Astronomy Daily - S05E31: Dark Sky Victory, Jupiter Redefined, Monster Sunspot
Victory for dark skies as industrial plant near major observatory cancelled • NASA's Juno mission reveals Jupiter is larger and flatter than we thought • 15-Earth-wide sunspot currently facing our planet • Unusual Martian storm reveals subsurface secrets • NASA acknowledges SLS rocket sustainability challenges • How red giant stars destroy their own gas giant planets
Host Anna and Avery discuss six major space stories for Thursday, February 5th, 2026.
Episode sponsored by astronomydaily.io - Your daily source for space and astronomy news
Featured Stories:
• Dark Sky Preservation: Industrial development threatening Canary Islands observatory cancelled
• Jupiter Redefined: Juno mission measurements reveal true size and shape of gas giant
• Solar Activity: Monster sunspot 15 Earths wide faces Earth - viewing safety tips included
• Martian Meteorology: Unusual storm system reveals subsurface features of red planet
• SLS Reality Check: NASA publicly addresses Space Launch System cost sustainability
• Stellar Destruction: Red giants systematically destroy orbiting gas giant planets
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 for the latest space and astronomy news.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:06 I'm Anna.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 >> And I'm Avery. Today is Thursday,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 February 5th, 2026, and we've got a
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 great lineup of stories for you today.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 >> We certainly do. We'll be covering a
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 major victory for dark sky preservation,
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 groundbreaking measurements of Jupiter's
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 true size, a monster sunspot currently
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 facing Earth, mysterious Martian
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 weather, some frank talk from NASA about
00:00:28 --> 00:00:31 the SLS rocket, and how red giant stars
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 destroy their own planetary systems.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 Quite the cosmic menu. But before we
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 dive in, a quick reminder that you can
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 get more space news and community
00:00:40 --> 00:00:43 discussion at astronomyaily.io io and
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 you can find us on social media @
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 astroailyaily pod across all platforms.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 >> All right, let's start with some good
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 news for astronomy. Avery, what's
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 happening with Earth's darkest skies?
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 >> This is a story that really highlights
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 how fragile our connection to the night
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 sky has become. Anna, astronomers around
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 the world are breathing a collective
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 sigh of relief after plans for a major
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 industrial plant near one of Earth's
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 darkest sky locations have been
00:01:08 --> 00:01:09 cancelled.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 >> Oh, that's wonderful news. Where was
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 this proposed plant going to be built?
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 >> The development was planned near the Ro
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 de los Moshashos Observatory in the
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Canary Islands, which hosts some of the
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 most important telescopes in the
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 northern hemisphere. This site is
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 renowned for having some of the darkest,
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 clearest skies accessible to modern
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 astronomy, and the proposed industrial
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29 facility would have introduced
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 significant light pollution to the area.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 >> I can imagine the astronomical community
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 was pretty concerned. These pristine
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 observation sites are becoming
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 increasingly rare. Absolutely. What
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 makes this particularly significant is
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 that it represents a growing recognition
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 of the scientific value of dark skies.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49 The cancellation came after sustained
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 advocacy from the astronomy community
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 who emphasized not just the local impact
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 but the global scientific importance of
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 preserving these observation sites. With
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 light pollution spreading worldwide,
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 losing access to naturally dark skies
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04 would be devastating for groundbased
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 astronomy. It's encouraging to see that
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 science preservation can still win out
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 over industrial development. These
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 observatories represent decades of
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 investment and irreplaceable viewing
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 conditions.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:18 >> Exactly. And it sets an important
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 precedent for protecting other
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 astronomical sites around the world. The
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 International Dark Sky Association has
00:02:24 --> 00:02:25 noted that this decision could
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 strengthen arguments for dark sky
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 preservation elsewhere.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:30 >> Great to hear some positive
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 environmental news for a change. Now,
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 speaking of observations from those
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 pristine sites, let's talk about what
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 we've learned about Jupiter. NASA's Juno
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 mission has completely redefined our
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 understanding of the gas giant size and
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45 shape, hasn't it?
