Sociological Profile of Astronomers in Spain

In this paper the main findings are presented of a recent study made by a team of sociologists from the University of Granada on the professional astronomers currently working in Spain. Despite the peculiarities of this group – its youth, twentyfold increase in size over the last 20 years, and extremely high rate of specialization abroad – in comparison with other Spanish professionals, this is the first time that the sociological characteristics of the group have been studied discretely. The most significant results of the study are presented in the following sections. Section 1 gives a brief historical background of the development of Astronomy in Spain. Section 2 analyzes the socio-demographic profile of Spanish Astronomy professionals (sex, age, marital status, etc.). Sections 3–5 are devoted to the college education and study programs followed by Spanish astronomers, focusing on the features and evaluations of the training received, and pre- and postdoctoral study trips made to research centers abroad. The results for the latter clearly show the importance that Spanish astronomers place on having experience abroad. Special attention is paid to scientific papers published as a result of joint research projects carried out with colleagues from centers abroad as a result of these study trips. Section 6 describes the situation of Astronomy professionals within the Spanish job market, the different positions available and the time taken to find a job after graduation. Section 7 examines Astronomy as a discipline in Spain, including the astronomers' own opinions of the social status of the discipline within Spanish society. Particular attention is paid to how Spanish astronomers view the status of Astronomy in Spain in comparison with that of other European countries. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sunspot Numbers and Areas from the Madrid Astronomical Observatory (1876 – 1986)

The solar program of the Astronomical Observatory of Madrid started in 1876. Observations were made in this institution to determine sunspot numbers and areas for ten solar cycles. The program was completed in 1986 and the resulting data have been published in various Spanish scientific publications. Four periods of this program (with different observers and instruments) were identified with the aid of the interesting metadata that has been made available. In the present work, the published data were retrieved and digitized. Their subsequent analysis showed that most of these data could be considered reliable given their very high correlation with reference indices (international sunspot number, group sunspot number, and sunspot area). An abrupt change emerged in the sunspots/groups ratio in 1946, which lasted until 1972.     

EURD: First Year Results

EURD (Espectrógrafo Ultravioleta extremo de Radiación Difusa), one of the instruments onboard the Spanish satellite MINISAT-01, is a spectrograph specially designed to detect diffuse radiation, covering the wavelength range of 350-1100 Å, with a spectral resolution of 6-8 Å. Its main scientific objectives are the detection of the emission line spectrum from the hot phase of the interstellar medium and the spectrum of the upper atmospheric airglow. In order to reduce geocoronal noise, EURD always observes in the anti-sun direction and only when the satellite is in orbital eclipse. After more than one year of observation we have obtained the best spectrum of the upper atmospheric nightglow in this wavelength range, the spectrum of 15 OB stars and the spectrum of the full Moon throughout the year. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Field testing of robotic technologies to support ground ice prospecting in martian polygonal terrain

Polygonal terrain, a landform commonly associated with the presence of ground ice, is widespread throughout the high latitudes on Mars. In this paper, we present the results of field testing a potential mission concept for the robotic prospecting of ground ice in polygonal terrain. The focus of the paper is on the key robotic technologies that could be used to implement the concept and the engineering lessons we learned (as opposed to the specific scientific findings of our field tests). In particular, we have found that a lander- or rover-mounted lidar and a rover-borne stereo camera/ground-penetrating radar suite are two important scientific tools that may be used to help pin-point ground ice prior to subsurface sampling. We field tested some aspects of this mission concept on a previously - unstudied polygonal terrain site on Devon Island in the Canadian High Arctic (a common Mars/Moon analogue site) during the summer of 2008. This unique collaboration between technological and scientific communities has led to a deeper understanding of how such a science-driven mission could actually be implemented robotically.     

EURD Data Provide Strong Evidence Against the Sciama Model of Radiative Decay of Massive Neutrinos

Data obtained with a high resolution, high sensitivity spectrometer flown on the Spanish MINISAT 01 satellite wereused to test the Sciama model of radiatively decaying massive neutrinos. The observed emission is far less intense than that expected in the Sciama model.     

Stellar and galactic environment survey (SAGE)

This paper describes a proposed high resolution soft X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy mission to carry out a survey of Stellar and Galactic Environments (SAGE). The payload is based on novel diffraction grating technology which has already been proven in a sub-orbital space mission and which is ready to fly on a satellite platform with minimal development. Much of the technical detail of the instrumentation has been reported elsewhere and we concentrate our discussion here on the scientific goals of a SAGE base-line mission, demonstrating the scientific importance of high resolution spectroscopy in the Extreme Ultraviolet for the study of stars and the local interstellar medium.     

