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ESA’s exoplanet mission Cheops confirmed the existence of four warm exoplanets orbiting four stars in our Milky Way. These exoplanets have sizes between Earth and Neptune and orbit their stars closer than Mercury our Sun.
These so-called mini-Neptunes are unlike any planet in our Solar System and provide a ‘missing link’ between Earth-like and Neptune-like planets that is not yet understood. Mini-Neptunes are among the most common types of exoplanets known, and astronomers are starting to find more and more orbiting bright stars.
Mini-Neptunes are mysterious objects. They are smaller, cooler, and more difficult to find than the so-called hot Jupiter exoplanets which have been found in abundance. While hot Jupiters orbit their star in a matter of hours to days and typically have surface temperatures of more than 1000 °C, warm mini-Neptunes take longer to orbit their host stars and have cooler surface temperatures of only around 300 °C.
The first sign of the existence of these four new exoplanets was found by the NASA TESS mission. However, this spacecraft only looked for 27 days at each star. A hint to a transit – the dimming of light as a planet passes in front of its star from our viewpoint – was spotted for each star. During its extended mission, TESS revisited these stars and the same transit was seen again, implying the existence of planets.
Scientists calculated the most likely orbital periods and pointed Cheops at the same stars at the time they expected the planets to transit. During this hit-or-miss procedure Cheops was able to measure a transit for each of the exoplanets, confirming their existence, discovering their true orbital periods and taking the next step in their characterisation.
The four newly discovered planets have orbits between 21 and 53 days around four different stars. Their discovery is essential because it brings our sample of known exoplanets closer to the longer orbits that we find in our own Solar System.
One of the outstanding questions about mini-Neptunes is what they are made of. Astronomers predict that they have an iron-rocky core with thick outer layers of lighter material. Different theories predict different outer layers: Do they have deep oceans of liquid water, a puffy hydrogen and helium atmosphere or an atmosphere of pure water vapour?
Discovering the composition of mini-Neptunes is important to understand the formation history of this type of planet. Water-rich mini-Neptunes probably formed far out in the icy regions of their planetary system before migrating inwards, while combinations of rock and gas would tell us that these planets stayed in the same place as they formed.
The new Cheops measurements helped determine the radius of the four exoplanets, while their mass could be determined using observations from ground-based telescopes. Combining the mass and radius of a planet gives an estimate of its overall density.
The density can only give a first estimate of the mass of the iron-rocky core. While this new information about the density is an important step forward in understanding mini-Neptunes, it does not contain enough information to offer a conclusion for the outer layers.
The four newly confirmed exoplanets orbit bright stars, which make them the perfect candidates for a follow-up visit by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope or ESA’s future Ariel mission. These spectroscopic missions could discover what their atmospheres contain and provide a definitive answer to the composition of their outer layers.
A full characterisation is needed to understand how these bodies formed. Knowing the composition of these planets will tell us by what mechanism they formed in early planetary systems. This in turn helps us better understand the origins and evolution of our own Solar System.
The results were published in four papers: ‘Refined parameters of the HD 22946 planetary system and the true orbital period of the planet d’ by Z. Garai et al. is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
‘Two Warm Neptunes transiting HIP 9618 revealed by TESS & Cheops’ by H. P. Osborn et al. is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
‘TESS and CHEOPS Discover Two Warm Sub-Neptunes Transiting the Bright K-dwarf HD15906’ by A. Tuson et al. is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
‘TOI-5678 b: a 48-day transiting Neptune-mass planet characterized with CHEOPS and HARPS’ by S. Ulmer-Moll et al. is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Credits: ESA (Acknowledgement: work performed by ATG under contract for ESA), CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
is there meaning of a i existence? Even if My existence was always kind of something like a shadow or mist.
Bury St Edmunds Cathedral for most of its existence was simply the parish church of St James until the foundation of the new diocese of St Edmundsbury in 1914 when it was raised to cathedral status, one of the many new dioceses formed in the early 20th century that elevated existing parish churches to diocesan rank rather than purpose building a new cathedral. Many of these 'parish church cathedrals' sit slightly awkwardly with their new status, lacking in the scale and grandeur that befits such a title, but of all of them Bury St Edmunds has been adapted to its new role the most successfully, with in my opinion the most beautiful results.
The medieval church consisted of the present nave, built in 1503-51 under master mason John Wastell, with an earlier chancel that was entirely rebuilt in 1711 and again in 1870. Originally it would have seemed a fairly minor building at the entrance to the monastic precinct, overshadowed by the enormous abbey church that once stood immediately behind it. The absence of this magnificent church since the Dissolution and the scant remains of this vast edifice always sully my visits here with a sense of grievous loss, had history been kinder it would have served as the cathedral here instead and likely be celebrated as one of the grandest in the country.