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 >> It really has, Anna. This is one of
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 those discoveries that makes you realize
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 how much we still don't know about even
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 our most familiar planetary neighbors.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 Juno's precise measurements have
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 revealed that Jupiter is both larger and
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 more oblate than we previously thought.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 When you say oblate, you mean it's
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 flattened at the poles, right?
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 >> Exactly. All rotating bodies experience
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 this to some degree. Even Earth bulges
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 slightly at the equator. But Jupiter's
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 rapid rotation makes this effect much
00:03:12 --> 00:03:15 more pronounced. What's new is just how
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 pronounced it actually is. Juno's
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 gravity measurements have shown that
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 Jupiter's equatorial diameter is
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 slightly larger than our previous
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 estimates, while the distance between
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 the poles is actually smaller. The
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 planet is basically wider and flatter
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 than we realized.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 >> So, what caused this miscalculation? I
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 mean, we've been observing Jupiter for
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 centuries.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 >> Well, measuring the size of a gas giant
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 with no solid surface is trickier than
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 it sounds. Earlier measurements relied
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 primarily on optical observations,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 essentially looking at where Jupiter's
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 atmosphere becomes opaque. But Juno uses
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 extremely precise gravity measurements
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 as it orbits the planet. By measuring
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 tiny variations in how Jupiter's gravity
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 affects the spacecraft's trajectory,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 scientists can determine the planet's
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 mass distribution with unprecedented
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 accuracy.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 >> And I assume Jupiter's rotation plays a
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 big role in this shape.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 >> Absolutely. Jupiter rotates once every
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 10 hours. That's incredibly fast for
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 something so massive. This rapid spin
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 creates enormous centrifugal forces that
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 push material outward at the equator.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 What Juno has revealed is that this
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 effect penetrates much deeper into the
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 planet than we thought. The measurements
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 suggest that Jupiter's interior
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 structure, including how its metallic
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 hydrogen layer behaves, is more complex
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 than our models predicted.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 >> This probably has implications for
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 understanding other gas giants too, both
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 in our solar system and around other
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 stars. Definitely understanding
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 Jupiter's interior helps us refine our
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 models of how gas giants form and
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 evolve. And since we can't exactly drill
00:04:53 --> 00:04:56 into Jupiter to see what's inside, these
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 gravity measurements are the next best
00:04:58 --> 00:05:01 thing. Every new piece of data from Juno
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 helps us understand not just Jupiter,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 but the entire class of giant planets.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 >> Fascinating stuff. It's amazing that
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 after all this time studying Jupiter,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 we're still discovering fundamental
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 things about its basic structure. Now,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 let's shift from distant Jupiter to our
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 very own sun, which is putting on quite
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 a show right now. Avery, there's a
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 massive sunspot facing Earth at the
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 moment.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 >> There certainly is, Anna, and it's a
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 monster. The sunspot currently facing
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 Earth spans about 15 Earth diameters
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 across. That's roughly 120 m. To put
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 that in perspective, you could fit 15
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 Earths side by side across a single
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 sunspot.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 >> That's genuinely hard to wrap your head
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 around. And I understand people can
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 actually see this with the right
00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 equipment.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 >> Yes, but this comes with a crucial
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 safety warning. Never look directly at
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 the sun without proper solar filters.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 This can cause premanent eye damage or
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 blindness. However, with proper eclipse
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 glasses or solar filters designed
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 specifically for solar observation,
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 amateur astronomers can spot this
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 sunspot fairly easily. It's large enough
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 to be visible even with modest
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 magnification.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 >> What exactly is a sunspot for our
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 listeners who might not know?
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 >> Sunspots are regions on the sun's
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 surface where powerful magnetic fields
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 break through, temporarily suppressing
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 the hot convective currents that
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 normally transport heat from the sun's
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 interior. This makes these regions
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 cooler than their surroundings, around
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 6°
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 F, compared to the normal surface
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 temperature of about 10°.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 That temperature difference is why they
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 appear dark against the brighter
00:06:35 --> 00:06:36 background.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 >> And these magnetic fields, they're what
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 Right.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 >> Exactly. Large complex sunspot groups
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 like this one have tangled magnetic
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 field lines that can suddenly reconnect
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 and release enormous amounts of energy.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 This particular sunspot is being closely
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 monitored because of its size and
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 complexity. When these magnetic
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 structures become unstable, they can
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 unleash powerful solar flares and
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 potentially hurl billions of tons of
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 charged particles toward Earth and
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 what's called a coronal mass ejection or
00:07:08 --> 00:07:08 CME.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 >> Should we be concerned about potential
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 impacts on Earth?
