00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Avery: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 brings you the universe, one story at a time.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 I'm Avery.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 today. We've got a fantastic lineup. We'll be
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 looking at twisting magnetic waves on the sun
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 that could finally solve a decades old
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 mystery.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 Avery: We'll also dive into the brightest cosmic
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 radio flash ever seen and why its silence
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 is baffling astronomers. But plus, a sobering
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 look at Europe's simulation of a catastrophic
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 solar storm.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 Anna: And on a lighter note, a successful launch
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 for Japan's new cargo ship. And we'll even
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 tell you how you can spot some of humanity's
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 most legendary spacecraft in the night sky.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Avery: It's a packed show. Let's get started.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Anna: Alright, Avery, let's start with our own
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 star, the Sun. For more than 80
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 years, scientists have puzzled over a
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 major solar mystery. Why is the
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 Sun's atmosphere the corona mill
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 millions of degrees hotter than its surface?
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Avery: Right. It's completely counterintuitive.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 You'd expect it to get cooler the farther you
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 move away from the heat source.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Anna: Exactly. But now, for the first time,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 astronomers have direct evidence of a
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 phenomenon that might be the key. They've
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 observed twisting magnetic waves in the
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 corona, something that was first proposed way
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 back in the 1940s.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Avery: And these aren't just any waves. They're
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 called small scale torsional alfven waves.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 Essentially, imagine the Sun's magnetic field
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 lines as guitar strings. These waves are like
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 a, twisting or plucking motion traveling
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 along those strings carrying enormous amounts
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 of energy from the sun's surface up into the
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 corona.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 Anna: That's a great analogy. This energy heats the
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 corona to its incredible temperatures.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 According to one of the lead researchers,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 this discovery provides essential validation
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 for the models describing how this process
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 works. He said having direct
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 observations for finally allows us to test
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 these models against reality.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 Avery: It's a huge deal. This isn't just confirming
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 a theory. It's a fundamental piece of the
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 puzzle of how our star works. And by
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 extension, how other stars work too. A
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 mystery 80 years in the making might finally
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 be getting solved. Next, from a mystery
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 solved to one that just got deeper, let's
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 talk about fast radio bursts, or FRBs.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 These are intense, millisecond long bursts of
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 radio waves from deep space.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Anna: And recently, astronomers spotted the
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 brightest one ever.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 Avery: Right. This new Signal is designated
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 FRB2025
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 16A, but it has a much
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 better nickname, RB Float, which stands for
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 radio brightest flash of all time.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 Anna: I love when scientists have fun with the
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 names. So they traced this incredibly
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 bright flash to a nearby galaxy, giving them
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 a fantastic view. But here's the
00:02:51 --> 00:02:51 twist.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Avery: The twist is that it's gone completely
00:02:54 --> 00:02:54 silent.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 Anna: Exactly. Many known FRBs are
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 repeaters. They flash over and over again
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 from the same spot, which helps astronomers
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 study them. But RB Float, despite being the
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 brightest ever detected by the CHIME
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 telescope, hasn't sent out a single repeat
00:03:09 --> 00:03:09 burst.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Avery: And that challenges a major theory in the
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 field, which is that, all FRBs might
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 eventually repeat if we just watch them for
00:03:16 --> 00:03:16 long enough.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 Anna: Mm. This non repeater, especially one
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 so powerful, opens the door to reconsidering
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 other origins. It suggests that at least
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 some of these events might be caused by a
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 single cataclysmic explosion, like the
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 collapse of a massive star, rather than a
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 repeating source like a magnetar.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 Avery: So the brightest flash ever seen has left us
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 with more questions than answers. Classic
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 astronomy.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 Anna: Well, from distant cosmic explosions
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 to a potential threat much closer to home,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 the European Space Agency recently ran its
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 most extreme space weather simulation ever.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 And the scenario was so severe that in the
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 exercise, no spacecraft was left
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 unscathed.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 Avery: Wow, that sounds intense. So what was the
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 purpose of this cosmic fire drill?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Anna: It was designed to test how spacecraft
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 operations teams and space weather experts
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 would handle a truly catastrophic solar
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 storm. This is all in preparation for the
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 upcoming Sentinel 1D mission, which is
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 set to launch in November. They want to be
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 ready for the worst.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Avery: And these storms are no joke. A major one
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 could knock out satellites, disrupt gps,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 and even take down power grids here on Earth.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Anna: Precisely. The lead simulation officer,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Gustavo Baldo Carvalho, put it bluntly.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 He said the key takeaway is that it's not a
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 question of if this will happen, but when.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 Avery: Sobering words. So what are they doing? To
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 prepare for the inevitable, ESA is.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 Anna: Expanding its network of space weather
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 monitors. They're placing sensors on more
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 satellites, and even developing a dedicated
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 mission called Vigil, which is planned for
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 2031. It will be positioned at a stable
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 point in space to give us an early warning of
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 any dangerous solar activity heading our way.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 Avery: That's good to hear. It's a reminder that
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 space isn't just about discovery. It's also
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 about understanding and mitigating the risks
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 that come with living next to an active star.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 On a much more positive note, let's talk
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 about a successful mission launch. The Japan
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 has successfully launched its new advanced
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 cargo spacecraft, the HTV
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 X1, aboard an H3 rocket.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 Anna: Yes, it lifted off from the Tanegashima
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 Space center and is now on its way to the
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 International Space Station. This is a big
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 deal for JAXA and for the station's crew.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 Avery: So what makes this spacecraft special?
