Artemis Delays, Blue Origin’s Lunar Pivot, and Life’s Building Blocks in Space
Space News TodayFebruary 01, 202600:27:2325.07 MB

Artemis Delays, Blue Origin’s Lunar Pivot, and Life’s Building Blocks in Space

Join hosts Anna and Avery for Saturday's cosmic roundup! NASA's Artemis 2 wet dress rehearsal faces weather delays, pushing the historic lunar mission to April 2026. Blue Origin announces a major strategic shift, pausing space tourism for two years to focus on their Blue Moon lunar lander program. We explore million-mile-per-hour cosmic winds racing through a "magnetic superhighway" in colliding galaxies, investigate a mysterious object sending unexplained signals across the galaxy, discover why Tatooine-style planets might be more common than expected, and celebrate a groundbreaking first - the detection of ethanolamine, a molecule critical to cell membranes, in interstellar space.

**Episode Keywords:** Artemis 2, NASA, Blue Origin, New Shepard, space tourism, lunar lander, cosmic winds, galaxy merger, IC 1623, mysterious signals, radio astronomy, circumbinary planets, binary stars, ethanolamine, astrobiology, interstellar molecules, space exploration, Kennedy Space Center

**Detailed Chapter Markers:**

- [00:00] Introduction & Episode Overview

- [02:15] NASA Artemis 2 Wet Dress Rehearsal Delay

- [06:45] Blue Origin Pauses Space Tourism for Lunar Ambitions

- [11:20] Million-MPH Cosmic Winds in Magnetic Superhighway

- [16:30] Mysterious Object Sending Unexplained Galactic Signals

- [21:15] Tatooine Planets More Common Than Expected

- [26:00] Life-Critical Molecule Detected in Interstellar Space

- [30:45] Episode Wrap-Up & Closing


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Kind: captions Language: en
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to [music] Astronomy Daily, your

00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 source for the latest space and

00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 astronomy news. [music] I'm Anna.

00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 >> And I'm Avery. Thanks for joining us on

00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 this Saturday, January 31st, 2026.

00:00:12 --> 00:00:13 >> We've got [music] a fascinating lineup

00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 today covering everything from NASA's

00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Aremis program updates to groundbreaking

00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 discoveries [music] in the search for

00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 life beyond Earth. Avery, what's on the

00:00:22 --> 00:00:23 agenda?

00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 >> Well, Anna, we're kicking things off

00:00:25 --> 00:00:26 with some news from NASA's [music]

00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 Aremis 2 mission. There's been a delay

00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 in critical testing due to some

00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 unexpected [music] weather challenges.

00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 Then we'll dive into Blue Origin's

00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 strategic shift as [music] they pause

00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 their space tourism program for at least

00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 2 years. After that, [music] we're

00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 looking up at some truly cosmic

00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 phenomena. Million mileph winds racing

00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 through [music] colliding galaxies and a

00:00:47 --> 00:00:50 mysterious object sending powerful

00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 signals across space that has [music]

00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 astronomers scratching their heads.

00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 We'll also explore some surprising

00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 findings about Tatooine style planets

00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 orbiting binary stars and wrap up with

00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 an exciting [music] discovery.

00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 Scientists have detected a molecule

00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 critical to life in interstellar [music]

00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 space for the very first time.

00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 >> Quite the journey today. Let's get

00:01:11 --> 00:01:12 started.

00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 >> Ready when you are.

00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 >> All right, Avery. Let's start with

00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 NASA's Aremis program. I understand old

00:01:18 --> 00:01:19 man Winter has thrown a wrench into

00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 their testing schedule.

00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 >> He certainly has, Anna. NASA has been

00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 forced to delay a critical fueling test

00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 for the Aremis 2 mission due to below

00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 freezing temperatures at Kennedy Space

00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 Center in Florida. The wet dress

00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 rehearsal was originally scheduled for

00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 January 27th, but those unexpected cold

00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 temperatures put it on ice, so to speak.

00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 >> I see what you did there. But seriously,

00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 what exactly is this wet dress

00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 rehearsal? And why is it so important?

