00:00:01 --> 00:00:04 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 where we bring you the latest from the final
00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 frontier. I'm Anna.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Avery: And I'm Avery. It's great to be back with you
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 today for another exciting episode filled
00:00:14 --> 00:00:15 with groundbreaking space news.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Anna: In today's show, we'll be discussing a
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 tiny moon rock that's rewriting lunar
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 history, Blue Origin's upcoming rocket
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 launch, the ongoing oriented meteor
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 shower, and stunning new images from the
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 James Webb telescop.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 Avery: So buckle up, space fans. Let's dive right
00:00:34 --> 00:00:34 in.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 Anna: First up, a story that proves sometimes the
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 smallest things can have the biggest impact.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 We're talking about a, um, Moon rock
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 collected by Apollo 17 astronauts
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 50 years ago. Sample
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 76535.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 Avery: That's right, Anna. Uh, this tiny rock is
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 challenging our entire understanding of the
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 Moon's early history. New computer
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 simulations show it formed deep within the
00:01:00 --> 00:01:03 Moon's crust and then rose to the surface
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 surface about 4.25 billion years ago.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 Anna: And here's the crucial part. It didn't get
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 there through a violent impact, which was the
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 previous assumption. The simulations suggest
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 a much gentler process, like buoyant
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 ascent through the lunar mantle.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:23 Avery: This gentle rise implies that the Moon's
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 large impact basins, the giant craters
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 we see, might be about 300 million years
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 older than we thought. That's a significant
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 shift in the timeline. The researchers used
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 sophisticated computer modeling that
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 simulates the thermal and chemical evolution
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 of the lunar interior over billions of years.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 Anna: What's particularly fascinating about the
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 methodology here is how they combined
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 geochemical analysis of the rock sample
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 with advanced computational models. The
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 rock itself contains specific mineral
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 compositions and isotopic signatures. That
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 acts like a geological clock.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 Avery: Exactly, Anna. Um. By analyzing the ratios of
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 different elements and isotopes, scientists
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 can determine when and under what conditions
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 the rock formed. Then they feed that data
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 into models that simulate the Moon's thermal
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 evolution, including how heat from
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 radioactive decay and early impacts would
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 have affected the lunar interior.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 Anna: This has huge implications for understanding
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 the early solar system. If the Moon's
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 basins are older, it means the period of
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 heavy bombardment when asteroids and comets
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 were constantly hitting. Planetary bodies
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 started earlier and perhaps lasted
00:02:38 --> 00:02:38 longer.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 Avery: And that affects our understanding of when
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 conditions became suitable for life on Earth.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 The heavy bombardment period would have
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 sterilized the planet's surface. Repeatedly
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 pushing that timeline back means we might
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 need to reconsider when life could have first
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 emerged.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 Anna: Looking ahead, this research highlights why
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 future lunar missions are so important.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 NASA's Artemis program and other
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 international missions will be collecting new
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 samples, samples from different regions of
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 the Moon, which could confirm or refine
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 these findings.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 Avery: Particularly samples from the lunar south
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 pole, which has remained in shadow for
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 billions of years and may preserve ancient
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 materials that could tell us even more about
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 the Moon's earliest history and by extension,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23 Earth's formation.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 Anna: Exactly. If these basins are
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 older, it means the period of heavy
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 bombardment in the inner solar system
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 happened to earlier too. This could force
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 us to rewrite chapters in textbooks about how
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 planets and moons evolved.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 Avery: It's amazing what we can still learn from
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 samples brought back half a century ago. It
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 just goes to show the enduring value of the
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 Apollo program shifting gears.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 Anna: From ancient history to the very near future.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 Let's talk about launch schedules. Avery,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 what's the latest with Blue Origin?
