Landolt Space Mission: Revolutionizing Astronomical Calibration with NASA
A groundbreaking scientific achievement is on the horizon with NASA’s Landolt Space Mission. This mission, with a budget of $19.5 million, aims to address the issues stemming from outdated astronomical calculations.
Jonathan Gagné, a scientific advisor at the Planétarium | Espace pour la vie, adjunct professor at Université de Montréal, and member of the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx), is part of the expert team from 12 institutions, primarily based in the United States. Gagné expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to target selection and data analysis alongside brilliant experts as part of this space mission.
The Landolt Mission, named after astronomer Arlo Landolt, known for creating widely used catalogues of stellar luminosity, will deploy lasers on a “CubeSat”-type satellite. These lasers will create an “artificial star” with a precise luminous flux directed towards Earth. This will allow ground-based telescopes to recalibrate the observed luminosity from approximately 60 stars, establishing new standards for the astronomical community.
With advancements in technology, older calibrations have become a significant source of error in measuring luminosity for many stars. The Landolt Mission represents a crucial step towards achieving precision in astronomy by rectifying these calibration issues, paving the way for new discoveries and a deeper understanding of the Universe.
The Landolt Space Mission is poised to revolutionize astronomical calibration and propel the field of astrophysics forward in the quest for precision and innovation.
More about the Landolt Space Mission:
Espace pour la vie is committed to protecting biodiversity and the environment through its various museums, including the Biodôme, Biosphère, Insectarium, Jardin botanique, and Planétarium. As Canada’s largest natural science museum complex, Espace pour la vie aims to engage communities and drive actions towards a sustainable future amidst the challenges facing our planet.
Source: Espace pour la vie Montreal