It’s an episode where orbital mechanics meet cosmic archaeology — with a dash of solar storm science.
---
## 📰 Stories Covered
1. India’s EOS‑N1 Launch on PSLV-C62
- First PSLV liftoff since a May 2025 anomaly.
- Carried a military Earth‑observation satellite plus 15 payloads.
- Third‑stage deviation under investigation.
2. FCC Approves 7,500 Additional Starlink Gen2 Satellites
- Expansion to boost coverage and speed.
- Partial approval pending further review of SpaceX’s larger request.
- Implications for connectivity, orbital traffic, and astronomy.
3. NASA’s Pandora – Exoplanet Atmosphere Investigator
- Small, dedicated telescope to study exoplanet atmospheres.
- Focused on separating signals from planets and their stars.
- Could refine the hunt for biosignatures.
4. A Ten‑Second Signal from the Early Universe
- Likely a supernova about 13 billion light‑years away.
- Offers a rare probe into early stellar death.
- Discovered via coordinated, multi‑wavelength observations.
5. Unmasking the Sun’s Most Violent Flares
- Discovery of ultra‑energetic particles in the upper solar atmosphere.
- Provides a clearer picture of gamma‑ray production.
- Could improve space weather forecasts.
6. Earliest Known Barred Spiral Galaxy
- Dated to 11.5 billion years ago.
- Challenges models of how fast galaxy structures form.
- May force revisions in early-Universe galaxy evolution theories.
---
## 🔍 Key Themes & Takeaways
- Space Operations: Even reliable rockets can have anomalies — data analysis is crucial.
- Policy & Infrastructure: Starlink expansion reshapes the orbital environment.
- Scientific Frontiers: Compact, focused missions can massively advance our understanding.
- Cosmic Forensics: The early Universe was more structured than we thought.
- Solar Hazards: Better flare science means better protection for tech and people.
---
## 📚 Further Reading & References
- [India launches EOS‑N1 military satellite with PSLV-C62](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/india-eos-n1-military-satellite-15-payloads-pslv-launch)
- [FCC approves 7,500 more Starlink Gen2 satellites](https://spacenews.com/fcc-approves-7500-additional-starlink-satellites/)
- [NASA’s Pandora mission launch coverage](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/watch-spacex-launch-nasas-pandora-exoplanet-studying-satellite-on-jan-11)
- [Supernova signal from 13 billion years ago](https://dailygalaxy.com/2026/01/earth-receives-10-second-signal-from-supernova-13-billion-years-ago/)
- [Breakthrough on Sun’s flare particle populations](https://scitechdaily.com/what-powers-the-suns-most-violent-flares-scientists-finally-have-an-answer/)
- [Early barred spiral galaxy discovery](https://connectsci.au/news/news-parent/7631/Barred-spiral-galaxy-may-be-the-earliest-seen-yet?searchresult=1)
---
## 🎧 How to Listen
Subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.
---
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 Avery: And I'm Avery. Hello everyone. Thanks for
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 joining us. Today is January 12,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 2026 and we've got a full show,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 launches and anomalies, regulatory moves that
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 reshape low Earth orbit, a brand new
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 exoplanet observatory on its way, a
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 flash from the cosmic dawn, fresh results
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 about what powers the sun's, um, strongest
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 flares and a galaxy discovery that looks
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 surprisingly familiar for the early universe.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 Anna: Yep, 6stor. All of them important in
00:00:33 --> 00:00:34 different ways.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 We'll start with this morning's launch news
00:00:36 --> 00:00:37 from India.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 Avery: India's polar satellite launch vehicle, the
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 PSLV C62 lifted off
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre this morning
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 carrying EOS N1,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 described as an advanced Earth Observation
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 military surveillance satellite, along with a
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 batch of CO passenger payloads. The mission
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 marked ISRO's first launch attempt since a
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 PSLV anomaly in May 2025.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 So there was on it, right?
