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Gravitational Wave Astronomy - Listening to the Universe

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Gravitational wave astronomy is a relatively new branch in the field of astrophysics that studies the universe using gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are basically ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, such as black holes and neutron stars. It was originally theorized by Einstein in his general theory of relativity back in the year 1915. Even though it was theorized long ago, the first detection of gravitational waves was made in 2015 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) collaboration.  Do we normal human beings produce gravitational waves when we accelerate? Yes, we do, but the amount of waves produce is so small it is practically impossible to detect them with the current technology. For now, we can only detect them from incredibly massive and dense objects like black holes or neutron stars. In addition to studying black holes and neutron stars, gravitational wave astronomy can also be used to study the
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Transmission Spectroscopy

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In an earlier post (exoplanet detection methods) I had explained the Radial Velocity method of finding an exoplanet. This particular method is possible only because of spectrographs like the HARPS and ESPRESSO. These spectra are then analyzed to find and identify a particular planet and it's atmosphere.  Transmission spectroscopy is a technique used in astronomy to study the atmospheres of exoplanets, which are planets outside of our solar system. It involves measuring the amount of starlight that passes through the planet's atmosphere during a transit and analyzing the resulting spectrum to detect and characterize the molecular composition and physical properties of the atmosphere. Transmission spectroscopy is used to study exoplanet atmospheres and understand their physical and chemical properties. By detecting the absorption or emission lines of molecules in the atmosphere, astronomers can infer the temperature, pressure, composition, and structure of the atmosphere. Althoug
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Exoplanet Detection Methods

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Ever since space exploration was a thing, one of the biggest questions asked is about the possibility of someone else out there. Are we alone in this vast universe? Or are there some extraterrestrial lives possible in other galaxies? For all that, we have to find some planets in the first place to know if it is capable for a star to host a planet, and a planet to host life. Here are 5 different ways according to NASA on how to find an exoplanet.  Exoplanet Detection There are many ways to detect the presence of a planet. Radial Velocity and Transit Light Curve methods are the most commonly used methods to detect a planet. Around 5000 planets have been found through these 2 methods alone.  1) Radial Velocity  Why does the Earth move around the Sun? It's because of gravitational pull of the Sun is greater than that of the Earth. But the Earth and other planets also have a gravitational field. So, shouldn't the Sun move a bit as well? Actually, it does, and this event is called as
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Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Stellar Classification

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Stars: What are they and how are they classified? One thing we all have in common is that we all love to stare at the night sky and look at the stars. But when we see thousands of stars in the night sky to accompany us in the middle of the night, how long has it been since you actually thought about stars? Most people know that our sun is a star. But what else do you know about it? Let's find out together!  A Star is a luminous hot ball of gases (mostly hydrogen and helium) held together by its own gravity. Every star is supported by nuclear fusion where two hydrogen nuclei are merged together to form helium nuclei. As of now there are seven classifications for stars. These stars are classified under the Morgan-Keenan (MK) system using the letters O, B, A, F, G, K and M, a sequence from the hottest (O type) to the coolest (M type). 1) G - Type Stars Let us start with a star that comes to all our minds first, the Sun. The Sun is literally part of our daily life and it's one of t
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Applications of Astronomy in Daily Life

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What is Astronomy? When sitting by the window and staring out to the sky, have you ever wondered what else might be out there? Astronomy is an area of study that deals with celestial objects, space, and physical objects as a whole. This branch of science is so vast that there are near infinite possibilities and applications to how it can affect our day-to-day lives. Some instances include: 1) Satellite services in mobiles and communications Mobiles and data communications is one of the fastest developing sectors currently. It has reached a point where imagining a world with no phones, no television, no internet and no GPS is unthinkable, and to some, unlivable. You don’t need to be an expert in the subject to know that satellites are used for data communications and navigation systems. This is done through a portable wireless technology with satellite communications between the satellite and earth stations. 2) Climate Study Has it ever crossed your mind how your phone can magically pr
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Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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