One hundred years ago, Einstein’s theory of general relativity was supported by the results of a solar eclipse experiment. Even before that, Einstein had developed the theory of special relativity — a way of understanding how light travels through space.
Particles of light — photons — travel through a vacuum at a constant pace of more than 670 million miles per hour.
All across space, from black holes to our near-Earth environment, particles are being accelerated to incredible speeds — some even reaching 99.9% the speed of light! By studying these super fast particles, we can learn more about our galactic neighborhood.
Here are three ways particles can accelerate:
1) Electromagnetic Fields!
Electromagnetic fields are the same forces that keep magnets on your fridge! The two components — electric and magnetic fields — work together to whisk particles at super fast speeds throughout the universe. In the right conditions, electromagnetic fields can accelerate particles at near-light-speed.
We can harness electric fields to accelerate particles to similar speeds on Earth! Particle accelerators, like the Large Hadron Collider and Fermilab, use pulsed electromagnetic fields to smash together particles and produce collisions with immense amounts of energy. These experiments help scientists understand the Big Bang and how it shaped the universe!
2) Magnetic Explosions!
Magnetic fields are everywhere in space, encircling Earth and spanning the solar system. When these magnetic fields run into each other, they can become tangled. When the tension between the crossed lines becomes too great, the lines explosively snap and realign in a process known as magnetic reconnection. Scientists suspect this is one way that particles — for example, the solar wind, which is the constant stream of charged particles from the Sun — are sped up to super fast speeds.
When magnetic reconnection occurs on the side of Earth facing away from the Sun, the particles can be hurled into Earth’s upper atmosphere where they spark the auroras.
3) Wave-Particle Interactions!
Particles can be accelerated by interactions with electromagnetic waves, called wave-particle interactions. When electromagnetic waves collide, their fields can become compressed. Charged particles bounce back and forth between the waves, like a ball bouncing between two merging walls. These types of interactions are constantly occurring in near-Earth space and are responsible for damaging electronics on spacecraft and satellites in space.
Wave-particle interactions might also be responsible for accelerating some cosmic rays from outside our solar system. After a supernova explosion, a hot, dense shell of compressed gas called a blast wave is ejected away from the stellar core. Wave-particle interactions in these bubbles can launch high-energy cosmic rays at 99.6% the speed of light.
Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.
“On November 9, 1967, the uncrewed Apollo 4 test flight made a great ellipse around Earth as a test of the translunar motors and of the high speed entry required of a crewed flight returning from the Moon. A 70mm camera was programmed to look out a window toward Earth, and take a series of photographs from “high apogee.” Seen looking west are coastal Brazil, the Atlantic Ocean, West Africa and Antarctica. This photograph was made as the Apollo 4 spacecraft, still attached to the S-IVB (third) stage, orbited Earth at an altitude of 9,544 miles.” (Image credit: NASA)
Taken by the Cassini spacecraft on October 28, Regan combined 21 total images (7 each for red, blue, and green filters) to create this mindblowing mosaic.
View the whole image and a little behind-the-scenes look on how this mosaic was made here.
What will become of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot? Gas giant Jupiter is the solar system’s largest world with about 320 times the mass of planet Earth. Jupiter is home to one of the largest and longest lasting storm systems known, the Great Red Spot (GRS), visible to the left. The GRS is so large it could swallow Earth- but it has been shrinking. Comparison with historical notes indicate that the storm spans only about one third of the exposed surface area it had 150 years ago. NASA’s Outer Planets Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program has been monitoring the storm more recently using the Hubble Space Telescope. The featured Hubble OPAL image shows Jupiter as it appeared in 2016, processed in a way that makes red hues appear quite vibrant. Modern GRS data indicate that the storm continues to constrict its surface area, but is also becoming slightly taller, vertically. No one knows the future of the GRS, including the possibility that if the shrinking trend continues, the GRS might one day even do what smaller spots on Jupiter have done – disappear completely.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, OPAL Program, STScI; Processing: Karol Masztalerz
So I’ve been seduced by resin and watching far too many space videos and Hubble images of nebula. I already love using light in my work so I wanted to produce something that looked like a cloud of gas creating new stars within. A star nursery. It’s taken me months of trial and error.
At first glance it may seem like I’ve just dumped a ton of glitter and pigment powder into resin and given it a stir. I wish it was that easy. These have to be made in layers but hard level lines look artificial. So I swish and swirl the resin around until it cures chaotically adding tiny amounts of powder and glitter teasing out tendrils of colour and flashes of iridescence. I use a flattened toothpicks for the job.
The next step was creating the look of stars forming within the cloud. Enter fibre optics. I cut and bundle the strands sealing them together with resin. I then bend them out into all directions. Finally I cut them down to fit into the mold. At some point I insert them into the resin being careful to set the main bunch into the central point of the mold. In some designs the threads are obvious - in others I’ve hidden the bunch using dark pigments.