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 Anna: The liftoff itself looked nominal, but
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 ISRO later reported an anomaly near the end
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 of the third stage. The PS3.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 Initial public statements indicate a, uh,
00:01:15 --> 00:01:18 deviation in the third stage's phase and that
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 ISRO has begun a detailed analysis.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 At this stage it's not yet confirmed whether
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 the primary satellite and co passengers
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 reached their planned orbits.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 Avery: Those early stage deviations can be
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 especially challenging because they often
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 happen during staging or engine cutoff
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 where timing and velocity are critical.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 ISRO has a long successful history with the
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 PSLV family. But even reliable vehicles
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 can have single event anomalies. The
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 important thing is how the agency responds.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 Recovering telemetry, diagnosing the root
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 cause and transparently sharing findings. So
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 confidence can be rebuilt.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 Anna: Absolutely. From a broader perspective, this
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 mission also demonstrates the global nature
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 of smallsat rideshares and the strategic
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 value that Earth Observation Satellite
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 deliver, whether for commercial or defence
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 purposes. We'll keep an eye on ISRO's follow
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 up. They typically publish an analysis after
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 they comb through flight data and we'll link.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 Avery: To the official statements in the episode
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 notes for folks who want the primary sources
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 next up.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 Anna: In the US the Federal Communications
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 Commission granted SpaceX authorization
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 to deploy an additional 7
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 Starlink second generation satellites.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 That's a, uh, partial approval within a
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 broader SpaceX request for up to 15
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 in Gen 2.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 Avery: This is a big step for the company's plan to
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 upgrade Starlink's capabilities. Higher
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 throughput, lower latency and expanded
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 services including direct to cell
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 connectivity and higher Data rates. The
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 FCC's partial grant means SpaceX can move
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 forward with a substantial expansion while
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 regulators and Other stakeholders continue to
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 evaluate the remainder of the proposal.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 Anna: There are a couple of important implications.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 Operationally, many more starlink nodes
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 in low Earth orbit will increase global
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 broadb capacity, particularly for
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 underserved and rural regions. But it also
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 intensifies ongoing concerns about orbital
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 crowding, radio frequency coordination
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 and long term space sustainability.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 Avery: Right? Competitors and some academics have
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 raised worries about spectrum interference,
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 orbital dominance, and the cumulative effect
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 of so many satellites on debris risk and
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 astronomical observing. SpaceX says it
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 will coordinate reconfiguration steps, for
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 example lowering orbits for safety and using
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 DEORB strategies. But regulators and the
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 international community will be watching
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 closely, so this is both.
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 Anna: A technical and policy storey. The
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 authorization moves the technology forward,
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 but it also keeps the conversation going
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 about how to manage low Earth orbit
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 responsibly as it becomes busier.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 Avery: On a More exploratory note,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 rideshare mission that included NASA's
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 Pandora satellite. Pandora is a compact
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 astrophysics mission designed to study the
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 atmospheres Least 20 exoplanets
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 and their host stars over about a year of
00:04:19 --> 00:04:19 operations.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 Anna: Pandora's key strength is that it's optimised
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 to disentangle the light coming from an
00:04:24 --> 00:04:26 exoplanet and the star it orbits.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 Stellar activity, spots, flares and magnetic
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 variability can mimic or mask atmospheric
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 signals from exoplanets. Pandorna carries a
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 0.45-metre telescope and a suite of
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 instruments aimed at measuring both the
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 star's variability and the planet's
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 transmission signals, improving the accuracy
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 of atmospheric composition measure.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 Avery: That kind of targeted mission is exactly what
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 the exoplanet community needs now. Large
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 observatories like JWST do
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 outstanding detailed work, but
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 focused missions such as Pandora can observe
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 many systems in a systematic way and help
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 build context. Pandora will feed into
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 priorities for future larger missions that
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 aim to detect specific molecules, even
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 biosignatures, in exoplanet atmospheres.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 Anna: It's also another example of efficient
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 rideshare launches enabling specialised
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 science payloads. Pandora joining a
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 larger commercial launch shows how the
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 landscape of getting small science spacecraft
00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 to orbit has matured.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Avery: Turning to the distant universe, astronomers
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 recently reported detecting a very brief 10
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 second flash that originated roughly 13
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 billion light years away. This is being
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 interpreted as light from an extremely
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 distant supernova, one of the farthest, if
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 not the farthest, stellar explosions observed
00:05:47 --> 00:05:47 so far.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 Anna: The detection combined data from multiple
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 instruments, including wide field X ray
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 monitors and follow on observations by
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 facilities such as the James Webb Space
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 Telescope. The event is remarkable
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 because it lets astronomers study stellar
00:06:02 --> 00:06:05 death and the environments of massive stars
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 in the early universe when galaxies were
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 young and metal content was low.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 Avery: Observing such distant explosions is rare
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 because cosmological redshift and faintness
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 make them hard to spot. When one is found, it
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 can reveal the properties of the progenitor
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 star, the host galaxy and the
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 intergalactic medium at a time when cosmic
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 structure was still forming. There are also
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 ties to gamma ray bursts and extreme
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 transient phenomena. Researchers will be
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 investigating whether models for super
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 luminous supernovae or exotic explosions
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 match this event.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 Anna: This detection emphasises how multi
