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Lucy mission’s bold objective is to study a class of distant asteroids — the Trojan asteroids — never explored before by spacecraft, explain Deputy Project Scientist Simone Marchi and Deputy Principal Investigator Cathy Olkin.
Without a proper accounting of known and unknown systematics and uncertainties, combining information across multiple surveys, wavelengths, and detectors may be risky. Realizing the true potential of multi-messenger and panchromatic astrophysics requires getting data integration right.
The CONCERTO instrument paves the way to large field-of-view spectro-imagers operating at (sub-)millimetre wavelengths, write Instrument Scientist Alessandro Monfardini and Principal Investigator Guilaine Lagache.
Astronomers are used to advocating for (financial) support for their future endeavours, but how should they go about lobbying for support for issues such as the climate emergency? Join forces with those experienced in effecting policy change.
Astronomers are trusted voices in the communication of science; our community should resist inundating people with facts and figures but use its advantage to encourage the public to listen to climate change experts and encourage the need for urgent cross-sectoral systemic change.
As the world recovers from one global crisis, it must steel itself for the coming of a far greater one: the climate crisis. Astronomers and planetary scientists have roles to play as trusted scientific experts, but should seek partnerships with domain experts when venturing outside their areas of knowledge.
When do we stop an ongoing science project to make room for something new? Decision-making is a complex process, ranging from budgetary considerations and tension between ongoing projects, to progress assessments and allowance for novel science developments.
The climate crisis is no longer a prediction for the future, it is happening here and now. Astronomers have realized that they need to become part of the solution and are working towards reducing their own carbon footprint as well as communicating an astronomical perspective.
