Word: vegas
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Vega is one of the brightest stars in the summer sky; in the Northern Hemisphere it is visible almost directly overhead in the constellation Lyra. About 60 times as luminous as the sun, this glowing beacon is often used by astronomers to calibrate their instruments and judge the brightness of other celestial bodies. Now scientists have another reason to keep an eye on this prominent star. Last week Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced that an orbital telescope, the new Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), appears to have found the first direct evidence that a far-off star could...
...assumed that stars beyond the sun are the hubs of their own solar systems. Indeed, some of these worlds may include planets where life perhaps has evolved. Yet even the closest stars are too distant for earth-bound telescopes to discern any planets in orbit around them. Indications that Vega, which lies 26 light-years (150 trillion miles) away, has a solar system may be the most important finding so far made by IRAS, a joint effort of the U.S., Britain and The Netherlands that was launched last January. When Astronomers H.H. Aumann of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which manages...
...Physics Paul Horowitz, is currently searching for radio signals from intelligent life forms, using an 84-ft.-diameter radio telescope owned by the University and located in Harvard, Mass. Already, he said, several colleagues and others have inquired about any readings he may have taken in the area of Vega, just in case there were some planets--and beings--orbiting around...
...tell you the truth, conventional theory in this area says that Vega is not a good candidate," said Horowitz, explaining that the star is not of the size and intensity expected to develop "habitable" planets. Nevertheless, he said, he will most likely take a peek in Vega's direction when he next goes to the radio telescope in coming weeks...
...Vega, now visible nearly directly overhead and part of the constellation Lyra, is located about 26 light years away, the distance light would travel in that span of time, or about 150 trillion miles. Scientists believe the star to be about twice the size and 60 times as bright as the sun, with the particles extending in an envelope or disk about 7.4 billion miles in radius, approximately twice the distance from the sun to the orbit of its outermost planet...