Dr. Ragbir Bhathal explains the light signal from Gliese 581g

A mysterious light was spotted in the newly discovered Gliese 581g. The important point is that this new planet lies in the Goldilocks zone and has the possibility for existence of life. Dr. Ragbir Bhathal, the scientist who tracked that light signal from that planet, explains us the possibility for the Extra Terrestrials to exist...

Expanding Space

If time is considered as an entity, then the other entity is always the space. The boundless dimensional extent at which any object occurs and has a relative position along with the events is the space. IT is considered to be the fundamental concept of the universe or the multiverse.

Sir Isaac Newton, viewed space as absolute where it existed permanently and independently of whether there were any matter in the space. Space will exist even if the objects do not exist in that space.

The space or the time cannot be empirically perceived, they are elements of systematic framework that we use to structure our experiences. Immanual Kant, a renowed German philosopher, referred space as a pure a prion form of intuition, that contributes to human faculties.

The relative theory of space expands to the question of the space in our universe formed during the big bang. But we surely know one thing, that the space is expanding at a rapid pace due to the cosmic inflation.

Time - A true paradox

                                                     "Time and tide wait for none"


We are in the universe where time plays the most important role. The indefinite progress of existence and the irreversible changes in the events from the past that passes through the present and moves towards the future is controlled by the time.


Time is like a river, where it flows towards the end of its path that is till the end of the universe. Time is the fundamental structure of the universe, a dimension where events occur in sequence. This is the first viewpoint of time also called the Newtonian time. And the other view point is that time is unchangeable and that only events change in sequence. 


The first view point states that, if we are in a time travel and are moving across various 'times' like the frames of a film strip. According to the second view point the time is ever present but it allows endless succession of changes to occur.


There is also a possibility that time can vary from one reality to an other where it appears to each reality as an unchangeable entity. 


Even the universe has repeated cycles such as creation, destruction and rebirth. Time decides the beginning of an entire universe and it also decides its destruction.


For now the time travel concept will give rise to a paradox. Only Time can answer about itself.

Olympus Mons - The shield volcano

The tallest known mountain in the entire solar system in on the red planet Mars. Olympus Mons, the large volcanic mountain measures upto 22km, almost three times as tall as Mount Everest. The edifice is about 600 km wide and stands above the surronding plains.


It is a shield volcano, Olympus Mons has a very low profile. The average slope is 5 degrees. The volcano's slope and profile are likened to a circus tent help up by the single pole.




The atmospheric pressure at the top of Olympus Mons is 72 pascal, about 12% of the average Martian surface pressure of 600 pascal.The atmospheric pressure at the summit of Mount Everest is 32,000 pascals, or about 32% of Earth's sea level pressure.High-altitude orographic clouds are frequently observed over the Olympus Mons summit, and airborne Martian dust is still present.





Olympus Mons is an unlikely landing location for automated space probes in near future. Due to insufficient atmosphereic thickness it slows down the spacecrafts.

The Rings of Saturn

 
Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system after Jupiter. It is the sixth planet from the Sun and is a gas giant. Famous for its ring system that surrounds planet, Saturn is nine times larger than the Earth.

The rings of Saturn are the most extensive planetary ring system of any planet in the solar system. It consists entirely of water ice, contaminated dust and other chemicals.

The rings have a number of gaps such as two opened by the known moons embedded within them. It was suggested that these rings of Saturn could be the remains of the giant moon that was stripped of its icy shell before it crased into the planet millions of years ago.

Enceladus - the Moon of Saturn

Enceladus is the sixth largest moon of Saturn. Discovered in 1789 by British Astronomer and technical expert William Herschel. Very little was known about this moon until the two Voyager spacecraft passed near it in early 1980s.

The Voyagers identified water ice on the surface of the moon. Then the Cassini spacecraft discovered a water-rich plume venting from its south polar region. this discovery, along with the presence of escaping internal heat and less number of craters shows that Enceladus is geologically active even today.

It is also the one of the three outer solar system along wit Io and Triton where active eruptions have been observed.  Analysis of the outgassing suggests that it originates from a body of sub-surface liquid water, which along with the unique chemistry found in the plume, has fueled speculations that Enceladus may have some lifeforms.

NASA has reported that Enceladus is emerging as the most habitable spot beyond Earth in the Solar System for life as we know it. This could also be a new hope for finding a habitable zone.

Comet Halley - The Periodic Comet

Whenever we pronounce the word comet, the first name that appears in our minds is the Halley's comet. Named after Edmond Halley, who predicted that this comet would appear once in every 76 years.


But that is not accurate as the Halley's comet does not return exactly in 76 years. The gravitational pull of the major planets alters the orbital period from revolution to revolution. Nongravitational effects like the reaction from gasses boiled off during its passage near sun also play an important, but smaller role in altering its orbit.


Between the years 239 BC and 1986 AD the orbital period has varied from 76.0 years to 79.3 years. The closest perihelion passage to the time of Jesus are 11 BC and 66 AD, neither event took place in Jesus' lifetime. In 1066 it appeared during the Battle of Hastings, which is considered as its famous appearence.


Comet Halley was visible in 1910 and again in 1986. Its next perihelion passage will be in early 2062.

Halley's orbit is retrograde and inclined 18 degrees to the ecliptic. And, like all comets, highly eccentric.


Halley is almost unique among comets in that it is both large and active and has a well defined, regular orbit. This made it relatively easy to target. Comet Halley will return to inner solar system in the year 2061.

Colonization of Moon

It was proposed for the establishing permanent human settlements on the moon. And it has been the hot topic in the recent years especially after the indication that water might be present in the lunar poles.

With the advancement in the technology, permanent human inhabitation on the moon is dream that can be made into reality. Many space missions have been conducted for the purpose of exploring the lunar surface. This has increased after 1969 when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon, made some research and brought back some sample materials.

In 2004 NASA issued a new long range plan that includes building a bas on the moon as a first step to colonize Mars as well. This plan also includes establishing a lunar outpost at one one of the moon's poles by 2024.

Mining for minerals and utilizing the solar power in the changing temperatures of the moon could prove useful for the mankind for colonizing another planetary body other than Earth.

Nasa has also announced discovery of water on the Moon. The probe landed on a crater where it has detected 100 kg of water. Nasa has also estimated that the moon's north pole consists of 600 million tons of ice.

If the colonization of moon was possible it will be an another giant leap for the mankind and the first step towards a galactic civilization.