, an innovative mission proposal to

0:25 Speaker 1: explore Neptune's largest moon, Tritan, the ongoing debate and new

0:29 Speaker 1: proposals about how we define a planet, and the exciting

0:32 Speaker 1: collaboration between Airbus and Astroscale UK to tackle space debris

0:37 Speaker 1: and in orbit servicing. So let's dive into today's stories.

0:41 Speaker 1: New evidence is shedding light on a long standing cosmic mystery,

0:45 Speaker 1: how do planets influence the Sun's magnetic cycles. Researchers at

0:49 Speaker 1: the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden, Rosendorf and the University of Latvia

0:53 Speaker 1: have unveiled a groundbreaking physical model that supports what is

0:57 Speaker 1: known as the planetary hypothesis. This model proposes that vortec

1:01 Speaker 1: shaped currents on the Sun, named Rossby waves act as

1:05 Speaker 1: intermediaries between the gravitational influences of planets like Venus, Earth,

1:09 Speaker 1: and Jupiter and the Sun's magnetic activities. For years, scientists

1:14 Speaker 1: have been puzzled by the Sun's cyclical fluctuations, with the

1:17 Speaker 1: Schwabe cycle being the most well known, where every eleven years,

1:21 Speaker 1: the Sun reaches a radiation peak. Yet what makes these

1:24 Speaker 1: cycles occur so reliably? This is where the new model

1:27 Speaker 1: comes into play. The Sun, often referred to as a

1:30 Speaker 1: massive dynamo, generates magnetic fields through complex swirling movements of

1:34 Speaker 1: electrically conducting plasma inside it. According to doctor Frank Stefani,

1:39 Speaker 1: one of the lead researchers, the key revelation is the

1:41 Speaker 1: role of planetary gravitational pull. Much like how the Moon's

1:45 Speaker 1: gravity affects Earth's tides, the combined gravitational force of Venus, Earth,

1:51 Speaker 1: and Jupiter appears to exert a synchronized influence on the

1:55 Speaker 1: Sun every eleven point zero seven years, aligning with the

2:00 Speaker 1: Schwabi cycle's rhythm. What makes this discovery truly fascinating is

2:04 Speaker 1: the role played by Rosby waves. These waves, similar to

2:08 Speaker 1: large scale wave movements in Earth's atmosphere, help transfer the

2:12 Speaker 1: needed energy to synchronize the Sun's dynamo with the rhythms

2:16 Speaker 1: dictated by the planets. This not only explains the Schwabi cycle,

2:20 Speaker 1: but also clarify shorter cycles called Reager cycles, which occur

2:24 Speaker 1: every one hundred and eighteen, one hundred and ninety three,

2:27 Speaker 1: and two hundred and ninety nine days. So how significant

2:30 Speaker 1: is this finding. It's monumental. By revealing how Rosby waves

2:35 Speaker 1: mediate the planet's tidal forces, researchers can now predict and

2:39 Speaker 1: understand even longer term solar cycles, offering new insights into

2:43 Speaker 1: the Sun's behavior and its interactions with the rest of

2:46 Speaker 1: our solar system. The study's robust mathematical foundation also lends

2:51 Speaker 1: strong support to the previously controversial planetary hypothesis, paving the

2:55 Speaker 1: way for future research to further unravel these intricate cosmic connections.

3:00 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how planets set the solar beat. Doctor

3:03 Speaker 1: Frank Stefani and his team at HCDR and the University

3:06 Speaker 1: of Latvia have delved deep into the interaction between the

3:09 Speaker 1: gravitational forces of Venus, Earth and Jupiter and the Sun's

3:13 Speaker 1: magnetic field. Imagine the Sun as a giant dynamo powered

3:17 Speaker 1: by electrically conducting plasma. As it swirls and churns, it

3:20 Speaker 1: generates magnetic energy in an eleven year cycle known as

3:23 Speaker 1: the Schwabi cycle. Now, these planetary forces come into play.

3:27 Speaker 1: Think of the gravitational pull from Venus, Earth and Jupiter

3:30 Speaker 1: as a gentle yet persistent nudge. Every eleven point zero

3:33 Speaker 1: seven years, these three planets align in a configuration similar

3:37 Speaker 1: to a springtide on Earth, which affects the Sun's magnetic activity.

3:41 Speaker 1: Doctor Stefani explains that this alignment consistently pushes the solar dynamo,

3:46 Speaker 1: reinforcing the Schwabi cycle with remarkable stability. But there's more.

3:51 Speaker 1: The researchers identified Rosby waves as the intermediaries in this process.

