- SpaceX's Starship Test Flight: Get ready for the highly anticipated 10th test flight of SpaceX's Starship system! With the massive Super Heavy booster now at the launch pad in South Texas, this test is set for Sunday, August 24th. Discover how SpaceX's rapid, iterative approach to testing sets it apart from traditional aerospace methods, and learn about the flight plan that could bring astronauts back to the Moon.
- - A Rare Black Moon: This week, on August 23rd, we will witness a black moon, the 13th new moon in a calendar year. While this term may not be found in textbooks, it signals a perfect opportunity for stargazers as the lack of moonlight allows for clearer views of the night sky. Join us as we discuss what a new moon is and how it enhances our stargazing experience.
- - Disappointment in Exoplanet Research: The James Webb Space Telescope has delivered disappointing news regarding the exoplanet GJ 3929, once a hopeful candidate for habitability. New data suggests it may lack an atmosphere entirely, leaving it as a bare rock. Explore how this finding contributes to our understanding of planetary evolution and the factors that allow for atmospheric retention.
- - Targeting Signals for Alien Life: In an intriguing twist, researchers have analyzed 20 years of data from NASA's Deep Space Network, revealing that our most powerful radio signals have been predominantly aimed at Mars. This accidental broadcasting provides a targeted search area for extraterrestrial intelligence, suggesting that if aliens are listening, they might just hear us!
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, 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 stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Starship Test Flight Details
[SpaceX](https://www.spacex.com/)
Black Moon Explanation
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
GJ 3929 Research
[James Webb Space Telescope](https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/)
Alien Seona Lee Study
[NASA Deep Space Network](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/DSN/main/index.html)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Avery: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily,
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 the podcast that brings you the biggest news
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 from across the cosmos. I'm your host,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 Avery.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's a packed day, Avery.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 We've got a massive rocket gearing up for
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 launch, a rare lunar event, a, uh,
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 disappointing update on a once promising
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 exoplanet, and a fascinating new strategy
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 for finding intelligent life.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 Avery: Let's not waste any time then. Let's start
00:00:27 --> 00:00:28 with the big one.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 SpaceX is getting ready to fly Starship
00:00:31 --> 00:00:31 again.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 Anna: That's right. This will be the 10th overall
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 test flight for the Starship system. The
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 massive super heavy booster has been moved to
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 the launch pad down at Starbase in South
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46 Texas, with the launch tentatively scheduled
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 for this Sunday, August 24th.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 Avery: And for anyone who's new to the show, we're
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 not exaggerating when we say massive
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Starship is the largest and most powerful
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 rocket and ever built. This is the vehicle
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 SpaceX has designed to eventually send people
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 to the Moon and Mars.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:06 Anna: M. Exactly. This upcoming launch marks the
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 fourth test flight of 2025. And
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 as many of our listeners know, the previous
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 three flights this year ended prematurely.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 SpaceX is known for its rapid, iterative
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 approach to testing. They build, they fly,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 they learn from any failures, and they fly
00:01:22 --> 00:01:23 again quickly.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 Avery: And that's really what sets SpaceX apart from
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 traditional aerospace, isn't it? The old
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 way was to test everything on the ground for
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 years, aiming for perfection before the first
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 launch. SpaceX treats it more like
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 software development. Launch, find the
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 bugs, fix them, and launch again.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 It's a build, fly, learn, repeat model
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 that moves incredibly fast. So
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 what does a successful test look like this
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 time around? Are they trying to get to orbit?
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 Anna: The flight plan is similar to the previous
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 attempts. If all goes well, the super
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 heavy booster will perform its burn separate
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 from the Starship upper stage and then
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 conduct a soft splashdown in the Gulf of
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 Mexico. The upper stage, or
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 ship will continue on a suborbital
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 trajectory, re enter the atmosphere and
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 aim for its own splashdown in the Indian
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 Ocean.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 Avery: Fingers crossed for a successful flight.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Each step gets them closer to returning
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 astronauts to the moon. We'll be watching
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 closely on Sunday.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 Speaking of the moon, the Starship is a
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 crucial part of NASA's Artemis program.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 It's not just about SpaceX's ambitions. It's
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 about a global effort to return to the lunar
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 surface. For our listeners who might not be
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 familiar with it, what exactly is the
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 Artemis Program?
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 Anna: The Artemis program is NASA's ambitious
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 plan to establish a, uh, sustainable human
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 presence on and around the Moon. It's
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 A multi stage effort with the ultimate goal
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 of not just visiting the Moon, but learning
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 to live and work there. This will then serve
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 as a stepping stone for future missions to
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 Mars. From a future event to one
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 that's happening this week.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 On Saturday, August 23rd, we'll be
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 experiencing a black Moon.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 Avery: A black Moon. That sounds incredibly
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 dramatic. Is this an official astronomical
00:03:18 --> 00:03:18 term?