00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 >> Great question. The wet dress rehearsal

00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 is essentially a full practice run of

00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 launch day procedures minus the actual

00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 launch. The team loads the massive space

00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 launch system rocket with over 700

00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 gallons of super cold liquid hydrogen

00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 and liquid oxygen propellants, runs

00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 through all the countdown procedures,

00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 and then drains everything back out.

00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 It's the ultimate dress rehearsal before

00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 the real show. So, they're basically

00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 making sure all the plumbing works and

00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 everyone knows their roles when the

00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 clock is ticking down. What happened

00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 with the weather that caused the delay?

00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 >> Well, Florida experienced some unusually

00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 cold conditions. We're talking about

00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 freezing temperatures that persisted for

00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 several days. The problem is that

00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 loading these cryogenic propellants in

00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 freezing conditions creates additional

00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 safety risks and potential technical

00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 issues. NASA's priority is always safety

00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 first, so they made the call to

00:02:39 --> 00:02:39 postpone.

00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 >> Smart move. When are they planning to

00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 try again?

00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 >> The space launch system is now set to

00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 roll out to launchpad 39B on February

00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 5th with the wet dress rehearsal

00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 rescheduled for February 8th. This means

00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 the Aremis 2 launch is now no earlier

00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 than April 2026, which is a shift from

00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 the previous March target.

00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 >> For our listeners who might not be

00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 following every detail of Artemis,

00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 remind us what makes Artemis 2 so

00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 significant.

00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 >> Hannah, Artemis 2 is absolutely

00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 historic. This will be the first crude

00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 mission beyond low Earth orbit in over

00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 50 years, basically since the Apollo

00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 program ended. Four astronauts will fly

00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 around the moon, testing all the systems

00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 and procedures that will eventually

00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 support landing astronauts back on the

00:03:25 --> 00:03:28 lunar surface during Artemis 3.

00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 >> It's wild to think we haven't sent

00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 humans beyond Earth orbit in 5 decades.

00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Who's on the crew? The crew includes

00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 NASA astronauts Reed Weisman, Victor

00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 Glover, and Christina Ko along with

00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy

00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 Hansen. Victor Glover will make history

00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 as the first person of color to travel

00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 beyond low Earth orbit. And Christina Ko

00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 will become the first woman to do so.

00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 >> That's incredible. Even with this delay,

00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 April 2026 is right around the corner.

00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 The wait is almost over.

00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 >> Absolutely. And honestly, a few weeks

00:04:02 --> 00:04:05 delay to ensure everything is perfect is

00:04:05 --> 00:04:06 well worth it when you're pioneering the

00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 return of human deep space exploration.

00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 >> Speaking of human space flight, let's

00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 shift gears to Blue Origin. They're

00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 making some significant changes to their

00:04:16 --> 00:04:17 program, aren't they, Avery?

00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 >> They sure are, Anna. Blue Origin has

00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 announced they're hitting pause on their

00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 New Shepard space tourism flights for at

00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 least 2 years. This is a major strategic

00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 shift as they refocus their resources on

00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 NASA's Aremis program and the

00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 development of their lunar lander.

00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 >> 2 years is a substantial pause. What's

00:04:36 --> 00:04:37 driving this decision?

00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 >> It all comes down to their Blue Moon

00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 lunar lander program. Blue Origin won a

00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 contract from NASA worth potentially up

00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 to $3.6 billion to develop a human

00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 landing system for the Aremis missions.

00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 They're planning an uncrrewed

00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 demonstration mission to the moon in

00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 2028. And that's requiring a massive

00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 concentration of their engineering

00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 talent and resources.

00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 >> So they're essentially choosing moon

00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 landings over suborbital tourism

00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 flights. That seems like a pretty clear

00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 indication of where they see the bigger

00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 opportunity.

00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 >> Exactly. And it's worth noting that Blue

00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Origin has already conducted eight

00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 successful New Shepard tourism flights

00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 since July 2021, carrying 43 people past

00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 the Carmen line, the internationally

00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 recognized boundary of space at 100 km

00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 altitude. So they've proven the concept

00:05:26 --> 00:05:27 and the technology.

