Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E84
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on an exhilarating journey through the latest cosmic discoveries and developments that are reshaping our understanding of the universe. From a rare stellar collision to groundbreaking advancements in space policy, this episode is brimming with insights that will spark your curiosity about the cosmos.
Highlights:
- Rare White Dwarf Collision: Join us as we explore the unprecedented discovery of a pair of white dwarf stars on a collision course, located just 150 light years from Earth. This spectacular event is expected to result in a supernova explosion brighter than ten full moons, providing astronomers with invaluable insights into these cosmic phenomena and the nature of type 1a supernovae.
- SpaceX's Military GPS Launch: Discover how SpaceX has stepped in to launch a military GPS satellite that had been waiting due to delays with United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. This strategic shift highlights the Space Force's adaptability in ensuring critical missions reach orbit on schedule, showcasing the importance of having multiple launch options.
- Soyuz MS.27 Crew Launch: Get the inside scoop on the successful Soyuz MS.27 mission, which transported a diverse crew to the International Space Station, including a NASA astronaut with a remarkable background as a Navy SEAL and a Harvard-educated doctor. Learn about the crew's exciting plans during their extended stay aboard the ISS.
- Uranus's Longer Day: Delve into new findings from the Hubble Space Telescope revealing that Uranus's rotation period is longer than previously thought, leading to necessary recalibrations of its coordinate system. This adjustment underscores the importance of continuous observation in refining our understanding of distant planets.
- LIFE Mission Concept: Explore an ambitious proposal for a fleet of space telescopes designed to search for signs of life beyond Earth. Even if no biosignatures are detected, this mission could provide crucial insights into the prevalence of life in the universe, transforming our understanding of our cosmic neighborhood.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) . Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:05 - Rare white dwarf collision discovery
10:30 - SpaceX military GPS launch updates
17:00 - Soyuz MS.27 crew launch
22:15 - Uranus's updated rotation period
27:30 - LIFE mission concept for exoplanets
✍️ Episode References
White Dwarf Collision Research
[Nature Astronomy]( https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/ (https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/) )
SpaceX GPS Launch Details
[Space Force]( https://www.spaceforce.mil/ (https://www.spaceforce.mil/) )
Soyuz MS.27 Mission Information
[Roscosmos]( https://www.roscosmos.ru/ (https://www.roscosmos.ru/) )
Uranus Rotation Study
[Hubble Space Telescope]( https://hubblesite.org/ (https://hubblesite.org/) )
LIFE Mission Concept
[ETH Zurich]( https://www.ethz.ch/en.html (https://www.ethz.ch/en.html) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26502313?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 [Music]
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 welcome to Astronomy Daily I'm Anna
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 bringing you the latest and most
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 exciting news from across the cosmos
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 Today we've got a stellar lineup of
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 stories that showcase just how dynamic
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 our understanding of space continues to
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 be Coming up in the next 20 minutes
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 we'll explore a truly rare cosmic event
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 that's unfolding relatively close to
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 home a pair of white dwarf stars on a
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 collision course that will eventually
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 create a supernova explosion brighter
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 than 10 full moons This firstofits-kind
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 discovery is giving astronomers
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 unprecedented insight into these cosmic
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 standard candles We'll also dive into
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 some space policy news as SpaceX steps
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 in to launch a military GPS satellite
00:00:42 --> 00:00:43 that had been waiting in storage due to
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 delays with United Launch Alliance's
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 Vulcan rocket This satellite shuffle
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 reveals interesting developments in how
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 the space force is adapting to ensure
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 critical missions reach orbit on
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 schedule Then we'll head to the
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 International Space Station with the
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 Soyu's MS27 mission carrying a
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 fascinating crew including a NASA
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 astronaut with an extraordinary
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 background as both a Navy Seal and a
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 Harvard educated doctor Our planetary
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 exploration takes us to Uranus where new
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 Hubble telescope data has revealed the
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 ice giant's day is actually longer than
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 we've thought for the past four decades
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 Those extra 28 seconds might seem small
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 but they're forcing scientists to
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 recalibrate everything we know about the
00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 planet's coordinate system And finally
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 we'll look at an ambitious proposal for
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 a fleet of space telescopes working
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 together to answer one of humanity's
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 most profound questions How common is
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 life in the universe the fascinating
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 part is that even if this mission finds
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 no signs of extraterrestrial life it
00:01:43 --> 00:01:44 could still tell us volumes about our
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 cosmic neighborhood That's all ahead on
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 today's episode of Astronomy Daily your
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 window to the wonders beyond our world
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 So let's get
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 started Astronomers have just made an
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 unprecedented discovery that's
00:01:56 --> 00:01:59 captivating the scientific community A
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 pair of white dwarf stars locked in a
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 deadly dance just 150 lightyear from
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 Earth This extremely rare binary system
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 consists of two massive white dwarfs
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 that are on a collision course spiraling
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 ever closer to each other in what will
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 eventually result in one of the most
