Imaging planets around nearby white dwarfs

We suggest that Jovian planets will survive the late stages of stellar evolution, and that white dwarfs will retain planetary systems in wide orbits (≳5 au). Utilizing evolutionary models for Jovian planets, we show that infrared imaging with 8-m class telescopes of suitable nearby white dwarfs should allow us to resolve and detect companions ≳3 M _JUP. Detection of massive planetary companions to nearby white dwarfs would prove that such objects can survive the final stages of stellar evolution, place constraints on the frequency of main-sequence stars with planetary systems dynamically similar to our own and allow direct spectroscopic investigation of their composition and structure.     

Radon emanation from the moon,spatial and temporal variability

Observations of the lunar surface with the orbiting Apollo Alpha Particle Spectrometer during the Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 missions have shown spatial and temporal variations in radon emission. There are a number of well localized features in the spatial distribution of lunar²²²Rn and her daughter²¹⁰Po which apparently correlate with sites of reported transient visual events. There are sources at Aristarchus, Grimaldi and possibly Tsiolkovsky. Activity of²¹⁰Po shows enhancement at most maria edges at rates far in excess of²²²Rn activity. This demonstrates unequivocally the presence of time varying radon activity at the maria edges, taking place at the present time. The increased radon emission is probably caused by sporadic internal activity. In analogy to terrestial processes, radon may be merely a trace component accompanying the release of larger quantities of more common gases to the lunar surface.     

Hyper-elliptic orbits

A survey of classes of elliptical orbits outside the usual ones due to the attractive direct power and inverse square force laws reveals some extremely interesting orbits with surprising dynamical characteristics. Particular elliptical orbits of interest in celestial mechanics are discussed.     

Extraterrestrial intelligence and galactic nuclear activity

After many years of searching, we still have no evidence for the existence of any technological civilization but our own. The conclusion that we are therefore alone in our galaxy has seemed unacceptable, for lack of a plausible explanation. Earlier authors have suggested that there may be Seyfert-like outbursts from the galactic nucleus, with a period of ≈10⁸ years. It is proposed here that this phenomenon could provide the needed explanation for the nonexistence of ETI. The question of why we ourselves have survived is considered.     

Evidence from Mössbauer spectroscopy for intense localization of metamorphic fluid flow during the formation of spaced cleavage

Arenites in the low-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Stirling-Barren Group, Western Australia, contain discrete spaced cleavages. These in part are pure white mica, but up to 30% of the cleavage zones consists of fine-grained quartz resulting from crystal plastic deformation. A modified Gresens analysis shows that the cleavage domains formed by a 50% volume loss associated primarily with SiO₂ and MgO concentration decreases of 58% and 37%, respectively, and a 12% decrease in Fe₂O₃. Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that the Fe²⁺: Fe³⁺ ratio from lithon to cleavage changed from 50:SO to 15:85. This substantial difference cannot be accounted for by loss of iron. The data are best explained by the focusing of a highly oxidizing fluid through the cleavage domains where volumetric fluid rock ratios around 150 to 1 are indicated. In this example advectic processes appear to be important in low-grade regional metamorphism.     

In-situ U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotope analyses of the Rayner Complex,east Antarctica

In-situ zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic analysis via laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LAM-ICPMS) of samples from Kemp and MacRobertson Lands, east Antarctica suggests that the Kemp Land terrane evolved separately from the rest of the Rayner Complex prior to the ca. 940 Ma Rayner Structural Episode. Several Archaean metamorphic events in rocks from western Kemp Land can be correlated with events previously reported for the adjacent Napier Complex. Recently reported ca. 1,600 Ma isotopic disturbance in rocks from the Oygarden Group may be correlated with a charnockitic intrusion in the Stillwell Hills before ca. 1,550 Ma. Despite being separated by some 200 km, T^Hf_DM ages indicate felsic orthogneiss from Rippon Point, the Oygarden Group, Havstein Island and the Stillwell Hills share a ca. 3,660–3,560 Ma source that is indistinguishable from that previously reported for parts of the Napier Complex. More recent additions to this crust include Proterozoic charnockite in the Stillwell Hills and the vicinity of Mawson Station. These plutons have distinct ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios and formed via the melting of crust generated at ca. 2,150–2,550 Ma and ca. 1,790–1,870 Ma respectively.