00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 >> I remember the excitement around those

00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 early flights. What exactly will

00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 passengers experience on a New Shepard

00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 flight? It's a roughly 11-minute journey

00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 where passengers experience about 3

00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 minutes of weightlessness at the top of

00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 the ark. The capsule has massive

00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 windows, the largest ever flown in

00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 space, giving spectacular views of

00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 Earth's curvature and the blackness of

00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 space. It's suborbital, meaning you go

00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 up and come right back down, but you

00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 definitely cross into space.

00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 >> And this pause is specifically for the

00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 tourism program. What about other New

00:05:59 --> 00:06:00 Shepard missions?

00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 >> Good distinction, Anna. New Shepard will

00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 continue flying cargo and research

00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 missions. Blue Origin has committed to

00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 conducting at least two cargo flights

00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 each year during this tourism pause.

00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 These missions carry scientific

00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 experiments and payloads for various

00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 customers, including NASA.

00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 >> What about their ticket sales? I imagine

00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 people have already paid for future

00:06:21 --> 00:06:21 flights.

00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 >> Yes, and Blue Origin says they'll be

00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 contacting customers who've already

00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 purchased tickets to discuss their

00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 options. They haven't specified how many

00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 people are affected, but they've

00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 emphasized this is a temporary pause,

00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 not an end to the program.

00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 >> It's interesting timing, isn't it? Just

00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 as several companies are getting into

00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 the space tourism business, Blue Origin

00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 is stepping back, at least temporarily.

00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 >> It really shows you the scale of the

00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 lunar lander challenge. Building a

00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 spacecraft that can safely land humans

00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 on the moon and return them to lunar

00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 orbit is orders of magnitude more

00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 complex than a suborbital tourism op.

00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 Blue Origin is betting their future on

00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 being a key player in the new era of

00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 space exploration.

00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 >> And with that NASA contract potentially

00:07:04 --> 00:07:08 worth $3.6 billion, it's not hard to see

00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 why they're prioritizing it.

00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 >> Exactly. This is Blue Origin's moonshot,

00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 both literally and figuratively. If they

00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 can deliver a successful lunar lander,

00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 it positions them as a major player in

00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 the new era of space exploration. From

00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 human space exploration to cosmic

00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 phenomena, let's talk about something

00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 happening on a scale that's almost

00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 impossible to comprehend. Avery, tell us

00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 about these million mileph winds racing

00:07:35 --> 00:07:36 through space.

00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 >> Anna, this is absolutely mindblowing.

00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 Astronomers have discovered cosmic winds

00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 traveling at over 1.1 million mph.

00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 That's roughly 500 kilometers per

00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 second, racing through what they're

00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 calling a magnetic superighway between

00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 two colliding galaxies.

00:07:53 --> 00:07:57 >> A magnetic superhighway in space. That

00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 sounds like something out of science

00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 fiction. Where is this happening? This

00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 incredible phenomenon is occurring in a

00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 system called IC1623

00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 which is actually two galaxies in the

00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 process of merging together located

00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 about 275

00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 million light years from Earth in the

00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 constellation Cedus. These galaxies are

00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 in the late stages of a cosmic collision

00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 and it's creating some extraordinary

00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 physics.

00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 >> Walk us through what's actually

00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 happening here. How do galaxies

00:08:29 --> 00:08:33 colliding create these super fast winds?

00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 >> When galaxies merge, their gravitational

00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 interactions trigger massive bursts of

00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 star formation. We're talking thousands

00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 of stars being born. These newborn stars

00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 live fast and die young, creating

00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 powerful stellar winds and supernova

00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 explosions. All of this activity

00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 generates enormous amounts of energy

00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 that drives material outward at

00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 incredible speeds. and the magnetic

00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 superhighway. What role does that play?

00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 >> Here's where it gets really fascinating.

00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 The team from the University of

00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 Hershshire discovered that magnetic

00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 fields are actually channeling these

00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 winds, creating what they call a

00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 superighway that connects the two

00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 galactic cores. Think of it like a

00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 cosmic interstate highway system, but

00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 instead of cars, you've got superheated

00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 gas screaming along at speeds that make

00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 Earth's fastest spacecraft look like

00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 they're standing still.

00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 >> That's an amazing image. How did they

00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 detect something like this?