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 spectacular explosions in the
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 cosmos White dwarfs are essentially the
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 dense cores left behind when stars like
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 our sun die They pack roughly the mass
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 of the sun into a volume about the size
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 of Earth making them incredibly dense
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 Finding two of these stellar remnants
00:02:31 --> 00:02:32 orbiting each other this closely is
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 extraordinary And the implications are
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 even more fascinating According to
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39 research published in Nature Astronomy
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 these two stars are already remarkably
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 close orbiting each other once roughly
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 every 14 hours But this leisurely
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 encircling won't last forever Over the
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 next billion years gravitational wave
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 radiation will cause the stars to spiral
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 even closer together By the time they're
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 about to go supernova they'll be
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 whipping around each other every 30 to
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 40 seconds What makes this discovery
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 truly significant is that it's the first
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 direct observation of what astronomers
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 believe is the most common cause of type
00:03:10 --> 00:03:11 1 a
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 supernovi These cosmic explosions occur
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 when a white dwarf gathers too much mass
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 In this case the heavier of the pair
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 will likely accumulate material from its
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 partner through gravity leading to one
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 or both stars exploding Lead researcher
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 James Monday from the University of
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 Warwick was understandably excited when
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 he spotted this system noting that for
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 years a local and massive double white
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 dwarf binary has been anticipated His
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 international team quickly used some of
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 the world's largest optical telescopes
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 to determine exactly how compact the
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 system is discovering that the two stars
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 are separated by just 1/60th of the
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 Earth's sun distance Type one a
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 supernovi are crucial tools for
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 astronomers because they serve as
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 standard candles Explosions with known
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 brightness that allow scientists to
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 calculate the distance between Earth and
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 other
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 galaxies They're even used to test
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 theories about the expansion of the
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 universe Having a front row seat to the
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 formation of such an event is
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 unprecedented When these stars
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 eventually merge the resulting explosion
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 will be truly cataclysmic about a
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 thousand trillion trillion times more
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 powerful than the most powerful nuclear
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 bomb ever created And while that sounds
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 alarming especially considering how
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 close the system is to our solar system
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 we don't need to worry The team's
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 calculations indicate this cosmic
00:04:31 --> 00:04:34 spectacle won't happen for about 23
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 billion years
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Co-author Ingred Pelisi points out that
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 finding such a system relatively nearby
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 suggests these binary white dwarf pairs
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 must be fairly common throughout the
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 galaxy If they were rare astronomers
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 would have needed to look much further
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 away to find one She adds that this is
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 just the beginning as their survey
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 searching for type 1A supernova
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 progenitors is ongoing with more
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 exciting discoveries likely on the
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 horizon This rare glimpse into the life
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 cycle of stars provides a valuable piece
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 in our understanding of cosmic evolution
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 By watching these white dwarfs over time
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 astronomers can refine their models of
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 how these standard candles form and
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 behave ultimately improving our ability
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 to measure the vast distances of space
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 and understand the fundamental nature of
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 our expanding universe
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Next today in a significant shift for
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 the US military's launch plans Space
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 Systems Command announced Monday that
00:05:30 --> 00:05:31 SpaceX will now deploy a global
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 positioning system satellite originally
00:05:34 --> 00:05:35 scheduled to fly on United Launch
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 Alliance's Vulcan rocket This is no
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 small matter It represents the second
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 time in just 6 months that the Space
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 Force has had to reassign a military
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 satellite to SpaceX due to continued
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 delays with ULA's new Vulcan launch
