Weekly Space Hangout - June 6, 2014: Comets & Cosmos?

TL;DR

NASA's plans for Mars, the possibility of a strange hybrid star, evidence of the Moon's formation, and the Hubble Ultra Deep Field were discussed in this episode.

Transcript

all right I was like just before I was like I'm sure I'm forgetting something is just something that I forgot to do and I forgot to embed the event into the or the live video into the event page so for all the folks who are waiting to watch that on the uh Google+ event page I I deeply apologize uh feel feel free to join us whenever you want uh well... Read More

Key Insights

• 😀 NASA is facing challenges in planning a Mars mission due to budget constraints and the need to justify the cost of space exploration.
• 🤩 Zorn-Zito objects are a unique type of star formed from the merger of a red giant and neutron star.
• 🙂 The oxygen composition in the Moon's crust differs slightly from that of the Earth, supporting the hypothesis of an impact event forming the Moon.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does NASA need to go to Mars quickly?

The urgency stems from the need to maintain continuity in scientific and engineering knowledge and ensure that the next generation is trained and inspired to explore space.

Q: How common are Zorn-Zito objects in the universe?

These hybrid stars are very rare and not commonly found in the general stellar population.

Q: Will minerals play a role in deciding landing sites for future manned missions?

Minerals on the Moon and Mars could potentially influence landing site decisions, especially if there are rare or valuable resources that could be extracted.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A report by the National Research Council concluded that NASA is not on track to go to Mars, mainly due to budget constraints and lack of clear goals.

• The existence of a strange hybrid star, known as a Zorn-Zito object, was discussed, which is formed when a neutron star and red giant merge.

• New research suggests that the composition of oxygen in the Moon's crust differs slightly from that of the Earth, supporting the theory that the Moon formed as a result of an impact event.

• The Hubble Ultra Deep Field image was updated to include ultraviolet light, providing new insights into the early universe and star formation.