“We are still playing in the sandbox”: an interview with astrophysicist Alexander Perkhnyak

Alexander Perkhnyak graduated from the university with a degree in astrophysics. Now he works at the Moscow Planetarium - he participates in the creation of educational programs, conducts classes in an astro circle for children and organizes excursions.

We talked with Alexander and found out why he took up the popularization of space sciences, how he relates to horoscopes and how he sees the planetarium of the future. They also asked him to explain complex terms in simple words.

About astrophysics

How is astrophysics different from astronomy? What is studied within these sciences?

- Astronomy is the science of celestial bodies and phenomena, their location, movement and development. Astrophysics is its branch that studies the physical characteristics of these bodies and phenomena. These two terms are now sometimes used interchangeably. And when you graduate from the university, you get a degree in astronomy, despite the fact that astrophysics could be your direction.

— What is the practical significance of astrophysics for people?

— Astrophysics is an advanced science. Everything that we create for space exploration is then simplified and used in everyday life: mobile phone cameras, new cooling methods ...

- Did it all come from astrophysics?

Yes, but in a simplified form. For earthly needs, after all, supernatural equipment is not needed - for example, a camera on a phone, which will require a cylinder of liquid nitrogen to save it from overheating.

Or the same helium: at first it was discovered on Sun and only then on Earth. Frames at airports, Wi-Fi - all this is a gift from astronomy and other applied sciences.

Does astrology work? Can stars somehow influence people?

- In the XVI-XVII centuries, astronomy was called the stupid daughter of astrology, because it was impossible to earn money with it. Now everything is exactly the opposite: we consider astrology to be a pseudoscience. Because cosmic bodies located at a distance of hundreds of billions of kilometers cannot influence your character in any way. Plus, some of the stars we see in the sky have already died. It's just that the light from them has been going on for hundreds of thousands of years.

Astronomers and astrologers have nothing in common. Not worth reading horoscopes and make astrological forecasts. It is enough just to live calmly, and everything will be fine.

— In general, space can somehow influence people?

- Of course. And its impact may not always be favorable. Nevertheless, the Earth is a good sarcophagus that protects us. The atmosphere, for example, reflects streams of radioactive cosmic rays, passing only visible light and radio waves.

Space, in principle, cannot harm a person much. This word is translated as "harmony and order."

Of course, there are asteroids in the solar system that can, for example, fall to Earth. But all this can happen either not soon, or not with us.

In addition, there is the Comet-Asteroid Hazard Committee. Older people remember how terrible footage was shown on TV: the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet fell apart into a bunch of small fragments and bombarded Jupiter for quite a long time.

After this incident, the committee began to track all potentially dangerous asteroids that are approaching the Earth, calculate their orbits and predict possible catastrophes regional and global character for 50 years ahead. As long as there is nothing to fear.

Of course, I do not mean small boulders that periodically fall to the Earth, such as, for example, the Chelyabinsk meteorite. They are approaching too fast, at a speed of tens of kilometers per second, and it is impossible to counteract such cosmic bodies. In theory, they can fall on some city, but this will not be a global catastrophe.

However, progress does not stand still, technologies are improving. And I think in the future they will allow us to predict the fall of smaller bodies.

— And what about the aliens that sci-fi scares? Do they exist, in your opinion? And can we contact them?

The laws of nature are the same everywhere. And if life appeared on Earth, then it may well arise on any planet.

Again, in tropical latitudes, people believe that life in the north is pitch hell, and the northerners, on the contrary, cannot stand the heat. We are accustomed to the conditions in which we live. By the same logic, it is difficult for earthlings to imagine how something can exist on Venus, in the atmosphere of which sulfuric acid is contained. Or on Titan, whose surface is made up of methane seas.

But life on Earth is what it is because it arose under the conditions that exist here. Accordingly, if microorganisms get or got on some body with other conditions, then evolution will help them adjust. If there is no oxygen on the planet, this does not mean that life cannot exist there.

It is difficult to talk about what is possible and what is not. As famous Russian astronomers said: the idea that we are the only intelligent civilization in the Universe is only a consequence of the underdevelopment of our technical progress. That we don't know anything about extraterrestrial life formsdoesn't mean they don't exist. This suggests that we can neither fly to them, nor send them a signal, nor receive a message from them. We also play in the sandbox.

— What space exploration projects do you think are the most promising?

- For now, I think, we have the time of unmanned aerial vehicles studying distant planets.

A person should not rush to Mars so zealously to plant potatoes there.

To carry out long-range flights, you first need to solve the problems associated with the presence in space: to overcome the negative effects of radiation, the long absence of gravity, and the like.

Therefore, now, basically, the development of automatic interplanetary stations, rovers, Martian helicopters, and planetary rovers is of interest. So far, all this is without human intervention.

What myths annoy you the most?

“There is nothing that really irritates me. I understand that astronomy was not in the school curriculum for a long time, and space research was not promoted and promoted. Therefore, one should not expect too much from the knowledge of people in this area.

Of course, I sometimes stumble upon a variety of videos about "beloved" flat earth, astronauts who actually did not fly into any space, asteroids that threaten to destroy the Earth. It's not annoying, but rather annoying.

However, I understand: the truthful information lies on the surface. And now, many media and media have again become interested in the topic of space, so the myths are gradually being dispelled.

About the profession

— How did you choose the profession of an astrophysicist?