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 vehicle The satellite in question
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 designated GPS
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 3SV08 is the eighth in a series of 10
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 advanced navigation satellites that
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 provide critical positioning and timing
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 signals for both military and civilian
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 users worldwide It had been sitting in
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 storage at Loheed Martin's factory in
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Colorado essentially ready to go but
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 waiting for its ride to space Thanks to
00:06:08 --> 00:06:11 this launch vehicle trade as the Space
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 Force calls it the GPS satellite could
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 reach orbit as early as the end of May A
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 dramatic acceleration compared to its
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 uncertain timeline with ULA What makes
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 this particularly remarkable is how
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 quickly the military can pivot when
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 necessary Colonel Jim Horn senior
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 material leader of launch execution
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 pointed out that this showcases the
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 Space Force's ability to complete high
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 priority launches with just 3 months of
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 preparation compared to the typical
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 planning cycle of 2 years This rapid
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 response capability isn't just a
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 convenience it's increasingly viewed as
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 a strategic necessity Frank Calvelli the
00:06:48 --> 00:06:51 Pentagon's chief of space acquisition
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 had previously expressed significant
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 concerns about ULA's manufacturing
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 capabilities writing in a letter to
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 ULA's owners Boeing and Loheed Martin
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 that currently there is military
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 satellite capability sitting on the
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 ground due to Vulcan delays The Vulcan
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 rocket which ULA hopes will eventually
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 launch twice monthly has only flown on
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 two demonstration missions so far While
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 the Space Force did certify the rocket
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 for military launches last month ULA
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 faces the daunting task of working
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 through its massive backlog of 89
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 missions a number that grew even larger
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 after the Space Force awarded the
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 company 19 additional launches just last
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 week This isn't the first time the
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 military has had to pull this kind of
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 maneuver Last year teams from the Space
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 Force Spac X and Loheed Martin
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 successfully executed what they called a
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 rapid response trailblazer mission
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 preparing a GPS satellite for launch on
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 a Falcon 9 in less than 5 months rather
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 than waiting for its ULA slot That
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 mission launched successfully in
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 December To maintain balance in its
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 launch portfolio the Space Force is
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 making adjustments across its manifest
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 They'll be moving a future GPS payload
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 from SpaceX's Falcon Heavy back to ULA's
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 Vulcan ensuring that the next three GPS
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 satellites after this one will still fly
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 on Vulcan once the rocket is ready A
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 similar compensation occurred after last
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 year's reassignment These advanced GPS3
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 satellites represent a significant
00:08:17 --> 00:08:20 upgrade to the navigation constellation
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 They broadcast more accurate signals
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 that are harder for adversaries to jam
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 and they include a new channel
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 compatible with Europe's Galileo
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 navigation network This allows users to
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 merge signals from both constellations
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 to achieve even better position
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 estimates A capability that both
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 military strategists and civilian
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 applications are eager to utilize With
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 two more completed GPS3 satellites
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 already in storage and waiting for
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 launch plus an upgraded GPS 3F design
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 set to begin launching in 2027 the
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 pressure to get these capabilities into
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 orbit remains high This satellite swap
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 demonstrates not just the space force's
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 flexibility but the growing importance
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 of having redundant launch options to
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 ensure national security assets can
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 reach space when
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 needed The fourth crude space launch of
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 2025 is now in the history books as
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 Soyu's MS-27 successfully lifted off
00:09:13 --> 00:09:17 from the Biconer Cosmo in Kazakhstan The
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 launch occurred right on schedule at
00:09:19 --> 00:09:23 5:47 UTC on Tuesday April 8th carrying
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 three crew members bound for the
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 International Space Station Leading the
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 mission is veteran cosminaut Sergey