The church never had a tower of its own since the adjacent Norman tower of the Abbey gateway served the role of a detached campanile perfectly. It is an impressive piece of Romanesque architecture and one of the best preserved 12th century towers in the country.
Upon being raised to cathedral status in 1914 the building underwent no immediate structural changes but plans were made to consider how best to transform a fairly ordinary church into a worthy cathedral. This task was appointed to architect Stephen Dykes Bower and work began in 1959 to extend the building dramatically. Between 1963-1970 the entire Victorian chancel was demolished and replaced with a much grander vision of a lofty new choir and shallow transepts, remarkably all executed in traditional Gothic style in order to harmonize with the medieval nave. It is incredible to think that this was done in the 1960s, a period in which church and cathedral buildings were otherwise constructed in the most self consciously modern forms ever seen, with delicate neo-medieval masonry in place of brick and concrete.
The new crossing of transepts and choir however remained crowned by the stump of a tower for the remainder of the century as funds were not available to finish Dykes Bower's complete vision of a lantern tower over the crossing: this was only realised at the beginning of the 21st century, aided by a legacy left in the architect's will and some subtle design changes under his successor as architect Hugh Matthews. The transformation from church to cathedral was finally completed in 2005 with most satisfactory results. A stunning fan-vault was installed within the new tower in 2010, an exquisite finishing touch.
Whilst it isn't a large building by cathedral standards its newer parts do much to give it the shape and dignity of one. This is especially apparent within, where the cruciform eastern limb draws the eye. The interior is enlivened by much colour, with the ceilings of Dykes Bower's choir and transepts adorned with rich displays of stencilling, whilst the nave ceiling (a Victorian replacement for the medieval one) was redecorated in similarly lively colours in the 1980s which helps to unify the old and new parts of the church.
Few fittings or features remain from the medieval period, most of the furnishings being Victorian or more recent, but one window in the south aisle retains a rich display of early 16th century stained glass, very much Renaissance in style. The remaining glass is nearly all Victorian, some of the windows in the new choir having been transferred from the previous chancel.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral is not filled with the monuments and fittings that make other great churches so rewarding to linger in but it is a real architectural delight and cannot fail to uplift the spirit.
50 secs under Boscombe pier, Dorset.
Converted to mono via channel mixer with a dab of deep yellow filter. I had to place the camera next to a pillar and stand so my shadow was cast across the lens to minimise flare due to the strong sunset without clouds.
In 2019, 334Sq celebrated 75 years of existence. Finally saw it while it was taken out for an test flight. Due the hard wind, no touch and go but an full stop en turnaround was performed.
One year ago, in the early hours of the morning, Ukraine saw the end of a peaceful existence, and threat to end their existence as a sovereign nation entirely. Lone border guards were among the first casualties, as the tanks rolled in and the missiles were launched in what Putin had wagered to be a three-day conquest. I am so glad that Russia had quietly become a kleptocracy, and their delusions of success could not be realized against the impassioned and skilled Ukrainian people.
As I sit here contemplating the past year, I am reminded of the kindness of friends, family, and strangers alike who helped our early efforts to support the influx if refugees here in Bulgaria. And I thank those who continue to support our efforts in sending aid to Ukraine. My thankfulness extended to many of the world’s governments, who are stepping up send tanks and long-range weapons to Ukraine. Without this help, Russia would have quickly expanded it’s borders and would not have stopped.
With the bravery of the Ukrainian people, and also the International Legion of foreign soldiers, and all the humanitarian aid workers within the country, Ukraine is on a path to recovery everything. The vast majority of the population say that there should be no territory lost, and I agree. The world is at war with Russia via Ukraine, and Russia will lose.
A few days ago, Putin made a long-winded speech. A few days before that, Russia failed in test-launching a RS-28 Sarmat ICBM. I believe Putin had intended to highlight a successful launch in his speech. Instead, his words echoed the frustration of failures in the military in Ukraine. Those failures continue, with the most modest territorial gains costing many thousands of lives and countless military assets.
As Russia runs short of military resources, Iran and now China are allegedly providing aid. I wouldn’t be surprised if North Korea is doing the same. Allegiances are being made across the world, and Russian natural resources are no longer required by Europe. Just today, the US, Australia and New Zealand announced new sanctions against Russia. The world continues to isolate the once-powerful tyrant who now must rely on the few strong allies it has – all of them non-democratic despotic nations.
