Designing the first virtual high-energy observatory on Mars.
The magnetosphere and atmosphere of Earth protects life from potentially hazardous radiation. However, this means that astronomers wishing to observe the Cosmos in far-ultraviolet, X-rays, or gamma rays are dependent on space-borne telescopes.
Putting instruments in space, however, means repairs and upgrades are either extremely difficult or impossible. Easy access to astronomical instruments is one of the great advantages of ground-based observatories.
Once humans begin to consistently live on the Moon and Mars, astronomers and their teams will, for the first time, have regular physical access to "space based" observatories.
The Angstrom Radiation Exploration Station (ARES) would observe the Universe from the surface of Mars in UV, X-ray and gamma ray wavelengths ( < 1000 angstroms).
This virtual model might serve to inform future concepts for a real-life ARES observatory - the first high-energy observatory on the surface of another world. Detailed knowledge of the nature of this radiation would also provide data needed to better-protect humans and other forms of life on The Red Planet.
More than 2,600 years ago, a small number of people in ancient Ionia and Greece began to look at the world around them in a whole new way, and science was born.
Now, we stand at the precipice of another step in the great advance of science - performing astronomy from the face of the Moon and Mars. The Angstrom Radiation Exploration Station (ARES), is named in honor of these first scientists, who knew this bright red point in the sky as Ares.
Let's design a virtual model of the first high-energy observatory on Mars - Ares!
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Thanks for taking the time to read this!
I'd love to know if anyone else is interested in this idea. I grew up around the space program, and I am a creator of new media for astronomy education. My skills are in writing, graphic design, and video creation. I used to be quite good at 3D editing, both in Second Life as well as the Unreal editor, but I haven't used the Unreal editor in 15 years, so we would need some people up-to-date with the editor. I'm also thinking we want this to be as realistic as (reasonably possible), so are there any people out there with knowledge of high-energy telescopes?
I hope to hear from folks interested in this project!
- James
