Scientists Discover Yet Another Moon Orbiting ‘Dwarf ...pdfs.island.lk/2012/07/19/hp-3.pdf · The...
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3 Thursday 19th July, 2012 P luto, the ninth planet from the sun is so tiny that in 2006 it lost its status as a full- fledged member of the solar system and was instead demoted to dwarf planet. But tiny as it it may be, the planet seems to be attracting a lot of moons around it. Just last year, NASA’s Hubble Telescope discovered a fourth moon, which scientists believed was the final one. However, on July 7th 2012, they made yet another discovery - a tiny fifth moon, circling the planet at a distance of about 26,000 miles. Unlike our perfectly spherical 2,150 mile wide moon, P5 is irregularly shaped and estimated to be between just 6-15 miles wide. In fact, all of Pluto’s moon’s are quite small. Charon, the largest, is just 648 miles wide, Nix and Hydra are between 20-70 miles wide, and P4, the one found last year, is slightly larger than the most recent discovery. The fact that a dwarf planet can have such a complex collection of satellites is very intrigu- ing to scientists. While they still do not know for sure how the Pluto system formed and evolved, they believe the moons are a result of a collision between Pluto and another icy Pluto like body, that orbits beyond Neptune. Though exciting, this new discovery adds yet another hurdle to the path of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft that is heading toward Pluto, for a historic flyby. Scheduled to occur in 2015, it is expected to provide scientists with a treasure trove of information about the mysteri- ous icy ‘dwarf’ planet. According to experts, the detection of these various moons indicates the presence of many small particles around the Pluto system that are not visible to us. Because New Horizons is moving at such a rapid pace, a colli- sion with even the tiniest of particles could derail its path. Therefore, scientists will have to chart its trajectory very carefully to ensure that it somehow avoids not only the larger objects they can observe, but also, the unseen tinier particles. The encouraging news is that thanks to a backup trajectory called SHBOT (Safe Haven Bail-Out Trajectory), scientists can change New Horizon’s route at the very last minute and move it away from danger’s path - while this means that the satellite won’t be able to com- plete its mission, it will at least not be destroyed. The new discovery has also created a dilem- ma for the International Astronomical Union, that is responsible for naming the new moons. According to its guidelines, objects around the dwarf planet should be given mythological names that are associated with the underworld - so far, Pluto, Charon, Nix and Hydra all fit the bill. Now, they have to find similar names for P4 and P5 - can you think of any? Scientists Discover Yet Another Moon Orbiting ‘Dwarf’ Planet Pluto W hile being at the top of any list is good in most circumstances, in the case of Madagascar’s 103 known species of Lemurs, it is a ‘kiss of death’ - liter- ally! That’s because a shocking study released by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission earlier this week, revealed that 23 species of the primates are now ‘critically endangered’, 52 are endangered and 19 are vulnerable. These dire statistics mean that the primates are the most endangered vertebrates on earth - more so than any other mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird or bony fish! A similar study carried out just seven years ago, had categorized eight on the critically endangered, 18 on the endangered and 17 on the vulnerable list. The rapid demise of the species can be directly attributed to the destruction of their tropical forest habitat caused by accelerated illegal human logging. In addition to that the primates are also increasingly being hunted down and served as a delicacy in local restaurants. Among the ones that recently joined the severely critical list is the Indri - a species con- sidered sacred amongst the people of Madagascar, it is the largest of all lemurs. Also new on the list is the world’s smallest Lemur. Called Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur, it weighs a mere 30 grams and is also believed to be the world’s smallest primate. Also on the brink of extinction is the Blue- Eyed Black Lemur, which happens to be the only primate besides humans, to sport blue eyes. While all these are critically endangered, it is the Northern Sportive Lemur that needs help the fastest - that’s because with just 18 known members of the species left, it is the rarest of them all. One piece of good news that did come out from this otherwise dire study was the discovery of a new species of yet-to-be named mouse Lemur in Eastern Madagascar. Turning these dire statistics around may not be easy. That’s because the absence of a stable government since 2009 has resulted in a breakdown in control and enforcement and a severe economic downturn. As a result, areas that had been designated ‘national parks’ to help protect the animals that inhabit this bio- diverse island, are now regularly being pil- laged by locals, struggling to survive. Ironically, the demise of the Lemurs will only make things worse. That’s because the country’s main source of income comes from tourism and since Lemurs can only be found in the wild on this beautiful island, they are one of the biggest tourist draws. Maybe the locals will realize this and try turn this scary trend around. Lemurs, along with Bush Babies and Lorises are small primates that are classified as Promisians, a word that loosely translates to pre-primates or before monkeys. While ancient Lemurs were rumored to be as large as gorillas and weighed upto 400 pounds, today’s Lemurs are much smaller, ranging in size from 15 pounds, to just over an ounce in size. With the exception of the Ring-Tailed Lemur, the animals are largely arboreal, spending most of their time at the top the rainforest canopy. While a majority of the species is diurnal, some, especially the smaller mouse and dwarf Lemurs, prefer to forage for food in the safety of darkness, at night. Lemurs get their name from the word Lemures, the Roman mythological word for ghosts or spirits. First applied to a slender Loris because of its nocturnal habits, it was later tagged to the whole group of Promisians, regardless of their sleeping patterns. Lemurs Leap To Forefront Of The ‘World’s Most Endangered Vertebrate List’
Transcript of Scientists Discover Yet Another Moon Orbiting ‘Dwarf ...pdfs.island.lk/2012/07/19/hp-3.pdf · The...
