This led to the internationally agreed-upon re-definition of the second Markowitz et al. These are all very tangible examples of the effect astronomy has had on our everyday lives, but astronomy also plays an important role in our culture. There are many books and magazines about astronomy for non-astronomers. Many non-astronomers also engaged with astronomy during the International Year of Astronomy IYA , the largest education and public outreach event in science. The IYA reached upwards of eight hundred million people, through thousands of activities, in more than countries IAU, Scientific and technological achievements give a large competitive edge to any nation.
Nations pride themselves on having the most efficient new technologies and race to achieve new scientific discoveries. But perhaps more important is the way that science can bring nations together, encouraging collaboration and creating a constant flow as researchers travel around the globe to work in international facilities.
Astronomy is particularly well suited to international collaboration due to the need to have telescopes in different places around the world, in order to see the whole sky. At least as far back as — when astronomers from around the world pooled their telescope images and made the first map of the whole sky — there have been international collaborations in astronomy and in , the International Astronomical Union became the first international scientific union.
In addition to the need to see the sky from different vantage points on Earth, building astronomical observatories on the ground and in space is extremely expensive.
Therefore most of the current and planned observatories are owned by several nations. All of these collaborations have thus far been peaceful and successful. Some of the most notable being:. In the above text we have outlined both the tangible and intangible reasons that astronomy is an important part of society. Although we have focused mainly on the technology and knowledge transfer, perhaps the most important contribution is still the fact that astronomy makes us aware of how we fit into the vast Universe.
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. Aitken, R. Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Leaflet 59, December , Clark, H. Finley, D. Gruman, J. Hamaker, J. Kiger, P. Markowitz, W. Paris, N. Shasharina, S. Herman, Berlin:Springer , StarChild, StarChild: Dr. Truman, H. Technology transfer From astronomy to industry Some of the most useful examples of technology transfer between astronomy and industry include advances in imaging and communications.
Some other examples of technology transfer between astronomy and industry are listed below National Research Council, : The company General Motors uses the astronomy programming language Interactive Data Language IDL to analyse data from car crashes. Some specific examples of astronomical developments used in defence are given below National Research Council, : Observations of stars and models of stellar atmospheres are used to differentiate between rocket plumes and cosmic objects.
A surprising amount of air travel advances have come as a result of trying to get into space. Since space shuttles have to go farther and cope with more extremes than any other type of aircraft, it makes sense for airplane engineers to adopt some of what has been learned from space exploration.
For example, a way to prevent airplanes from icing at high altitudes has made travel safer and faster. That annoying jarring you feel when you drift too far to the edge of the road is, once again, thanks to space exploration!
Rumble strips were originally employed to help add traction to landing aircraft. The strips have a lot of other uses, including adding traction to floors where cattle walk — preventing accidents from wet, slippery floors and downed cows. This includes many devices such as breast cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, and dental x-rays.
The development of the charge-coupled device, CCDs, helped reduce exposure to x-rays. These sensors were first used in astronomy back in for capturing images. One of the biggest and most influential aspects of astronomy is its impact on people.
Carl Sagan brought one of the first glimpses of the universe to the masses with his TV series Cosmos. Stephen Hawking also wrote several bestsellers that helped people understand how the universe works. The complicated debris leftover after a supernova explosion, known as a supernova remnant, can be hard to visualize.
We only have our vantage point and cannot travel around the remnant to view the intricacies of its structure. Supernova researchers are putting this data into medical imaging software originally designed for brain scans to get a 3D model that can be viewed in degrees.
To take it one step further, the models can then be 3D printed, allowing you to hold a dead star in your hand. By pursuing scientific research, our scientists never know what might be the next big breakthrough.
New detector technology means better lighter cameras. Astronomical data analysis software can be reconfigured to make cars safer. Novel techniques in radio astronomy paved the way for wireless internet. Support Our Science. Utility Menu News Events. How can astronomy improve life on earth? Share this Page. Facebook Share on Facebook. Twitter Share on Twitter. Share on LinkedIn. Share via Email. Protecting the Planet In , the Sun launched an enormous magnetized mass of plasma at the Earth, shorting electrical lines, starting electrical fires and knocking out telegraph communication.
Research Topics. See All Staff. Our Work The need for extremely precise instrumentation in astronomy can often be transferred into the medical field. This instrument, owned by the military and run by astronomers at both the U. Naval Observatory and Lowell Observatory, is the biggest telescope of its kind. The Navy Precision Optical Interferometer uses an array of telescopes to catalog the exact locations of stars and track their minute movements with incredible accuracy.
GPS satellites and other spacecraft depend on these star charts to plot their course through the cosmos. Equipment used by NASA, the Department of Defense, and all manner of other modern tech would be lost, as would your cellphone — and, quite likely, you.
Unlocking the power of the Sun In many places across the world, astronomy keeps the lights on. In the s, German-American astronomer Hans Bethe showed that nuclear reactions are what power our Sun and all other stars. His work described how the Sun uses nuclear fusion to turn hydrogen into helium, releasing huge amounts of energy.
Martian floods filled Jezero Crater, Perseverance finds. Is exploring space hazardous to our health? James Webb Space Telescope: How, when, and why it's launching.
Perseverance samples its first two rocks. How astronauts go to the bathroom in outer space. How Mars rover drivers navigate the Red Planet. Did static electricity — not Gus Grissom — blow the hatch of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft?
0コメント