NAI: Ask an Astrobiologist

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Astronomy and Planetary Sciences

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Questions about Astronomy and Planetary Sciences

I have always wanted to ask a question about the moon, why does it show diffrent shapes such as full moon or half moon always been curious of this.

Fear over the new planet (orbiting Alpha Centauri B) really isn't all the public's fault. I saw a headline that read "new planet discovered just outside solar system" and it's only when you read the article that u realize the planet is around a whole other star. People just looking at the headline would think the plant was right beside Pluto!

You are probably aware of the Aurora Borealis being visible in the majority of the UK over the past few nights. Will these events be visible again next year near solar max?

I have heard about the possibility about our solar system to be part of a binary one - being the second star a brown dwarf. Is there any scientific facts that may confirm such possibility?

Regarding the newly discovered comet c/2012 there are inevitably going to be many questions submitted about any potential risk to earth. There is a claim on the Internet that there may be a disruption to the orbit of the comet when it passes close to Mars. Unfortunately this is the Internet and there are people who will take advantage of vague comments in order to scare others. Anything that you may be able to clear up will be much appreciated.

Recently NASA announced that they have discovered evidence for water on Mars. Where is the water now? Also I think it would be a good idea to infest Mars with earth microbes to see how they would cope on Mars when extensive work has been done to certify if life ever existed there.

Why does the moon come up while the sun is still setting?

I read your replies to the latest series of questions about NIbiru and the question about the sun and moon lining up on December 21. The sun and the moon and the earth will of course line up on November 14, 2012, when there is a total solar eclipse. There are eclipses every year, and none of them cause the kinds of ridiculous things that people think will happen with an "alignment". These kinds of alignments, i.e., eclipses, should be greeted with awe and appreciation for their beauty and should not be feared.

In one of your responses, you mentioned that the jovian magnetosphere is extremely hostile to life. Since Earth has a magnetosphere which clearly does not have such a strong effect, why is Jupiter's different? What makes Jupiter's magnetosphere so hostile to life, as opposed to Earth's?

I understand that sometime in the not so distant future, Betelgeuse is likely to become a supernova. How would we preceive that supernova? Would we simply have a very bright star in the sky or would we have some akin to a second source of sunlight at night?

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