BY
PROF. F. E. OPARA
OMOWA EDWARD
ESAENWI SUDUM
@
2013 Astronomy Summer School
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Before I delve into the wide subject of careers in Astronomy, I will like to point out the
difference between Astronomy and Astrology.
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Astrology is a pseudo science that studies the planets and human behaviours. It is the
study of the positions of the moon, Sun and other planets in the belief that their
motions affect human beings. Astrologers claim that the positions of the heavenly
bodies have an effect on the lives of human beings and events on Earth.
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Astronomy on the other hand is the scientific study of the universe especially of the
motions, positions, sizes, compositions and behaviour of astronomical objects.
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Astronomy is real science, using mathematics, computers and complicated
diagrams with specialized vocabulary, to study events in the universe; but
astrologers do not follow the scientific method. Real scientists make careful
measurements in well-controlled studies. Astrologers do not do experiments
to prove their theories. Instead, they like to provide anecdotal evidence-stories people tell about how accurate they think astrology is. Anecdotal
evidence is not acceptable in real science because it is too easy to leave out all
the negative experiences people have, and people not very good at recalling
and accurately reporting experiences exist.
Studies in Astronomy and space science have led to many technological discoveries that are
of great benefits to man today: some of these are:
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Molyseal, a Non-toxic Coating for Aluminum
NASA KSC sought to replace chromate-based coatings used on many of its spacecraft with safer
coatings because of its hazardous nature The KSC Materials Science Division, under a Small
Business Innovation Research contract with Lynntech, of College Station, Texas., developed a
molybdate-based con-version coating for aluminum and aluminum alloys. Referred to as Molyseal,
the coating does not contain chemicals or materials that are hazardous or toxic nor does it raise
health and safety concerns.. Industrial applications include aerospace, boilers, air conditioners and
aluminum .
Super Insulation for Space Brought to Homes, Cars
Imagine your current refrigerator with expanded storage space but still the same size. This could be
possible through the development of a super insulation blanket based on a space-age material
called aerogel. For the refrigeration market, the product will allow thinner refrigerator walls, which
will increase the refrigerated volume of the system. For the translucent panel and skylight market,
the product will allow significant light transmissions with a fraction of the heat loss associated with
the competing technologies. Other potential markets include household freezers and ovens;
offshore oil well underwater pipelines; shipping containers; refractory insulation for automotive
firewalls, floorboards, exhaust systems, automotive air intake, head liners and race cars; noise
suppression panels for aircraft and acoustic damping insulation for buildings; head phones; and
much more.
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DNA Analyzer – Cancer Detection Device
To help decipher the medical mystery of why and how microgravity affects the immune
system, NASA sought development of a machine that could separate and examine cells
rapidly. The DNA Analyzer allows better understanding of the nature of a patient’ s tumor, thereby
enabling better treatment. Other potential uses of the new technology involve early detection of
leukemia, chemo-sensitivity studies prior to chemotherapy, antibody analysis, and detection of
pathogenic organisms.
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Infrared Camera: A sensitive infrared hand-held camera that observes the blazing
plumes from the Shuttle also is capable of scanning for fires. Designed by the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory Center for Space Microelectronics in partnership with Amber, a
Raytheon company, the camera can also be used for night vision and navigation. During
the bush fires that ravaged Malibu, Calif., in 1996, the camera was used to point out hot
spots for firefighters.
Jewelry Design Equipment: Jewelers no longer have to worry about inhaling dangerous
asbestos fibers from the blocks they use as soldering bases. Space Shuttle heat shield
tiles offer jewelers a safer soldering base with temperature resistance far beyond the
1,400 degrees F. generated by the jeweler’s torch.
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Other benefits of astronomy and space science include, as spin offs from the
Apollo program include:
Kidney Dialysis: Dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASAdeveloped chemical process to remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid.
Physical Rehabilitation: A cardiovascular conditioner developed for astronauts in
space led to the development of a physical therapy and athletic development
machine used by football teams, sports clinics and medical rehabilitation centers.