At this point I have a sphere of resin with a fiber optic “stalk” sticking out. I paint the last layer black and wait for it to dry. I then cut down the stalk and drill it down flush to the resin. The light is produced by a tiny LED widget. Some pieces have static white light that I’ve dyed. In others I’ve used a rotating RGB colour LEDs. I seal the end and set it in another layer of resin. Fortunately they have a handy ring that also makes it easy to turn on and off with a simple twist. It takes three LR621 batteries equivalent to 364, AG1, SR621SW.
I’ve had trouble uploading the videos so I’ll re-shoot tonight for an acceptable file size and format for Tumblr. Unfortunately trying to photograph these spheres is very difficult. They are glass and very shiny. You can’t see the depth and complexity in a photo. Maybe I need a new camera with a good macro setting.
It’s terrifying releasing a new product so different from my normal work. Are these steampunk? Not really but I hope my work transcends a genre. I want to take light from tacky novelty jewellery into an art product for adults to wear that will amaze and wonder. That is my goal with these. I’ve made several of them so they will dominate my feed in the next weeks. I hope you don’t get sick of seeing them. It’s fantastic using colour again but it’s been a serious financial investment in resin, pigments, equipment, exotic glitters/sequins/foils, molds and LED lights. Some I had to buy in serious bulk. It’s impossible to calculate the hours I’ve spent creating and perfecting these.
I’ve used three different width sizes: 20mm (0.86in), 25mm (1in) and 30mm (1.2in). I haven’t put a chain on some of them. I will give options in type of chain or cord and drop length to buyers. Some may prefer no chain. I’m also thinking about creating a stand turning it into a unique ornament when not being worn. I’m also hoping, as my technique improves, to replicate specific nebula like the famous “Pillars of Creation” image captured by Hubble.
Some may not see any “space” reference. Friends have called certain pieces “an ice cave”, “underwater scene” and “storm clouds with lightening”.
They will be available soon in my Etsy shop. Depending on the covid situation I’m hoping the big music festivals in spring and summer will be happening. It would be the perfect accessory for those day/night events.
Well I enjoyed making the first solar system box - I had to make another. This started as a basic pine box. I stained it, swapped out the hinges and latch, created the “windows” and covered them with mesh and brass frames. You can’t see it but there is a lock washer (it looks like a reverse gear with internal teeth) in each porthole illuminated by mounted LEDs. The six sides are covered with riveted struts, brass features and vintage cut star cabs. The central orbit field has a solid metal ring and twisted wire frame with brass claws. I created tiny brass winders over two vintage gears with round cut outs. Two different kinds of alarm clock winders are located on each side. There is also vintage brass knurled nuts on the sides. Finally there are 3 brass star cutouts above the hinged side.
The planets are driven by an internal wood disk with embedded magnets. I also did a similar thing as the last piece - drilled holes in the lid and disk sitting above 4 LEDs. As it spins the “stars” twinkle. The lights and motor have separate battery packs with switches. Sorry, I’m still not clever enough to rig a single battery pack and external on/off switch. Next one….
I’m really enjoying this foray into these larger projects. It’s my inner prop builder coming out. Unlike the last one - this one will be for sale in my Etsy shop.
I’ve been waiting to make these for a long time. Finally had all the ingredients and a bit of bravery. What many people don’t realise is making something new is always a risk, possibly ruining expensive supplies. Fortunately these turned out well. A simple glass locket filled with a vintage pocket watch spring, tiny metallic “planet” spheres, a half round golden “sun” all fixed in place with clear resin. It makes for a subtle yet intriguing piece of jewelry. Understated.
The tiny ones are seriously small - the lockets are under an inch wide. I’ve attempted some reality to the planets: Mercury is tiny and silver, Venus earth’s sister planet is gold and the same size as Earth, Earth is silver, Mars smaller than Earth and copper. The giants start with Jupiter large in copper, Saturn slightly smaller than Jupiter and silver tone, Uranus is gold, Neptune is smaller and silver and finally, Pluto, tiny and metallic black. I can’t keep any accuracy in relation to the size of the sun - it’s seriously huge in comparison.
The larger one, just over an inch wide, was gold but arrived very scratched. Instead of it sitting in my pile of rejects I decided to “distress” the patina to a brushed copper with the original gold poking through in places. It works. It also has a very light dusting of holographic glitter as a star field.
If there is the demand I thought about customising these. With a birth date, time and place I can generate a natal sun chart - where the planets were at the time of their birth. If there is serious clumping I might have to take some artistic license when positioning all the planets. It would require a 2 week build time for supplies and for the resin layers to cure.
If you are looking for a masculine gift I can put them on a black rubber or leather cord.
