#space_discovery

Scientists from Italy and Germany have discovered exoplanet GJ 367b, which is likely composed entirely of iron. Using the HARPS spectrograph and TESS observations, they found that more than 90% of the planet's mass is made up of its iron core. Researchers from the University of Turin in Italy and the State Star Observatory of Thuringia in Germany have made an interesting discovery: the exoplanet GJ 367b is most likely composed entirely of iron.  This makes it the densest known planet with a short orbital period. GJ 367b was first spotted in 2015 by NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space telescope and has a density 1.85 times that of Earth. [caption id="attachment_69273" align="aligncenter" width="780"] GJ 367b[/caption] Using the European Southern Observatory's HARPS spectrograph and TESS observations, scientists determined that more than 90% of the planet's mass is made up of its iron core. The origin story of GJ 367b remains a mystery, but it may have once been a rocky planet like Earth or Mars. Its two neighboring planets, orbiting further out, are also rocky, indicating that they all formed in a similar way. GJ 367b is an exoplanet consisting only of an iron core However, GJ 367b likely went through a unique series of events that led it to lose its outer rocky layers, leaving only the core. Possible explanations include collisions with another planet closer to the host star. Another possibility is that GJ 367b was intensely irradiated by its star, causing its outer layer to burn away leaving only an iron core. The outer material could turn into gas and then be dispersed into space. It is also possible that GJ 367b underwent a combination of collisions and irradiation to form the metallic planet that astronomers observe today. The question still remains: how did GJ 367b get so close to its star? It is unlikely that it formed there. Scientists believe that gravitational interactions with other planets could have caused it to move away from its original formation site. Further study of GJ 367b could provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of rocky and short-period planets.

The creation of low-cost solar panels for power generation in space could lead to the development of commercially viable solar power stations in orbit New research from Surry and Swansea universities shows the promise of lightweight, cost-effective solar panels that can generate energy in space using inexpensive materials. The study, the first of its kind, spanned six years and saw engineers and scientists monitor the satellite's behavior in orbit, studying how the solar panels generate power and withstand solar radiation over 30,000 orbits around the Earth. The findings could provide the basis for the development of commercially viable solar power plants in space. [caption id="attachment_73640" align="aligncenter" width="780"] space[/caption] Space energy: inexpensive and lightweight solar panels for space stations and space solar farms Spacecraft Engineering Professor Craig Underwood of Surry said, “We are thrilled that a mission that was planned for one year has continued to operate for six years. Detailed data demonstrates that solar panels withstand radiation and their thin film structure remains intact in the harsh temperature and vacuum conditions of space. This type of solar panel technology could lead to the creation of large, affordable space power stations that would generate energy and transmit it to Earth. And today we have the first proof of the reliability of this technology in orbit.” Scientists from Swansea University's Solar Energy Research Center have developed new solar panels based on a cadmium-telluride compound. They cover a larger area, are lightweight, and have significantly greater energy output compared to existing technologies, and their production is relatively low cost. The study of the performance of solar panels in orbit was carried out using instruments developed at Surry State University. The satellite itself was designed and built at the Space Technology Center of the University of Sarre with the participation of a group of interns from the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL). Although efficiency in energy production has decreased slightly over time, the researchers believe the findings indicate the viability of solar energy systems in space and their potential commercial prospects. Dr Dan Lamb, from Swansea University, said: “The successful trials of these thin-film solar cells expand funding opportunities for further development of this technology. Large solar panels for space applications are a rapidly growing segment of the space industry.”