3:55 Speaker 1: Rosby waves are large scale, vortex shaped currents on the Sun,

3:59 Speaker 1: akin to the wave patterns in Earth's atmosphere that influence

4:02 Speaker 1: weather systems. These waves are crucial because they transfer the

4:05 Speaker 1: energy needed to synchronize the Sun's magnetic cycles. During the

4:09 Speaker 1: springtide alignments involving Venus, Earth and Jupiter, the tidal forces

4:13 Speaker 1: activate these Rossby waves, which then travel at high speeds,

4:17 Speaker 1: providing the necessary oomph to the solar dynamo. This not

4:21 Speaker 1: only keeps the Schwabi cycle running smoothly, but also explains

4:24 Speaker 1: shorter solar cycles like the Reager cycles previously unexplained. The

4:28 Speaker 1: beauty of this discovery lies in its simplicity and comprehensiveness.

4:32 Speaker 1: By integrating the gravitational forces of the planets and the

4:35 Speaker 1: dynamics of rossby waves, doctor Stephanie and his team have

4:38 Speaker 1: developed a model that can predict various solar cycles with

4:42 Speaker 1: a high degree of accuracy. This model underscores the intricate

4:46 Speaker 1: dance between celestial bodies and the powerful forces at play

4:49 Speaker 1: within our own sun, offering new insights into solar activity

4:53 Speaker 1: and the rhythms that govern our star. Steve Olsen and

4:57 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Landis have an exciting proposition for a new mission

5:00 Speaker 1: into Neptune's largest moon, Tritan, known as the Triton Hopper,

5:04 Speaker 1: This innovative mission aims to explore Triton's surface in a

5:07 Speaker 1: way that's never been done before. The concept revolves around

5:10 Speaker 1: a lander that uses a cryogenic pump to extract propellant

5:13 Speaker 1: directly from Triton's icy surface. Unlike conventional rovers or landers,

5:18 Speaker 1: the hopper is designed to hop across the moon, covering

5:22 Speaker 1: significant distances over time. The propulsion system of the Triton

5:26 Speaker 1: hopper is truly fascinating. By heating the collected propellant material

5:29 Speaker 1: to a high temperature, the system builds up pressure until

5:32 Speaker 1: it can release a jet stream powerful enough to overcome

5:36 Speaker 1: Triton's weak gravity. With gravity just half that of our

5:39 Speaker 1: own moon, the hopper can theoretically travel up to five

5:42 Speaker 1: kilometers a month. Loaded with scientific instruments like ground penetrating

5:46 Speaker 1: radar spectrometers, a microscope, and even a seismometer, this mission

5:50 Speaker 1: could unlock a wealth of data about Triton's geology and

5:53 Speaker 1: potential for biological activity. One of the biggest challenges for

5:57 Speaker 1: any mission to Triton is simply getting there. Ulson and

6:00 Speaker 1: Landis have considered various propulsion methods, including solar electric propulsion

6:04 Speaker 1: and aerobraking in Neptune's atmosphere to safely deliver the hopper

6:08 Speaker 1: to Triton's surface. Once there, the hopper's unique design allows

6:13 Speaker 1: it to traverse the landscape, conducting experiments and gathering data

6:17 Speaker 1: that could answer key questions about this enigmatic moon. Thanks

6:20 Speaker 1: to the niic's funding and advancements in cryogenic technology, the

6:24 Speaker 1: Triton Hopper could redefine how we explore distant celestial bodies.

6:28 Speaker 1: While the mission still faces competition and uncertainties about its future,

6:32 Speaker 1: its innovative propulsion system and ambitious objectives make it a

6:35 Speaker 1: tantalizing glimpse into the future of interplanetary exploration. Stay tuned

6:40 Speaker 1: as we follow the developments of this groundbreaking mission. The

6:44 Speaker 1: definition of what makes a planet is back up for debate.

6:47 Speaker 1: You might recall that in two thousand and six, the

6:49 Speaker 1: International Astronomical Union or IAU, caused an astronomical stir by

6:54 Speaker 1: reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet. This decision left us

6:57 Speaker 1: with eight official planets and sparked on going discussion among

7:01 Speaker 1: astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. So what was behind this

7:04 Speaker 1: controversial move. The two thousand and six definition laid out

7:08 Speaker 1: three key criteria for an object to be considered a planet.

7:11 Speaker 1: It must orbit the Sun, have sufficient mass to maintain

7:14 Speaker 1: a nearly round shape, and have cleared its orbit of

7:17 Speaker 1: other debris. While Pluto ticked the first two boxes, it

7:20 Speaker 1: failed the third due to its crowded neighborhood in the

7:23 Speaker 1: Kuiper Belt, where it shares its orbital path with other

7:26 Speaker 1: similar sized objects. Fast forward to now, researchers like Jean

7:30 Speaker 1: Luke Margo of UCLA are striving to refine this definition.