I am confident that Ukraine will never give up this fight, and it will end with the destabilization of the Russian Federation. Poland is willing to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, and the first Leopard 2 tanks have arrived on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine will win, that much is a certainty. There’s still a lot of unknowns, however. How long and how many lives will it take? What happens when Russia loses? Remember that China and Russia share a very large border… in a destabilized Russia, would a country like China simply respect all previous international borders? The world is at the largest potential turning point in my generation.
And maybe the world needs a turning point for the better - with the climate crisis and geopolitics, a whole and sovereign Ukraine is the keystone of the next phase of international cooperation. It’s proof that much of the world can come together for a common goal. Beyond borders, continents, language and religion, the world can become aligned with democracy. That’s a scary thought for the despots of the world, and as it should be.
This image is taken with a snowdrop flower, turned upside down (as the flower usually droops downward – in this image it’s facing up). This isn’t a water droplet, but rather a gel-based “water pearl” that absorbs water and maintains a spherical shape. Like a mini crystal ball, it refracts what is behind it – and also stays spherical at much larger sizes than a water droplet. I made a print of the Ukrainian Coat of Arms to place in behind. I dedicate this image to the Public Domain – use it for any purpose you wish, no constraints or obligations.
Слава україні. The only way to peace is through victory. Victory will only be possible because of the heroes fighting for it. Героям слава! May this year of fighting and sacrifice be seen by the world as a beacon of hope.
The full moon at sunrise.
“I don't want anybody to stand between the individual and existence. No prayer, no priest -- you alone are enough to face the sunrise.”
Osho
here's for never letting go
please View On Black
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"A myth is a way of making sense in a senseless world. Myths are narrative patterns that give significance to our existence."
~ Rollo May, 1991, The Cry for Myth, p. 15
1965 .I was a DJ back then and on my way with friends to see the Kinks ( Fab show ) Even though I did not drive , I had friends who did and was able to take a few shots of Paris with a cheap camera ... now I can edit and process them to the max if I wanna ...here is one of them and maybe more 2 come ;-)
Every moment of existence seems like some dirty trick
Happiness can come suddenly and leave just as quick
Any minute of the day the bubble could burst
Try to make things better for someone, sometimes, you just end up making it a thousand times worse
You can have my isolation,
you can have the hate that it brings.
You can have my absence of faith,
you can have my everything...
(escuchar compulsivamente remix.nin.com y ninremixes.com es malo para la salud).
(ah, la sesión de fotos pelirroja está inspirada en mi nuevo personaje de Vampiro El Requiem xDDDD Ahora sí que da miedo, eh?).
Day 265. 19/03/2011
Life will have its share of storm and waves, but you have to stay put and be patient.
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We went to the beachside to celebrate a friend's birthday. The weather wasn't too great for photos-quite foggy and overcast, but was quite serene for the inner sense.
On July 1, 1921, Sarasota County came into existence. Interest in breaking away from Manatee County had led to a series of public meetings the previous summer. Lack of good roads, inadequate representation in Tallahassee, and subjection to isolation by other sections of the county were among the grievances cited by the citizens.
For nearly five years, the new county government operated out of the Hover Arcade, a building at the foot of Sarasota's Main Street that also housed Sarasota City Hall. County officials used a temporary building on Oak Street for another year before moving into the courthouse.
By late 1924, the Board of County Commissioners began steps to construct a county courthouse. Charles and Edith Ringling conveyed land for the building. In March 1925, the Commissioners hired nationally renowned architect Dwight James Baum to be the supervising architect for the courthouse and in June they approved the preliminary drawings. In September they awarded the construction contract to Stevenson & Cameron, Inc., of New York. By February 1927 county officials completed their move into the new building.
The Spanish/Mediterranean Revival architectural style of the courthouse was very popular in Florida during the 1920s. The H-shaped structure consisted of two two-story rectangular buildings that were connected to a central tower by an arcade. Stucco covered the hollow clay tile and masonry construction. Barrel tiles for the roof came from Spain. Samuel Yellin, a nationally known wrought iron artist, created many of the decorative grills and railings. Polychromed glazed terra cotta tile and cast stone adorned the entranceways, windows, and tower. A green-tiled reflecting pool, since drained and landscaped, was on the Main Street side of the building.
The judicial portion of the building, on the east, contained a courtroom, a jail, and accommodations for the jailer and the sheriff. Separate jail cells, restrooms, and witness rooms were labeled for "colored" and "white." The west section of the building included space for the county commissioners, tax collector and clerk, farm and kitchen demonstration, public health, and public instruction.
Two additions to the courthouse in 1955 and 1965 covered the original courthouse façade along Ringling Boulevard.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
www.emporis.com/buildings/127483/sarasota-county-courthou...
www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/markers/sarasota-cou...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarasota_County_Courthouse
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