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 >> Space weather forecasters are definitely
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 keeping a close eye on it. A large CME
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 directed at Earth could affect
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 satellites, power grids, and radio
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 communications and could produce aurora
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 displays at lower latitudes than usual.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 However, our sun monitoring satellites
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 like SOHO and SDO give us advanced
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 warning, typically several days before
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 CME arrives. So, while this sunspot
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 certainly has the potential to be
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 active, we have the monitoring
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 infrastructure in place to track any
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 eruptions and issue warnings if
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 necessary. It's one of those reminders
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 that we live inside the sun's atmosphere
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 in a sense. We're constantly bathed in
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 the solar wind.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 >> That's a great way to think about it.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Earth's magnetic field shields us from
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 most of the effects, but we're
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 definitely connected to our stars
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 activity. And for amateur astronomers,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 it's a rare chance to see solar activity
00:08:02 --> 00:08:05 on this scale with safe solar viewing
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 equipment. All right, from solar weather
00:08:07 --> 00:08:10 to Martian weather, Avery, there's been
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 an unusual storm on Mars that's
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14 revealing something new about the red
00:08:14 --> 00:08:17 planet. Yes, and this is a particularly
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 intriguing discovery because it
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 challenges some of our assumptions about
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 Martian meteorology. Researchers have
00:08:23 --> 00:08:26 observed an unusual storm system on Mars
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 that's providing new insights into the
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 planet's atmospheric dynamics and what
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 lies beneath its dusty surface.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 >> What made this storm unusual? I mean,
00:08:35 --> 00:08:38 Mars is famous for its dust storms.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 >> True. But this storm exhibited behavior
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 that didn't fit our standard models of
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 Martian weather patterns. The storm's
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 movement and structure suggested it was
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 being influenced by subsurface features.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 Essentially, the topology and
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 composition beneath Mars' surface was
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 affecting how the storm developed and
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 moved across the planet.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 >> So, the ground itself is influencing the
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 weather. How does that work? It's
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 similar to how mountains on Earth affect
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 weather patterns. But Mars has some
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 unique factors. The thin Martian
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 atmosphere, less than 1% of Earth's
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 atmospheric pressure, means that surface
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 features have a proportionately larger
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 impact on atmospheric circulation.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 Additionally, variations in surface
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 temperature due to different rock and
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 soil composition can create localized
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 heating patterns that drive atmospheric
00:09:26 --> 00:09:26 motion.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 >> And what did the storm reveal about
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 what's underground? The storm's behavior
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 suggested there are variations in
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 subsurface composition that weren't
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 previously mapped. By tracking how the
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 storm responded to these hidden
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 features, scientists could essentially
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 use the storm as a probe to detect
00:09:42 --> 00:09:45 what's below the surface. It's a bit
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 like how doctors use ultrasound. You're
00:09:46 --> 00:09:49 using one thing to indirectly sense
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 another.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 >> That's a clever way to gather geological
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 information. Are there implications for
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 future Mars missions?
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 >> Definitely. Understanding these
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 subsurface features is important for
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 several reasons. First, they could
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 indicate locations where subsurface
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 water ice might be present. Second, they
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 help us understand Mars' geological
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 history and how the planet evolved. And
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 third, for future crude missions,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 knowing what's underground is essential
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 for landing site selection and resource
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 utilization. You want to land somewhere
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 with access to useful materials.
