UNews - Russ Taylor

SPIRE takes detailed look at giant star

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:42:37 +0000

New images and data from an instrument attached to the groundbreaking Herschel Space Observatory, and co-designed by a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge team, are showing off even more detail about the origins of the universe including previously-undiscovered information about a giant star more than 5,000 light years away that could soon explode as a supernova.

Physics and Astronomy researcher Dr. David Naylor, Head of the Space Astronomy Division of the Institute for Space Imaging Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his team of researchers lead Canada's contribution to the Herschel project on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency.

He co-designed an instrument that is called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), and is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system.

"SPIRE detects radiation emitted at very long wavelengths, well beyond the limit of human eye. These wavelengths probe a different part of the universe, one that cannot be studied with optical techniques," Naylor said.
"This allows us to study two unique areas of astronomy: the very coldest parts of the universe where stars are born, and the very distant universe. Taken together this information provides a better picture of how stars and galaxies evolved over cosmic time."

The Herschel team recently turned the observatory's attention to a large star approximately 5,000 light years from earth called VY Canis Majoris, in the final stages of 'death' and got many surprising results,– the key one being an excess of water in the readings.

"VY Canis Majoris is about 2600 times as big as our sun and about 100,000 times as bright," Naylor said. "To put it in perspective if the earth were orbiting this star it would have already been consumed by the dying star, which is now larger than the orbit of Saturn. The giant star would vapourize all material in its path as it expanded, not just ices and oceans but rock itself."

While the Herschel images are spectacular and offer a complementary view to those provided by optical telescopes such as Hubble, Naylor said it is only through spectroscopy that one can identify the molecules present in these sources.

"With SPIRE we can look at the big picture, or the very tiny picture, and gain a whole new insight into how stars live and die. The reason the imagery is so clear is that the space observatory employs the largest mirror launched to date and that the observatory sits more than 1.5 million km from earth, far removed from the effects of the earth's atmosphere."

Building on the success of Herschel and with support from the CSA, Naylor is championing a Canadian role in the SPace Infrared telecope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA). SPICA a Japanese/European space agency mission is similar to Herschel but promises to be an astonishing factor of 100 times more sensitive! Worldwide, this project involves research teams in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, UK.

In Alberta, a recent and significant collaboration has been launched with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Athabasca ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where several researchers have formed the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS) to work together on projects that take space research further than Herschel technology, whether on the ground or in the atmosphere.

The imaging power of the SPIRE instrument on Herschel spacecraft is a major leap forward in our ability to explore the Universe, says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Professor Russ Taylor, Director of ISIS. SPIRE is a prominent example of Albert leadership in the development of advanced technology for Space.

As well, Blue Sky Spectroscopy, a local high tech spin off company founded by Naylor in 2003, and now privately owned and operated, has been the data processing centre for the data from the SPIRE spectrometer.
Blue Sky has been key in processing data in the most accurate way possible to allow astronomers to make the best use of the SPIRE spectrograph. Seeing the first accurately calibrated spectra of astronomical targets has been the reward for many years of hard and diligent work. The Canadian Space Agency has committed to support this effort throughout the lifetime of the instrument.

U of L Physics and Astronomy Research Explores Deep Space

trevor.kenney — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:44:42 +0000

SPIRE Takes Detailed Look at Giant Star

He co-designed an instrument that is called the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver ("SPIRE"), and is one of three devices attached to the Herschel telescope system.

U of C researcher discusses SKA project

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:42:23 +0000

What is really out in space?

This question has intrigued man since the beginning of time and only now are we beginning to unravel the mysteries that space offers.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Physics Department welcomes ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary researcher, Dr. Russ Taylor, to campus Thursday afternoon to discuss The Square Kilometre array(SKA). The talk is being held at 1:40 p.m. in room C640 and everyone is welcome to attend.

The Director, and Head, Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS), Department of Physics and Astronomy, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, Taylor's discussion of The Square Kilometre Array, is an overview of the global project to plan and construct the next-generation international radio telescope operating at metre to centimetre wavelengths.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary recently entered into agreement to create ISIS, with the U of L's Dr. David Naylor at the forefront of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's involvement.

Scientists and engineers at 50 institutes in 19 countries are involved in the development of The Square Kilometre Array. It will be one of the largest scientific projects ever undertaken; designed to answer some of the big questions of our time: What is Dark Energy? Was Einstein right about gravity? What is the nature of dark matter? Can we detect gravitational waves? When and how did the first stars and galaxies form? What was the origin of cosmic magnetism? How do Earth-like planets form? Is there life, intelligent or otherwise, elsewhere in the Universe?

