Planetary Atmospheric Electricity

“Life” is an empirical concept whose various definitions and phenomenological characterizations depend on historical frameworks. Although analysis of existing literature suggests that attempts to define life will remain, at best, a work in progress, the history of biology shows that some efforts have been more fruitful than others. There is a major distinction between natural selection—which is clearly a defining trait of biology—and the changes that result from purely physical chemical evolution, which can be observed in nonbiological complex systems. Accordingly, it can be concluded that life cannot be understood without considering the presence of genetic material and Darwinian evolution. This shows the usefulness of the suggestion that life can be considered as a self-sustaining chemical system (i.e., one that turns environmental resources into its own building blocks) that is capable of undergoing natural selection.     

Radio observations of total solar eclipse of November 3, 1994 at Chapecó (Brzil)

Radio observations of the eclipse on November 3, 1994, were carried out at Chapecó, Brazil by using a decimetric spectrograph having high spectral and time resolution. The light curve shows that: (1) Time variation of the radio flux before the totality was more compared to that after. (2) During the totality radio emission at 1.5 GHz was observed. Advantage of high spatial resolution ( 3.2 arc sec) possible during solar eclipse enabled us to determine the height of radio emission at 1.5 GHz. (3) Microwave bursts were observed associated with metric Type III-RS bursts. The source size of one of the microwave bursts was 7 arc sec and its physical parameters have been estimated. (4) The time difference between radio and optical contacts suggested for the first time asymmetrical limb brightening at 1.5 GHz.     

Cosmic ray investigation for the Voyager missions; energetic particle studies in the outer heliosphere—And beyond

A cosmic-ray detector system (CRS) has been developed for the Voyager mission which will measure the energy spectrum of electrons from 3–110 MeV and the energy spectra and elemental composition of all cosmic-ray nuclei from hydrogen through iron over an energy range from 1–500 MeV/nuc. Isotopes of hydrogen through sulfur will be resolved from 2–75 MeV/nuc. Studies with CRS data will provide information on the energy content, origin and acceleration process, life history, and dynamics of cosmic rays in the galaxy, and contribute to an understanding of the nucleosynthesis of elements in the cosmic-ray sources. Particular emphasis will be placed on low-energy phenomena that are expected to exist in interstellar space and are known to be present in the outer Solar System. This investigation will also add to our understanding of the transport of cosmic rays, Jovian electrons, and low-energy interplanetary particles over an extended region of interplanetary space. A major contribution to these areas of study will be the measurement of three-dimensional streaming patterns of nuclei from H through Fe and electrons over an extended energy range, with a precision that will allow determination of anisotropies down to 1%. The required combination of charge resolution, reliability and redundance has been achieved with systems consisting entirely of solid-state charged-particle detectors.Principal Investigator of the Voyager Cosmic Ray Experiment.     

Dual spacecraft observations of energetic particles in the vicinity of the magnetopause,bow shock,and the interplanetary medium

This article presents some of the new and important particle features that have been detected in the energy range 1 keV to 290 keV by the ISEE-1 and -2 spacecraft near the magnetopause, bow shock, and the interplanetary space. Only examples of data from the first few orbits, when the spacecraft were on the front side, are shown.Paper presented at 13th ESLAB Symposium, Innsbruck, Austria (June 5, 1978).     

Book reviews

Space Science Reviews -     

Space Station Power System

A Space Station Task Force was established by NASA in May 1982 to provide focus and direction for space station planning activities. The Task Force also provides Congress and the Administration with sufficient information to allow them to make an informed decision on whether the United States should proceed with a space station as the next major national initiative in space. This paper presents the status of planning activities to date, with major emphasis on the power system, and discusses technology options, power requirements, and schedule.     

X-ray and optical variability at the hour timescale for 1E 0630+178 (GEMINGA) and its proposed optical couterpart

Einstein and EXOSAT data on the soft X-ray source IE 0630+178, the proposed counterpart of the -ray source GEMINGA, are analyzed for variability on the time scale of one to three hours. The EXOSAT September 1983 data, with an uninterrupted strech of over 10 hours offer the most interesting case. In parallel, a similar analysis is presented for the first time, for the optical data of the m_V21 proposed counterpart. About 30 CCD exposures, of 15 min. each, taken over two consecutive nights at the 3.6 m CFH telescope, yield evidence of variability, when compared to the data of similar nearby objects in the field.Visiting astronomer at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, operated by the National Concil of Research, Canada, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France, and the University of Hawaii.