China plans to launch an artificial moon capable of lighting 1,960 square miles – St George News



[ad_1]

Pictures of the base | Manjik Night Skyline Photo / iStock / Getty Images Plus; photo of the full moon courtesy of Public Domain Pictures; St. George News

ST. GEORGE – "In the light of the silver moon" could have a whole new meaning for a Chinese city in 2020 when a lighting satellite, also called "artificial moon," is launched in the # 39; space.

Scientists plan to suspend the artificial moon over Chengdu City, one of the most populous cities in western China, according to a report released Thursday by Chinese media.

The artificial lunar orb is designed to complement the moon. the night. According to the developers of the satellite, it is eight times brighter than the real moon and will project a "glow similar to that of the twilight," according to satellite developers.

The artificial moon will be able to light an area. 50 kilometers in diameter, a total area of ​​more than 1,960 square miles, but with a lighting range so precise that it can be controlled a few feet away. The amount of light can also be affected by weather conditions, for example with less light in overcast conditions, for example.

The artificial moon is actually a satellite carrying a huge spatial mirror used to reflect sunlight. down to the earth. The mirror can be adjusted according to the brightness and can be completely extinguished when needed

The satellite should be placed in an orbit less than 310 miles from the Earth, a little closer to the moon, which makes more 230,000 miles. from Earth.

The launch of Orb will function as an experimental satellite to allow scientists to identify any defect or problem in the design of the object. The launch of Chengdu is the prelude to another launch in 2022, where three more artificial satellites are expected to be transported more than 300 km from Earth.

"D here, the three huge mirrors will divide the orbital plane 360 ​​degrees. … Illuminating an area for 24 hours in a row, "said Wu Chunfeng, head of the new Tian Fu Science Society in Chengdu, on Thursday during an interview with China Daily.

False Moon Projects

The concept of an illuminating satellite is not new – the United States and Russia have explored similar ideas.

In 1993, Russia conducted an experiment called "Banner", launching a 65-foot-diameter satellite called Znamya. The project was launched with the aim of reducing the lighting costs of existing cities and allowing longer working days in the darkest areas.

The Russian Space Mirror Used in the "Banner" Project | Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution, St. George News

According to a report by the Smithsonian Institution, Znamya briefly lit the earth as a giant night light in orbit.

The satellite remained in the sky only a few days before being captured. A fire after his return to the Earth's atmosphere, but Russian scientists considered it a huge success.

A second larger mirror was launched six years later, but it tore before being deployed and also burned while reintegrating the Earth's atmosphere.

Lighting Costs

All living things, including humans, have an internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, which is roughly structured to correspond to the natural day of 24 hours, which makes part of the predictable rhythm of the day and the night of the Earth. According to the Dark Sky International Association, the DNA of all plants and animals is encoded in DNA.

Scientific evidence suggests that many creatures can have negative or even deadly effects. phibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants, badociated with artificial light at night.

Lights can attract and disorient emerging turtles, moths, frogs and amphibians. Artificial light affects migration, navigation, flowering of plants and leaf loss.

The Real Highlights of the Moon

  • The moon orbits nearly 239,000 miles above the Earth and is the world's fifth-largest natural satellite system. It is the largest of all other moons in relation to the size of the planet it orbits.
  • The moon is locked, so only one side of the moon is visible from the Earth.
  • The moon is less reflective than the Earth, reflecting only 3 to 12% of sunlight falling on its surface, compared to about 42% for the Earth. The sun is also 400,000 times brighter than the full moon seen from Earth.
  • The gravity of the moon is much lower than that of the Earth because of its smaller mbad. An individual would weigh about one-sixth of what he weighs on Earth.
  • The moon does not absorb nor emit light. Any light coming from the moon is simply reflected by the sunlight.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

  • ]

    Copyright St George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

  • [ad_2]
    Source link