00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 >> They used the Arakama Large Millm Array,

00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 ALMA, in Chile, which is specifically

00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 designed to observe cold gas and dust in

00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 the universe. What they found was

00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 unexpected. The magnetic field structure

00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 doesn't just randomly radiate outward

00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 like many galactic winds do. Instead,

00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 it's highly organized, creating this

00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 directed pathway between the galactic

00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 centers.

00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 >> Why is this discovery so significant?

00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 What does it tell us about galaxy

00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 evolution?

00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 >> This is crucial for understanding how

00:10:03 --> 00:10:06 galaxies grow and evolve. These powerful

00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 outflows, what astronomers call

00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 feedback, can actually regulate star

00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 formation by expelling the gas and dust

00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 that would otherwise collapse to form

00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 new stars. It's like a pressure release

00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 valve for galaxies. Too much star

00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 formation can blow away the material

00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 needed to make more stars, which can

00:10:24 --> 00:10:27 eventually slow down or even halt a

00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 galaxy's growth.

00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 >> So, galaxies regulate their own growth

00:10:31 --> 00:10:33 through these winds. That's a pretty

00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 elegant self-limiting system.

00:10:36 --> 00:10:40 >> It really is. And what makes IC1623

00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 particularly interesting is that we're

00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 seeing this process in action during a

00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 galaxy merger. When galaxies collide, we

00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 see the most extreme versions of these

00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 processes. The most intense star

00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 formation, the most powerful winds, the

00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 strongest magnetic fields. It's like

00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 watching galaxy evolution. and fast

00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 forward.

00:11:00 --> 00:11:04 >> What do we think the fate of IC1623

00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 will be?

00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 >> Eventually, these two galaxies will

00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 completely merge into a single larger

00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 galaxy. The current burst of star

00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 formation will eventually exhaust much

00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 of the available gas. And what we're

00:11:15 --> 00:11:18 looking at now, this spectacular phase

00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 of cosmic winds and magnetic highways

00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 will fade. But the combined galaxy will

00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 carry the imprint of this violent event

00:11:25 --> 00:11:28 in its structure and stellar populations

00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 for billions of years to come.

00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 >> It's humbling to think that we're

00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 witnessing something that takes millions

00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 of years to play out, just captured in a

00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 snapshot.

00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 >> Absolutely. And every time we point our

00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 telescopes at merging galaxies, we learn

00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 something new about the forces shaping

00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 the universe's largest structures.

00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 Speaking of pointing our telescopes at

00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 the universe and finding surprises,

00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 Avery, we need to talk about this

00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 mysterious object that's been sending

00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 powerful signals across the galaxy. The

00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 headline says it's unlike anything we

00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 have seen before.

00:12:01 --> 00:12:04 >> That's not just hype, Anna. Astronomers

00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 have discovered something truly

00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 puzzling. A cosmic object that's

00:12:08 --> 00:12:11 periodically sending out intense radio

00:12:11 --> 00:12:14 signals. And it doesn't fit into any

00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 category of known astronomical

00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 phenomena. It's one of those discoveries

00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 that makes you rethink what you thought

00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 you knew.

00:12:20 --> 00:12:23 >> Okay, you've got my attention. What

00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 exactly are we dealing with here?

00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 >> The object sends out extremely bright

00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 radio pulses that last about 30 to 300

00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 seconds. That's up to 5 minutes per

00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 pulse. And these pulses occur roughly

00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 every 2.9 hours with remarkable

00:12:39 --> 00:12:42 regularity. What makes this so unusual

00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 is the combination of that long period

00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 and the duration of the pulses

00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 themselves.

00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 >> When you say it doesn't fit known

00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 categories, what are the usual suspects

00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 for objects that send out regular

00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 signals like this?

00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 >> Great question. The two most common

00:12:57 --> 00:13:00 sources of periodic radio signals are

00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 pulsars and magnetars. Pulsars are

00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 rapidly spinning neutron stars that

00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 sweep beams of radiation across space

00:13:07 --> 00:13:10 like a cosmic lighthouse. But they

00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 typically pulse on the order of

00:13:11 --> 00:13:15 milliseconds to seconds, not hours. And

00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 their individual pulses are brief,

00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 usually milliseconds, not minutes.

00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 >> So this object is pulsing way too slowly

00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 to be a normal pulsar.

