University student maps plasma tubes in the sky

Using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) radio telescope in the Western Australia desert, a Sydney University student, Cleo Loi, has discovered enormous plasma pipes in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Thought to be responsible for possible radio interference with satellite navigation systems, the presence of these objects has been predicted for over 60 years, but never before seen. By imaginatively using the radio telescope to observe in 3D, Loi was able to image large areas of the sky using the fast photography capabilities of the MWA to produce a movie that shows the motions of the plasma in real-time.

.. Continue Reading University student maps plasma tubes in the sky

Section: Science

Tags:

• Astronomy
• Ionosphere
• Plasma
• Magnetic field
• University of Sydney

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from Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine http://ift.tt/1SVvBOK