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 Rajikov who's no stranger to space
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 travel This marks his third journey
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 beyond Earth's atmosphere following
00:09:35 --> 00:09:39 previous missions in 2016 and 2020
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 During his second flight Riakov even
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 served as the commander of the
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 International Space Station during
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 Expedition 64 gaining valuable
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 leadership experience that will serve
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 him well on this new mission Joining
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 Riakov are two firsttime space travelers
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 Russian cosminaut Alexi Zubritzky a
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 senior lieutenant in the Russian Air
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 Force is serving as one of the flight
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 engineers Born in Ukraine's Zaparia
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05 region in 1992 Zubritzky was selected
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 for the cosminot program in 2018 after
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 graduating from the Ivan Kojaub National
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 University of the Air Force The second
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 flight engineer position is filled by
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 NASA astronaut Johnny Kim whose
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 background reads like an action movie
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 script Before becoming an astronaut Kim
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 served as a Navy Seal seeing combat in
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 the Middle East where he earned a silver
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 star Not content with just military
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 achievements he went on to earn a
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 mathematics degree sumakum laad and a
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 medical degree from Harvard becoming
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 both a physician and a naval aviator
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 before NASA selected him in
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 2017 The Soyuse spacecraft reached the
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 station in just over 3 hours docking to
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 the PCL module on the Russian segment at
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 903 UTC This precise orbital ballet
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 demonstrates the reliability of the
00:10:51 --> 00:10:54 Soyuse program which continues to serve
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 as a crucial transportation system for
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 the international space community With
00:10:58 --> 00:11:02 the arrival of Soyuse MS-27 the space
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 station is temporarily home to 10
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 astronauts and cosminauts The new
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 arrivals will join the existing crew 10
00:11:08 --> 00:11:12 and Soyu's MS26 teams already aboard
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 This larger crew will work together
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 during a handover period until Soyuse
00:11:16 --> 00:11:20 MS26 undocks on April 20th marking the
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 end of Expedition 72 and the beginning
00:11:22 --> 00:11:26 of Expedition 73 Unlike typical Soyuse
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 missions which last about 6 months this
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 crew is scheduled for an extended stay
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 of approximately 8 months They won't
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 return to Earth until December 8th
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 giving them ample time to conduct
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 experiments and perform essential
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 maintenance on the orbital outpost Among
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 their potential tasks is at least one
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 spacew walk planned for the US segment
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 of the station Johnny Kim with his
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 extensive training in EVA operations is
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 expected to participate in this critical
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 work outside the protective shell of the
00:11:55 --> 00:11:59 ISS The Soyuse MS27 mission represents
00:11:59 --> 00:12:01 the continuity of international
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 cooperation in space despite
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 geopolitical tensions on Earth It's also
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 the second Soyuse rocket launch of 2025
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 and the first of two planned crude
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 flights from Biconor this year The
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 backup crew for this mission already
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17 named as the prime crew for Soyuse MS28
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19 is scheduled to launch no earlier than
00:12:19 --> 00:12:22 November 27th As these three explorers
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 settle into their home for the next
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 eight months they become part of the
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 ongoing human presence in low Earth
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 orbit that has now continued
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 uninterrupted for over two decades
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 furthering our understanding of living
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 and working in the challenging
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 environment of
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 space Up next new findings means new
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 adjustments Time to adjust our calendars
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 for Uranus The ice giant just got a
00:12:44 --> 00:12:47 longer day Recent analysis of decadel
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 long observations from the Hubble Space
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 Telescope has revealed that Uranus takes
00:12:51 --> 00:12:55 17 hours 14 minutes and 52 seconds to
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 complete a full rotation on its axis
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 This new measurement adds 28 seconds to
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 the previous estimate established by
00:13:02 --> 00:13:06 NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft back in
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 1986 The original rotation period of 17
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 hours 14 minutes and 24 seconds was
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 determined during Voyager 2's historic
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 flyby the first and so far only
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 spacecraft visit to the distant planet
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 Scientists based that figure on radio
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 signals from Uranus's auroras and direct
