Thursday
17th April 2003
Birmingham scientists capture images from space |
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| Images
from space |
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Images
of a type of violent space storm that can cause devastating effects
on the earth, have been captured by scientists at the University of
Birmingham. |
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The
dramatic pictures have been successfully taken with equipment developed
and built at the University (the Solar Mass Ejection Imager).
The University's Astrophysics team successfully won a US Air Force
contract worth a massive $1.5 million, to build specialist equipment
for the space mission, Coriolis.
Over the Birmingham sky
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| Space
mission Coriolis |
The Coriolis
satellite passes over Birmingham twice daily, and on a clear night
it is possible to see it travelling from south to north at dusk and
from north to south at dawn.
The missions aim is to discover more about the huge plasma clouds
of hot gas that are emitted from the sun.
When the gases collide with earth, they can cause major disruption
to radio communications systems, and in extreme cases, can cause the
total loss of satellites.
The impact of the gases can also induce huge currents in trans-continental
power lines. In September 1989, the whole of Quebec lost its entire
power for a day.
What is the SMEI?
The Birmingham astrophysics team developed and built the Solar Mass
Ejection Imager (SMEI) for the mission. It's a purpose designed instrument
that provides early detection and monitoring of powerful masses of
hot gas, as well as providing images.
Military use
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| Artists
conception |
For the
US military, predicting any impacts with earth means they can prepare
for the temporary loss of radio communication (the key method of contact
between military bases and those on the front line).
SMEI,
operated from a US air base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contains three
cameras and a computer data handling system, that captures an image
of the entire sky every 1.5 hours, producing a global sky map.
Scientists will be able to see what these huge plasma clouds look
like as they travel through interplanetary space and how they behave
in their passage from the sun to earth.
A proud moment
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| Prof.
George Simnett |
Professor
George Simnett, Head of the Space Research Group and Coriolis Project
Leader is excited about the images:
"Perhaps the most interesting element of this project for astronomers
across the world is that SMEI will give us an insight into the variable
astronomical phenomena, like supernovae, flaring up anywhere in the
sky. Another interesting feature is the ability to detect extra solar
planets."
So the next time you look into the Birmingham sky and see a moving
satelite - it may well have Birmingham technology on board!
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