By comparing Landolt’s known brightness with real stars, scientists can create more accurate catalogs. This will help us understand stars, exoplanets, and even dark energy.
The satellite will beam lasers for telescope calibration.
NASA aims to put an “artificial star” in orbit around the Earth by 2029 to calibrate ground-based telescopes properly.
Named Landolt, this artificial star is a small satellite that will be equipped with eight lasers. This shoebox-sized satellite will orbit Earth at 22,236 miles, mimicking a real star for telescopes.
During its first year in orbit, Landolt will appear to be hovering in a fixed position above the United States. Due to its low brightness, this tiny satellite object will not be visible to the human eye. However, astronomers using personal telescopes may be able to spot it.
The space agency has approved a $19.5 million Landolt NASA Space Mission to create this tiny satellite.
The challenge of studying distant stars
When light from stars travels through Earth’s atmosphere, some of it gets absorbed. This makes it difficult for astronomers to determine the real brightness of stars, particularly those located far away.
Currently, astronomers rely on specific types of stars called “standard candles” to measure distances and brightnesses of other stars. However, the data used for these standard candles is not as precise as scientists would need.
This is where the new mission comes in, which will be able to deliver more precise measurements. Scientists may calibrate their telescopes to account for the atmospheric dimming effect by comparing Landolt’s known brightness to real stars. They will be able to measure the brightness of stars, both dim and distant galaxies.
“This calibration under known laser wavelength and power will remove effects of atmosphere filtration of light and allow scientists to significantly improve measurements,” said Piotr Pachowicz, associate professor at George Mason University.
Moreover, this improved data will help address several unanswered questions in astrophysics, such as the expansion of the universe and supernova explosions.
Scientists currently gauge the universe’s expansion by analyzing starlight intensity (photons per second) from various stars.
More accurate stellar catalogs with help of the ‘artificial star’
Landolt’s orbit is synchronized with Earth’s rotation. This means the artificial star will appear to stay fixed in a specific spot above the United States during its first year in space.
The artificial star will have eight lasers that emit light at a precisely controlled rate, measured in photons (light particles) per second. Scientists know exactly how bright Landolt is. This will pave the way for the development of “new stellar brightness catalogs.”
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“When we look at a star with a telescope, no one can tell you today the rate of photons or brightness coming from it with the desired level of accuracy. We will now know exactly how many photons-per-second come out of this source to .25 percent accuracy,” said associate professor Peter Plavchan in the press release.
The data will also help them better grasp star characteristics, surface temperatures, and planetary habitability.
This satellite is named after the late astronomer Arlo Landolt, who created extensively used catalogs of star brightness from the 1970s until the 1990s.
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Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who enjoys writing about space exploration, biology, and technological innovations. Her professional experience encompasses both broadcast and digital media, enabling her to learn a variety of storytelling formats. Her work has been featured in well-known publications including Nature India, Supercluster, and Astronomy magazine. If you have pitches in mind, please do not hesitate to email her.
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