In this episode of Astronomy Daily, join host Anna as she unveils a captivating array of astronomical discoveries and cosmic events that highlight the wonders of our universe. Prepare to be amazed by this week's fascinating stories that showcase the dynamic nature of space exploration.
Highlights:
- Discovery of Mini Moons: Explore the surprising revelation of mini moons near Earth, including the newly identified 2024 PT5. This small rocky body hints at a hidden population of lunar fragments that may have been ejected from our own moon during ancient impacts, offering unique insights into the Moon's geological history.
- Laser Guide Stars: Discover the innovative technology at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, where astronomers are using powerful lasers to create artificial stars. This cutting-edge method helps counteract atmospheric turbulence, allowing ground-based telescopes to capture images nearly as sharp as those from space.
- Coldest Exoplanet Found: Delve into the groundbreaking discovery made by the James Webb Space Telescope of WD 1856 534b, the coldest exoplanet ever observed, orbiting a white dwarf. This discovery challenges our understanding of planetary survival and evolution in the aftermath of stellar death.
- Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower: Get ready for the upcoming Eta Aquarid meteor shower, peaking on May 5th and 6th. Learn how to best observe this celestial event as Earth passes through the debris trail of Halley's Comet, with the potential to witness up to 50 meteors per hour.
- Return of Cosmos 482: Finally, hear about the anticipated return of the Soviet Union's Cosmos 482, a Venus lander that has been orbiting Earth for over five decades. This rare opportunity to examine early planetary exploration technology offers a glimpse into the ambitions of the first space age.
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 - Today's featured stories showcase just how dynamic our universe truly is
01:03 - Scientists have discovered what appears to be a second mini moon near Earth's orbit
04:00 - Scientists at Paranal Observatory in Chile use lasers to create artificial stars
06:58 - The James Webb Space Telescope has found the first confirmed planet orbiting a dead star
10:51 - The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks on May 6th
13:45 - The Soviet Union's Cosmos 482 spacecraft is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere
16:40 - This week's Astronomy Daily podcast features some of today's most interesting discoveries ✍️ Episode References
Mini Moons Discovery
[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov/ (https://www.nasa.gov/) )
Laser Guide Stars
[European Southern Observatory]( https://www.eso.org/ (https://www.eso.org/) )
James Webb Space Telescope
[NASA JWST]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/webb/main/index.html) )
Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
[American Meteor Society]( https://www.amsmeteors.org/ (https://www.amsmeteors.org/) )
Cosmos 482 Update
[Russian Space Agency]( https://www.roscosmos.ru/ (https://www.roscosmos.ru/) )
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26935979?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 bringing you the latest astronomical
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 wonders and space news from across the
00:00:06 --> 00:00:09 universe. Today we have a stellar lineup
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 of fascinating stories that showcase
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 just how dynamic our universe truly is.
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 We'll explore the surprising discovery
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 of many moons lurking near Earth that
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 might hint at a hidden population of
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 lunar fragments in our neighborhood.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 Then we'll look at a remarkable
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25 telescope that's literally shooting
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 lasers into space to create artificial
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 stars. I'll also share details about the
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 James Webb Space Telescope's
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 groundbreaking discovery of the coldest
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 exoplanet ever found and it's orbiting a
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 dead star. Plus, get ready for the
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 upcoming Eta Aquarid meteor shower. Your
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 chance to witness the cosmic debris from
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 Halie's comet lighting up our night
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 skies. And finally, we'll update you on
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 that Soviet Venus lander that's been
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 stranded in Earth orbit for over 5
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 decades and is now making its way back
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 home. So, let's journey together through
00:00:57 --> 00:00:59 these cosmic tales that remind us just
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 how wondrous our universe truly
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 is. First up today, Earth's moon might
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 be getting a bit of company in our
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 cosmic neighborhood. Scientists have
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 discovered what appears to be a second
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 mini moon, a small rocky body that
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 travels near Earth's orbit. This new
00:01:15 --> 00:01:19 minimoon, designated 2024 PT5, was first
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 spotted last year by astronomers in
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 South Africa, and the evidence suggests
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 it may have been blown off our own moon
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 during an ancient impact event. What
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 makes 2024 PT5 particularly interesting
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 is that it represents the second known
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 lunar fragment traveling near Earth. The
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 first, called Kamo Oalea, was traced to
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 the moon in 2021. As planetary scientist
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 Teddy Kretta from Lowel Observatory in
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 Arizona puts it, "If there were only one
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 object, that would be interesting, but
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 an outlier. If there's two, we're pretty
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 confident that's a population." This
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 discovery hints at a potentially hidden
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 collection of lunar fragments orbiting
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 in Earthlike paths around the sun. Think
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 of it as Earth traveling in its highway
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 lane around the sun while these mini
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 moons cruise along in adjacent lanes,
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 occasionally merging into Earth's path
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 before moving on again. What's
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 fascinating about 2024 PT5 is how
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 researchers identified its lunar origin.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 After its discovery, scientists quickly
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 turned the Lowel Discovery Telescope
00:02:21 --> 00:02:24 toward this space rock and studied it
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 using both visible and near infrared
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 data. The composition matched rocks
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 brought back by Apollo missions and the
