- Arianespace Launch Delay: Arianespace has quietly postponed the inaugural flight of its powerful Orion 64 rocket to 2026, a significant shift from its initial late 2025 schedule. This delay impacts Amazon's Project Cooper satellite constellation, which aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, highlighting the challenges of securing reliable launch providers in the competitive space market.
- Mysterious Interstellar Object: The interstellar object 3I ATLAS is perplexing scientists by emitting nickel tetracarbonyl, a compound never before observed in nature. Unlike typical comets, this object is ejecting material towards the Sun, defying known cometary physics and raising questions about its origins, including the possibility of artificiality.
- Gamma Ray Glow Debate: Astronomers are revisiting the source of a puzzling gamma ray glow from the Milky Way's center. Recent simulations suggest that a clumpy distribution of dark matter could be responsible, reinforcing the theory that dark matter particles may annihilate and produce detectable gamma rays, adding complexity to the ongoing debate.
- Double Comet Viewing Opportunity: Stargazers can look forward to a rare sight as Comet LEMMON and Comet Swan approach Earth on October 20. Both comets will be visible with binoculars or small telescopes, and live streams of the event will be available for those unable to observe directly. https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
- https://www.youtube.com/@GianMasiVirtualTelescope/streams
- Best Space Photography Resources: For breathtaking space photography, listeners are encouraged to explore official agency websites like NASA and the European Space Agency, as well as community platforms such as Reddit's r/Astrophotography and AstroDailyPod Bin, where amateur astrophotographers share their stunning work and contribute to citizen science projects.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
Arianespace Orion 64 Launch Delay
[Arianespace](https://www.arianespace.com/)
3I ATLAS Interstellar Object
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Gamma Ray Glow Research
[Astrophysical Journal](https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X)
Double Comet Viewing Guide
[Comet Watch] https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
Astrophotography Resources
[AstroDailyPod Bin](https://www.astrodailypodbin.com/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!
Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Avery: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, the
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 podcast that brings you the universe, one
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 story at a time. I'm Avery.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to have you with us.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 we've got a fascinating lineup today, from a
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 mysterious interstellar object, baffling
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 scientists to the quiet delay of a major
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 rocket launch.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 Avery: Plus, we'll dive into the ongoing debate
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 about a strange glow at the heart of our
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 galaxy, tell you how to spot a rare double
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 comet, and share the best places to find
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 breathtaking space photography online. Let's
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32 get started.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 Anna: First up, a, significant development in the
00:00:35 --> 00:00:38 world of commercial spaceflight. Avery,
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 it looks like Arianespace is facing a
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 setback with its new heavy lifter.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 Avery: That's right, Anna. the first flight of the
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 powerful 4 booster variant, the Orion
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 64 has been quietly pushed back to
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 2026. This was initially slated for
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 late 2025, and it's a pretty big deal
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 because this rocket is tasked with launching
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 a significant portion of Amazon's Project
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 Cooper satellite constellation.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 Anna: Project Cooper is Amazon's answer to
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 SpaceX's Starlink, right? A
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 huge network of Internet satellites in low
00:01:12 --> 00:01:12 Earth orbit.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 Avery: Exactly. And securing launch providers is one
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 of the biggest hurdles for these mega
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 constellations. The Orion 6IV is the key
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 part of Amazon's strategy. The delay wasn't
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 announced with the big press release. It was
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 just updated on the Arianespace website,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 which suggests they're trying to manage
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30 expectations.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 Anna: It really highlights the immense complexity
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 of developing these new launch vehicles. Even
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 for established players like Arianespace,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 delays are almost part of the process.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 It'll be interesting to see how this affects
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 Amazon's deployment timeline for project
00:01:47 --> 00:01:47 cooperation.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 Avery: It certainly will. Amazon has regulatory
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 deadlines to meet for deploying half of its
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 constellation by 2026. While they
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 have launches booked with other providers
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 like ULA and Blue origin, the Orion 6IV
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 was a major pillar of their strategy. This
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 forces them to reshuffle an already complex
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 launch manifest.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 Anna: Absolutely. It's a critical moment. A delay
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 of even a few months can have significant
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 ripple effects in this highly competitive
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 market. They need to demonstrate reliability
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 and get their flight cadence up to speed to
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 secure future contracts. We'll definitely be
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 keeping a close eye on how this develops.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Avery: And what does this mean for Ariane space? The
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 Ariane 5 was a workhorse for decades, but the
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 market has changed dramatically. Is this a
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 critical moment for them? Time will tell.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 Alright.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 From engineering challenges here in our solar
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 system to a deep mystery from beyond it, our
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 next story is an update about an interstellar
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 object that is breaking all the rules.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 It's named 3i ATLS.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 Anna: This sounds exciting. What makes it so
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 unusual? It's not our first interstellar
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 visitor, is it?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 Avery: No, but this one is behaving very strangely.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 Spectrometers have detected it emitting a
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 compound called nickel tetracarbonyl.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 For context, this compound has never been
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 seen occurring in nature before. On Earth,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 it's used in industrial processes to refine
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 nickel.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Anna: Wow. Okay. An industrial
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 chemical in space. That is
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 bizarre. Is there a natural explanation?