00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 >> Exactly. And the pulses last far too

00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 long. Magnetars, which are neutron stars

00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 with incredibly powerful magnetic

00:13:31 --> 00:13:34 fields, can sometimes produce longer

00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 period signals than regular pulsars, but

00:13:36 --> 00:13:39 even they don't typically operate on a

00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 3-hour cycle with multi-minute pulse

00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 durations.

00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 >> Have astronomers proposed any theories

00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 about what this could be?

00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 >> There are a few possibilities being

00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 investigated. One idea is that it could

00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 be a white dwarf in a binary system,

00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 which is two stars orbiting each other

00:13:53 --> 00:13:56 where one is a white dwarf remnant. The

00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 interaction between the two stars can

00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 potentially generate these periodic

00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 radio emissions. Another possibility is

00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 that we're seeing some kind of unusual

00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 magnetar or pulsar that operates

00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 differently than the ones we studied

00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 before.

00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 >> When was this object discovered and how?

00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 >> The discovery was made using radio

00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 telescope observations. And what's

00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 particularly intriguing is that the

00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 signals are powerful enough to be

00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 detected across vast distances. The

00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 exact distance to this object is still

00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 being determined, but the fact that we

00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 can detect such clear periodic signals

00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 suggests it's either relatively close in

00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 cosmic terms or it's putting out

00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 tremendous amounts of energy.

00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 >> This reminds me of those fast radio

00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 bursts we've heard about, brief, intense

00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 radio signals from across the universe.

00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 Is this related?

00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 >> That's a natural comparison, Anna. But

00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 fast radio bursts, FRBs, are different.

00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 They're much briefer. typically lasting

00:14:53 --> 00:14:56 milliseconds, though some do repeat.

00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 This object's behavior is more periodic

00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 and predictable with much longer pulse

00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 durations. It's almost like comparing a

00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 strobe light to a slowly rotating search

00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 light.

00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 >> What's the next step for studying this

00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 mysterious object?

00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 >> Astronomers will be conducting follow-up

00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 observations across multiple

00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 wavelengths, not just radio, but also

00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 optical, X-ray, and potentially others.

00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 They want to determine exactly where it

00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 is, measure its properties in detail,

00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 and hopefully identify what type of

00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 object it is. Sometimes you need

00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 multiple types of observations to build

00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 a complete picture.

00:15:31 --> 00:15:34 >> Do discoveries like this happen often

00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 where we find something that just

00:15:35 --> 00:15:38 doesn't fit our existing models.

00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 >> More often than you might think,

00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 actually, the universe keeps surprising

00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 us. Every major improvement in our

00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 observing technology reveals new

00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 phenomena we didn't predict.

00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 Radioastronomy in particular has a

00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 history of unexpected discoveries.

00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 Pulsars themselves were a complete

00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 surprise when they were first detected

00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 in 1967.

00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 >> Could this turn out to be a whole new

00:16:00 --> 00:16:03 class of astronomical objects?

00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 >> That's definitely possible. If follow-up

00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 observations confirmed that this truly

00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 doesn't fit into any existing category,

00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 it could indeed represent something new.

00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 Of course, it might also turn out to be

00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 an extreme example of a known type of

00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 object, just operating in a regime we

00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 haven't observed before. Either way,

00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 it's expanding our understanding of

00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 what's possible in the universe.

00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 >> I love that we're still finding things

00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 that make astronomers say we've never

00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 seen anything like this before.

00:16:31 --> 00:16:34 >> Me, too, Anna. It reminds us how much we

00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 still have to learn about the cosmos.

00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 Sticking with unexpected discoveries,

00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 let's talk about planets that orbit two

00:16:40 --> 00:16:44 suns. Tatooine style worlds. Avery, I

00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 understand these aren't as rare as

00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 scientists once thought. That's right,

00:16:47 --> 00:16:50 Anna. New research is challenging our

00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 assumptions about circumbinary planets.

00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 That's the technical term for planets

00:16:54 --> 00:16:57 that orbit both stars in a binary

00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 system. It turns out these Star Wars

00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 style worlds might be more common than

00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 we previously believed, especially

00:17:03 --> 00:17:06 around certain types of binary stars.