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 measurements of its magnetic field This
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 value became the foundation for all
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 coordinate systems and surface mapping
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 of the pale turquoise world However this
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 new research suggests astronomers may
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 need to reconsider some of those maps
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 The Voyager 2 estimate contained
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 inherent uncertainties that led to
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 significant problems Within just a
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 couple of years after the spacecraft's
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 brief encounter the orientation of
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 Uranus's magnetic axis became completely
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 lost resulting in a 180° error in the
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 planet's longitude Coordinate systems
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 based on that outdated rotation period
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 quickly became unreliable
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 To resolve this astronomical dilemma a
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 team led by Lauron Lami from the Paris
00:14:04 --> 00:14:07 Observatory undertook the painstaking
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 task of tracking Uranus's auroras using
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 Hubble data collected between 2011 and
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 2022 By monitoring these luminous
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 atmospheric displays over more than a
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 decade the researchers pinpointed the
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 planet's magnetic poles with
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 unprecedented accuracy enabling them to
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 calculate a more precise rotation period
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 The continuous observations from Hubble
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 were crucial Lamey noted Without this
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 wealth of data it would have been
00:14:33 --> 00:14:36 impossible to detect the periodic signal
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 with the level of accuracy we achieved
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 This methodical approach offers benefits
00:14:41 --> 00:14:44 beyond just updating a planetary factoid
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 The technique can now be applied to
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 determine rotation rates for any
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 celestial body with a magnetic field and
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 auroras not only within our solar system
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 but potentially for exoplanets and other
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 distant worlds as well
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 The updated rotation period provides
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 astronomers with a much more reliable
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 coordinate system for Uranus one
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 expected to remain accurate for decades
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 until future missions can gather even
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10 more precise data This improvement could
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 prove invaluable for planning those
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 future expeditions to Uranus
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 particularly in designing orbital tours
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 and selecting suitable atmospheric entry
00:15:17 --> 00:15:20 sites for probes While 28 seconds might
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 seem like a minor adjustment in
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 astronomical terms this level of
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 precision represents a significant
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 refinement in our understanding of the
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 seventh planet from the sun The findings
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 published in the journal Nature
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35 Astronomy earlier this month demonstrate
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 how continued observations from
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 Earth-based instruments can still
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 enhance our knowledge of even the most
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 distant planets in our solar system
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 Finally today in our search for life
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 beyond Earth scientists are developing
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 increasingly sophisticated tools to
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 answer one of humanity's most profound
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 questions Are we alone a groundbreaking
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 mission concept called life the large
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 interpherometer for exoplanets aims to
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 tackle this question with unprecedented
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 clarity Life proposes deploying a fleet
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 of four space telescopes working in
00:16:05 --> 00:16:08 perfect coordination around a central
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 combiner spacecraft These telescopes
00:16:10 --> 00:16:13 would fly in formation tens to hundreds
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16 of meters apart collectively functioning
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 as a powerful intererometer that
00:16:18 --> 00:16:20 combines their light detections to
00:16:20 --> 00:16:23 achieve what no single telescope could
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 What makes life particularly
00:16:25 --> 00:16:27 revolutionary is its planned use of
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 nulling interferometry a clever
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 technique that cancels out the
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 overwhelming glare from stars by
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 combining their light out of phase This
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 creates what scientists call destructive
00:16:38 --> 00:16:40 interference effectively dimming the
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 stars brilliance while preserving the
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 faint light from any orbiting planets
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47 Rather than producing direct images life
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 would observe in the mid infrared
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 spectrum allowing it to
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 spectroscopically analyze the light from
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 exoplanets and reveal the molecular
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 composition of their atmospheres The
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 mission would target dozens of
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 Earth-sized planets residing in the
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 habitable zones of their stars searching