Water Purification: The technology for purifying water, used on the Apollo
spacecraft, now is used to kill bacteria, viruses and algae in community water
supply systems and cooling towers. Also, filters mounted on faucets can reduce
lead in water supplies.
Vacuum Metallizing Techniques: These led to an extensive line of commercial
products, from insulated outer garments and packaging for foods, to wall
coverings, window shades, life rafts, candy wrappings, reflective blankets and
photographic reflectors.
Cordless Power Tools: A NASA requirement during the Apollo program, rechargeable tools were developed to permit astronauts to do repairs in space.
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Laser Angioplasty: From laser technology for remote sensing of the ozone layer, Advanced Interdentinal Systems, Irvine, Calif., developed a cool laser that uses ultraviolet light energy to operate
on human tissue.
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Digital Cardiac Imaging (DCI) System: Designed by Phillips Medical Systems International, DCI uses
image processing technology on a monitor of the heart’s regions, following a catheter as it moves.
The technology was developed for NASA Earth remote-sensing satellites.
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Digital Imaging Breast Biopsy System: Goddard Space Flight Center contracted with Scientific
Imaging Technologies, Inc. (SITe) to develop a new advanced charge coupled device that could be
manufactured at lower cost. SITe applied the NASA-driven enhancements to develop a technique
called the LORAD Stereo Guide Breast Biopsy System, which incorporates SITe’s charge coupled
device as part of a digital camera system that "sees" a breast structure with x-ray vision.
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Artificial Heart: The technology used in Space Shuttle fuel pumps led to the development of a
miniaturized ventricular assist pump by NASA and renowned heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey.
The tiny pump – two inches long, one inch in diameter and weighing less than four ounces – has
been successfully implanted into more than 20 people.
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Diagnostic Instrument: NASA technology was used to create a compact laboratory instrument for
hospitals and doctors’ offices that more quickly analyzes blood, doing it in 30 seconds instead of 20
minutes.
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Bioreactor: Developed for Space Shuttle medical research, this rotating cell culture apparatus simulates
some aspects of the space environment, or microgravity, on the ground. Tissue samples grown in the
bioreactor are being used to design therapeutic drugs and antibodies. Some scientists believe the
bioreactor will routinely produce human tissue for research and transplantation.
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Infrared Thermometer: Infrared sensors developed to remotely measure the temperature of distant stars
and planets led to the development of the hand-held optical sensor thermometer. Placed inside the ear
canal, the thermometer provides an accurate reading in two seconds or less.
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Lifesaving Light: Special lighting technology developed for plant growth experiments on Space Shuttle
missions is now used to treat brain tumors in children. Doctors at the Medical College of Wisconsin in
Milwaukee use light-emitting diodes in a treatment called photodynamic therapy, a form of
chemotherapy, to kill cancerous tumors.
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Prosthesis Material: Responding to a request from the orthopedic appliance industry, NASA
recommended that the foam insulation used to protect the Shuttle’s external tank replace the heavy,
fragile plaster used to produce master molds for prosthetics. The new material is light, virtually
indestructible and easy to ship and store.
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Insulation Pumps: Implantable and external insulin pumps, which are based on technology used on the
Mars Viking spacecraft, have aided insulin-dependent diabetics. These computerized pumps can infuse
insulin at a pre-programmed rate, allowing more precise control of blood sugar level and eliminating the
need for daily injections.
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Because of the technology spin offs from Astronomy and space science
studies over the years, Astronomers now do not only work as
researchers in observatories and teachers in schools and colleges but
have useful employments in information and communications
technology (ICT) firms, Astrophotography institutions.
However, enthusiasm, quest for knowledge and the joy of sharing it with
others are the greatest motivations for Astronomers. This explains why
many Astronomers work as tutors in Institutes and colleges.
Another reason why Astronomers work mostly in the civil service is the
fact that space research is capital intensive and only government can
finance such a huge and daring venture.
