Submitted via IRC for Bytram
Cosmic Ray Update: New Results from the Moon
Note to astronauts: 2019 is not a good year to fly into deep space. In fact, it’s shaping up to be one of the worst of the Space Age.
The reason is, the solar cycle. One of the deepest Solar Minima of the past century is underway now. As the sun’s magnetic field weakens, cosmic rays from deep space are flooding into the solar system, posing potential health risks to astronauts.
NASA is monitoring the situation with a radiation sensor in lunar orbit. The Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) has been circling the Moon on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft since 2009. Researchers have just published a paper in the journal Space Weather describing CRaTER’s latest findings.
“The overall decrease in solar activity in this period has led to an increased flux of energetic particles, to levels that are approaching those observed during the previous solar minimum in 2009/2010, which was the deepest minimum of the Space Age,” write the authors, led by Cary Zeitlin of NASA’s Johnson Space Flight Center. “The data have implications for human exploration of deep space.”
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 27 2019, @09:04PM (3 children)
This seems about right, currently only about 5% of what the sun does is considered by scientists. The role of the magentic field protecting the solar system from cosmic rays has gone largely (but not totally) neglected. This is why we are seeing climate change folks.
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Sunday July 28 2019, @06:26AM (1 child)
so the massive amounts of CO2 and other heat trapping gasses Humanity has been releasing into the atmosphere for the last 200 some years has nothing to do with it at all?
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 28 2019, @11:17AM
Everything humans do has some effect on the climate, but the sun is still far more influential.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 30 2019, @09:40PM
You mean that climate change that changes every 11 years with the solar magnetic field changes?
Dumbass.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 27 2019, @09:57PM (2 children)
There is absolutely no technical problem that he can't fix within 24 hours
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 28 2019, @12:54AM (1 child)
When he gets back to the moon before Nasa, China, EU, Japan, just how buttmad are you going to be?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday July 28 2019, @01:36AM
I think most of the buttmad aimed at Musk is related to some combo of Tesla, Hyperloop, Neuralink, OpenAI, Boring Company, the "pedo guy" saga, dank weed, and his other eccentricities. Or just playing the contrarian since so many people are worshiping/fellating Musk online.
If you are actually mad because of SpaceX specifically, you are probably involved with a Beltway bandit, Arianespace [soylentnews.org], or Roscosmos [rt.com].
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Sunday July 28 2019, @02:20AM (2 children)
Isn't there any kind of radiation or energy out there that will give us super powers or something?
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday July 28 2019, @03:16AM
If you were born on the Krypton, then yes. Mere humans from earth? Forget it.
“I have become friends with many school shooters” - Tampon Tim Walz
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 28 2019, @03:33AM
(Score: 2) by ledow on Sunday July 28 2019, @07:51AM (1 child)
I'm quoting from the summary but:
"Note to astronauts: 2019 is not a good year to fly into deep space. In fact, it’s shaping up to be one of the worst of the Space Age."
“The overall decrease in solar activity in this period has led to an increased flux of energetic particles, to levels that are approaching those observed during the previous solar minimum in 2009/2010, which was the deepest minimum of the Space Age,”
So... it's as bad as it was in 2009. Right? And presumably it'll last less than 10 years like that one. So why the hyperbole?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 28 2019, @11:21AM
Because solar cycle 24 was exceptionally weak, and cycle 25 is expected to be even weaker: http://www.sidc.be/silso/yearlyssnplot [www.sidc.be]
(Score: -1) by MyOpinion on Sunday July 28 2019, @09:26PM (1 child)
This idea of air against the void is prohibited by the second law of thermodynamics.
'space' is the distance between physical objects, not a physical place where one goes to.
Be intellectually honest, and instead of flagging this post as "troll" practically demonstrate the existence of a pressurized gas system without a container.
Truth is like a Lion: you need not defend it; let it loose, and it defends itself. https://discord.gg/3FScNwc
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 29 2019, @01:43AM
Fuck off, troll.