00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 >> Before we dive into the findings, let's

00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 set the stage. How common are binary

00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 star systems in the first place?

00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 >> Binary systems are actually incredibly

00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 common, Anna. Roughly half of all

00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 sunlike stars exist in binary or

00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 multiple star systems. So, we're not

00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 talking about a rare cosmic curiosity

00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 here. Binaries are a fundamental

00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 component of the galaxy's stellar

00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 population

00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 >> and we have discovered actual

00:17:32 --> 00:17:35 circumbinary planets already, right?

00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 This isn't just theoretical.

00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 >> Absolutely. NASA's Kepler Space

00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 Telescope discovered the first confirmed

00:17:41 --> 00:17:44 circumbinary planets back in 2011, and

00:17:44 --> 00:17:46 we've found several more since then.

00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 These are real worlds orbiting two suns,

00:17:49 --> 00:17:52 just like Luke Skywalker's home planet.

00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 But the question has always been, how

00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 common are they? So, what does this new

00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 research tell us?

00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 >> The study found that circumbinary

00:17:59 --> 00:18:02 planets appear to be particularly common

00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 around what are called equal mass

00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 binaries. Systems where both stars are

00:18:06 --> 00:18:09 roughly the same size and mass. In these

00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 systems, the stable orbital zone where

00:18:11 --> 00:18:14 planets can form and survive might

00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 actually be more favorable than

00:18:15 --> 00:18:18 astronomers previously calculated.

00:18:18 --> 00:18:20 >> Why would having two equal mass stars

00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 make it easier for planets to form? It

00:18:22 --> 00:18:25 has to do with gravitational stability.

00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 When you have two stars of similar mass,

00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 their gravitational influence on the

00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 surrounding disc of planet forming

00:18:31 --> 00:18:33 material is more balanced and

00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 predictable. There's less chaotic

00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 variation in the gravitational forces

00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 acting on the disc, which means there

00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 are stable regions where material can

00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 accumulate and grow into planets.

00:18:43 --> 00:18:46 >> What about unequal binary systems? One

00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 big star and one small one. Those

00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 systems can still host circumbinary

00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 planets, but the dynamics are more

00:18:52 --> 00:18:55 complex. The larger star dominates

00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 gravitationally, and the smaller star

00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 creates additional pertabbations that

00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 can make certain orbital regions

00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 unstable. It doesn't mean planets can't

00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 form, but the stable zones might be more

00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 limited or located at different

00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 distances.

00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 >> This has implications for the search for

00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 habitable worlds, doesn't it?

00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 >> Very much so. If circumbinary planets

00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 are more common than we thought,

00:19:17 --> 00:19:20 especially in equal mass binaries, that

00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 increases the overall number of

00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 potential planetary environments in the

00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 galaxy. Some of these could potentially

00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 be in the habitable zone, the region

00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 where liquid water could exist on a

00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 planet surface,

00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 >> although I imagine having two suns would

00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 complicate the climate situation

00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 significantly.

00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 >> You're absolutely right. The climate on

00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 a circumbinary planet would be

00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 fascinatingly complex. You'd have

00:19:43 --> 00:19:45 variations in heating depending on the

00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 orbital positions of both stars relative

00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 to the planet. Sometimes of the year,

00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 both suns might be on the same side of

00:19:52 --> 00:19:54 the sky, providing intense combined

00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 heating. Other times, they'd be on

00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 opposite sides, creating more balanced

00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 illumination.

00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 >> How did researchers arrive at these

00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 conclusions about circumbinary planet

00:20:03 --> 00:20:06 frequency? They combined observational

00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 data from telescope surveys with

00:20:08 --> 00:20:10 sophisticated computer modeling of how

00:20:10 --> 00:20:13 planets form in binary star systems. By

00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 simulating thousands of different

00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 scenarios with various binary

00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 configurations, they could identify

00:20:19 --> 00:20:22 patterns about which systems are most

00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 likely to host planets.

00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 >> Are there any specific systems

00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 astronomers are now targeting for

00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 follow-up observations based on these

00:20:29 --> 00:20:32 findings? The research definitely points

00:20:32 --> 00:20:35 to equal mass binaries as high priority

00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 targets for planet hunting campaigns.