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 confirming its lunar heritage.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:38 Size-wise, 2024 PT5 is relatively small,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 estimated at just 26 to 39 ft in
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 diameter. Scientists believe it was
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 likely excavated when an asteroid or
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 other object crashed into the moon,
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 ejecting material that eventually found
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 its way into an Earthlike orbit. Kretta
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 Aptly compared this discovery to finding
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 a new kind of evidence at a crime scene.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 These lunar fragments offer scientists a
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 unique opportunity to study the effects
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 of massive impacts on the moon. By
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 matching the debris to specific lunar
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 craters, researchers may gain new
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 insights into how cratering events shape
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 planetary bodies throughout the solar
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 system. The two confirmed minimoons
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 appear quite different from each other.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 Kamoa is larger and shows signs of
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 longer exposure to cosmic rays and solar
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 radiation, suggesting it's been in space
00:03:21 --> 00:03:25 longer than 2024 PT5. Their orbits also
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 differ slightly. While 2024 PT5
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 occasionally crosses Earth's orbital
00:03:30 --> 00:03:34 path, Kamoa maintains a more consistent
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 quasi satellite orbit that keeps it in
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 Earth's vicinity for several consecutive
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 orbits. Researchers are now actively
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 searching for more of these lunar
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 refugees. with Ketta suggesting that
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 some asteroids previously classified as
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 unusual might actually be disguised
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 lunar rocks. As new large-scale survey
00:03:52 --> 00:03:53 telescopes like the Vera Rubin
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 Observatory come online, we may soon
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 discover that Earth's mini moon
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 population is much larger than
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 previously
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 thought. Next up, a rather intriguing
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 experiment. At the Paranol Observatory
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 in Chile, astronomers have developed
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 what might be the most dramatic solution
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 to a persistent problem. They're
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 shooting powerful lasers into space. But
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 this isn't science fiction. It's cutting
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 edge astronomy at work. The UT4
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 telescope, one of four 8 meter behemoths
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 that make up the very large telescope
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 array, is equipped with a remarkable
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 system called the four laserg guide star
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 facility. This system allows the
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 telescope to do something extraordinary.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 Create artificial stars high in Earth's
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 atmosphere. When we look up at the night
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 sky, we see stars twinkling. While this
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 might be beautiful, it's actually a
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 serious problem for astronomers trying
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 to capture clear images. That twinkling
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 is caused by atmospheric turbulence.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 Essentially, we're looking at space
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 through a constantly shifting layer of
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 air that distorts the light. The UT4
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 solution, it fires four brilliant laser
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 beams about 90 km up into the atmosphere
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 where they excite sodium atoms, causing
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 them to glow brightly. These glowing
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 points effectively create guide stars
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 that the telescope can use as reference
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 points.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 By observing how these artificial stars
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 are distorted by the Earth's atmosphere
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 in real time, the telescope's adaptive
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 optics system can precisely adjust the
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 shape of its secondary mirror to
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 counteract the blurring effects. It's
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 like wearing glasses that constantly
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 update their prescription to match
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 changing conditions. The results are
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 spectacular. This technology allows UT4
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 to capture images from the ground that
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 are almost as sharp as those taken from
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 space-based telescopes, but at a
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 fraction of the cost and with the
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 ability to upgrade and maintain the
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 equipment
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 regularly. The success of this system
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 has been so impressive that plans are
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 underway to equip the other three
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 telescopes in the VT array with similar
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 laser technology.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 This is part of a series of upgrades to
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 the VT interferometer and its gravity
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 plus instrument which can combine light
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 from multiple telescopes to create what
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 is essentially a huge virtual telescope.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Not far from Paranol, another ambitious
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 project is taking shape. The extremely
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 large telescope currently under
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 construction will be equipped with at