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 Avery: Great question, Anna. Blue Origin is gearing
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 up for the second launch of its massive New
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 Glenn rocket, currently targeting a window in
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 mid October.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 Anna: This is a big deal because the payload is
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 NASA's Escapade mission, twin small
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 satellites designed to orbit Mars and
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 study its magnetosphere.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 Avery: That's correct. Escapade stands for Escape
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 Explorers. These twin spacecraft are part
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 of NASA's Small Innovative Missions for
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 Planetary Exploration program, designed to
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 be cost effective while delivering
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 significant science.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 Anna: The science goals are really fascinating.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 Escapade will study how solar wind
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 interacts with Mars's weak magnetic field
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 and atmosphere. This is crucial for
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 understanding why Mars lost most of its
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 atmosphere and water over time,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 transforming from a potentially habitable
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 world to the dry planet we see today.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 Avery: Each spacecraft carries a sophisticated suite
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 of instruments, including magnetometers to
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 measure magnetic fields, plasma analyzers
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 to study charged particles, and electron
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 spectrometers. By working in tandem,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 they'll create a 3D picture of how solar
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 wind particles are accelerated away from
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 Mars.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 Anna: Now let's talk about the new Glenn rocket
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 itself. This is Blue Origin's heavy
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 lift vehicle. Standing over
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 320ft tall with a 23
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 foot diameter, it's designed to be partially
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 reusable, with the first stage capable of
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 landing on a sea platform and being flown
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 again.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 Avery: The first stage is powered by
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 7Be4 engines, the same
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 engines used on United Launch Alliance's
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 Vulcan rocket. These methane fueled engines
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 represent the next generation of rocket
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 propulsion, offering better performance and
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 reusability compared to traditional kerosene
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 engines.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Anna: This launch represents a significant
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 milestone for the commercial space industry.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 NASA's decision to use New Glenn for such an
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 important science mission shows growing
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 confidence in commercial providers for
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 critical planetary exploration missions,
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 beyond just cargo resupply to the
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 International Space Station.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 Avery: It's part of a broader trend where NASA is
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 leveraging commercial partnerships to reduce
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 costs and accelerate mission timelines. This
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 approach allows the agency to focus its
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 resources on developing the most complex
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 technologies while benefiting from the
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 innovation happening in the private sector.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 Anna: The fact that NASA chose New Glenn for this
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 mission is a strong vote of confidence in the
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 new rocket system, especially after after its
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 successful debut flight earlier this year.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 Avery: Absolutely. It signals that New Glenn is
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 becoming a reliable workhorse for important
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 scientific missions. We'll be watching that
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 launch closely.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 Now for something you can actually see with
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 your own eyes, no telescope required. The
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 annual Orionid meteor shower is about to get
00:06:55 --> 00:06:56 underway.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 Anna: That's right, Avery. It begins on October 2nd
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 and will run through November 12th, with the
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 peak activity expected around October 20th
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 to 23rd.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 Avery: These shooting stars are bits of debris left
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 behind by the most famous comet of all,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 Halley's Comet. As Earth plows through this
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 debris trail, the particles burn up in our
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 atmosphere, creating those brilliant streaks
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 of light. The Orionids are particularly
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 special because they come from one of the
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 most studied comets in history.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Anna: Halley's Comet has been observed for over
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 2000 years, with records dating back to
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 ancient China and Babylon. It returns to
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 the inner solar system every 76 years,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 and each time it passes close to the sun, it
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 sheds more material that creates these meteor
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 showers.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 Avery: The science behind meteor showers is
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 fascinating. These particles are typically no
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 larger than grains of sand, but they enter
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 our atmosphere at incredible speeds, up to
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 148 miles per hour. For the
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 Orionids, the friction with air molecules
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 heats them to thousands of degrees, causing
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 them to glow.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Anna: For optimal viewing, you'll want to give your
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 eyes about 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 darkness. Avoid looking at your phone or any
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 bright LEDs. The best time is typically
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 between midnight and dawn, when your location
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 is facing the direction of Earth's orbital
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 motion, so you're essentially plowing into
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 the meteor stream.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 Avery: Another great tip is to use peripheral vision
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 rather than staring directly at the radian
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 point. Meteors can appear anywhere in the
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 sky, and your peripheral vision is actually
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 more sensitive to detecting faint, fast
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 moving objects.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 Anna: Objects the Orionids typically
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 produce about 20 meteors per hour at
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 peak, but they're known for occasional
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 outbursts where rates can double or even
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 triple. They're also famous for
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 producing fireballs, exceptionally
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 bright meteors that can light up the entire
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52 sky.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 Avery: What makes this year particularly good is
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 that the Moon will be new on October 22,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 meaning no moonlight will interfere with
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 viewing. This creates ideal dark
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 sky conditions that can make even faint
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 meteors visible.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 Anna: The Orionids are known for being
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 particularly fast and for sometimes
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 leaving persistent glowing trails.