Recent results on X-ray novae and microquasars at radio and infrared wavelengths

The Spanish MINISAT program has been structured in three main stagesplus several associated developments, achieving a modular family of lowcost platforms in the small satellite segment, designed to use mainly in lowearth orbit (LEO) applications. The first stage of the MINISAT programhave concluded with the complete development and orbit qualification ofthe platform MINISAT 0 together with the operational experiences is beingachieved to perform the scientific mission 01, launched on April 21^st 1997. The second stage of the MINISAT program consist of the modularupgrading of the platform 0 to reach the maximum performances orplatform MINISAT 1 to do earth observation missions. The first missionwith the platform 1 started the phase A of feasibility study in 1995. Thethird stage of the MINISAT program will consist of the development of theplatform MINISAT 2 that will be an adaptation of the platform MINISAT1 to be able to do communication missions even in the geostationary orbit.     

Structure of the Martian Dayside Magnetosphere: Two Types

Solar System Research - A set of scientific instruments capable of high temporal resolution measurements onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft made it possible to...     

The Demeter microsatellite and ground segment

The Demeter program is the first application of the Myriade microsatellite program conducted by the Cnes (French Space Agency) since 1997. The Myriade objective was to benefit from the miniaturization of the technologies to develop a product with a reduced size, weight and cost able to implement either scientific missions, demonstrators or operational applications in different areas: earth observation, astronomy, fundamental physics or telecommunications, within limited financial budget.The Demeter satellite was launched in end of June 2004, from Baikonour, aboard a Dnepr launcher, on a sun synchronous orbit at 710 km altitude. Its main scientific objectives are the detection and characterization of ionosphere electrical and magnetic disturbances in connection with a seismic activity.The scientific payload has been built by French scientific institutes (LPCE, CESR, CETP) involved in external and internal geophysics and by SSD/ESTEC (ESA). It is composed of several electrical and magnetic sensors, an ion spectrometer, an energetic particle analyzer and a Langmuir probe.The Demeter platform is designed in order to offer a high level of performances in terms of power, attitude and orbit control, data storage and transmission, flexibility. For example the large amount of scientific data is transmitted to the ground station with a high data rate telemetry link in X band.This paper describes the Demeter satellite and ground segment. It focuses on the specific design adaptations of the Myriade product for Demeter and it presents the preliminary in orbit platform performances.     

Precovery of near‐Earth asteroids by a citizen‐science project of the Spanish Virtual Observatory

This article describes a citizen‐science project conducted by the Spanish Virtual Observatory (SVO) to improve the orbits of near‐Earth asteroids (NEAs) using data from astronomical archives. The list of NEAs maintained at the Minor Planet Center (MPC) is checked daily to identify new objects or changes in the orbital parameters of already catalogued objects. Using NEODyS we compute the position and magnitude of these objects at the observing epochs of the 938 046 images comprising the Eigth Data Release of the Sloan Digitised Sky Survey (SDSS). If the object lies within the image bound‐aries and the magnitude is brighter than the limiting magnitude, then the associated image is visually inspected by the project's collaborators (the citizens) to confirm or discard the presence of the NEA. If confirmed, accurate coordinates and, sometimes, magnitudes are submitted to the MPC. Using this methodology, 3226 registered users have made during the first fifteen months of the project more than 167 000 measurements which have improved the orbital elements of 551 NEAs (6% of the total number of this type of asteroids). Even more remarkable is the fact that these results have been obtained at zero cost to telescope time as NEAs were serendipitously observed while the survey was being carried out. This demonstrates the enormous scientific potential hidden in astronomical archives. The great reception of the project as well as the results obtained makes it a valuable and reliable tool for improving the orbital parameters of near‐Earth asteroids. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Visual double stars in professional spanish astronomy: Past,present and future projects

Summary This poster describes the contribution of professional Spanish astronomy to all aspects of the study of visual double stars (observation, calculation of orbits and development of new methods of calculation), together with projected programmes of visual and interferometer observations.     

Environmental Effects in Galaxies: Molecular Gas and Nuclear Activity

Galactic X-ray emitters have been described by Giovannelli andSabau-Graziati (1993). We would address the bulk of this paper on HighMass X-Ray Binaries (HMXBs) and particularly in demonstrating theimportance of these systems as powerful laboratories to test the propertiesof high-energy physical processes through the multi-frequency studies oftheir behavior. Interactions between the two components of those systemsoriginate processes that manifest themselves along a large part of theelectromagnetic spectrum. Therefore it is possible to study indirectlyhigh-energy phenomena through the analysis oflow-energy phenomena with enormous advantages since the latter can bemainly studied via ground-based experiments, meanwhile the former can bestudied only by mean of space-based experiments, at least up to energiesof order 100 GeV.Moreover, since HMXBs are galactic, their emissions are the highestmeasurable; this renders such systems the most powerful laboratories to testtheories on collapsed objects, which can be scaled to extra-galactic distancesand dimensions. This fact suggests that HMXBs can be in general useful targetseven for small satellites, and in particular, in the X-ray energy range,very suitable targets for experiments like SIXE (Spanish Italian X-rayExperiment) to be launched in small satellites such as the Spanish MINISAT-02.     