A career in Astronomy must therefore be borne out of genuine interest
in exploring our galaxy and the universe at large. An Astronomer or
Space Scientist who excels in his chosen profession is an embodiment of
knowledge and has relevance in every sphere of human endeavour.
Welcome to the world of Astronomy and Space science where man
interacts with the uiverse.
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The Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS) of National Space
Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has identified
some abandoned telecommunications dishes which lie across
the country. These dishes or Earth Stations were managed by
the defunct Nigerian External Telecommunications (NET). The
dishes are of different sizes and located at the places shown in
the table below
S/N LOCATION
DISH SIZE
1
ENUGU, ENUGU STATE
18M
2
KUJAMA, KADUNA STATE
32M
3
LANLATE, OYO STATE
30M
4
IKEJA, LAGOS
30M
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These earth
stations have control rooms and
administrative buildings, visitors’ buildings, generator
houses and about 150m microwave transmitter towers.
They served as digital earth stations used as V- SAT hub
for international traffic and designed to operate at two
frequencies: 6 and 4 GHz for up-link and down-link
respectively, they play central roles in transoceanic
communications across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
carrying phone call, data, internet and TV content across
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to Europe, America and
Asia
In line with the transformation agenda of the Federal
Government, NASRDA - Centre for Basic Space Science
(CBSS), Nsukka is seeking for the release of these facilities
for conversion to Space Science/Astronomy Research.
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The successful conversion of these satellite earth stations to
astronomical observations for space science studies and research
will offer the country the rare privilege of:
Hosting world class national facilities for education and research in
astronomy and geodesy at about 1/10th the cost of building a new
radio astronomy observatory.
Being part of the South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.
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Manpower development: the conversion will enable the observatories train
personnel in a number of fields such as electronics and electrical engineering,
mechanical engineering, image processing and computer science etc. generally
speaking, economic wealth creation is made through the development of people,
be it through direct employment or training programmes or spin-off industries
leading to direct employment.
Research and education: the establishment of a radio observatory under the
supervision of NASRDA-CBSS will enable the introduction of Astronomy and space
science in universities in Nigeria where there is none. It is worthy of note that
advance in astronomy is synonymous with advance in technology.
Information and communication technology: the boost to nation’s information
and communication industry is likely to be enormous. A radio astronomical
observatory in Nigeria will result in significant increase in information and
communication technology (ICT) penetration in the country.
Space geodesy programmes:
precise space-based geodetic measurements
from VLBI, Satellite Laser Ranger (SLR), Lunar Laser Ranger (LLR) and Global
Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are required for accurate referencing and the
determination of the size, shape and gravity of the earth. Geodetic techniques are
used to study geodynamic processes such as earth’s plate tectonic motions,
postglacial rebounds or variations in earth rotation and orientation. It has made
significant contributions to mapping, geo-referencing, engineering, surveying and
sea level change studies
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The Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA) project will be the world’s
biggest Telescope and one of the biggest scientific projects ever. It will be made up
of many large antennas spread over 3000Km (and other types of radio receivers) that will be
linked together via optic fibre cables. The total surface area of all the antennas together will
add up to approximately one square kilometre giving 50 times the sensitivity and 10,000
times the survey speed of the best current day telescopes.
The SKA will be made up of three different kinds of receiving technologies
The Mid-frequency dish array – which looks like DSTV dishes but much more bigger – will be
about 15m in diameter.
Large, flat disk-shaped receivers – each about 60m wide (known as the dense aperture array)
which will operate at mid frequencies.
Small upright radio receivers – about 1.5m high (known as the sparse aperture array) which
will operate at low frequencies.
What will the SKA be used for?
Radio Astronomers will use the SKA to understand how stars and galaxies formed and how
they evolved over time; what the so called “Dark matter” is that occupies 95% of the
universe; how magnetic fields formed and evolved in the universe and how they influence
astronomical processes, further insight into the invisible universe and the expectation of in
extraterrestrial planets.
Scientists, Physicists and Astronomers will use it to investigate the validity of Einstein’s theory
of relativity and perhaps detect life elsewhere in the universe.