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 For the best viewing, you'll want to find
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 a dark sky away from city lights.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 Avery: A pro tip is to look about 40 degrees
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 above the Radium Point, which is in the
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 constellation Orion after midnight. And this
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 year the New Moon phase means dark sky
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 skies perfect for meteor watching.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 Anna: So set an alarm, grab a blanket, and
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 enjoy the show. It's one of nature's
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 best free performances.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 Finally, we have to talk about the James Webb
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 Space Telescope. It's done it again,
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 delivering absolutely breathtaking
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 images. This time, Webb has
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 turned its powerful gaze toward
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 Sagittarius B2, the most
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 massive star forming cloud in our
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 Milky Way galaxy.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 Avery: Using both its mid infrared and near
00:10:09 --> 00:10:12 infrared instruments, Webb has pierced
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 through the cosmic dust to reveal young stars
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 and intricate structures in
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 unprecedented detail. The
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 telescope's NIRCam and MIRI instruments
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 work together to capture different aspects of
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 this star forming region.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 Anna: The Near Infrared M Camera, or
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 nrcam, is particularly good
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 at detecting the youngest stars that
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 are still embedded in their natal cocoons
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 of gas and dust. Meanwhile,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 the mid infrared instrument Miri M
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 can see through the dust to reveal the
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 thermal emission from warm material.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 Avery: Sagittarius B2 is scientifically important
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 because it's located just 390 light
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 years from the supermassive black hole at the
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 center of our galactic this means
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 stars are forming in an environment with
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 extreme gravitational forces,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 intense radiation, and powerful
00:11:10 --> 00:11:13 magnetic fields, conditions very different
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 from star formation in our local
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 neighborhood.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 Anna: The region contains massive
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 molecular clouds with temperatures
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 ranging from extremely cold
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 to incredibly hot. It's also
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 rich in complex organic molecules,
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 including some that are precursors to
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 life as we know it. Understanding star
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 formation here could tell us about the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:41 conditions that might lead to habitable
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 planetary systems.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 Avery: One of the key mysteries astronomers hope to
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 solve is why this region is so
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 efficient at star formation. The current
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 theory involves turbulence and compression
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 from nearby supernova explosions and the
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 gravitational influence of the central black
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 hole, creating ideal conditions for
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 rapid star birth.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 Anna: Webb's observations will also help
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 scientists understand the initial
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 mass function in extreme
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 environments, that is, the distribution
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 of star sizes that form. Do
00:12:16 --> 00:12:19 these harsh conditions favor the formation
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 of more massive M stars compared to
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 quieter regions of the galaxy? This research
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 has implications beyond our own galaxy, too.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 By studying star formation in the galactic
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 center, we can better understand similar
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 processes in other galaxies,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 particularly those with active galactic
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 nuclei, where star formation occurs under
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 even more extreme conditions.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 Avery: What's fascinating astronomers is a puzzle.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 This region produces about 50% of
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 all the stars in the galactic center, yet
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 it contains only about 10% of the.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 Anna: Material found there, so it's incredibly
00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 efficient. These new images will
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 help scientists understand why
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 they're studying the physics of how stars are
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 born in this extreme environment
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 right in the heart of our galaxy.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 Avery: It's another reminder of Webb's incredible
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 power to unlock secrets of the universe that
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 were previously hidden from view.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 Anna: And that wraps up today's cosmic news
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 rundown. From the moon's ancient past
00:13:25 --> 00:13:28 to the birth of new star, it's been a
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 fascinating journey indeed.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 Avery: Thanks for joining us on Astronomy Daily. Be
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 sure to subscribe so you don't miss our next
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 episode. And please visit our website if
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 you'd like to check more of today's space and
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 astronomy news, along with all our back
00:13:41 --> 00:13:43 episodes. Just go to
00:13:43 --> 00:13:46 astronomydaily.IO until
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 next time, keep looking up.
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 Anna: I'm Anna.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 Avery: And I'm Avery. Clear Skies, everyone.