The telescope will have a collecting area of up to one million square metres spread over at least 3,000 kilometres.

Canada was one of the early leaders in the development of the SKA concept. Taylor will describe the technical challenges of the SKA, the international plan for its realization and the key science drivers.

Events Calendar

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:01:20 +0000

LECTURES

Apr. 16 | The Square Kilometre Array
Dr. Russ Taylor, director and head, Institute for Space Imaging Science | 1:40 p.m., C640

Apr. 28 | Real Learning First
Frank Bruseker, president, Alberta Teachers' Association | 4:45 p.m., TH204

PERFORMANCES

Apr. 14 | Music at Noon
Studio Showcase
12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall, W570

May 3 | Voices of Spring
U of L Singers, Opera Workshop and soloists | 11:30 a.m., Lethbridge Lodge

MISCELLANEOUS

Apr. 14 | LPIRG Annual General Meeting
Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group AGM | 7 p.m., Galileo's Gallery, SU242

Apr. 17 | Sociology Club Kick-Off
U of L Sociology Club celebrates its formation with an open house
2 to 5 p.m., Galileo's Gallery, SU242

Apr. 21-22
3rd Annual Art Student Open House
Art students exhibit their work
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, U of L Centre for the Arts, Level 8

Apr. 24 to May 29
BFA Art Graduate Exhibition
Exhibition featuring works chosen by graduating students.
Reception, May 29 | Main Art Gallery

May 4
Music of the 1930s
7:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library

May 6-8
Aboriginal Science Symposium: Innovation and Application
Aboriginal key scholars, as well as individuals in academia at all levels, discuss what is needed to ensure Aboriginal success in applied and primary sciences

U of L joins U of C in creating ISIS

trevor.kenney — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:37:26 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary have joined forces to create a new institute to lead Canada in innovative space imaging technologies and their applications to advance our understanding of space.

A memorandum of understanding has been agreed by the two universities to start up the Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS).

"We have a very strong and productive history of space science in the province, both universities having been involved in major international space exploration missions. ISIS builds on this history by marrying the expertise and broad experience at each university," says Chris Nicol, Dean of Arts and Science at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. "In addition to the pure fundamental research, this program promotes a cross-university, cross-faculty and highly interdisciplinary approach to the wide-range of technology challenges and science opportunities presented by space imaging."

Russ Taylor, director of ISIS and the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the U of C, adds the future of space imaging now resides in Alberta.

"This is a huge undertaking but a very worthwhile venture for the institutions and for the future of space science imaging in this province," says Taylor. "The province of Alberta is already a national leader in space sciences. The agreement builds on this strength to create a unique international centre for space imaging sciences, technology and innovation here in southern Alberta."

Space imaging science uses imaging technologies to understand space, from the near-Earth environment and space weather to the edge of the observable universe and the origins of cosmic structure. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge professor Dr. David Naylor heads up the Astronomical Instrumentation Group (AIG) and under his leadership, the ISIS project became a reality.

Within ISIS, researchers seek answers to questions about the northern lights, the Earth's geomagnetic field that protects us from explosions on the Sun, space weather that affects global navigation systems, meteorites and potentially harmful near-Earth asteroids, the formation of stars and new planets, the nature of the Milky Way Galaxy that we live in, and the origin and evolution of the universe itself.

Engineers and technicians work with the scientists to develop new and improved ways to image space to provide the data that we need.

The Square Kilometre array(SKA) project, led by the U of C in collaboration with institutions overseas and in the U.S., will design and construct the largest radio telescope ever built which will be used to study naturally occurring radio emissions from stars, galaxies and the edge of the universe to a time before stars and galaxies.

The Astronomical Instrumentation group, headquartered out of the U of L, is leading the development of Canadian imaging technology at far infrared wavelengths, just beyond the range of light visible to humans. Its work contributes to many international projects and will be part of the European Space Agency's Herschel space launch, scheduled to take place in April.

The NESS (Near Earth Space Surveillance) project led by Alan Hildebrand, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Planetary Science in U of C's Department of Geoscience, will use the NEOSSat microsatellite to search the inner solar system for unknown asteroids. This innovative spacecraft is funded by the Canadian Space Agency and Defence Research and Development Canada and will be launched next year.

UNews - Russ Taylor

SPIRE takes detailed look at giant star

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