高海拔宇宙线观测站LHAASO概况

宇宙线发现百年以来,宇宙线起源仍然是一个谜.研究宇宙线起源主要在甚高能(VHE)伽马射线天文学和宇宙线物理学两个领域交叉展开.新一代高海拔宇宙线观测站(LHAASO)拥有高海拔、全天候和大规模优势,利用多种探测手段对宇宙线开展联合观测,大幅提升对伽马射线和宇宙线的鉴别能力.LHAASO将开展全天区伽马源扫描搜索以大量发现新伽马源,将获得30TeV以上伽马射线探测的最高灵敏度,将在宽达5个数量级的能量范围内精确测量宇宙线分成份能谱,为揭开宇宙线起源谜团给出重要判据.系统介绍了LHAASO的探测器结构、性能优势和科学目标.     

Stellar And Galactic Environment survey (SAGE)

This paper describes a proposed high resolution soft X-ray and Extreme Ultraviolet spectroscopy mission to carry out a survey of Stellar and Galactic Environments (SAGE). The payload is based on novel diffraction grating technology which has already been proven in a sub-orbital space mission and which is ready to fly on a satellite platform with minimal development. We discuss the goals of a SAGE base-line mission and demonstrate the scientific importance of high resolution spectroscopy in the Extreme Ultraviolet for the study of stars and the local interstellar medium.     

Calibration of flight model CCDs for CoRoT mission

CoRoT (Convection, Rotation and Transit) is a mission of high-accuracy photometry with two scientific programmes: asteroseismology and planet finding, using CCDs as detectors. Ten 2048×4096 CCDs manufactured by E2V (42-80) were calibrated on Meudon test bench in order to choose the best ones for flight. A very high instrument stability is needed. Taking into account the environmental perturbations (temperature, attitude control system jitter, radiations, etc.) we studied sensitivity of CCD gain and quantum efficiency to temperature and sensitivity of the output signal to bias voltages. Special attention was paid to pixel capacity and noise sources coming from dark current and pixel response non-uniformity. The calibration results together with the expected voltages and temperature fluctuations are compared with the specifications.     

The structure of molecular clouds and their global emission properties

SIXE (Spanish Italian X-ray Experiment) is an X-ray detector withgeometric area of 2300 cm², formed by four identical gas-filledMulticell Proportional Counters, and devoted to study the long termspectroscopy of selected X-ray sources in the energy range 3–50 keV. Themain characteristics of SIXE are: time accuracy of 1 microsecond,spectral resolution of 5% for E > 35 keV and 46/E% for E <35 keV, continuum sensitivity (3 in 10⁵ s) of 2 ×10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1 keV^-1, and line sensitivity (3in 10⁵ s) of 8 × 10^-6 ph cm^-2 s^-1. The size of theinstruments and the requirements of the payload (weight 103 kg, fulldimensions 660 × 660 × 450 mm³, power budget < 60 W,on-board memory 2 Gbits, telemetry rate < 100 kbps) make this experimentfully compatible with the MINISAT platform.The main scientific goal of SIXE is the study of short and long termvariability of some of the most important X-ray sources. To do that a fewselected extragalactic and galactic X-ray sources will be selected toperform a dedicated and extensive monitoring program. The mission willprovide in this way the unique opportunity for the study of X-ray sourceswith a temporal accuracy of 1 microsecond all through the time range10^-5 :10⁷ s.     

Fundamental Problems of Lunar Research,Technical Solutions,and Priority Lunar Regions for Research

In this article, we discuss four fundamental scientific problems of lunar research: (1) lunar chronology, (2) the internal structure of the Moon, (3) the lunar polar regions, and (4) lunar volcanism. After formulating the scientific problems and their components, we proceed to outlining a list of technical solutions and priority lunar regions for research. Solving the listed problems requires investigations on the lunar surface using lunar rovers, which can deliver a set of analytical equipment to places where geological conditions are known from a detailed analysis of orbital information. The most critical research methods, which can answer some of the key questions, are analysis of local geological conditions from panoramic photographs, determination of the chemical, isotopic, and mineral composition of the soil, and deep seismic sounding. A preliminary list is given of lunar regions with high scientific priority.     

ASO-S卫星工程科学应用系统的数据库设计

先进天基太阳天文台(Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory, ASO-S)卫星是我国首颗太阳观测卫星, 主要观测太阳耀斑和日冕物质抛射以及产生它们的磁场结构. ASO-S卫星的科学应用系统是科学卫星工程的6大系统之一, 它连接科学用户和卫星数据, 为将卫星的科学数据转化为科学成果提供保障. 科学应用系统的数据库是连接软件与海量数据的枢纽, 为科学数据生产和用户服务及运行提供数据层的支撑. 介绍了科学应用系统的数据库架构设计、数据库的选择以及数据库性能优化和表样例. 这里的数据库包括观测计划、工程参数、运维日志、科学数据、定标数据和特征事件识别等数据库. 这些数据库的建设将为ASO-S卫星工程科学应用系统的顺利运行提供数据支撑, 也可以为未来其他科学卫星类似数据库的搭建提供参考和借鉴.