In today’s episode of Astronomy Daily, Anna and Avery take you from rocket pads on Earth to the farthest corners of the cosmos. We cover India’s latest PSLV launch and its unexpected anomaly, the FCC’s green light for thousands more Starlink Gen2 satellites, NASA’s Pandora mission to decode exoplanet atmospheres, a fleeting signal from a supernova that exploded 13 billion years ago, a breakthrough in understanding the Sun’s most violent flares, and the surprising discovery of a barred spiral galaxy in the early Universe.
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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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 >> And I'm Avery. Hello everyone. Thanks
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 for joining us. Today is January 12th,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 2026. And we've got a full show.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 Launches and anomalies, regulatory moves
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 that reshape low Earth orbit, a brand
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 new exoplanet observatory on its way, a
00:00:19 --> 00:00:22 flash from the cosmic dawn, fresh
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 results about what powers the sun's
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 strongest flares, and a galaxy discovery
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 that looks surprisingly familiar for the
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 early universe.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 >> Yep, six stories, all of them important
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 in different ways. We'll start with this
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 morning's launch news from India.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 India's polar satellite launch vehicle,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 the PSLVc62
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 lifted off from Satic Darwin Space
00:00:44 --> 00:00:48 Center this morning carrying EOS-N1
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 described as an advanced Earth
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 observation/military
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 surveillance satellite along with a
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 batch of co-passenger payloads. The
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 mission marked ISRO's first launch
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 attempt since a PSLV anomaly in May
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 2025. So, there was a lot writing on it,
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 >> right? The liftoff itself looked
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 nominal, but ISRO later reported an
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 anomaly near the end of the third stage,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 the PS3. Initial public statements
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 indicate a deviation in the third stages
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 phase, and that ISRO has begun a
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 detailed analysis. At this stage, it's
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 not yet confirmed whether the primary
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 satellite and co-passengers reached
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 their planned orbits. Those early stage
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 deviations can be especially challenging
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 because they often happen during staging
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 or engine cutoff phases where timing and
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 velocity are critical. ISRO has a long
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 successful history with the PSLV family.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 But even reliable vehicles can have
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 single event anomalies. The important
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 thing is how the agency responds.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:52 Recovering telemetry, diagnosing the
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 root cause, and transparently sharing
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 findings so confidence can be rebuilt.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 >> Absolutely. From a broader perspective,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 this mission also demonstrates the
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 global nature of small sat ride shares
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 and the strategic value that Earth
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 observation satellites deliver, whether
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 for commercial or defense purposes.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 We'll keep an eye on ISRO's follow-up.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 They typically publish an analysis after
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 they comb through flight data.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 >> And we'll link to the official
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 statements in the episode notes for
00:02:20 --> 00:02:23 folks who want the primary sources. Next
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 up in the US, the Federal Communications
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 Commission granted SpaceX authorization
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 to deploy an additional 7500 Starlink
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 second generation satellites. That's a
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 partial approval within a broader SpaceX
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 request for up to 15 Gen 2.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 >> This is a big step for the company's
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 plan to upgrade Starlink's capabilities.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 higher throughput, lower latency, and
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 expanded services, including directto
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 cell connectivity and higher data rates.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 The FCC's partial grant means SpaceX can
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 move forward with a substantial
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 expansion while regulators and other
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 stakeholders continue to evaluate the
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 remainder of the proposal. There are a
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 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 broadband capacity, particularly for
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 underserved and rural regions. But it
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 also intensifies ongoing concerns about
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 orbital crowding, radio frequency
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 coordination, and long-term space
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 sustainability.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 >> Right? Competitors and some academics
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 have raised worries about spectrum
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 interference, orbital dominance, and the
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 cumulative effect of so many satellites
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 on debris risk and astronomical
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 observing. SpaceX says it will
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 coordinate reconfiguration steps, for
00:03:39 --> 00:03:42 example, lowering orbits for safety and
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 using de-orbiting strategies, but
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 regulators and the international
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 community will be watching closely.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 >> So, this is both a technical and policy
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 story. The authorization moves the
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 technology forward, but it also keeps
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 the conversation going about how to
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 manage low Earth orbit responsibly as it
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 becomes busier.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 >> On a more exploratory note, SpaceX
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 successfully launched a Falcon 9 right
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 share mission that included NASA's
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 Pandora satellite. Pandora is a compact
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 astrophysics mission designed to study
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 the atmospheres of at least 20
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 exoplanets and their host stars over
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 about a year of operations. Pandora's
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 key strength is that it's optimized to
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 disentangle the light coming from an
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 exoplanet and the star it orbits.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 Stellar activity, spots, flares, and
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 magnetic variability can mimic or mask
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 atmospheric signals from exoplanets.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:37 Pandora carries a 045 meter telescope
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 and a suite of instruments aimed at
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 measuring both the stars variability and
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 the planet's transmission signals,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 improving the accuracy of atmospheric
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 composition measurements. That kind of
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 targeted mission is exactly what the
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 exoplanet community needs. Now, large
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56 observatories like JWST do outstanding
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 detailed work, but focused missions such
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 as Pandora can observe many systems in a
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 systematic way and help build context.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 Pandora will feed into priorities for
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 future larger missions that aim to
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 detect specific molecules, even bio
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 signatures in exoplanet atmospheres.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 It's also another example of efficient
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19 ride share launches enabling specialized
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
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 spacecraft to orbit has matured.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 >> Turning to the distant universe,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 astronomers recently reported detecting
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 a very brief 10-second flash that
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 originated roughly 13 billion lighty
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 years away. This is being interpreted as
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 light from an extremely distant
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 supernova. One of the farthest, if not
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 the farthest, stellar explosions
