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Franck Marchis
Franck Marchis (born April 6, 1973 in Caen, France), astronomer and planetary scientist, is best known for his discovery and characterization of multiple asteroids, his study of Io volcanism and imaging of exoplanets, planets around other stars. The asteroid 6639 Marchis was named in his honor on April 4, 2007. In 2017, he joined Unistellar as Chief Scientific Officer where he is in charge of the development of Citizen Science. Background Marchis was born in France. He is currently a Principal Investigator at the SETI Institute. He received his Ph.D. in 2000 from university of Toulouse, France in planetary science. Although his thesis was performed while living in several places: Mexico, France, Great-Britain; the main part of his studies were made while working at La Silla observatory in Chile for the European Southern Observatory, an intergovernmental organization aiming to develop astronomy in the southern hemisphere. He participated in the development of observations w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
SETI Institute
The SETI Institute is a not-for-profit research organization incorporated in 1984 whose mission is to explore, understand, and explain the origin and nature of life in the universe, and to use this knowledge to inspire and guide present and future generations, sharing knowledge with the public, the press, and the government. SETI stands for the "search for extraterrestrial intelligence". The institute consists of three primary centers: The Carl Sagan Center, devoted to the study of life in the universe; the Center for Education, focused on astronomy, astrobiology and space science for students and educators; and the Center for Public Outreach, which produces " Big Picture Science", the institute's general science radio show and podcast, and "SETI Talks", its weekly colloquium series. Primary centers Carl Sagan Center The Carl Sagan Center is named in honor of Carl Sagan, former trustee of the institute, astronomer, prolific author and host of the original "Cosmos" television se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Observatoire De Paris
The Paris Observatory (french: Observatoire de Paris ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world. Its historic building is on the Left Bank of the Seine in central Paris, but most of the staff work on a satellite campus in Meudon, a suburb southwest of Paris. The Paris Observatory was founded in 1667. Construction was completed by the early 1670s and coincided with a major push for increased science, and the founding of the Royal Academy of Sciences. King Louis XIV's minister of finance organized a "scientific powerhouse" to increase understanding of astronomy, maritime navigation, and science in general. Through the centuries the Paris Observatory has continued in support of astronomical activities, and in the 21st century connects multiple sites and organizations, supporting astronomy and science, past and present. Constitution Administrat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
S/2009 (93) 2
Minerva ( minor planet designation: 93 Minerva) is a large trinary main-belt asteroid. It is a C-type asteroid, meaning that it has a dark surface and possibly a primitive carbonaceous composition. It was discovered by J. C. Watson on 24 August 1867, and named after Minerva, the Roman equivalent of Athena, goddess of wisdom. An occultation of a star by Minerva was observed in France, Spain and the United States on 22 November 1982. An occultation diameter of ~170 km was measured from the observations. Since then two more occultations have been observed, which give an estimated mean diameter of ~150 km for diameter. Satellites On 16 August 2009, at 13:36 UT, the Keck Observatory's adaptive optics Adaptive optics (AO) is a technology used to improve the performance of optical systems by reducing the effect of incoming wavefront distortions by deforming a mirror in order to compensate for the distortion. It is used in astronomical tele ... system revealed that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
S/2014 (130) 1
Elektra ( minor planet designation: 130 Elektra) is a large outer main-belt asteroid and quadruple system with three minor-planet moons. It was discovered on 17 February 1873, by astronomer Christian Peters at Litchfield Observatory, New York, and named after Electra, an avenger in Greek mythology. Description (130) Elektra has the spectrum of a G-type asteroid; hence it probably has a Ceres-like surface. Spectral signatures of organic compounds have been seen on Elektra's surface and it displays evidence of aqueous alteration. In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide gathered lightcurve data that was ultimately used to derive the spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including (130) Elektra. The light curve of (130) Elektra forms a double sinusoid while the shape model is elongated and the derived rotation axis is perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. Optical observations have found three satellites of this asteroid. Once the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
107 Camilla
Camilla ( minor planet designation: 107 Camilla) is one of the largest asteroids from the outermost edge of the asteroid belt, approximately in diameter. It is a member of the Sylvia family and located within the Cybele group. It was discovered on 17 November 1868, by English astronomer Norman Pogson at Madras Observatory, India, and named after Camilla, Queen of the Volsci in Roman mythology. The X-type asteroid is a rare trinary asteroid with two minor-planet moons discovered in 2001 and 2016, respectively. It is elongated in shape and has a short rotation period of 4.8 hours. Physical characteristics Camilla has a very dark surface and primitive carbonaceous composition. A large number of rotational lightcurves of have been obtained from photometric observations since the 1980s. Best rated results gave a short rotation period of 4.844 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.32 and 0.53 magnitude. Lightcurve analysis indicates that Camilla's pole most likely poin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
S/2016 (107) 1
Camilla ( minor planet designation: 107 Camilla) is one of the largest asteroids from the outermost edge of the asteroid belt, approximately in diameter. It is a member of the Sylvia family and located within the Cybele group. It was discovered on 17 November 1868, by English astronomer Norman Pogson at Madras Observatory, India, and named after Camilla, Queen of the Volsci in Roman mythology. The X-type asteroid is a rare trinary asteroid with two minor-planet moons discovered in 2001 and 2016, respectively. It is elongated in shape and has a short rotation period of 4.8 hours. Physical characteristics Camilla has a very dark surface and primitive carbonaceous composition. A large number of rotational lightcurves of have been obtained from photometric observations since the 1980s. Best rated results gave a short rotation period of 4.844 hours with a brightness amplitude between 0.32 and 0.53 magnitude. Lightcurve analysis indicates that Camilla's pole most likely poin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asteroid Moon