The SKA will also be used to discover new aspects of the universe that we had not predicted
and will generate more questions that need to be answered.
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When will the SKA be built?
SKA Phase 1
construction is scheduled to begin in 2016
SKA Phase 2
Should be built from 2019 – 2024
Why Nigeria should join the partnership in the SKA project in South Africa
Following the present construction of a 25m Nigeria Radio Telescope (NRT) in china and the
design of many radio astronomy telescopes (SRAT) in an array, the need for Nigeria to join
the SKA project partnership in South Africa cannot be over emphasized:
The Consortium to bid for the SKA work packages are being proposed and Nigeria shall
benefit from it by the involvement of Nigerian consultants, engineers and industrialists etc.
Europe’s leading Astronomers met in Brussels in September, 2012 to discuss funding
opportunities for collaborative research between Africa and Europe. Hence, in 2012, the
European Parliament adopted a declaration to promote science capacity building in Africa in
light of the new radio astronomy research opportunities offered by SKA and Nigeria stands to
gain.
It is expected that member organizations for this project especially developing nations like
Nigeria will be supported to train more than 100 Scientists, 100 Engineers and Computer
Scientists/Engineers up to PHD level and many more for M.SC and B.Sc in local and
international higher institutions.
The great need to acquire radio astronomy signal processing and electronics research indepth knowledge will greatly benefit CBSS and Nigeria stands to gain tremendously.
The SKA human capacity development programme which is planning to award bursaries and
scholarships to partnership nations in Africa will greatly increase the number of Scientists
and Engineers and hence enhance their quality.
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The tremendous amount of data that is expected to come out of the SKA project requires
many experts applying their minds to the real world challenges of processing the massive
data , hence Nigeria Radio Astronomers in CBSS and Nigerian universities will benefit
immensely.
Following the construction of 64 dishes for SKA and another 190 dishes that will be added
during phase 1 of the SKA from 2016, Nigeria stands to benefit in the acquisition of
additional radio telescopes by the refurbishment of the existing abandoned radio
communications dishes around the country and the building of more new ones.
Spin-offs expected from SKA can be of benefit to Nigeria. The technologies and systems of
SKA will require Engineers to work at the cutting edge of design and innovation. Hence,
there will certainly be technology spin-offs for more generic and commercial applications.
For example, the SKA will collect and process significant amount of data which will require
advances in high-performance computing; while producing thousands of antennas within
short time scales that will lead to new manufacturing and construction techniques. The SKA
project would drive developments in many technology areas including antennas, signal
transport, signal processing, computing and data archiving. The most important spin-off
however will be the generation of new knowledge and knowledge workers – young Scientists
and Engineers with cutting edge skills and expertise in a wide range of scarce and innovative
fields of Space Science and Technology. More than 1000 Nigerian Scientists and Engineers are
expected to participate in these projects.
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To be a classic research astronomer who runs a telescope,
analyzes data, and publishes papers, you will need a PhD
degree. The same is obtainable for a college astronomy
professor.
Support positions in astronomy—for example, a
telescope operator, observer, or software developer—
typically require a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
Astronomy
has
developed
significant
interdisciplinary links with other major scientific
fields. Archaeoastronomy is the study of ancient
or traditional astronomies in their cultural
context,
utilizing archaeological and anthropologicalevide
nce.
The study of chemicals found in space, including their
formation, interaction and destruction, is
called Astrochemistry. These substances are usually found
in molecular clouds, although they may also appear in low
temperature stars, brown dwarfs and planets.
Cosmochemistry is the study of the chemicals found
within the Solar system, including the origins of the
elements and variations in the isotope ratios. Both of
these fields represent an overlap of the disciplines of
astronomy and chemistry.
Forensic Astronomy which is using methods from
astronomy to solve problems of law and history.
Astrobiology is the study of the advent and evolution
of biological systems in the universe, with particular
emphasis on the possibility of non-terrestrial life.