00:06:10 --> 00:06:13 least six lasers to ensure it delivers
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 the sharpest possible images for a
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 groundbased observatory. What makes this
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 technology truly revolutionary is how it
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 transforms the capabilities of
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 earth-based astronomy. Space telescopes
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 like Hubble and James Web provide
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 incredible clarity but are
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 extraordinarily expensive to build,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:33 launch, and operate. With laser adaptive
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 optics, groundbased telescopes can now
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 approach that level of precision while
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 remaining accessible for regular
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 upgrades and maintenance.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 This brilliant solution, literally
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 creating stars with lasers to see the
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 real ones better, represents one of the
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 most innovative approaches in modern
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 astronomy. It's allowing us to peer
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 deeper into the cosmos than ever before,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 all while keeping our feet firmly on the
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 ground. And while on the subject of
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 telescopes, let's get an update from the
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 JWST.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 The James Webb Space Telescope has made
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 another groundbreaking discovery. This
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 time, finding the first confirmed planet
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 orbiting a dead star. This isn't just
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 any exoplanet. It's also the coldest one
00:07:15 --> 00:07:16 ever directly observed, offering
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 astronomers unprecedented insights into
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 planetary evolution. The planet named
00:07:22 --> 00:07:27 WD1856 + 534b was actually first spotted
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 back in 2020. But scientists weren't
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 entirely sure whether it was truly a
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 planet or possibly a brown dwarf, one of
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 those failed stars that never quite
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 gathered enough mass to ignite fusion in
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 their cores. It took the incredible
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 sensitivity of the James Webb Space
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 Telescope to settle the debate. Located
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 about 80 lighty years from Earth, this
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Jupiterized world orbits a white dwarf,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:53 the dense Earth-sized remnant core left
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 behind after a sunlike star has
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 exhausted its nuclear fuel, expanded
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 into a red giant, and then collapsed.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 What makes this discovery particularly
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 fascinating is that the planet completes
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 an orbit around its dead star every 1.4
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 days, placing it remarkably close to the
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 stellar remnant. This proximity creates
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 what astronomers call a paradox.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 WD1856 + 534b exists in what should be a
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 forbidden zone. A region so close to the
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 white dwarf that any planet there should
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 have been completely destroyed when the
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 star expanded during its red giant
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 phase. Yet somehow this massive world
00:08:29 --> 00:08:32 survived or more likely migrated inward
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 after the stars violent death throws had
00:08:34 --> 00:08:37 subsided. As Maryanne Limbach, the
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 astronomer who led the study at the
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 University of Michigan, put it, "This is
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 compelling evidence that planets can not
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 only survive the violent death of their
00:08:45 --> 00:08:48 star, but also move into orbits where we
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 didn't previously necessarily expect
00:08:50 --> 00:08:53 them to exist. The planet is
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 extraordinarily cold with a temperature
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 of about 125°
00:08:57 --> 00:09:01 F, 87°.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 This makes it significantly colder than
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 the previous record holder, epsilon
00:09:05 --> 00:09:09 indieab, which is a relatively balmy 35°
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 F. The extreme cold, combined with its
00:09:12 --> 00:09:15 orbit around a white dwarf, offers
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 astronomers a unique laboratory for
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 studying planetary atmospheres and
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 evolution. This discovery has
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 wide-ranging implications for our
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 understanding of cosmic evolution. It
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 suggests that the migration of planets
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 after stellar death might be a key
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 mechanism for positioning worlds in the
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 potentially habitable zones around white
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 dwarfs, regions where liquid water and
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 potentially life could exist. While this
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 particular gas giant wouldn't be
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 habitable, the principle applies to
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 smaller rocky worlds as well. The James
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 Webb Space Telescope hasn't yet reached
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 its theoretical limits for detecting
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 cold objects. Future observation
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 programs aim to push those boundaries,
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 potentially allowing astronomers to
00:09:55 --> 00:09:59 detect planets as cold as negative 324°
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 F. Such capabilities would accelerate
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 our understanding of exoplanets similar
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 to our own Jupiter and Saturn, placing
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 our solar system in a broader galactic
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 context. The research team isn't
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 finished with this fascinating system
