Census of cosmic neighbors reveals new insights with help from citizen scientists

Census of cosmic neighbors reveals new insights with help from citizen scientists
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 17, 2024

Using various telescopes, scientists, including volunteer citizen scientists worldwide, have mapped over 3,500 cosmic entities within 65 light-years of the Sun through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project.

A recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal details these findings, highlighting that stars outnumber brown dwarfs by four to one in this sector, yet low-mass objects prevail over their heavier counterparts.

"The diversity in mass and the sudden frequency changes at three specific points suggest multiple formation mechanisms at play," explains J. Davy Kirkpatrick, lead researcher from Caltech's IPAC. "These nuances provide new insights into the complexities of how celestial bodies form."

Brown dwarfs, often categorized between stars and planets, lack the mass for hydrogen fusion typical of stars. The study suggests distinct formation pathways for brown dwarfs and higher-mass stars, potentially involving different initial conditions within their progenitor gas and dust clouds.

The involvement of citizen scientists has significantly accelerated the data analysis process. "Their contributions have cut down the time needed to identify these objects by a decade or more," Kirkpatrick added.

These volunteers utilized WiseView, a tool created by citizen scientists to compile WISE mission data into animations that ease the identification of moving objects. This innovation has streamlined the entire project, making the identification process more efficient.

Additionally, Kirkpatrick initiated the Stellar Ambassadors program, empowering citizen scientists to explore scientific publications about these cosmic objects, further integrating public involvement in scientific research.

Future studies will leverage the James Webb Space Telescope to delve into molecular clouds that nurture the seeds of stars, brown dwarfs, and planets, potentially elucidating the varied developmental paths these seeds may follow.

Leopold Gramaize, a notable participant and co-author of the study from Paris, transitioned from airport security director to coding enthusiast through his involvement with Backyard Worlds. "The allure of brown dwarfs, their mysterious nature captured in mere pixels, drew me in," he shared.

Citizen science projects at NASA are accessible to global volunteers, with over 40 different initiatives available. More information on how to participate can be found here