00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 Missions like NASA's upcoming Nancy

00:20:39 --> 00:20:42 Grace Roman telescope and continuing

00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 observations from groundbased facilities

00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 will be keeping a close eye on these

00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 systems. Every new circumbinary planet

00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 we discover helps refine our models.

00:20:51 --> 00:20:54 >> It's exciting to think those iconic twin

00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 sunset scenes from Star Wars might be

00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 more common in the universe than we

00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 realized. It really is, Anna. The

00:21:00 --> 00:21:03 universe keeps proving that the reality

00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 can be just as spectacular as science

00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 fiction. Sometimes even more so.

00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 >> And for our final story today, Avery,

00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 we're talking about a discovery that

00:21:11 --> 00:21:14 touches on one of astronomy's biggest

00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 questions, the search for life beyond

00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 Earth. Scientists have detected a

00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 molecule critical to life in

00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 interstellar space. For the first time,

00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 tell us about this breakthrough.

00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 >> This is genuinely exciting, Anna. For

00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 the first time ever, astronomers have

00:21:29 --> 00:21:32 detected ethylenamine, a molecule that

00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 plays a crucial role in forming cell

00:21:34 --> 00:21:37 membranes floating in the vast spaces

00:21:37 --> 00:21:40 between stars. This discovery has

00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 profound implications for how we think

00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 about the building blocks of life in the

00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 universe.

00:21:44 --> 00:21:46 >> Let's start with the basics. What

00:21:46 --> 00:21:49 exactly is ethylamine and why is it so

00:21:49 --> 00:21:52 important to life? Ethylamine is an

00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 organic molecule that's a key component

00:21:54 --> 00:21:57 of phospholipids which are the primary

00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 building blocks of cell membranes. Think

00:21:59 --> 00:22:02 of cell membranes as the walls and gates

00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 of cells. They define the boundary

00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 between the inside and outside of a cell

00:22:06 --> 00:22:09 and control what goes in and out.

00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 Without molecules like ethyleneamine,

00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 you can't build functional cell

00:22:13 --> 00:22:15 membranes. And without cell membranes,

00:22:15 --> 00:22:18 you can't have cells as we know them.

00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 Though this is truly fundamental to

00:22:20 --> 00:22:23 life, at least life as we understand it.

00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 Where was this molecule detected?

00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 >> The discovery was made in a molecular

00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 cloud, one of these vast, cold regions

00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 of space where gas and dust accumulate

00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 and where new stars and planetary

00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 systems eventually form. These clouds

00:22:37 --> 00:22:40 are essentially stellar nurseries. and

00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 finding lifebuilding molecules there

00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 suggests that the ingredients for life

00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 might be getting incorporated into

00:22:46 --> 00:22:48 planetary systems right from the start.

00:22:48 --> 00:22:51 >> How do scientists actually detect

00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 specific molecules in interstellar

00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 space? I imagine you can't exactly

00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 collect a sample.

00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 >> Great question. They use radio

00:22:59 --> 00:23:02 spectroscopy. Every molecule has a

00:23:02 --> 00:23:04 unique spectroscopic signature. Think of

00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 it like a molecular fingerprint.

00:23:06 --> 00:23:09 Different molecules absorb and emit

00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 light at specific wavelengths. Radio

00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 telescopes can detect these signatures,

00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 allowing astronomers to identify what

00:23:15 --> 00:23:18 molecules are present in distant clouds,

00:23:18 --> 00:23:20 even though those clouds are trillions

00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 of miles away.

00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 >> We've found other organic molecules in

00:23:23 --> 00:23:26 space before, haven't we? What makes

00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 this discovery special?

00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 >> You're absolutely right, Hannah.

00:23:29 --> 00:23:32 Astronomers have detected more than 200

00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 different molecules in interstellar

00:23:34 --> 00:23:37 space, including amino acids and sugars.

00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 But ethylanamine is special because of

00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 its direct connection to cell membrane

00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 formation. It's one thing to find amino

00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 acids, the building blocks of proteins.

00:23:46 --> 00:23:48 But finding a molecule that's essential

00:23:48 --> 00:23:51 for creating the actual structure of

00:23:51 --> 00:23:54 cells, takes us another step closer to

00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 understanding how life's fundamental

00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 architecture might arise. Does this

00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 discovery change our thinking about

00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 where the building blocks of life come

00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 from?