00:10:12 --> 00:10:15 either. They plan to conduct a second
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 JWST observation this July, hoping to
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 spot any additional planets that might
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 be gravitationally bound to the star.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Finding another planet could help
00:10:24 --> 00:10:28 explain how WD1 1856 plus 534b managed
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 to migrate to its current close orbit
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 around the white dwarf without being
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 destroyed in the process.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Whether or not they find additional
00:10:35 --> 00:10:38 planets, these observations represent a
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 crucial step forward in understanding
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 how planetary systems evolve through the
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 dramatic final stages of a stars life
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 cycle. Knowledge that may one day help
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 us predict the ultimate fate of our own
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 solar
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 system. Okay, it's time to get outside
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 and look up. Get ready for a spectacular
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 celestial light show as the ITA aquarid
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 meteor shower is set to peak on the
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 morning of Tuesday, May 6.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 That's this coming Tuesday. This
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 dazzling display occurs when Earth
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 passes through the debris trail left
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 behind by perhaps the most famous cosmic
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 wanderer of all, Hal's comet. During the
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 peak nights of May 5, and 6, well
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 observers could witness up to 50 meteors
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 per hour streaking across the night sky.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:23 These shooting stars are actually tiny
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 particles of primordial comet dust, some
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 no bigger than grains of sand, that slam
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 into Earth's atmosphere at the
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 astonishing speed of 40 m/s. That's
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 about 144
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 mph. The shower takes its name from its
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 radiant point, which appears to be near
00:11:39 --> 00:11:43 the star Eta Aquari in the constellation
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 Aquarius. This makes the southern
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 hemisphere the prime viewing location
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 for this particular meteor shower. as
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 Aquarius rises much higher in their
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 night sky this time of year, allowing
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 observers there to catch the greatest
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 number of meteors. For those of us in
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 the northern hemisphere, don't despair.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 We can still enjoy the show, though with
00:12:02 --> 00:12:05 somewhat reduced numbers. The best
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 viewing time will be during the pre-dawn
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 hours when Aquarius rises in the eastern
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 sky. Observers in places like New York
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 might expect to see around 10 meteors
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 per hour. While fewer than our southern
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 neighbors, it's still a respectable
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 showing for a meteor shower. What makes
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 the ITA aquarids particularly special is
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 the nature of the meteors themselves.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 They're known for leaving glowing debris
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 trails that can persist in the night sky
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 for several seconds after the meteor
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 itself has disappeared. These luminous
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 trails are sometimes called persistent
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 trains and add an ethereal quality to
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 the shower. For the best viewing
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 experience, experts recommend finding a
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 spot 40° away from the radiant in the
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 direction of your zenith. That's the
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 point directly overhead. Allow at least
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 to the darkness. And remember,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 binoculars or telescopes aren't
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 necessary or even recommended for meteor
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 watching. Your naked eyes with their
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 wide field of view are the perfect
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 instruments for taking in these fleeting
00:13:03 --> 00:13:06 celestial visitors. While the shower
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 peaks on May 56, the ETA aquarids have
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 actually been active since April 20. So,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 keep watching the skies in the coming
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 days as activity ramps up. There's
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 always the chance of catching an
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 especially dramatic fireball, a meteor
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 that burns exceptionally bright as a
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 larger chunk of cometary debris meets
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 its fiery end in our atmosphere. This
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 celestial light show is just one of two
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 annual meteor showers produced by Hal's
00:13:30 --> 00:13:33 comet. will cross its debris field again
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 in October, creating the Orioned meteor
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 shower. So, even though Halley itself
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 won't return to the inner solar system
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42 until 2061, we get to enjoy its cosmic
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 calling cards twice each
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 year. Finally, today, an update to a
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 story we covered yesterday. There's new
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 information. After more than half a
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 century silently orbiting Earth, a relic
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 of the space race is finally coming
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 home. The Soviet Union's Cosmos 482, a
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 failed Venus probe launched back in
00:14:01 --> 00:14:04 1972, is expected to re-enter Earth's
