Chapter 140: Tracking the Kuiper Belt

Style: Science Author: Lei YutanWords: 3170Update Time: 24/01/12 17:47:38
But at this time, no one in Hezhou City, where mankind is flourishing on earth, knew that when their Hezhou City entered the night again, an alien creature named Enba from an alien planet would come in person. Come to their Hezhou City. They still do what they do every day and don't think their routine will change.

But at the same time, a chase was underway in the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the solar system. Carl Wade, a pilot from the terrifying Olme Empire, is taking his former lead pilot and current wingman Dar Kinder to track an alien spacecraft from beyond the heliosphere.

At this time, wingman pilot Dal Kind said to lead pilot Carl Wade:

"Captain, captain. The spacecraft opposite from outside the heliosphere should also be a Gomar reconnaissance spacecraft. Should we report to the headquarters first?"

The lead pilot, Carl Wade, said:

"It doesn't have to be like this, tease me. I can definitely solve it myself. Such a spacecraft is actually used as a reconnaissance spacecraft. It's just a big piece of fat. As long as I solve it, I can create a I don’t want to give up this opportunity and throw it to anyone, but you can share this legend with me.”

And Dal Kind said:

"I still don't think it's appropriate to lead the aircraft. The firepower of the opponent's warship seems to be very powerful. Although it is not as powerful as the special combat spacecraft destroyed in the Ulangumu area, it is safe to call in a few more supports. Ah! Captain, you are still young!"

However, Carl Wade suddenly became very impatient and said:

"That's enough, Dal Jinde, you must not forget that I am the captain now. Now on the battlefield, you must completely obey all my orders and instructions. And I dare to decide that we should track the Gomar alone. I must be fully confident about the spaceship. And this is also good for you. We killed this enemy spaceship alone this time. Not only did I make a great contribution and become a legend, but you can also be the captain again. …”

Then, Carl Wade took a breath and continued:

"Although you may not be able to continue fighting side by side after you return to being the leader, we are still elite pilots of the Olme Empire, right? I have never forgotten your kindness to me. I The former commander."

Dal Kind was indeed a little scrupulous at first, but now that he heard what Carl Wade said, his blood immediately surged up. He had always hoped to make a contribution as soon as possible and return to the lead role. He immediately said:

"Okay, my captain. I'll go forward with you. By the way, Haumea is ahead."

Carl Wade said after hearing this:

"Yeah. A football-shaped planet. It seems they are going to investigate here this time."

Haumea is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, officially known as (136108) Haua. Haumea is the fourth largest dwarf planet in the solar system. Its mass is one-third that of Pluto. In 2004, a Caltech team led by Michael E. Brown discovered the object at Mount Palomar Observatory in the United States;

In 2005, a team led by Ortiz also discovered the object at the Sierra Nevada Observatory in Spain, but the latter's statement was questioned. On September 17, 2008, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) designated this celestial body as a dwarf planet and named it Hawaii

It was named after Haumea, the Barbarian god of fertility.

Haumea is a newly discovered large Kuiper belt object. It is numbered 2003EL61 and is temporarily nicknamed "Santa". Its rotation speed is very fast. No known object with a diameter greater than 100 kilometers has such a speed. rotation speed.

Among all known dwarf planets, Haumea is uniquely extremely deformable. Although its shape has not been directly observed, light curve calculations indicate that Haumea is ellipsoidal, with its semi-major axis twice as long as its semi-minor axis. Despite this, it is presumed that its own gravity is sufficient to maintain hydrostatic equilibrium, thus meeting the definition of a dwarf planet.

Astronomers believe that the reason why Haumea has an elongated shape, rare high-speed rotation, high density and high albedo (due to its structure

The surface of crystalline water ice) These features are the result of super collisions; making Haumea the largest member of the collision family, which also includes several large trans-Neptunian objects and Haumea's two known moons a member of.

According to the spectral data obtained by the Gemini Observatory, the object may contain ice water, similar to the results of Charon. Methane ice was also found on the surface of 2003 EL61, which means it has never been close to the sun.

The celestial body was discovered to have two satellites. The discoverer nicknamed it "Rudolph" (the legendary reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh). Its mass is about 1% of the celestial body. This measurement only represents the total mass of the system. If it is assumed that the planet and satellite have the same density and albedo, then their apparent magnitude difference of 3.3 magnitude can accurately calculate other values.