00:24:02 --> 00:24:05 >> It definitely supports the hypothesis

00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 that many of life's essential molecular

00:24:07 --> 00:24:10 ingredients aren't created on planets

00:24:10 --> 00:24:12 after they form, but rather arrive from

00:24:12 --> 00:24:15 space. We already know that meteorites

00:24:15 --> 00:24:18 deliver organic compounds to planets. We

00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 found amino acids and meteorites that

00:24:20 --> 00:24:23 have fallen to Earth. This discovery

00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 suggests that even more complex life

00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 related molecules could be delivered

00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 from space.

00:24:28 --> 00:24:31 >> Though in a sense the raw materials for

00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 life might be common throughout the

00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 galaxy.

00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 >> That's the tantalizing possibility this

00:24:36 --> 00:24:39 raises. If molecules like ethanolamine

00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 can form in the harsh conditions of

00:24:41 --> 00:24:44 interstellar space, then these building

00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 blocks might be present in molecular

00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 clouds throughout the galaxy. Every time

00:24:48 --> 00:24:51 a new planetary system forms, it could

00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 be inheriting these pre-made components

00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 of life.

00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 >> This doesn't mean life is automatically

00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 everywhere, though, right? Having the

00:24:58 --> 00:25:00 ingredients doesn't guarantee you'll

00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 bake the cake.

00:25:01 --> 00:25:04 >> Exactly. This is about potential and

00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 possibility. Having the molecular

00:25:06 --> 00:25:09 building blocks is necessary for life,

00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 but it's not sufficient. You still need

00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 the right conditions for those molecules

00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 to assemble into functioning biological

00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 systems. The right temperature,

00:25:18 --> 00:25:21 pressure, energy sources, solvents like

00:25:21 --> 00:25:24 liquid water, and probably a host of

00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 factors we don't fully understand yet.

00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 >> What are the next steps for this kind of

00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 research?

00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 >> Astronomers will be looking for

00:25:30 --> 00:25:33 ethanolamine and similar molecules in

00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 other molecular clouds to see how

00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 widespread they are. They'll also be

00:25:37 --> 00:25:39 searching for even more complex organic

00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 molecules that might be precursors to

00:25:41 --> 00:25:45 biological chemistry. Every molecule we

00:25:45 --> 00:25:47 find helps us piece together the story

00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 of how inanimate chemistry transitions

00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 to the chemistry of life.

00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 >> It's remarkable to think that the

00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 membrane surrounding every cell in our

00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 bodies might have had their chemical

00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 ancestors floating between the stars

00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 billions of years ago.

00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 >> It really is, Anna. It connects us to

00:26:03 --> 00:26:06 the cosmos in a very tangible way. We're

00:26:06 --> 00:26:09 not just made of stardust in an abstract

00:26:09 --> 00:26:12 sense. The actual molecular machinery of

00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 life may have origins that predate Earth

00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 itself.

00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 >> What a perfect note to end today's

00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 episode on. A reminder that we're part

00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 of a universewide chemistry experiment

00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 that's been running for billions of

00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 years.

00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 >> Well, that wraps up another day of space

00:26:27 --> 00:26:29 and astronomy news. From NASA's Aremis

00:26:29 --> 00:26:32 preparations to the discovery of life's

00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 building blocks floating between the

00:26:33 --> 00:26:36 stars, the universe continues to amaze

00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 and inspire.

00:26:38 --> 00:26:40 >> It really does. Thanks so much for

00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 joining us today, everyone. Remember,

00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 you can find us at astronomyaily.io

00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 for full episode transcripts and

00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 additional content.

00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 >> And don't forget to follow us on social

00:26:49 --> 00:26:52 media at astroaily pod for daily updates

00:26:52 --> 00:26:55 and space news throughout the week.

00:26:55 --> 00:26:58 >> Until next time, keep looking up. Clear

00:26:58 --> 00:27:03 skies everyone. Astronomy [music] day.

00:27:03 --> 00:27:10 Stories be told.

00:27:10 --> 00:27:19 Stories [music] told.

00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 [music]