Editing 1730: Starshade
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|More on the workings of a starshade. More on the new worlds mission. Citation needed for that the funding for a starshade for Webb has been canceled.}} | ||
− | [[Megan]] | + | [[Megan]] and [[Ponytail]] are talking about {{w|space telescopes}} in general. Megan says that these telescopes could see {{w|exoplanets}} better by using an {{w|occulting disk}}, in the form of free floating opaque discs, that could block out light from the exoplanets star thus enabling the telescopes to see the weak light from the planets when the glare of the star has been diminished. |
− | She continues by explaining that the scientists behind the new {{w|James Webb Space Telescope}}, | + | She continues by explaining that the scientists behind the new {{w|James Webb Space Telescope}}, scheduled to launch in 2018, thought about including such a disk, but that it was cut for budget reasons{{Citation needed}}. Ponytail asks if it has to be their own disk, and then she decides to kickstart a fund raiser in order to ''build'' a so called ''{{w|starshade}}'' (hence the title). Megan asks her to at least warn the scientist if she makes the shade, but just replies ''whatever''. She may be referring to the crowdfunding site {{w|Kickstarter}}, but it does not seem like there is any project (yet) for Starshade (or New Worlds Mission, see title text explanation). |
− | The final panel shows the {{w|NASA}} control center in 2018 when the Webb telescope is being calibrated. It turns out that Ponytail succeeded and did indeed not warn the scientists. [[Cueball]] is surprised by the disc | + | The final panel shows the {{w|NASA}} control center in 2018 when the Webb telescope is ready for being calibrated. It turns out that Ponytail succeeded and did indeed not warn the scientists. [[Cueball]] is surprised by the disc, but [[Hairbun]] immediately notices exoplanets, implying that Ponytail's plan worked. |
− | '''Note''' that the telescope has {{w|James_Webb_Space_Telescope#Partnership|partners from 20 countries}} and is being operated not only by NASA but also by {{w|European Space Agency}} (ESA), {{w|Canadian Space Agency}} (CSA) | + | '''Note''' that the telescope has {{w|James_Webb_Space_Telescope#Partnership|partners from 20 countries}} and is being operated not only by NASA but also by {{w|European Space Agency}} (ESA), {{w|Canadian Space Agency}} (CSA) and the {{w|Space Telescope Science Institute}} (STScI). |
− | The best known space telescope is the {{w|Hubble Space Telescope}} | + | The best known space telescope is the {{w|Hubble Space Telescope}} which was launched back in 1990. The Webb telescope is seen as a successor instrument to Hubble and, because its instruments are mainly working in the {{w|infrared}} region of the electromagnetic spectrum, also as a successor to {{w|Spitzer Space Telescope}} launched in 2003. Apart from better instruments and being larger another improvement over Hubble is that it will be located near the {{w|Lagrangian_point#L2|L2}} Earth–Sun {{w|lagrangian point}}, and thus its not in orbit around Earth. This means that is can keep focusing on a specific point for longer times, where Hubble can only see a given point for about half an hour before moving behind Earth again. |
− | + | In the title text the {{w|New Worlds Mission}} is mentioned. Starshade points to this mission when searching on Wikipedia. It tells that NASA actually sponsored this missions proposal to build a starshade for the Webb telescope. Thus the title text concludes that the surprise shown in the comic is not likely to occur in real life. | |
− | It seems clear that [[Randall]] would like to point attention to the New Worlds Mission, | + | It seems clear that [[Randall]] would like to point attention to the New Worlds Mission, maybe hoping for increased funding for the project so a starshade could be a reality already for the Webb telescope. That Randall is interested in exoplanets has been [[:Category:Exoplanets|demonstrated many times]] in xkcd. |
− | + | ''Note'' that two of the Webb telescopes {{w|James_Webb_Space_Telescope#Scientific_instruments|instruments}}, the NIRCam and the MIRI, feature starlight-blocking {{w|coronagraphs}} for observation of faint targets such as exoplanets very close to bright stars. So the telescope has measures to improve the sighting of these planets. But Randall (and New Worlds Mission) believes that the starshade would greatly improve the ability to discover and investigate these faint objects. | |
− | The idea of an occulting telescope was used in [[975: Occulting Telescope]], where it turns out the purpose is to just block all star light | + | The idea of an occulting telescope was used in [[975: Occulting Telescope]], where it turns out the purpose is to just block all star light not to see exoplanets. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
[[Category:Exoplanets]] | [[Category:Exoplanets]] | ||
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