Astronomers were among the first to embrace computers
(both professionally and personally) back in the 1950s
and 60s, and the typical astronomer today spends hours a
day at a computer screen analyzing data, controlling
and monitoring telescopes, writing papers, reading journal
articles, or researching databases.
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Engineers
continually
push
the
capability
and
applicability of computers and other tools in Astronomy.
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They embed computers in other machines and
systems, build networks to transfer data, and
develop ways to make computers faster, smaller, and
more capable
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Cyber security
Networking
Design automation
Machine intelligence
Computer software
Biomedical
Embedded Systems
The SKA radio telescope is not only physically large, but
also complex and comprised millions of different parts.
The designers of these parts need to know how they will
be used and how they will fit together. This is where
System Engineering comes in – it is a formal way to
ensure that the hardware and software is fit for purpose
and is value for money
Processing the vast quantities of data produced by the
SKA will require very high performance central
supercomputers capable of 100 petaflops per second
processing power. This is about 50 times more powerful
than the most powerful supercomputer in 2013 and
equivalent to the processing power of about one hundred
million PCs
ESAENWI SUDUM
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Astrophotography is a specialized type
of photography that entails recording images
of astronomical objects and large areas of the
night sky.
The development of astrophotography as a
scientific tool was pioneered in the mid-19th
century by experimenters and amateur
astronomers
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The first known attempt at astronomical
photography was by Louis Jacques Mandé
Daguerre, who invented the daguerreotype (An
early photographic process with the image made
on a light-sensitive silver-coated metallic plate)
and attempted in 1839 to photograph the moon.
John William Draper, New York University
Professor of Chemistry, physician and scientific
experimenter managed to make the first
successful photograph of the moon a year later
on March 23, 1840, taking a 20-minutelong daguerreotype image using a 5-inch
(13 cm) reflecting telescope
The Sun may have been first photographed in an
1845
daguerreotype
by
the
French
physicists Léon Foucault and Hippolyte Fizeau.
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The first photograph of a star was a daguerreotype of the star Vega (the
brightest star in the constellation Lyra )by astronomer William Cranch
Bond and daguerreotype photographer and experimenter John Adams
Whipple, on July 16 and 17, 1850 with Harvard College Observatory's
15 inch Great refractor.
Sir William Huggins and his wife Margaret Lindsay Huggins, in 1876,
used the dry plate process to record the spectra of astronomical objects.
In 1883, an amateur astronomer Andrew Ainslie Common used the dry
plate process to record several images of the same nebula in exposures
up to 60 minutes with a 36-inch (91 cm) reflecting telescope that he
constructed in the backyard of his home in Ealing, outside London.
In the 1970s after the invention of the CCD, photographic plates have
given way to electronic imaging in professional observatories. CCD's are
far more light sensitive, do not drop off in sensitivity to light over long
exposures the way film does, have the ability to record in a much wider
spectral range, and simplify storage of information.
The late 20th century have seen advances in astronomical imaging in the
form of new hardware, with the construction of giant multi-mirror
and segmented mirror telescopes. It has also seen the introduction of
space based telescopes, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.
A CCD (charge-coupled device) is an electronic instrument for detecting
light.
A New Way to Photograph
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One of the biggest advances in amateur astronomy in the last
few years has been the advent of inexpensive and easy-to-use
CCD imaging systems.
With one-shot-color cameras,
computerized telescopes, and full-featured image processing
software. In fact, taking color images of deep-sky objects is now
so easy and fast that it is practically an extension of
observing. An amateur astronomer with an 8" telescope and
CCD camera can capture images in just 30 seconds that surpass
the view seen through the eyepiece of a 30" telescope.
Also, CCDs allow deep-sky observing from light-polluted
skies. As more of the world lights up at night, finding a dark
observing site gets harder and harder. But CCDs can cut through
the light pollution to some extent, and the light pollution can be
digitally subtracted from the image. Also, narrowband filters can
easily be used to block even more skyglow.