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 wavelength coordinated observing campaigns,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 fast alerts from one instrument followed by
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 deep telescope follow up are essential for
00:06:49 --> 00:06:52 studying the transient universe, especially
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 at high redshift.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 Avery: Back closer to home, solar physicists have
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 new insight into the engine behind the sun's
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 most violent flares and the intense gamma
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 rays they sometimes unleash. Researchers
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 identified a previously unrecognised
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 population of extremely energetic particles
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 in the sun's upper atmosphere that appear to
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 be a major source of those high energy
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 photons.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 Anna: The finding comes from combining long
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 duration observations and specialised
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 instruments capable of measuring particle
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 populations and gamma ray signatures.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 The upshot is that magnetic reconnection and
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 particle acceleration processes in flare
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 regions are more complex than some simple
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 models suggested. In particular, the upper
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 layers of the solar atmosphere, where
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 magnetic fields reconnect and release energy,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:44 can track, trap and accelerate particles to
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 mega electron volts, energies that then
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 produce gamma rays.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 Avery: This matters for space weather prediction.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 Gamma rays and energetic particles accompany
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 the most extreme flares and can affect
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 satellites, radio communications and
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 radiation exposure for astronauts and high
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 flying aircraft. By better understanding
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 where and how particles are accelerated,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 models of flare, impact and forecasts of
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 space weather can be improved.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 Anna: It's also a good reminder that our sun still
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 surprises us even with decades of
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 observations and multiple solar missions.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 New diagnostics and longer observation
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 windows reveal previously hidden physics.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 Avery: Finally, one of the most visually intriguing
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 storeys. Astronomers have identified a
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 barred spiral galaxy whose light comes from
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 approximately 11.5 billion
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 years ago, about 2 billion years after the
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 Big Bang. If confirmed, this object
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 would be among the earliest bars and spiral
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 structures seen in the universe.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 Anna: Bars are elongated stellar structures that
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 can drive internal evolution in galaxies.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 They funnel gas toward the centre, trigger
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 star formation and rearrange angular
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 momentum. Finding a well defined bar so
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 early means that disc galaxies could develop
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 mature internal structures sooner than many
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 models predicted.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 Avery: The discovery was enabled by deep
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 spectroscopically confirmed imaging from
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 powerful telescopes, Hubble and other
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 facilities and careful analysis of the
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 galaxy's stellar and morphological
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 properties. The object sits in a growing
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 collection of surprising early galaxies.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 Some are massive and evolved earlier than
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 expected. Others show complex
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 morphologies previously thought to require
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 long timescales to form.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 Anna: These results feed directly into galaxy
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 formation theory. They force modellers to
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 consider rapid disc settling, efficient
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 angular momentum redistribution, and other
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 processes that could build bars early. It's
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 an exciting reminder that the early universe
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 may have been both more active and more
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 varied than our simplest expectations.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 Avery: So, looking across today's storeys, we have
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 an operational launch with an anomaly that
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 will require analysis, a regulatory decision
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 that reshapes near Earth space, a
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 dedicated exoplanet mission now in orbit,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 a signal from the cosmic dawn giving a rare
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 window into early stellar deaths,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 improved understanding of particle
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 acceleration on the sun and an early
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 galaxy that challenges our ideas of how
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 quickly structure forms.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 Anna: It's a nice mix, isn't it? Local space
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 operations and policy, Near Earth
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 infrastructure and its implications Targeted
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 planetary science domain
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 extragalactic astronomy, solar physics and
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 cosmological structure formation. For
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 listeners, it shows how broad and
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 interconnected modern astronomy and space
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 activity are.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 Avery: Two quick takeaways. First, watch for
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 ISRO's follow up on the PSLV anomaly
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 that will affect launch schedules and the
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 broader smallsat community. Second,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 the more we push instruments and coordination
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 like fast transients and small science
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 satellites, the more corner cases we find
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 that reshape theory. Discoveries often come
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 when new instruments or different
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 organisational approaches are applied.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 Anna: And for the non scientists out there
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 wondering what to look for tonight, Jupiter
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 is still a good target if you're out
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 stargazing, and aurora watchers should keep
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 an eye on space weather forecasts as the
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 sun's activity continues to produce strong
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 events.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 Avery: That's it for today's episode. If you enjoyed
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 the show, subscribe to Astronomy Daily on
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 your preferred podcast platform. You can find
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 links, source articles and further reading in
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 the episode notes so you can dig deeper if
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 you wish.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 Anna: We love hearing from listeners. If you have
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 questions, science topics you'd like us to
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 cover, or feedback about the show, drop us a
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 note through the Astronomy Daily website. You
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 can find us@, uh, astronomydaily.IO
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 thanks for listening.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 Avery: I'm Avery.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 Anna: And I'm Anna Clear Skies and we'll see you
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 tomorrow on Astronomy Daily.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 Avery: Astronomy Daily
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 the Storeys we told.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:02 Storeys.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 We told.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 Anna: You m.