Location, orbit and energy of a meteoroid impacting the moon during the Lunar Eclipse of January 21, 2019

During lunar eclipse of January 21, 2019 a meteoroid impacted the Moon producing a visible light flash. The impact was witnessed by casual observers offering an opportunity to study the phenomenon from multiple geographical locations. We use images and videos collected by observers in 7 countries to estimate the location, impact parameters (speed and incoming direction) and energy of the meteoroid. Using parallax, we achieve determining the impact location at lat. $-29.43^{+0.30}_{-0.21}$, lon. $-67.89^{+0.07}_{-0.09}$ and geocentric distance as 356553 km. After devising and applying a photo-metric procedure for measuring flash standard magnitudes in multiple RGB images having different exposure times, we found that the flash, had an average G-magnitude $\langle G\rangle = 6.7\pm0.3$. We use gravitational ray tracing (GRT) to estimate the orbital properties and likely radiant of the impactor. We find that the meteoroid impacted the moon with a speed of $14^{+7}_{-6}$ km/s (70% C.L.) and at a shallow angle, $\theta < 38.2$ degrees. Assuming a normal error for our estimated flash brightness, educated priors for the luminous efficiency and object density, and using the GRT-computed probability distributions of impact speed and incoming directions, we calculate posterior probability distributions for the kinetic energy (median $K_{\rm med}$ = 0.8 kton), body mass ($M_{\rm med}$ = 27 kg) and diameter ($d_{\rm med}$ = 29 cm), and crater size ($D_{\rm med}$ = 9 m). If our assumptions are correct, the crater left by the impact could be detectable by prospecting lunar probes. These results arose from a timely collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers which highlight the potential importance of citizen science in astronomy.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables. Data and scripts available in https://github.com/seap-udea/MoonFlashes. Accepted for publication in MNRA

The Spin-Orbit Evolution of GJ 667C System: The Effect of Composition and Other Planet’s Perturbations

Potentially habitable planets within the habitable zone of M dwarfs are affected by tidal interaction. We studied tidal evolution in GJ 667C using a numerical code we call TIDEV. We reviewed the problem of dynamical evolution, focusing on the effects of a rheological treatment, different compositions and the inclusion of orbital perturbations on the spin-down time and the probability of becoming trapped in a low spin-orbit resonance. The composition has a noticeable effect on the spin-down time, which changes, in some cases, by almost a factor of 2 with respect to the value estimated for a reference Earth-like model. We calculated the time required to reach a low resonance value (3:2) for a configuration of six planets. Capture probabilities are affected when assuming different compositions and eccentricity variations. We chose planets b and c to evaluate the probabilities of capture in resonances below 5:2 for two compositions: Earth-like and Waterworld planets. We found that perturbations, although having a secular effect on eccentricities, have a low impact on capture probabilities and no effect on spin-down times. The implications of the eccentricity variations and actual habitability of the GJ 667C system are discussed.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Circumbinary habitability niches

ABSTRACT: Binaries could provide the best niches for life in the Galaxy. Although counterintuitive, this assertion follows directly from stellar tidal interaction theory and the evolution of lower mass stars. There is strong evidence that chromospheric activity of rapidly rotating young stars may be high enough to cause mass loss from atmospheres of potentially habitable planets. The removal of atmospheric water is most critical. Tidal breaking in binaries could help reduce magnetic dynamo action and thereby chromospheric activity in favour of life. We call this the Binary Habitability Mechanism (BHM) that we suggest allows for water retention at levels comparable to or better than the Earth. We discuss novel advantages that life may exploit, in these cases, and suggest that life may even thrive on some circumbinary planets. We find that while many binaries do not benefit from BHM, high-quality niches do exist for various combinations of stars between 0.55 and 1.0 solar masses. For a given pair of stellar masses, BHM operates only for certain combinations of period and eccentricity. Binaries having a solar-type primary seem to be quite well-suited niches having wide and distant habitable zones with plentiful water and sufficient light for photosynthetic life. We speculate that, as a direct result of BHM, conditions may be suitable for life on several planets and possibly even moons of giant planets orbiting some binaries. Lower mass combinations, while more restrictive in parameter space, provide niches lasting many billions of years and are rich suppliers of photosynthetic photons

Converter DC/AC Multilevel of Three Cells: Modeling and Simulation

El presente documento presenta un convertidor DC/AC de tres celdas. Las topologías multinivel están atrayendo gran atención en la industria, ya que logran tener un rizado en las variables de estado más pequeño. Además reducen el estrés de conmutación en los dispositivos sólidos. La topología usada en este trabajo es conocida como ondulador multinivel de condensador flotante, en la cual se impone el reto de balancear la tensión entre las celdas de conmutación con ayuda de los condensadores flotantes, además de obtener una señal sinusoidal regulada. En el trabajo se expone el modelo promediado del ondulador, y los resultados obtenido mediante simulación.  This paper presents a three-cell converter DC / AC. Multilevel topologies are attracting attention in the industry, obtained as a ripple on the state variables much smaller, and reduces stress on the switching devices. The topology used in this work is known in the technical literature as floating capacitor multilevel inverter, which imposes the challenge of balancing the voltage across each cell switching using floating capacitors, besides obtaining a sinusoidal signal regulated. The paper presents the averaged model of the inverter, and results obtained through simulation