7:34 Speaker 1: Margo and his colleagues have proposed a new approach that

7:36 Speaker 1: focuses more on dynamical dominance and mass. According to their

7:40 Speaker 1: new proposed criteria, planets will be categorized based on whether

7:44 Speaker 1: they dominate their orbits and their mass, rather than solely

7:48 Speaker 1: on their ability to clear their orbital path. Using sophisticated algorithms,

7:53 Speaker 1: Margo's team has identified clear separations in the dynamical characteristics

7:57 Speaker 1: of celestial bodies, Aiming to make the classification process clearer

8:01 Speaker 1: and more precise. They suggest precise mass thresholds, addressing vague

8:06 Speaker 1: terms like nearly round, and also ensuring the definition can

8:10 Speaker 1: apply to exoplanets which the two thousand and six criteria

8:14 Speaker 1: notably excluded. One thing is clear Pluto isn't likely to

8:18 Speaker 1: regain its planet status under these new definitions, but that's

8:21 Speaker 1: not necessarily a bad thing. Margo wants to reassure us

8:24 Speaker 1: that whether or not Pluto is labeled a planet doesn't

8:27 Speaker 1: diminish its significance or the scientific intrigue it holds. The

8:30 Speaker 1: goal of this refined classification is to provide clarity and consistency,

8:35 Speaker 1: aiding both the astronomical community and the public's understanding of

8:39 Speaker 1: what exactly constitutes a planet. The IAU is expected to

8:42 Speaker 1: discuss these proposals further at their next General Assembly in

8:45 Speaker 1: Rome in twenty twenty seven. Whether they adopt these changes

8:49 Speaker 1: remains to be seen, but the debate certainly highlights the

8:52 Speaker 1: fascinating complexities of our universe and the continual evolution of

8:57 Speaker 1: our understanding. Let's talk about an exciting development in the

9:01 Speaker 1: world of space sustainability. Airbus Defense in Space and Astroscale

9:05 Speaker 1: Limited have come together in a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at

9:09 Speaker 1: advancing in orbit servicing and space debris removal. This partnership

9:13 Speaker 1: could be a game changer for how we operate and

9:15 Speaker 1: maintain our space assets, pushing us towards a more sustainable

9:18 Speaker 1: and efficient space environment. So what exactly our Airbus and

9:22 Speaker 1: Astroscale up to. Their collaboration is set to tackle several

9:25 Speaker 1: key objectives. First and foremost is space debris removal. With

9:29 Speaker 1: thousands of pieces of junk cluttering our orbit, finding ways

9:32 Speaker 1: to identify, capture, and eliminate this debris is more crucial

9:35 Speaker 1: than ever, this isn't just about keeping space clean. It's

9:38 Speaker 1: about ensuring the safety of ongoing and future missions. Imagine

9:42 Speaker 1: the stakes if a piece of debris collides with an

9:44 Speaker 1: operational satellite. They are incredibly high. One of the most

9:47 Speaker 1: intriguing aspects of this partnership is their focus on in

9:50 Speaker 1: orbit servicing. We're talking about developing technologies that can maintain, repair,

9:55 Speaker 1: and even upgrade satellites while they are still in space.

9:59 Speaker 1: This could dramat extend the lifespan of these satellites, reducing

10:02 Speaker 1: the need to launch replacements and consequently minimizing space debris.

10:06 Speaker 1: It's a vision of a space industry that is both

10:08 Speaker 1: efficient and sustainable. They're also honing in on in orbit

10:12 Speaker 1: rendezvous and proximity operations. This involves advancing our ability to

10:16 Speaker 1: maneuver satellites precisely and safely in space. The development of

10:20 Speaker 1: advanced navigation and docking technologies is crucial for both satellite

10:25 Speaker 1: servicing and debris removal missions. Think of it as creating

10:28 Speaker 1: an intricate ballet in the skies where every move needs

10:31 Speaker 1: to be perfectly coordinated to avoid collisions and complete complex tasks.

10:35 Speaker 1: Another fascinating area of their collaboration is in orbit space

10:39 Speaker 1: assembly and manufacturing. They're exploring methods to construct and assemble

10:43 Speaker 1: spacecraft components directly in space, supporting a circular economy where

10:47 Speaker 1: resources are reused and repurposed. Imagine building a new satellite

10:52 Speaker 1: from the parts of an old one. This could significantly

10:54 Speaker 1: reduce space mission costs and further promote sustainability. Last, but

10:58 Speaker 1: not least, they're working on satellite recas, fueling and life extension,

11:01 Speaker 1: Ensuring continued operation through in orbit refueling can extend a

11:05 Speaker 1: satellite's functional life, again reducing the need for frequent launches.

11:09 Speaker 1: It's a smart, forward thinking approach that aligns perfectly with

11:12 Speaker 1: the growing emphasis on sustainability in space. Nick Shave from

11:17 Speaker 1: Astroscale UK highlighted this during the announcement, emphasizing that their

11:21 Speaker 1: combined efforts would not only enhance the longevity and efficiency

11:25 Speaker 1: of space assets, but also contribute significantly to building a

11:29 Speaker 1: circular economy in space. Patrick Wood from Airbus echoed these sentiments,

11:33 Speaker 1: stressing the importance of space sustainability to protect our space

11:37 Speaker 1: environment and the satellites that are integral to our daily lives.

11:42 Speaker 1: And that's it for today. Thank you for tuning into

11:45 Speaker 1: Astronomy Daily with me Anna. Don't forget to visit us

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