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 >> It's fascinating how atmospheric science
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 and geology intersect like this. One
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 storm can tell you so much about an
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 entire planet.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 >> Exactly. And it's another example of how
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 every Mars observation opens new
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 questions. The more we learn, the more
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 complex and interesting Mars becomes.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 >> Indeed. Now, speaking of complex and
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 interesting, let's talk about NASA's
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 space launch system. There's been some
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 remarkably frank discussion from NASA
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 about this rocket's future, hasn't
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 there?
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 >> Yes. And it's notable precisely because
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 NASA officials are rarely this candid
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 about program challenges. Anna, for the
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 first time, NASA is publicly
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 acknowledging what many industry
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 analysts have been saying for years. The
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 space launch system has fundamental cost
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 and sustainability issues that need to
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 be addressed.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 >> This is the rocket that's supposed to
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 take astronauts back to the moon, part
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 of the Aremis program, right?
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 >> That's correct. The SLS is the most
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 powerful rocket NASA has ever built.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 Designed specifically for deep space
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 missions, it successfully launched
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 Artemis 1 in late 2022, sending an
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 uncrrewed Orion spacecraft around the
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 moon. And it's scheduled to launch
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 Artemis 2, the first crude lunar mission
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 in over 50 years, though that timeline
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 keeps shifting.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 >> So, what's the issue? The rocket works,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 doesn't it?
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 >> The rocket does work. When it flies, it
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 performs beautifully. The problem is the
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 economics. Each SLS launch costs roughly
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 $4 billion, and the system can only fly
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 about once a year with current
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 infrastructure. For comparison, SpaceX's
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 Starship, which is also designed for
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 deep space missions and has crater
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 payload capacity, is projected to cost a
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 tiny fraction of that per launch and
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 could potentially fly dozens of times
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 per year.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 >> 4 billion per launch. That's hard to
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 justify, especially when alternatives
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 exist.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 >> Exactly. And that's what makes these
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 recent NASA fatements so significant.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 Administrators are openly discussing the
00:12:25 --> 00:12:28 elephant in the room, that maintaining
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 SLS in its current form may not be
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 sustainable for a long-term lunar or
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 Mars exploration program. They're
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 acknowledging that the program needs to
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 either dramatically reduce costs or
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 potentially transition to commercial
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 alternatives. This must be a difficult
00:12:43 --> 00:12:46 position for NASA. The SLS represents
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 decades of development and enormous
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 investment.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 >> It absolutely is. There are also
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 political considerations. The SLS
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 program supports jobs across multiple
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 states and has strong congressional
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 backing, but NASA is facing budgetary
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 pressure and needs to make realistic
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 plans for sustainable exploration. The
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 acknowledgement that SLS's costs are
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 problematic is a significant shift
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 towards having honest conversations
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 about the future of deep space
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 exploration.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 >> What are the alternatives? Would NASA
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 switch to something like Starship
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 entirely?
00:13:20 --> 00:13:22 >> That's one option being discussed,
00:13:22 --> 00:13:25 though it's complicated. NASA has
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 already contracted with SpaceX to
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 provide a lunar lander version of
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 Starship for Artemis missions. So,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 there's already commercial partnership
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 in place. Some proposals suggest using
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 commercial heavy lift rockets for cargo
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 and potentially even crew, while others
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 advocate for a hybrid approach. The
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 challenge is that any major change would
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 require congressional approval and
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 significant replanning of Artemis
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 architecture.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 >> It sounds like we're at an inflection
00:13:51 --> 00:13:54 point for NASA's deep space ambitions.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 >> We really are. This is one of those
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 moments where honesty about challenges
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 is the first step towards finding
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 solutions. The fact that NASA is willing
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 to have this conversation publicly,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 suggests they're serious about finding a
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 sustainable path forward, even if it
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 means difficult decisions about programs
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 that have tremendous legacy and
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 political support.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 >> Well, we'll certainly be watching how
