There's a new star arriving in the night sky, but it's not nature's work. It's a human invention, a box-sized mini satellite that could fundamentally change the way we explore the universe. NASA gave the green light to a $19,5 million mission to launch this “artificial star” into Earth orbit. His name is Landed, and its task is as simple as it is revolutionary: to be a perfectly calibrated beacon of light for astronomers around the world.
Small satellite, big discoveries
The Landolt project represents a significant breakthrough in the field of observational astronomy. This small satellite, despite its modest size, promises to have a huge impact on our understanding of the universe.
But what makes Landolt so special? To understand this, we must first consider one of the fundamental challenges of astronomy: the precise measurement of light from celestial objects.
The challenge of measuring starlight
Until now, astronomers have had to rely on real stars as reference points to calibrate their instruments. The problem? There is no way to know for sure how much light a distant star actually emits.
This is why Landolt was developed. This ingenious orbiting device will emit a known, constant amount of light, providing astronomers with a reliable reference point. Just like a star. An artificial star.
How NASA's artificial star works
Tyler Richey-Yowell, a postdoctoral researcher at Lowell Observatory, explains the importance of this innovation:
It's something that will help all astronomers. It's really new for us to have some sort of artificial star up there that we can rely on and use.
But how exactly does Landolt work? The satellite will be positioned in a geosynchronous orbit, meaning it will always remain in the same place in the night sky as seen from Earth. It will emit lasers with a precise number of photons, allowing astronomers to calibrate their instruments with unprecedented precision.
The mini-satellite is designed to orbit the Earth from 35.000 kilometers away. There, its speed will match the Earth's rotation, so the satellite will appear fixed in the night sky and be an easy target for telescopes to track. We won't be able to see it with the naked eye. But to telescopes it will look like a star.
Artificial star: other possible applications
The impact of this technology will extend far beyond simple instrument calibration. Think about it search for habitable planets outside our solar system. Knowing exactly the brightness of a star can help us determine more precisely the temperature of a planet orbiting it and, consequently, its potential habitability.
And that's not all. Landolt could also help us solve one of the greatest mysteries of modern cosmology: the nature of dark energy. More precise measurements of the brightness of distant supernovae could provide crucial clues about the rate of expansion of the universe, a key data point for understanding this mysterious force that appears to be pushing the universe to expand ever faster.
Human ingenuity at the service of science
Landolt is still an early stage project. The launch is scheduled for 2029, and there are still development phases to overcome. However, NASA's approval and funding is a clear sign of the importance of this mission.
A “revolution in a box,” which could be the key to unlocking some of the greatest mysteries of the cosmos. This artificial star will light our path to a deeper understanding of the universe around us.
As that guy on TV would say: shall we turn it on?
