Podcaster: Dr. Al Grauer
Title: Travelers in the Night Eps. 787 & 788: Far Out & 100 Years of Wilderness
Organization: Travelers in The Night
Link : Travelers in the Night ; @Nmcanopus
Description: Today’s two stories:
- In 2024, Voyager I is 163 times further from the Sun than we are and is the most distant, human made, traveler in the night.
- In 1924, 100 years ago, the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico became the first designated wilderness and is an island from which to view the natural night sky. Today, because of inappropriate night lighting, the vast majority of children will never see the Milky Way, a meteor streaking across the sky, or have the opportunity to walk around at night by the light of the stars,
Bio: Dr. Al Grauer is currently an observing member of the Catalina Sky Survey Team at the University of Arizona. This group has discovered nearly half of the Earth approaching objects known to exist. He received a PhD in Physics in 1971 and has been an observational Astronomer for 43 years. He retired as a University Professor after 39 years of interacting with students. He has conducted research projects using telescopes in Arizona, Chile, Australia, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Georgia with funding from NSF and NASA.
He is noted as Co-discoverer of comet P/2010 TO20 Linear-Grauer, Discoverer of comet C/2009 U5 Grauer and has asteroid 18871 Grauer named for him.
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Transcript:
Ep 787 – Far Out
Looking into the sky on a clear, dark night, have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel in deep space? In 2024, Voyager 1 is 163 times further from the sun than we are, and is the most distant human-made traveler in the night. At this distance, the sun is still the brightest object in the sky, but it would appear approximately 27,000 times fainter than it does to us. Currently, Voyager 1 is traveling at a speed of 38,000 miles per hour.
Consider this, Voyager 1 has traveled at a speed that would take it around the world 36 times a day for the past 46 years. At this speed, it would take 72,000 more years for Voyager 1 to travel the distance to the nearest star. Find the brightest star in the sky.
You will be able to see the bright star Sirius even under city lights. It will have taken 8.6 years for light to travel the distance from Sirius to your eye. Voyager 1 will travel the distance to Sirius in about 155,000 years.
In a dark location, find the Great Galaxy in Andromeda. You may need a pair of field glasses to see this one. If you are in a really dark spot like the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary in New Mexico, you will be able to see it with your naked eye.
This spiral galaxy is the most distant object you can see without a telescope. It is similar to our own Milky Way galaxy in size and shape. At its current speed, Voyager 1 would take 10 times the age of the Earth to travel the distance to the Great Galaxy in Andromeda.
The Great Galaxy in Andromeda is a member of our local group of galaxies. The edge of the observable universe is far beyond it. For Travelers in the Night, this is Dr. Al Grauer.
Ep 787 – 100 Years of Wilderness
Stay tuned. In 1924, the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico became the first designated wilderness and today is an island from which to view the natural night sky. Today, because of inappropriate night lighting, the vast majority of children will never see the Milky Way, a meteor streaking across the sky, or have the opportunity to walk around at night by the light of stars.
Over the course of human history, the natural view of the cosmos has inspired countless generations of poets, scientists, mathematicians, and seekers of truth. For example, the ancient Sumerians invented base-60 arithmetic in part to explain and predict what they observed in the natural night sky. We still employ 60 seconds per minute, 360 degrees in a circle, and many other remnants of their system.
Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus and the laws of physics, which are the basis for most of the mechanical devices we use every day. He simply wanted to explain and predict what is observed in the night sky. More recently, space exploration and astronomy has stimulated the development of computers, cameras, navigation devices, and things we take for granted every day.
The Gila Wilderness in New Mexico offers spectacular views of the natural night sky and has a high frequency of clear weather. For those who wish to experience the natural night sky via a RV or tent camping, there is also the Cosmic Campground International Dark Sky Sanctuary. It is located between the Gila and Blue Range Wilderness and offers spectacular 360-degree night sky views of stars, planets, galaxies, nebula, and the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon. For Travelers in the Night, this is Dr. Al Grauer. Stay tuned
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365 Days of Astronomy
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As we wrap up today’s episode, we are looking forward to unravel more stories from the Universe. With every new discovery from ground-based and space-based observatories, and each milestone in space exploration, we come closer to understanding the cosmos and our place within it.
Until next time let the stars guide your curiosity!