Humanity's scientific and technological progress continues to break new ground, reaching beyond the Earth and into the cosmos.
NASA is set to take another leap forward by launching an artificial star as part of the Landolt Space Mission, scheduled for 2028 or 2029. This manmade celestial object will orbit the Earth at an altitude of 22,236 miles, positioned above the United States.
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While the concept of an artificial star might sound intriguing, its primary function is to aid in telescope calibration. This will help scientists fine-tune their telescopes to observe celestial bodies with greater precision.
How Will the NASA Artificial Star Work?
The purpose of the NASA artificial star can be likened to obtaining prescription lenses. When you visit an ophthalmologist, they determine your eye prescription by having you read letters of varying sizes. This helps identify the exact lens strength you need for clear vision.
In a similar fashion, scientists from California, Chile, and Hawaii will use their telescopes to observe the artificial star, adjusting their instruments accordingly. Despite its name, this artificial star will not shine as brightly as real stars.
The Landolt satellite will emit light visible through home telescopes but not to the naked eye. According to Peter Plavchan, principal investigator of the Landolt Space Mission, these satellites will be over 100 times dimmer than the faintest objects visible to the naked eye in the darkest skies.
Plavchan noted that current telescope accuracy varies widely, with some telescopes accurate to within 1%, while others may have a 2% or 3% margin of error or worse. "The mission aims to reduce this uncertainty to less than 0.5%," Plavchan said.
Successful deployment of the NASA artificial star will enable astronomers to measure stellar properties, such as age, size, and temperature, with greater accuracy. Additionally, it could advance our understanding of dark energy, the enigmatic force driving the universe's expansion.
"I'm an exoplanet astronomer, so I'm very excited about how improving our knowledge of stars can enhance our understanding of planets orbiting those stars," Plavchan added.
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