00:17:02 --> 00:17:05 for telltale bio signatures atmospheric
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 gases that could indicate the presence
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 of life These bios signatures include
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 the obvious candidates like oxygen and
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 water vapor but also compounds such as
00:17:14 --> 00:17:18 ozone methane nitrous oxide dimethyl
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 sulfide and phosphine The detection of
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 certain combinations of these molecules
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 could provide compelling evidence for
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 biological activity Currently life
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 remains a concept spearheaded by
00:17:30 --> 00:17:33 researchers at ETHZurich in Switzerland
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 It hasn't yet been adopted by a space
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 agency but its scientific potential is
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 already being carefully
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 assessed A fascinating aspect of the
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 life mission is that it could deliver
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 profound insights even if it fails to
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 detect any bio signatures at all Using
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51 sophisticated statistical models
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 researchers have determined that life
00:17:53 --> 00:17:56 would need to examine only 40 to 80
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 exoplanets without finding any signs of
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 life to conclude with confidence that
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 fewer than 10 to 20% of similar planets
00:18:02 --> 00:18:06 in the universe harbor life A simple
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 positive detection would change
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 everything notes astronomer Daniel
00:18:09 --> 00:18:12 Angerhousen of ETHZurich
00:18:12 --> 00:18:14 But even if we don't detect life we'll
00:18:14 --> 00:18:17 quantify how rare or common planets with
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 detectable bio signatures really might
00:18:19 --> 00:18:23 be The team employed both bizian and
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 frequentist statistical approaches to
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 reach this conclusion ensuring their
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 findings are robust across different
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 mathematical
00:18:31 --> 00:18:34 frameworks As the sample size increases
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 if no bio signatures are detected
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 scientists could place increasingly
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 stringent limits on the prevalence of
00:18:40 --> 00:18:43 life in our galaxy Of course the
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 researchers acknowledge certain
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 challenges Some bio signatures might be
00:18:47 --> 00:18:50 missed due to detection limitations or
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 planets might be mistakenly included in
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54 the potentially habitable
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 category It's not just about how many
00:18:56 --> 00:18:59 planets we observe Angerhousen explains
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 "It's about asking the right questions
00:19:01 --> 00:19:04 and how confident we can be in seeing or
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 not seeing what we're searching for
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 Whether life ultimately finds inhabited
00:19:08 --> 00:19:11 worlds or determines they're exceedingly
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 rare the mission would fundamentally
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 transform our understanding of life's
00:19:15 --> 00:19:18 place in the cosmos In either scenario
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 humanity would gain unprecedented
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 insight into our cosmic significance
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 either as one among many living worlds
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 or as something far more unique than we
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 previously
00:19:28 --> 00:19:31 imagined Well that's all for today's
00:19:31 --> 00:19:33 cosmic journey What an incredible set of
00:19:33 --> 00:19:35 discoveries we've explored together From
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 those doomed white dwarf stars destined
00:19:37 --> 00:19:40 for a spectacular collision billions of
00:19:40 --> 00:19:42 years from now to the space force's
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 agile satellite launch maneuvers to the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:46 successful Soyuse mission carrying
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 international crew members to the
00:19:48 --> 00:19:51 ISS We've also learned that Uranus turns
00:19:51 --> 00:19:54 a bit more slowly than we thought Those
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 extra 28 seconds might seem trivial to
00:19:56 --> 00:19:59 us but they represent a significant
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 refinement in our understanding of the
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 ice giant and the proposed life
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 telescope array could finally help us
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 determine whether habitable worlds are
00:20:07 --> 00:20:10 cosmic rarities or scattered abundantly
00:20:10 --> 00:20:12 throughout our galaxy What links all
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 these stories is humanity's relentless
00:20:14 --> 00:20:17 curiosity about the universe we inhabit
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 Each discovery each mission each new
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 measurement brings us closer to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:22 understanding our cosmic neighborhood
00:20:22 --> 00:20:25 and our place within it I'm Anna and
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 I've been delighted to share these
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 fascinating space developments with you
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 on Astronomy Daily If you're hungry for
00:20:31 --> 00:20:33 more space news remember to visit our
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 website at
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 astronomydaily.io where our news feed is
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 constantly updating with the latest
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 discoveries and developments from across
00:20:40 --> 00:20:43 the cosmos You'll also find all our
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 previous episodes there if you'd like to
00:20:44 --> 00:20:47 catch up on anything you've missed And
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 don't forget to join our community on
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00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 updates behind the scenes content and
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 join the conversation about our amazing
00:21:01 --> 00:21:04 universe Until next time keep looking up
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 There's always something incredible
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 happening in the cosmos and we'll be
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 here to tell you all about it Thanks for
00:21:10 --> 00:21:17 listening to Astronomy Daily
00:21:17 --> 00:21:32 [Music]