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 observed so far.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 >> The detection combined data from
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 multiple instruments, including wide
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 field X-ray monitors and follow-on
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 observations by facilities such as the
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 James Web Space Telescope. The event is
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 remarkable because it lets astronomers
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 study stellar death and the environments
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 of massive stars in the early universe
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 when galaxies were young and metal
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 content was low.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 >> Observing such distant explosions is
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 rare because cosmological red shift and
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 faintness make them hard to spot. When
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 one is found, it can reveal the
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 properties of the progenitor star, the
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 host galaxy, and the intergalactic
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 medium at a time when cosmic structure
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 was still forming. There are also ties
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 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 supernova or exotic explosions
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 match this event.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 >> This detection emphasizes how
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 multi-wavelength coordinated observing
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 campaigns. Fast alerts from one
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 instrument followed by deep telescope
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 follow-up are essential for studying the
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 transient universe, especially at high
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 red shift. Back closer to home, solar
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 physicists have new insight into the
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 engine behind the sun's most violent
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 flares and the intense gamma rays they
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 sometimes unleash. Researchers
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 identified a previously unrecognized
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 population of extremely energetic
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 particles in the sun's upper atmosphere
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 that appear to be a major source of
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 those high energy photons. The finding
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 comes from combining longduration
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 observations and specialized instruments
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 capable of measuring particle
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 populations and gammaray signatures. The
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 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
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 simple models suggested. In particular,
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 the upper layers of the solar
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 atmosphere, where magnetic fields
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 reconnect and release energy, can trap
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 and accelerate particles to mega
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 electron volts, energies that then
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 produce gamma rays.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 >> This matters for space weather
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 prediction. Gamma rays and energetic
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 particles accompany the most extreme
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 flares and can affect satellites, radio
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 communications, and radiation exposure
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 for astronauts and high-flying aircraft.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 By better understanding where and how
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 particles are accelerated, models of
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 flare impact and forecasts of space
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 weather can be improved.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 >> It's also a good reminder that our sun
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 still surprises us. Even with decades of
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 observations and multiple solar
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 missions, new diagnostics and longer
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 observation windows revealed previously
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 hidden physics.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 >> Finally, one of the most visually
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 intriguing stories. Astronomers have
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 identified a barred spiral galaxy whose
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 light comes from approximately 11.5
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 billion years ago about 2 billion years
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 after the Big Bang. If confirmed, this
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 object would be among the earliest bars
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 and spiral structures seen in the
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 universe.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 >> Bars are elongated stellar structures
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 that can drive internal evolution in
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 galaxies. They funnel gas toward the
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 center, trigger star formation, and
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 rearrange angular momentum. Finding a
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 well-defined bar so early means that
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 disc galaxies could develop mature
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 internal structures sooner than many
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 models predicted.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 >> 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 --> 00:09:14 facilities and careful analysis of the
00:09:14 --> 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
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 than expected. Others show complex
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 morphologies previously thought to
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 require long time scales to form.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:33 >> These results feed directly into galaxy
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 formation theory. They force modelers to
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 consider rapid disc settling, efficient
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 angular momentum redistribution and
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 other processes that could build bars
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 early. It's an exciting reminder that
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 the early universe may have been both
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 more active and more varied than our
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 simplest expectations. So looking across
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 today's stories, we have an operational
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 launch with an anomaly that will require
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 analysis, a regulatory decision that
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 reshapes near Earth space, a dedicated
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 exoplanet mission now in orbit, a signal
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 from the cosmic dawn giving a rare
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 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 --> 00:10:19 quickly structure forms. It's a nice
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 mix, isn't it? Local space operations
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 and policy, near-earth infrastructure
00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 and its implications, targeted planetary
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 science, time domain extragalactic
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 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
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 space activity are.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 >> Two quick takeaways. First, watch for
00:10:42 --> 00:10:45 ISRO's followup on the PSLV anomaly.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 that will affect launch schedules and
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 the broader small sack community.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 Second, the more we push instruments and
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 coordination like fast transients and
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 small science satellites, the more
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 corner cases we find that reshape
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 theory. Discoveries often come when new
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 instruments or different organizational
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 approaches are applied. And for the
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 non-scientists out there wondering what
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 to look for tonight, Jupiter is still a
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 good target if you're out stargazing.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 and aurora watchers should keep an eye
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 on space weather forecasts as the sun's
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 activity continues to produce strong
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 events.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 >> That's it for today's episode. If you
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 enjoyed the show, subscribe to Astronomy
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 Daily on your preferred podcast
00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 platform. You can find links, source
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 articles, and further reading in the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 episode notes so you can dig deeper if
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 you wish.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 >> We love hearing from listeners. If you
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 have questions, science topics you'd
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 like us to cover, or feedback about the
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 show, drop us a note through the
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 Astronomy Daily website. You can find us
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 at astronomydaily.io.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 >> Thanks for listening. I'm Avery
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 >> and I'm Anna. Clear skies and we'll see
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 you tomorrow on Astronomy Daily.
00:11:51 --> 00:12:10 >> Astronomy Daily.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:14 Stories were told.