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 Anna: It's more of a colloquial term, actually.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 It's not something you'll find in astronomy
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 textbooks. A black moon refers to the
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 13th new moon in a single
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 calendar year. Normally we have 12, one
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35 for each month. But because the lunar cycle
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 is slightly shorter than our calendar months,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 we get an extra one every few years.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 Avery: Ah, uh, so it's a scheduling quirk. So
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 what is a new Moon? For our listeners who
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 might not know.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 Anna: A new Moon occurs when the Moon passes
00:03:49 --> 00:03:52 between the Earth and the Sun. From our
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 perspective, the side of the Moon facing us
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 is, is not illuminated by sunlight.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 So the Moon is still up there in the sky
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 during the day, but we can't see it because
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 its dark side is facing us and it's
00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 lost in the blare of the Sun.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 Avery: Which means if we can't see the Moon, the
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 night sky is much, much darker.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 This is fantastic news for stargazers.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 Anna: Precisely. Without the moonlight washing
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 out the fainter stars, a new Moon
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 provides the best conditions for stargazing.
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 So while you can't see the Black Moon itself,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 its absence makes for a perfect
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 opportunity to get out your telescope or
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 even just a pair of binoculars and enjoy
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 the night sky.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 Avery: All right, from good news for stargazing here
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 on Earth to some less than stellar news from
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 far away. Anna, what's this about? The James
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 Webb Space Telescope delivering a bit of a
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 letdown.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 Anna: Yes, this story concerns an
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 exoplanet named GJ
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 3929.
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 It was once considered a promising candidate
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 in the search for Earth like worlds. However,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 new data from the JWST
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 has determined that the planet likely has no
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 atmosphere at all. It's now believed to be
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 a bare rock.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Avery: Ah, uh, that's a shame. Uh, you hear about
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 these potentially habitable worlds and get
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 your hopes up. Why was this one considered so
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 promising to begin with?
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 Anna: It's a rocky exoplanet orbiting a red
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 dwarf star, a type of system that is
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 very common in our galaxy and a key
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 focus for scientists. This
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 observation was part of a special program
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 using the JWST
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 specifically designed to study these rocky
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 worlds and hunt for atmospheres.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 Avery: So even though it's a disappointing result
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 for this Specific planet. It's still useful
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 data, right?
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 Anna: That's the key takeaway. Science
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 isn't just about finding what you're looking
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 for. It's also about ruling things out.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 These findings, while not what we hoped for,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 are crucial. They contribute to our
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 understanding of how planets evolve and
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 what factors allow a planet to hold on
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 to its atmosphere. It helps scientists
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 refine their models and know what to look for
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 and what to avoid in future searches.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 Every discovery, even a null result, is a
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 piece of the puzzle.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Avery: Speaking of searching for things, our, uh,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 last story is the one that really caught my
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 eye. It's about finding the best places to
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 look for signals from intelligent alien life.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 This is the big question, isn't it?
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 Avery: Are we alone?
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 Anna: It certainly is. And this new research
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 from NASA's Deep Space Network and Penn
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 State University offers a clever new
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 approach. Scientists analyzed
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 20 years of data from NASA's Deep Space
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 Network, or DSN. That's the
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 network of giant radio antennas we use
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 to communicate with our spacecraft across the
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 solar system.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 Avery: So they weren't looking for incoming signals.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 Avery: But looking at our outgoing signals.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 Anna: Exactly. They mapped where our most
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 powerful deep space radio signals have
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 been pointed over the last two decades.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 And they found something fascinating. Our
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 transmissions are overwhelmingly directed
00:07:18 --> 00:07:21 towards our spacecraft near Mars. We are
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 constantly beaming information towards the.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 Avery: Red planet M. So what you're saying.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 Avery: Is we've been accidentally broadcasting we
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 are here in the direction of Mars for years?
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 Anna: In a way, yes. The study suggests
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 that if an extraterrestrial intelligence
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 would were located in a place where they
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 could see the Earth and Mars align, there's a
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 77% chance they would be in the
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 path of one of our powerful transmissions.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 This gives us a targeted search area.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Avery: So the best place to listen for aliens is
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 where they would have the best chance of
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 hearing us first. That makes perfect sense.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 It's like checking your missed calls.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 Anna: It's a logical strategy. The researchers
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 recommend that the search for these
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 technosignatures should focus on
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 planetary systems that are edge on
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 to our own solar system's plane and
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 relatively close by within about
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 23 light years. It's a way of
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 narrowing down an impossibly large search
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 area to something much more manageable.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 Avery: What an episode. We've had a rocket launch,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 a, uh, sky gazing opportunity, a reality
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 check for an exoplanet, and a new roadmap for
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 finding E.T.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 Anna: It just shows that there's always something
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 new and exciting happening out there. That's
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 all the time we have for this episode.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 Avery: If you'd like to read more about the stories
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 we discussed today or browse our archive of
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 back episodes. Be sure to visit our
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 website@astronomydaily.IO.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 Anna: Thanks for tuning in to Astronomy Daily.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 Avery: Clear skies, everyone.