A minor-planet moon is an astronomical object that orbits a minor planet as its natural satellite. , there are 457 minor planets known or suspected to have moons. Discoveries of minor-planet moons (and binary objects, in general) are important because the determination of their orbits provides estimates on the mass and density of the primary, allowing insights into their physical properties that are generally not otherwise accessible. Several of the moons are quite large compared to their primaries: 90 Antiope, Mors–Somnus and Sila–Nunam (95%), Patroclus–Menoetius, Altjira and Lempo–Hiisi (90%, with Lempo–Paha at 50%). The largest known minor-planet moon in ''absolute'' size is Pluto's largest moon Charon, which itself has about half the diameter of Pluto. The first modern era mention of the possibility of an asteroid satellite was in connection with an occultation of the bright star Gamma Ceti by the asteroid 6 Hebe in 1977. The observe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
130 Elektra
Elektra ( minor planet designation: 130 Elektra) is a large outer main-belt asteroid and quadruple system with three minor-planet moons. It was discovered on 17 February 1873, by astronomer Christian Peters at Litchfield Observatory, New York, and named after Electra, an avenger in Greek mythology. Description (130) Elektra has the spectrum of a G-type asteroid; hence it probably has a Ceres-like surface. Spectral signatures of organic compounds have been seen on Elektra's surface and it displays evidence of aqueous alteration. In the late 1990s, a network of astronomers worldwide gathered lightcurve data that was ultimately used to derive the spin states and shape models of 10 new asteroids, including (130) Elektra. The light curve of (130) Elektra forms a double sinusoid while the shape model is elongated and the derived rotation axis is perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. Optical observations have found three satellites of this asteroid. Once the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Petit-Prince (moon)
(45) Eugenia I Petit-Prince is the larger, outer moon of asteroid 45 Eugenia. It was discovered in 1998 by astronomers at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Initially, it received the provisional designation S/1998 (45) 1. Petit-Prince was the first asteroid moon to be discovered with a ground-based telescope. Previously, the only known moon of an asteroid was Dactyl, discovered by the Galileo space probe, around 243 Ida. Characteristics Petit-Prince is 13 km in diameter, compared to 45 Eugenia's 214 km. It takes five days to complete an orbit around Eugenia. Name The discoverers chose the name in honour of Empress Eugénie's son, the Prince Imperial. However, they also intended an allusion to the children's book ''The Little Prince'' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which is about a prince who lives on an asteroid. In their submission of the name to the IAU The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eugenia
''Eugenia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It has a worldwide, although highly uneven, distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. The bulk of the approximately 1,100 species occur in the New World tropics, especially in the northern Andes, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Forest (coastal forests) of eastern Brazil. Other centers of diversity include New Caledonia and Madagascar. Many of the species that occur in the Old World have received a new classification into the genus ''Syzygium''. All species are woody evergreen trees and shrubs. Several are grown as ornamental plants for their attractive glossy foliage, and a few produce edible fruit that are eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. Taxonomy The genus was named in honor of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Many species new to science have been and are in the process of being described from these regions. For example, 37 new species of ''Eugenia'' have been described from Mesoamerica in the p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laser Guide Star
A laser guide star is an artificial star image created for use in astronomical adaptive optics systems, which are employed in large telescopes in order to correct atmospheric distortion of light (called ''astronomical seeing''). Adaptive optics (AO) systems require a wavefront reference source of light called a guide star. Natural stars can serve as point sources for this purpose, but sufficiently bright stars are not available in all parts of the sky, which greatly limits the usefulness of natural guide star adaptive optics. Instead, one can create an artificial guide star by shining a laser into the atmosphere. Light from the beam is reflected by components in the upper atmosphere back into the telescope. This star can be positioned anywhere the telescope desires to point, opening up much greater amounts of the sky to adaptive optics. Because the laser beam is deflected by astronomical seeing on the way up, the returning laser light does not move around in the sky as ast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
624 Hektor
624 Hektor is the largest Jupiter trojan and the namesake of the Hektor family, with a highly elongated shape equivalent in volume to a sphere of approximately 225 to 250 kilometers diameter. It was discovered on 10 February 1907, by astronomer August Kopff at Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany, and named after the Trojan prince Hector, from Greek mythology. It has one small 12-kilometer sized satellite, Skamandrios, discovered in 2006. Description ''Hektor'' is a D-type asteroid, dark and reddish in colour. It lies in Jupiter's leading Lagrangian point, , called the Greek camp after one of the two sides in the legendary Trojan War. Hektor is named after the Trojan hero Hektor and is thus one of two trojan asteroids that is "misplaced" in the wrong camp (the other one being 617 Patroclus in the Trojan camp). Contact-binary hypothesis Hektor is one of the most elongated bodies of its size in the Solar System, being approximately 403 km in its longest dim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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