- In fact, the choice was not random. As a child, I once bought a telescope, watched a film about Galileo. And he began, not knowing the starry sky, observe. At first he paid attention to the brightest objects - to the same Jupiter. And it took so long...

And then a combination of circumstances led me to the Moscow Planetarium.

- What are your responsibilities?

- In the planetarium, I manage the astronomical complex - an open-air museum, where the observatory is represented. I conduct classes in children's circles and am responsible for the sector of astronomical education: I contact teachers and methodological associations.

The planetarium can by no means replace the school, but it can help it. We have a real starry sky, a lot of lecture programs, interactive exhibits. We are trying to make sure that astronomy, which was returned to the school curriculum, is better absorbed by children.

- There is an opinion that it is difficult to popularize astrophysics. Is it so?

“I wouldn't say so. Now people have an overabundance of information. Everyone is attracted by bright, interesting, mysterious. People start talking about black holes, flights inside the solar system - these topics are explosive.

What is happening on Earth is already commonplace. But in space - when something thumps, eats, sucks - it's a breathtaking sight.

Are children interested in space? Before, in the Soviet Union, everyone dreamed of becoming cosmonauts. Seems like it doesn't exist now.

— We have an astronomical circle, where we tell children about everything, starting with the basics: time, calendars, astronomical symbols... And they are interested in it. I would not say that the number of guys who are curious space, decreases.

If children come to our circle, they are usually already interested. Still, this is a narrowly focused path - not a sports section. Parents do not give them away with the thought: "He dances badly - maybe he will be a good astronomer."

Such children either already know something about space or are eager to learn it. Perhaps someone has a telescope at home and the child is interested in observing the stars. Or parents buy books about the structure of the universe. There can be a lot of impetus to the study of astronomy.

- The guys who go to your circle then choose the profession of an astronomer? A lot of those?

- Since the opening of the updated planetarium, I have already had many issues. Among them there are guys who really went into astronomy and are engaged in science. Many associate their lives with technical specializations - they study at the Moscow Aviation Institute, MPEI, MISiS, Baumanka. Some have already traveled in the summer NASA schoolsClasses at the NASA Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) summer schools are held every year. The program includes participation in scientific research, attending numerous lectures and master classes from leading scientists of the institute. Students of 2-3 courses are invited to participate..

The circle achieves its goal: we, first of all, develop logic in children, and they go to the exact sciences. This is the beauty of physics, the apparatus of which astronomers use. The formulas and laws of nature are the same everywhere.

Therefore, you can find yourself everywhere: in medicine, and in forensics, and in computer science. By the way, parents often ask the question: “The child is fond of astronomy and political sciencewhere to give it?

We do not know. He must choose for himself. But I will say this: if you have a penchant for political science, then you can always get a similar education with a second higher education. With astronomy, everything will be more complicated.

- What prospects can a Russian astronomer have? Where can he work then?

- We have a lot of institutes, radio astronomy and solar observatories, observation sites: in the Caucasus, in Kislovodsk, in Arkhyz, in the Crimea and not only. There are plenty of prospects for work - space without borders (laughs). It depends on what specialization the scientist chooses.

About the Moscow Planetarium

— Do those who work in the planetarium have an astrophysical education?

- All our employees either have a specialized education or a natural science education: physicists, chemists, engineers. There are those who combine scientific and popularization activities. There are quite a few professional astronomers, among whom there are also candidates of sciences.

— What programs are there at the Moscow Planetarium? Who organizes them?

- This is the work of a large team - our methodologists and employees. We have a theater of fascinating science, where children from 5 to 8 years old are explained in a simple and accessible way what a rainbow is, why the phases of the moon change, what living clocks and compasses are.

There are "Tribunes of the scientist" - when world-famous astronomers give their lectures within the walls of the planetarium. There are summer lecture halls on the roof where we invite to astronomical events. Including for observing some phenomenon: a solar or lunar eclipse, the passage of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, opposition of the planets.

How often do such events happen?

- Often. But their field of view is small. For example, a total solar eclipse "creeps" across the Earth: it can be observed either on Easter Island, or on Svalbard, or in the Chilean desert. And these places are not public. Plus, we are highly dependent on weather conditions. Sometimes the horizon is filled with clouds.

- The Moscow Planetarium shows a lot of films: "Inhabited Moon", "Colorful Universe", "The Birth of Planet Earth". How are they created? Is this a collaboration between animators and scientists?

- Yes, films are drawn by a variety of teams scattered around the world. Our Planetarium has an excellent team that creates world-class paintings. Usually the script for them is written by astronomers. They tell you how to do it right blunders.

After the film is made, it is reviewed by our scientific council, which consists of prominent astronomers of world renown. They approve or disapprove of the pictures.

The process of making such films is slow. It can take a year, or two, or even more.

What do you think the planetarium might look like in the future?

“This is the place where everyone comes for knowledge and gets it. It should not lose its main goal - enlightenment.

I don't want the planetarium to turn into an entertainment center where you lie on the floor and look at the abstract patterns on the dome.

It would also be nice if it had a large observatory in which people could be taken. And its technical equipment would make it possible to deal with flare, so that all space objects would be available for observation, and not just those that are visible under certain conditions. But this is already something from the realm of fantasy.

The planetarium should be the center of attraction for people. Space always brings peace, peace and confidence that there is still something unshakable and indestructible in this world. He brings people together.