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 atmosphere around May 10, give or take
00:14:06 --> 00:14:08 about 2 days, according to satellite
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11 tracker Marco Langbrook. This isn't your
00:14:11 --> 00:14:15 typical space debris. Cosmos 482 was
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 meant to be a sister mission to the
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 successful Venera 8, which successfully
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 landed on Venus and transmitted data for
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 50 minutes before succumbing to the
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 planet's crushing atmosphere and
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 scorching temperatures. Unfortunately,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 Cosmos 482's upper stage rocket
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 malfunctioned after reaching Earth
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 orbit, stranding the Venusbound
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 spacecraft in our planet's gravitational
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 embrace. What makes this re-entry
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 particularly fascinating is that the
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 surviving component appears to be the
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 actual lander module, a reinforced
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 capsule specifically designed to
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 withstand the extreme conditions of
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 Venus. This robust engineering means it
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 might actually survive the plunge
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 through Earth's atmosphere intact and
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 reach the surface without
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 disintegrating.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 Recent images captured by satellite
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 tracker Ralph Vanderberg in the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 Netherlands reveal intriguing details
00:15:06 --> 00:15:09 about the Wayward spacecraft. His
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 highresolution photography shows what
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14 appears to be a clear compact ball,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 presumably the lander itself. Even more
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 interesting, several frames seem to show
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 a weak elongated structure extending
00:15:21 --> 00:15:24 from one side of the spherical object.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 This has led to speculation that the
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 lander's parachute may have prematurely
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 deployed during its decades in orbit.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 Vanderberg notes that the object might
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 be tumbling, which would explain why
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 this potential parachute is only visible
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 in certain frames. If confirmed, this
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 would be an extraordinary development. A
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 spacecraft that not only survived 53
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 years in space, but actually initiated
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 part of its landing sequence while still
00:15:47 --> 00:15:50 in orbit. The re-entry is expected to be
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 a long shallow trajectory through the
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 atmosphere due to the spacecraft's
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 current orbit. This combined with the
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 age and condition of the object
00:15:59 --> 00:16:01 introduces numerous uncertainties about
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 exactly when and where it might return
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 to Earth. However, the fact that this
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 capsule was engineered to withstand
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11 Venus's atmosphere, which is far denser
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 and hotter than Earth's, gives it a
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 fighting chance to reach the surface
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 relatively intact. This unexpected
00:16:17 --> 00:16:20 return of Cosmos 482 offers a rare
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 opportunity to examine early Soviet
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 planetary exploration technology that
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 has endured more than five decades in
00:16:26 --> 00:16:29 the harsh environment of space. For
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 scientists and space enthusiasts alike,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 this visitor from the early days of
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 interplanetary exploration provides a
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 tangible connection to the ambitious
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 dreams of the first space
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 age. Well, that brings us to the end of
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 today's cosmic journey. And what an
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 extraordinary collection of discoveries
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 we've explored together. From the hidden
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 population of mini moons that may be
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 scattered throughout our orbital
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 neighborhood to giant telescopes
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 shooting lasers into space, the universe
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 continues to surprise and captivate us.
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 The James Web Space Telescope's
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 discovery of a planet orbiting a dead
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04 star challenges our understanding of
00:17:04 --> 00:17:07 planetary survival, while the upcoming
00:17:07 --> 00:17:10 Eta Aquarid meteor shower promises to
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 paint our skies with celestial
00:17:11 --> 00:17:14 fireworks. and the imminent return of a
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 Soviet Venus lander after 53 years in
00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 orbit reminds us of humanity's long
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21 history of reaching toward other worlds.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 If you've enjoyed today's episode, I'd
00:17:23 --> 00:17:26 love for you to visit our website at
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 astronomyaily.io where you can sign up
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 for our free daily newsletter and catch
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 up on all the latest space and astronomy
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 news with our constantly updating
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 newsfeed. You can subscribe to Astronomy
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 Daily on all podcast apps, including
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 iHeart Radio, or wherever you get your
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 podcasts from. I'm Anna, and I'll be
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 back soon with more fascinating stories
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 from the cosmos. Until then, keep
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 looking up. There's a lot going on if
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 only you look. Astronomy
00:17:54 --> 00:17:58 day. Stories be told.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:12 [Music]