Characteristic Equation of the Modified Smith predictor to MIMO Systems

El retardo en sistemas de control es una característica presente con frecuencia en los sistemas reales debido al transporte de objetos o de información, a la conexión en serie de múltiples sistemas o al retardo propio del procesamiento y de los sensores, entre otros. Recientemente se han presentado diversos trabajos para la identificación del retardo externo en sistemas MIMO, estos trabajos están orientados a la identificación y control on-line de sistemas MIMO y utilizan una estructura multimodelo basada en el predictor de Smith modificado utilizando diferentes métodos de búsqueda directa. Como es de suponer, para realizar tanto la implementación del algoritmo, como para obtener el análisis de convergencia y estabilidad, es necesario tener las ecuaciones en lazo cerrado del predictor de Smith modificado. Sin embargo, en estos trabajos no se presenta el procedimiento analítico por no tratarse del objeto principal, se presentan solo las ecuaciones de lazo cerrado sin el procedimiento para su obtención. Por tanto y para subsanar esta falta, en este trabajo se presenta la forma analítica para deducir las ecuaciones en lazo cerrado de un predictor de Smith modificado.    The delay in control systems is a feature frequently in real systems due to the transport of objects or information, a series connection of multiple systems or own processing and sensors delay, among others. Recently there have been several studies to identify the external delay MIMO systems, these works are focused on identification and on-line control of MIMO systems and use a multimodel structure based on modified Smith predictor using different search method. It is clear that for the implementation of the algorithm, and to obtain the convergence and stability analysis, it is necessary to have closed-loop equations of modified Smith predictor. However, in these works is not presented the analytical procedure, not be the main object, displaying only the closed loop equations without the procedure for obtaining it. Therefore, to respond, in this paper, we present an analytical way to derive the closed-loop equations of a modified Smith predictor.  

The influence of thermal evolution in the magnetic protection of terrestrial planets

Magnetic protection of potentially habitable planets plays a central role in determining their actual habitability and/or the chances of detecting atmospheric biosignatures. Here we develop a thermal evolution model of potentially habitable Earth-like planets and super-Earths (SEs). Using up-to-date dynamo-scaling laws, we predict the properties of core dynamo magnetic fields and study the influence of thermal evolution on their properties. The level of magnetic protection of tidally locked and unlocked planets is estimated by combining simplified models of the planetary magnetosphere and a phenomenological description of the stellar wind. Thermal evolution introduces a strong dependence of magnetic protection on planetary mass and rotation rate. Tidally locked terrestrial planets with an Earth-like composition would have early dayside magnetopause distances between 1.5 and 4.0 Rp , larger than previously estimated. Unlocked planets with periods of rotation ~1 day are protected by magnetospheres extending between 3 and 8 Rp . Our results are robust in comparison with variations in planetary bulk composition and uncertainties in other critical model parameters. For illustration purposes, the thermal evolution and magnetic protection of the potentially habitable SEs GL 581d, GJ 667Cc, and HD 40307g were also studied. Assuming an Earth-like composition, we found that the dynamos of these planets are already extinct or close to being shut down. While GL 581d is the best protected, the protection of HD 40307g cannot be reliably estimated. GJ 667Cc, even under optimistic conditions, seems to be severely exposed to the stellar wind, and, under the conditions of our model, has probably suffered massive atmospheric losses

Modelo didáctico del desarrollo embrionario del pollo usando la técnica modificada de Dawson para transparentación y tinción

ABSTRACT: didactic models are a very useful tool for pedagogy in Agrarian Science careers (i.e. Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science). Objective: the aim of this work was to create a didactic model of the chicken embryo development using modified Dawson´s diaphanization and staining technique, which allows the centers of ossification to be viewed. Methods: chick embryos from day 5 to day 21 were diaphanized with KOH, stained with Alizarin Red, and stored in glycerol. Results: growth of primary ossification centers during embryonic development was easily visualized. Conclusion: to our knowledge, this is the first literature report showing an anatomical model of all embryonic stages of chicken development. Impact of this model in pedagogy must be evaluated in future works.RESUMEN: los modelos didácticos son una muy buena herramienta para el proceso de enseñanzaaprendizaje en los cursos de Ciencias Agrarias (Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, entre otros). Objetivo:hacer un modelo didáctico del desarrollo embrionario del pollo usando la técnica modificada de Dawson para transparentación y tinción, que permite visualizar los centros de osificación. Métodos: embriones de pollo del día 5 al 21 fueron transparentados con KOH, teñidos con Rojo de Alizarina y almacenados en glicerina. Resultados: se pudo visualizar el crecimiento de los centros primarios de osificación durante el desarrollo embrionario. Conclusión: este es el primer reporte en literatura que muestra un modelo anatómico de todas las etapas del desarrollo embrionario del pollo. En futuras investigaciones se debe evaluar el impacto que tiene este modelo en el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje