Astronomy: Cosmic Rays

Astronomy: Cosmic Rays
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Concepts & Techniques
Cosmic Rays Cosmic rays or astroparticles are high-energy particles or clusters of particles (primarily represented by protons or atomic nuclei) that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from outside of the Solar System in the Milky Way, from distant galaxies, and from the Sun.

Commentary

Commentary

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Cosmic Rays Cosmic rays or astroparticles are high-energy particles or clusters of particles (primaril y represented by protons or atomic nuclei) that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from outside of the Solar System in the Milky Way, from distant galaxies, and from the Sun. Upon impact with Earth's atmosphere, cosmic rays produce showers of secondary particles, some of which reach the surface, although the bulk are deflected off into space by the magnetosphere or the heliosphere.

Commentary

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Why Cosmic Rays matters: These foundational ideas and techniques are the tools astronomers use to measure, classify, and understand everything from nearby planets to the most distant gal axies. Cosmic rays were discovered by Victor Hess in 1912 in balloon experiments, for which he was awarded the 1936 Nobel Prize in Physics. Direct measurement of cosmic rays, especially at lower energies, has been possible since the launch of the first satellites in the late 1950s. Particle detectors similar to those used in nuclear and high-energy physics are used on satellites and space probes for research into cosmic rays. Data from the Fermi Space Telescope (2013) have been interpreted as evidence that a significant fraction of primary cosmic rays originate from the supernova explosions of stars. Based on observations of neutrinos and gamma rays from blazar TXS 0506+056 in 2018, active galactic nuclei also appear to produce cosmic rays.

Commentary

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Deep dive: Cosmic Rays Direct measurement of cosmic rays, especially at lower energies, has been possible since the launch of the first sate llites in the late 1950s. Particle detectors similar to those used in nuclear and high-energy physics are used on satellites and space probes for research into cosmic rays. Data from the Fermi Space Telescope (2013) have been interpreted as evidence that a significant fraction of primary cosmic rays originate from the supernova explosions of stars. Based on observations of neutrinos and gamma rays from blazar TXS 0506+056 in 2018, active galactic nuclei also appear to produce cosmic rays. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_ray (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)