Astronomical photography is one of the earliest
types of scientific photography and almost from
its inception it diversified into subdisciplines that
each have a specific goal including Celestial
cartography,
astrometry,
stellar
classification,
photometry,
spectroscopy,
polarimetry, and the discovery of astronomical
objects
such
as
asteroids,
meteors,
comets,
variable
stars, novae, and even unknown planets. These all
require specialized equipment such as telescopes
designed for precise imaging.
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This is the fringe of astronomy and branch of
cartography concerned with mapping stars, galaxies, and
other astronomical objects on the celestial sphere.
Measuring the position and light of charted objects requires
a variety of instruments and techniques. These techniques
have
developed
from
angle
measurements
with
quadrants
and
the
unaided
eye,
through sextants combined with lenses for light
magnification, up to current methods which include
computer automated space telescopes.
Uranographers have historically produced planetary
position tables, star tables and star maps for use by both
amateur and professional astronomers.
More recently computerized star maps have been compiled,
and automated positioning of telescopes is accomplished
using databases of stars and other astronomical objects.
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Is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the
positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The
information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information
on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and
our galaxy, the Milky Way.
astrometry is also fundamental for fields like celestial mechanics, stellar
dynamics and galactic astronomy. In observational astronomy,
astrometric techniques help identify stellar objects by their unique
motions. It is instrumental for keeping time, in that UTC (Coordinated
Universal Time) is basically the atomic time synchronized to Earth's
rotation by means of exact observations.
Astrometry is an important step in the cosmic distance ladder because it
establishes parallax distance estimates for stars in the Milky Way.
Astrometry has also been used to support claims of extrasolar planet
detection by measuring the displacement the proposed planets cause in
their parent star's apparent position on the sky, due to their mutual orbit
around the center of mass of the system.
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This
is
a
technique
of
astronomy
concerned
with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical
object's electromagnetic radiation. Usually, photometry refers to
measurement over large wavelength bands of radiation; when
not only the amount of radiation but also its spectral distribution
are measured the term spectrophotometry is used.
Photometric measurements can be combined with the inversesquare law to determine the luminosity of an object if
its distance can be determined, or its distance if its luminosity is
known.
Other physical properties of an object, such as its temperature or
chemical composition, may be determined via broad or narrowband spectrophotometry.
Photometry is also used to study the light variations of objects
such as variable stars, minor planets, active galactic
nuclei and supernovae, or to detect transiting extrasolar planets.
Measurements of these variations can be used, for example, to
determine the orbital period and the radii of the members of
an eclipsing binary star system, the rotation period of a minor
planet or a star, or the total energy output of a supernova.
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This
is
the
study
of
the
interaction
between matter and radiated energy. Historically,
spectroscopy originated through the study of visible
light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by
a prism Later the concept was expanded greatly to
comprise any interaction with radiative energy as a
function of its wavelength or frequency. Spectroscopic
data is often represented by a spectrum, a plot of the
response of interest as a function of wavelength or
frequency.
Spectroscopy and spectrography are terms used to refer to
the measurement of radiation intensity as a function of
wavelength
and
are
often
used
to
describe
experimental
spectroscopic
methods.
Spectral
measurement
devices
are
referred
to
as spectrometers, spectrophotometers, spectrographs or s
pectral analyzers.
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This
is
the
measurement
and
interpretation
of
the
polarization
of
transverse
waves,
most
notably electromagnetic waves, such as radio or light waves.
Typically polarimetry is done on electromagnetic waves that have
traveled
through
or
have
been
reflected,
refracted,
or diffracted by some material in order to characterize that
object.
Polarimetry is used in remote sensing applications, such
as planetary science and weather radar.
Polarimetry can also be included in computational analysis of
waves. For example, radars often consider wave polarization in
post-processing to improve the characterization of the targets.
In this case, polarimetry can be used to estimate the fine texture
of a material, help resolve the orientation of small structures in
the target, and, when circularly-polarized antennas are used,
resolve the number of bounces of the received signal
(the chirality of circularly polarized waves alternates with each
reflection).