Go Back   IceInSpace > General Astronomy > Astronomy and Amateur Science
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 04-04-2006, 11:32 PM
jjjnettie's Avatar
jjjnettie (Jeanette)
Registered User

jjjnettie is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
Space Alcohol

I was watching the news this afternoon, and on the banner it mentioned a cloud of alcohol found in space. This is an article I found on it.

www.labnews.co.uk/new_labnews/article. php?artid=1017&categoryid=2&scheme= 2 - 26k - 2

Giant cloud of space alcohol found
Scientists have discovered a giant cloud of methyl alcohol - spanning 288 billion miles - floating in space

Article first published: 04 April 2006

Astronomers hope that observations of this gas cloud - taken with the UK's MERLIN radio telescopes - could help our understanding of how the most massive stars in our galaxy are formed. However, all those hoping for a taste of the interstellar tipple will be disappointed.

Dr Harvey-Smith, principal investigator for the study, said: “Although it is exciting to discover a cloud of alcohol almost 300 billion miles across, unfortunately methanol, unlike its chemical cousin ethanol, is not suitable for human consumption!”

The team, based at Jodrell Bank Observatory, revealed that giant filaments of methanol gas that are emitting as 'masers' - the gas amplifies and emits beams of microwave radiation in much the same way as a laser emits beams of light.
The great bar in the sky. White areas represent
the methanol maser spots.

“Our discovery is very interesting because it challenges some long-accepted views held in astronomical maser research. Until we found these filaments, we thought of masers as point-like objects or very small bright hotspots surrounded by halos of fainter emission,” said Dr Harvey-Smith.

The team studied an area called W3(OH), a region in our galaxy where stars are being formed by the gravitational collapse of a cloud of gas and dust.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-04-2006, 11:58 PM
gaa_ian's Avatar
gaa_ian (Ian)
1300 THESKY

gaa_ian is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Cairns Qld
Posts: 2,405
Good thing a flame can not burn in space, Bang!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-04-2006, 12:05 AM
johnno
Registered User

johnno is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hunter Valley nsw australia
Posts: 535
Yes,
As a dedicated maker of fine spirits,beer,etc,Methanol is a definate NO NO,

bit of a pity really,as there would be enough Bourbon,and Scotch Base there to keep me going for a while at least.

Regards.
John
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-04-2006, 12:13 AM
jjjnettie's Avatar
jjjnettie (Jeanette)
Registered User

jjjnettie is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,741
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnno
Yes,
As a dedicated maker of fine spirits,beer,etc,Methanol is a definate NO NO,

bit of a pity really,as there would be enough Bourbon,and Scotch Base there to keep me going for a while at least.
John,
It's nice to see another chemist in the group. What sort of still do you use?
Jeanette
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-04-2006, 03:09 AM
johnno
Registered User

johnno is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hunter Valley nsw australia
Posts: 535
Hi Jeanette,
I dont really like to wander too far off topic,as I know its frowned on.
but I will pm you soon.

A quick answer is a commercial still,for extracting Essential oils only.

Regards.
John
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-04-2006, 10:47 AM
robagar's Avatar
robagar
lost in Calabi-Yau space

robagar is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cairns
Posts: 161
I remember being asked as a 1st year tutorial question to caluculate the number of bottles of whisky in one of these clouds. Can't remember the answer but it was something, ahem, astronomical.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 09:35 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Astrophotography Prize
Advertisement