00:14:16 --> 00:14:19 this develops. Now, for our final story,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 let's venture into the realm of stellar
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 evolution. Avery, red giant stars are
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 apparently destroying their own
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 planetary systems. They are Anna and
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 this research gives us a rather
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 apocalyptic preview of what will happen
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 to our own solar system in about 5
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 billion years. Astronomers have observed
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 how red giant stars, stars in their late
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 evolutionary stages, systematically
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 destroy gas giant planets that orbit too
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 close to them.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 >> This is what our sun will eventually
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 become, right? A red giant.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 >> Exactly. When stars like our sun exhaust
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 the hydrogen fuel in their cores, they
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 begin fusing helium and expand
00:14:57 --> 00:15:00 dramatically. Our sun will eventually
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 swell to perhaps 100 times its current
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 diameter, likely engulfing Mercury,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 Venus, and possibly Earth. But this
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 research focuses on what happens to
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 planets that survive the initial
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14 expansion, particularly gas giants at
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 distances similar to Jupiter and
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 Saturn's current orbits. Though these
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 planets survive the stars expansion, but
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 not what comes after.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 >> Precisely. As the star becomes a red
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 giant, several destructive processes
00:15:28 --> 00:15:31 occur. First, the star becomes much more
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 luminous. Our sun will eventually be
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36 about 2 times brighter than it is
00:15:36 --> 00:15:39 now. This intense radiation heats the
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 atmospheres of gas giant planets,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 causing them to expand and potentially
00:15:44 --> 00:15:48 evaporate. Second, red giant stars have
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 powerful stellar winds that can strip
00:15:50 --> 00:15:53 away planetary atmospheres. And third,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 the stars expansion causes tidal forces
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 that can alter planetary orbits.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 >> That sounds like a recipe for planetary
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 destruction. What exactly did the
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 researchers observe?
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 >> They studied multiple red giant star
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09 systems and found evidence of gas giant
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 planets in the process of being
00:16:11 --> 00:16:14 destroyed. In some cases, they detected
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 the spectral signatures of planetary
00:16:16 --> 00:16:19 material being stripped away and falling
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 into their host star. In others, they
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 found gas giants with highly eroded
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 atmospheres, clearly showing the effects
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 of their stars evolution. It's like
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 watching different stages of the same
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 destructive process.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 >> This presumably has implications for our
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 understanding of how planetary systems
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 evolve over time.
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 >> Absolutely. One of the key findings is
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 that the habitable zone, the region
00:16:42 --> 00:16:45 where liquid water could exist, moves
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48 outward as a star becomes a red giant.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 Moons of Jupiter or Saturn, currently
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 frozen ice worlds, might temporarily
00:16:53 --> 00:16:56 become habitable as our sun swells. But
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 this research shows that even if these
00:16:58 --> 00:17:01 worlds briefly enter the habitable zone,
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 the gas giants they orbit are being
00:17:03 --> 00:17:06 actively destroyed by the dying star.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 It's a very dynamic and ultimately
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 doomed situation.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 >> It really puts our solar systems
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 long-term future in perspective.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 >> It does. Though I should emphasize we
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 have about 5 billion years before any of
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 this happens. So there's no immediate
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 cause for concern. But it does remind us
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 that solar systems, like everything else
00:17:25 --> 00:17:27 in the universe, have life cycles.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 Understanding these cycles helps us
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 interpret what we see around other stars
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 and appreciate that the stable longive
00:17:34 --> 00:17:37 solar system we enjoy is a temporary
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 phase in cosmic terms.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 >> A sobering but fascinating look at
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 stellar evolution. It's one thing to
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 know intellectually that the sun will
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 eventually die, but quite another to see
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 the detailed process of what happens to
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 the planets
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 >> exactly. And who knows, in 5 billion
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 years, humanity's descendants, if they
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 exist, will likely have long since
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 relocated to other star systems.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 Understanding how stars age and die is
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 actually crucial for picking good
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 long-term neighborhoods out in the
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 galaxy.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 >> That's a nice optimistic note to end on.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 Well, that's all we have for you today
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 on Astronomy Daily.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 >> And remember to check out our website at
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 astronomydaily.io
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 for more space news and to join our
00:18:17 --> 00:18:20 community discussions. You can also find
00:18:20 --> 00:18:22 us on social media at Astro Daily Pod.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 >> Thanks for listening and keep looking
00:18:24 --> 00:18:28 up. Astronomy day.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:36 Stories be told.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:40 Stories told.