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Parts of the huge Ukrainian radio telescope (belt) antenna array. | Credit: Serge Yerin about Wikimedia Commons
This article was originally published at The conversation. The publication made the article on Space.com Expert votes: OP-ED & Insights.
The scientists who measure the position of the earth are in a little difficulty. Their measurements are of essential importance for the satellites that we use every day for navigation, communication and earth observation.
However, you could be surprised to find out that these measurements – using the science of geodesy – depends on tracking the places of black holes in distant galaxies.
The problem is that the scientists have to use specific frequency traces on the Radio Spectrum Highway to track these black holes.
And with the rise of WiFi, mobile phones and the satellite internet, traveling on this highway looks like a traffic jam.
Why we need black holes
Satellites and the services they provide have become essential for modern life. From precision navigation in our pockets to the measurement of climate change, the leadership of global supply chains and the creation of power grids and online banking, our civilization cannot work without its all -round companions.
To use satellites, we need to know exactly where they are at a certain point in time. The precise satellite positioning is based on the so -called “global geodäsäsket”.
This supply chain begins with the determination of a reliable reference framework as the basis for all other measurements. Since satellites are constantly moving around the earth, the earth constantly moves around the sun, and the sun is constantly moving through the galaxy, this frame of reference has to be carefully calibrated over some relatively firm external objects.
As it turns out, the best anchor points for the system are the black holes in the heart of distant galaxies that spit out radiation currents when they devour stars and gas.
These black holes are the distant and most stable objects that we know. With a technique that is referred to as a very long base interferometry, we can use a network of radio telescopes to lock the signals of the black hole and to be disguised the earth’s own rotation and wiggle from the movement of the satellites in space.
Credit: ESO/WFI (optical); MPIFR/ESO/APEX/A.WEISS et al. (Submillimeter); NASA/CXC/CFA/R.Kraft et al. (X -ray)
Various alleys on the Radio Highway
We use radio telescopes because we want to recognize the radio waves from the black holes. Radio waves go through the atmosphere cleanly and we can get them day and night and in all weather conditions.
Radio waves are also used for communication on earth – including things such as WLAN and mobile phones. The use of different radio frequencies – different alleys on the radio road – is closely regulated, and some narrow streets are reserved for radio astronomy.
In the past decades, however, the radio has had relatively little traffic. Scientists who are usually stripped from the radio astronomy to get the black hole signals.
In order to achieve the very high precision that is needed for modern technology, Geodesy today relies on more than just the streets that are reserved exclusively for astronomy.
The 30-meter telescope on Pico Veleta in the Spanish Sierra Nevada uses radio waves to scan the night sky. | Credit: Iram-Gre via Wikimedia Commons
Radio traffic on the advance
In recent years, the electromagnetic pollution of people has increased significantly. Scientists reacted as WLAN and mobile phone services by switching to higher frequencies.
However, they go out the alleys. Six generations of mobile phone services (one new lane each) push the spectrum, not to mention internet connections that are sent directly by a fleet of thousands of satellites.
Nowadays, the multitude of signals is often too strong for geodetic observatories to see them emitted to the very weak signals that are emitted by black holes. As a result, many satellite services are at risk.
What can be done?
In order to continue working into the future -to maintain the services that we all depend on -Geodesy needs more lanes on the radio motorway. If the spectrum is divided into World radio conferences via international contracts, geodesists need a seat at the table.
Other potential corrections may include Radio Quiet zones in terms of our essential radio telescopes. The satellite providers are also worked so as not to show in radio telescopes.
Every solution must be global. For our geodetic measurements, we link radio telescopes from all over the world and enable us to imitate a telescope of the earth. The radio spectrum is mainly regulated individually by each nation, which makes this a great challenge.
But maybe the first step is awareness. If we want the satellite navigation to work, equipped our supermarkets and our online money transfers arrive safely, we have to make sure that we have a clear view of these black holes in distant galaxies -and that means clarifying the radio motorway.
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