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 Avery: That's the multi billion dollar question.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 Scientists are stumped. It gets weirder too.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 Unlike a typical comet that ejects M material
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 away from the sun due TO solar wind,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 3I ATLAS is ejecting material
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 towards the sun. It's defying our
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 understanding of cometary physics.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 Anna: So it's not behaving like a comet.
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 And it's venting a compound associated
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 with industry. I can see why this has
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 generated some controversial
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 theories. Are they thinking it could be
00:03:56 --> 00:03:57 artificial?
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 Avery: Before we get into that, how does this
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 compare to our other known interstellar
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 visitors like Oumuamua? That one also sparked
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 a lot of debate about its origins, didn't it?
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 Anna: But yes, that's certainly the most
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 sensational theory being floated. Though
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 most scientists are, urging caution and
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 looking for a new unknown natural
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 phenomenon to explain it. The
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 frustrating part is that a probe on its way
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 to Mars just had a close flyby. It
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 could have captured high resolution images
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 that might solve the puzzle.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 Avery: It did, but in a different way.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 Oumuamua was strange because it was a highly
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 elongated rocky object that showed slight
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 non gravit acceleration without any
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 visible outgassing. Like a comet. 3 I
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 ATLs is different. It is
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 outgassing, but it's ejecting bizarre
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 materials in a way that seems to defy
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 physics. Oumuamua was mysterious for what
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 it didn't do, while ATLs is
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 mysterious for what it is doing. So you
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 mentioned a flyby. Perfect. Does that mean
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 we'll have answers soon?
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 Anna: Well, about that. The data
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 is currently unavailable. The transmission
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 was halted due to a government shutdown
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 affecting the Deep Space Network. So
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 for now, one of the biggest mysteries in
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 modern astronomy is on hold. Because of
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 bureaucracy, you can't make the stuff up.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Avery: An interstellar mystery. Potentially
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 groundbreaking data. And it's all stuck in
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 cosmic limbo. Incredible.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 Speaking of cosmic mysteries, let's bring our
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 focus closer to home. To the very heart
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 of our own Milky Way galaxy. For
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 years, astronomers have been debating the
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 source of a puzzling gamma ray glow
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 emanating from the galactic center.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 Anna: Right. The gamma Ray excess. I
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 remember the two leading theories were pretty
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 different from each other.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 Avery: Very different. On one side, you have a
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 relatively conventional explanation. The
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 glow is the combined light of thousands of
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 undiscovered pulsars. Super dense
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 spinning stellar remnants. On the other, a,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 much more exotic theory. The glow
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 is caused by the annihilation of dark matter
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 particles, which would be.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 Anna: The first direct evidence of dark matter
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 interacting in a way we can detect. A
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 monumental discovery. So where
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 does the debate stand now?
