Earth in Far-Ultraviolet: NASA’s New Look at Our Planet
January 13, 2025
NASA has released new images of Earth taken in far-ultraviolet light, providing a unique perspective on our planet. The images were captured by the Imaging X-ray Observatory (IXO), a next-generation space telescope that is scheduled to launch in 2028.
Far-ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than ultraviolet light but longer than X-rays. It is invisible to the human eye, but it can be detected by telescopes.
The new images reveal details of Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere that are not visible in visible light or ultraviolet light. The images show the distribution of gases in the atmosphere, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. They also show the location of the ionosphere, a layer of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation.
The images could help scientists to learn more about Earth’s climate and space weather. The images could also be used to track the movement of pollutants and to monitor the health of the ozone layer.
“These images provide a new way to look at Earth,” said Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science. “They will help us to learn more about our planet and how it interacts with the Sun.”
The IXO is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The telescope is designed to study the X-ray universe. However, it will also be able to observe Earth in far-ultraviolet light.
The IXO is scheduled to launch in 2028. The telescope will be placed in orbit around Earth, where it will study the X-ray universe for at least five years.
The new images of Earth are just a small sample of the data that the IXO will collect. The telescope is expected to provide scientists with a wealth of new information about our planet and the universe.
Earth in Far-Ultraviolet
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