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 Anna: The HTV X1 is an uncrewed
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 expendable ship designed to resupply the ISS
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 with essentials like food, water and science
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 experiments. But it's also a platform for
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 technical demonstrations, testing new
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 technologies in space. It's a real workhorse.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 Avery: And it seems JAXA has its sights set much
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 further than the iss.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Anna: They absolutely do. With the International
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 Space Station scheduled for deorbit in 2030,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 space agencies are planning for what comes
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 next. The HTVX platform is
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 designed to be versatile in the future. It's
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 intended to deliver cargo to Gateway, the
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 planned lunar orbiting space station that
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 will support the Artemis missions to the
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 moon.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Avery: So this launch isn't just about keeping the
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 lights on at the iss. It's a critical step
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 in building the infrastructure for humanity's
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 return to the moon and missions beyond low
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 Earth orbit. A very exciting development from
00:06:35 --> 00:06:35 Japan.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 Anna: And for our final story today, we're bringing
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 things back to Earth, or at least back to our
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 own backyards. We all know the names of
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 legendary spacecraft like the James Webb
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 Space telescope and Voyager 1. But do you
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 know where to find them in the night sky?
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 Avery: That is a great question. I think most people
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 assume they're just up there somewhere,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 completely invisible. But with a bit of
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 guidance, you can actually point to the patch
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 of sky where they are.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 Anna: Exactly. And a recent guide has laid out
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 where to look for five of these incredible
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 explorers during October of 2025.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 It's a great way to feel to these missions.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 Avery: Okay, so let's run through them. For the
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 James Webb Space Telescope or jwst.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 You'll need to find the famous red star
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 Aldebaran and the constellation Taurus.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 JWST will be in that same area of the sky.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 Anna: And what about the Parker solar probe, the
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 craft that's touching the Sun?
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Avery: That one can be found low in the southwestern
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 sky right around sunset. Next up is
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 NASA's Juno spacecraft which is orbiting
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Jupiter. It can be found high overhead
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 in the eastern sky during the pre dawn hours.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 Anna: Two more to go. The New Horizons probe, which
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 flew past Pluto.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 Avery: For New Horizons, you'll need to locate the
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 famous Teapot Asterism in the constellation
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 Sagittarius. The probe is cruising through
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 that region of space. And finally, the
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 legend itself, Voyager 1, humanity's most
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 distant object.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Anna: Where can we wave hello to Voyager?
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 Avery: To find Voyager 1, you'll first need to
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 locate the stars of the constellation
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 Ophiuchus. It's out there
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 over 15 billion miles away in
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 that direction. Of course, you can't see the
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 spacecraft themselves, but just knowing
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 you're looking at their exact location in the
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 cosmos is pretty amazing. And that's a
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 wrap for today's episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 From solving the sun's mysteries to spotting
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 our most distant explorers in the night.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 Anna: Sky, thanks for listening. I'm Anna
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 reminding you to keep looking up.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Avery: And I'm Avery Clear Skies.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 Anna: It's a constant reminder of how much is
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 happening out there and how much we are a
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 part of it. We hope you enjoyed the journey
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 with us today.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 Avery: Be sure to subscribe to Astronomy Daily
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 wherever you get your podcasts so you don't
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 miss an episode.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 Hm.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 The.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 Anna: Story.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 Avery: For Soul.