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Pluto, the ninth planet from the sun is sotiny that in 2006 it lost its status as a full-fledged member of the solar system and
was instead demoted to dwarf planet. But tinyas it it may be, the planet seems to be attractinga lot of moons around it. Just last year,
NASA’s Hubble Telescope discovered a fourthmoon, which scientists believed was the finalone.
However, on July 7th 2012, they made yetanother discovery - a tiny fifth moon, circlingthe planet at a distance of about 26,000 miles.Unlike our perfectly spherical 2,150 mile widemoon, P5 is irregularly shaped and estimated tobe between just 6-15 miles wide. In fact, all ofPluto’s moon’s are quite small. Charon, thelargest, is just 648 miles wide, Nix and Hydraare between 20-70 miles wide, and P4, the onefound last year, is slightly larger than the mostrecent discovery.
The fact that a dwarf planet can have sucha complex collection of satellites is very intrigu-ing to scientists. While they still do not knowfor sure how the Pluto system formed andevolved, they believe the moons are a result ofa collision between Pluto and another icy Plutolike body, that orbits beyond Neptune.
Though exciting, this new discovery addsyet another hurdle to the path of NASA’s NewHorizons spacecraft that is heading towardPluto, for a historic flyby. Scheduled to occur in2015, it is expected to provide scientists with atreasure trove of information about the mysteri-ous icy ‘dwarf’ planet.
According to experts, the detection ofthese various moons indicates the presence ofmany small particles around the Pluto systemthat are not visible to us. Because NewHorizons is moving at such a rapid pace, a colli-sion with even the tiniest of particles couldderail its path. Therefore, scientists will have tochart its trajectory very carefully to ensure thatit somehow avoids not only the larger objectsthey can observe, but also, the unseen tinierparticles.
The encouraging news is that thanks to abackup trajectory called SHBOT (Safe HavenBail-Out Trajectory), scientists can change NewHorizon’s route at the very last minute andmove it away from danger’s path - while thismeans that the satellite won’t be able to com-plete its mission, it will at least not bedestroyed.
The new discovery has also created a dilem-ma for the International Astronomical Union,that is responsible for naming the new moons.According to its guidelines, objects around thedwarf planet should be given mythologicalnames that are associated with the underworld -so far, Pluto, Charon, Nix and Hydra all fit thebill. Now, they have to find similar names forP4 and P5 - can you think of any?
Scientists Discover Yet AnotherMoon Orbiting ‘Dwarf’ Planet Pluto
While being at the top of any list isgood in most circumstances, in thecase of Madagascar’s 103 known
species of Lemurs, it is a ‘kiss of death’ - liter-ally! That’s because a shocking study releasedby the International Union of Conservation ofNature (IUCN) Species Survival Commissionearlier this week, revealed that 23 species ofthe primates are now ‘critically endangered’,52 are endangered and 19 are vulnerable.These dire statistics mean that the primatesare the most endangered vertebrates on earth- more so than any other mammal, reptile,amphibian, bird or bony fish!
A similar study carried out just seven yearsago, had categorized eight on the criticallyendangered, 18 on the endangered and 17 onthe vulnerable list. The rapid demise of thespecies can be directly attributed to thedestruction of their tropical forest habitatcaused by accelerated illegal human logging.In addition to that the primates are alsoincreasingly being hunted down and served asa delicacy in local restaurants.
Among the ones that recently joined theseverely critical list is the Indri - a species con-sidered sacred amongst the people of
Madagascar, it is the largest of all lemurs.Also new on the list is the world’s smallestLemur. Called Madame Berthe’s MouseLemur, it weighs a mere 30 grams and is alsobelieved to be the world’s smallest primate.Also on the brink of extinction is the Blue-Eyed Black Lemur, which happens to be theonly primate besides humans, to sport blueeyes. While all these are critically endangered,it is the Northern Sportive Lemur that needshelp the fastest - that’s because with just 18known members of the species left, it is therarest of them all. One piece of good newsthat did come out from this otherwise direstudy was the discovery of a new species of
yet-to-be named mouse Lemur in EasternMadagascar.
Turning these dire statistics around maynot be easy. That’s because the absence of astable government since 2009 has resulted in abreakdown in control and enforcement and asevere economic downturn. As a result, areasthat had been designated ‘national parks’ tohelp protect the animals that inhabit this bio-diverse island, are now regularly being pil-laged by locals, struggling to survive.
Ironically, the demise of the Lemurs willonly make things worse. That’s because thecountry’s main source of income comes fromtourism and since Lemurs can only be found
in the wild on this beautiful island, they areone of the biggest tourist draws. Maybe thelocals will realize this and try turn this scarytrend around.
Lemurs, along with Bush Babies andLorises are small primates that are classified asPromisians, a word that loosely translates topre-primates or before monkeys. Whileancient Lemurs were rumored to be as largeas gorillas and weighed upto 400 pounds,today’s Lemurs are much smaller, ranging insize from 15 pounds, to just over an ounce insize.
With the exception of the Ring-TailedLemur, the animals are largely arboreal,spending most of their time at the top therainforest canopy. While a majority of thespecies is diurnal, some, especially the smallermouse and dwarf Lemurs, prefer to forage forfood in the safety of darkness, at night.
Lemurs get their name from the wordLemures, the Roman mythological word forghosts or spirits. First applied to a slenderLoris because of its nocturnal habits, it waslater tagged to the whole group of Promisians,regardless of their sleeping patterns.
Lemurs Leap To Forefront Of The ‘World’s Most
Endangered Vertebrate List’