Compared with Pluto, the mass of its moon "Charon" is 10% of the planet. For other planets, this ratio appears relatively large. In addition, the orbital period of the 2003EL61 satellite is 49.12±0.03 days, the distance from the planet is 49,500±400 kilometers, and the eccentricity is 0.050±0.003.

The moon once occultated a planet in 1999, and its next occultation will occur in 2138. In addition, the satellite has a diameter of approximately 350 kilometers. If it were placed in the asteroid belt, it would become an asteroid.

Next, Carl Wade said to Dal Kind:

"Okay, in that case, let's catch up. I will use the super missile on our spaceship to keep him on this football-shaped planet."

Dal Kind immediately replied:

"Understood, captain, let's go..."

However, Dal Kind suddenly said in surprise:

"Leader, lead plane, the other party suddenly changed direction again."

When Carl Wade heard this, he immediately looked at the radar and said:

"What? My dear, I actually changed my direction and flew in the direction of Makemake."

It is the third largest known dwarf planet in the solar system and one of the two largest among the classic Kuiper Belt objects. Makemake is about three-quarters the diameter of Pluto.

The presence of methane and possible nitrogen means Makemake could have a brief atmosphere, a phenomenon similar to that seen on Pluto near its perihelion. If nitrogen material exists on Makemake, then nitrogen will become the main substance in Makemake's atmosphere.

The existence of the atmosphere also provides a reasonable explanation for the loss of nitrogen: Since Makemake's gravity is weaker than Pluto, Eris, and Triton, Makemake may lose a large amount of nitrogen due to atmospheric escape;

Although methane is lighter than nitrogen, when the surface of Makemake is at normal temperature (30-35K), the vapor pressure of methane will be significantly lower.

to nitrogen, which inhibits the escape of methane;

The result of this process is an increasing relative content of methane.

According to foreign media reports, scientists have discovered through in-depth research that a "dwarf planet" discovered near the edge of the solar system 7 years ago is a frozen world without an atmosphere and life.

Scientists discovered Makemake, named after the Polynesian god, in 2005, but only now have the size, shape and surface of the distant planet been studied in detail for the first time.

It is two-thirds the size of Pluto and farther from the sun, and is one of five distant worlds orbiting the sun that are considered dwarf planets.

But it is not as far away from the sun as Eris, the largest known dwarf planet. A promising insight into stellar occultation has led astronomers at the European Southern Observatory to discover whether Makemake has an atmosphere. This question has long puzzled scientists, and now they have discovered that the dwarf planet has no atmosphere.

The Hubble Space Telescope observed the satellite of Makemake in April 2015, located 20,921 kilometers away from Makemake. On April 26, 2016, American scientists announced the discovery of a satellite of Makemake, named MK2.

Makemake is a member of the dwarf planets located in the cold outer solar system - the Kuiper Belt, which is filled with countless small frozen objects that are the waste products of the formation of the solar system. Since Makemake was discovered in 2005, astronomers have searched for the icy world's companion several times.

Now, with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope, a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA)

, they discovered one of its moons.

Next, Carl Wade continued:

"Since we are flying towards Makemake, we will follow. But it is really strange. Why are they going to this planet without an atmosphere? Can this planet also be used as a base for them?"

Dal Kind guessed and said:

"Captain, captain. If my guess is correct, they probably don't know the environment of every planet in our solar system. That's why they try to detect every small place before the large force arrives. In this way, Only then can their invasion be carried out smoothly and without fail, what do you think? Captain!"

After hearing this, Carl Wade said with great agreement:

"It seems so, forget it! Let's not continue to follow blindly like this. If we let them fly to more areas, even if they fail to achieve the original purpose of reconnaissance, they will definitely collect more information about our solar system than they do now. Environmental information. This will be more detrimental to our resistance to their invasion, what do you think?"

When Dal Kind heard Carl Wade say this, he immediately thought of something and said:

"Since we are so far ahead, let's not hesitate like this anymore. Now the enemy spacecraft is also within my furthest effective attack range, so we can launch missile attacks!"

After Carl Wade heard this, he said:

"Okay. Lock the target and prepare the long-range missile for launch!"

Dal Kinder immediately obeyed. After finishing, he immediately said to Calvid:

"Target locked and missiles ready!"

After hearing this, Carl Wade immediately said without hesitation:

"Okay, attack! Missile launch!"

Subsequently, the two space fighters each launched a long-range attack missile and flew towards the alien spacecraft from beyond the heliosphere.