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 Avery: Well, the case for dark matter just got a
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 boost. New computer simulations have shown
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 that dark matter could be distributed in the
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 galaxy in a clumpy, irregular way.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 And it turns out this clumpy distribution
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 would produce a gamma ray signal that
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 perfectly matches the shape of the observed
00:06:42 --> 00:06:42 glow.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 Anna: That's fascinating. For listeners who
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 might not be familiar, could you briefly
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 explain what it means for dark matter
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 to annihilate? It sounds quite
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 dramatic.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 Avery: It does. The leading theory is that dark
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 matter is made of particles that are their
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 own antiparticles. So when two of
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 these particles meet, they annihilate each
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 other, converting their mass directly into
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 energy in the form of other particles,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 including high energy gamma rays.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 The clumpy distribution means more of these
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 collisions would happen in specific areas,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 creating a signal that matches what we see.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 Anna: So it puts the dark matter theory back on
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 equal footing with the pulsar theory.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 Avery: Exactly. It doesn't prove it, but it
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 shows it's just as plausible. The
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 simulation removes a major objection to the
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 dark matter hypothesis. Ultimately, the
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 deadlock might only be broken by the next
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 generation of gamma ray telescopes, which
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 could have the resolution to either spot the
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 individual pulsars or rule them out for
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 good.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 Anna: It's a fantastic example of how theory
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 and observation work together.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 Until we finally get an answer.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 From the invisible glow of gamma rays
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02 to something you can actually see in the
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 night sky, we have some good news. For
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 stargazers, this week offers a
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 rare opportunity to see two comets
00:08:10 --> 00:08:10 at once.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 Avery: A, double header. That's not something you
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 see every day. which comets are we talking
00:08:15 --> 00:08:15 about?
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 Anna: They're named Comet LEMMON and Comet
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Swan. On October 20, they will
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 both be making their closest approach to
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 Earth, making it the best time to view them.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 They should be visible with a good pair of
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 binoculars or a small telescope away from
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 city lights.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 Avery: And for those who might be clouded out or
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 don't have the equipment, is there a way to
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 join in?
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 Anna: There is. Several astronomy
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 organizations are hosting a live online
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 stream of the event, with telescopes from
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 different parts of the world providing views
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 and commentary from astronomers. It's a
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 wonderful way to experience the event no
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 matter where you are.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 Avery: That's fantastic. It's a great reminder of
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 the dynamic, ever changing nature of our
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 solar system. These icy visitors are making
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 a fleeting pass and we get to witness it.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 We'll be sure to put a link to the livestream
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 in our show. Notes Seeing events like that
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 double Comet flyby often gets people inspired
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 by the beauty of the cosmos.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 Which brings us to our final story. Where to
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 find the Best Space Photography Online
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 the images we get from our telescopes and
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 probes are just awe, inspiring.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 Anna: They really are. And there are some fantastic
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 resources out there. For the highest quality,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 scientifically significant images, the
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 official agency websites are the best place
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 to start. NASA's image of the day, the
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 European Space Agency's gallery and the
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 European Southern Observatory's archives are
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 treasure troves.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 Avery: Absolutely. The Hubble and James Webb Space
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 Telescope galleries in particular have images
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 that will just change your perspective on the
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 universe. But it's not just the big
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 agencies. There's a thriving community of
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 amateur astrophotographers who do incredible
00:10:01 --> 00:10:01 work.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 Anna: That's so true. Where can listeners find
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 their work?
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 Avery: Online communities are the best bet. Reddit's
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 r Astrophotography subreddit is
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 amazing. You'll see stunning images of
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 galaxies and nebulae taken from people's
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 backyards. Another great site is
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 AstroDailyPod Bin, which is a, dedicated
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 hosting platform for astrophotography where
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 people share details about their equipment
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 and techniques. And it's not just about
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 appreciating the beauty. Many of these
00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 platforms connect to real scientific work.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 There are citizen science projects like
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 Galaxy Zoo, where the public can help
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 astronomers classify the shapes of distant
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 galaxies from telescope images. It's a way
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 for anyone to contribute directly to our
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 understanding of the universe.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 Anna: That's amazing. So you can go from being
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 an admirer to a contributor. It's a
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 wonderful way to see what's possible. And
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 since we're talking about online communities,
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 it's a good time to mention a quick tip for
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 online safety. When you're browsing these
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 sites, it's always smart to be mindful of the
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 information you share and to stick to well
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 known, reputable platforms.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 Avery: An excellent point, but with that in mind,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 diving into these galleries is one of the
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 best ways to feel connected to the cosmos.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 Anna: And that brings us to the end of today's
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 episode of Astronomy Daily. From launch
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 delays and mysterious visitors to galactic
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 glows and cosmic photography, the universe
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 never fails to keep us on our toes.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 Avery: Thanks so much for tuning in. We hope you'll
00:11:32 --> 00:11:35 join us again tomorrow as we continue to
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 explore the final frontier. Until then, keep
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 looking up.