In this episode, we delve into a thrilling array of space news and discoveries that are shaping our understanding of the cosmos. We start with a sobering update on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, where new research suggests its vast subsurface ocean may lack the necessary energy to support life as we know it. Despite its potential, the study highlights the importance of geological activity for habitability, leaving us with more questions than answers.Shifting gears, we turn our attention to the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, set to mark the first crewed flight around the Moon in over 50 years. With a launch date tentatively scheduled for February 6, 2026, the excitement builds as NASA prepares for this historic journey, testing life support systems and navigation in deep space.Next, we explore a surprising discovery made by the James Webb Space Telescope in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, which has revealed unexpected dust content, challenging previous assumptions about early galaxies. This finding could have significant implications for our understanding of star formation and planet-building materials in the early universe.On Mars, the Curiosity rover continues to impress with stunning new panoramas from Mount Sharp, showcasing the planet's geological history and ongoing exploration efforts. The rover's advanced autonomy allows it to multitask while analyzing the Martian landscape, providing invaluable insights into the planet's past.For sky watchers, we discuss an intriguing upcoming astronomical event: a rare predicted double exoplanet transit set for April 1, 2026. However, due to scheduling constraints at major telescopes, real-time observations may be elusive, reminding us of the challenges in capturing such fleeting cosmic moments.Finally, we reflect on NASA's bittersweet decision to demolish three historic test facilities at the Marshall Space Flight Center, marking the end of an era in space exploration. While progress is essential, it comes with the acknowledgment of our rich history and the legacy of past achievements.Join us as we unpack these captivating stories and more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily dose of space and astronomy news
00:52 – **New research suggests Europa's vast subsurface ocean might not support life
02:38 – **NASA is eyeing February 6, 2026 for launch of historic Artemis 2 mission
03:50 – **James Webb Space Telescope finds dwarf galaxy with super low metallicity
06:36 – **Astronomers predict rare double exoplanet transit in 2026### Sources & Further Reading1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/) 2. James Webb Space Telescope (https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/) 3. European Space Agency (https://www.esa.int/) 4. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/) ### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Hello and welcome to Astronomy [music]
00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 Daily, your daily dose of space and
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 astronomy news. I'm Anna and sitting
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 across from me virtually of course is my
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 co-host Avery. Hey Avery, happy January
00:00:14 --> 00:00:18 7th. We are already a week into 2026 and
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 the stories just keep coming.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 >> Hey Anna, and hi [music] everyone out
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 there gazing at the stars with us.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 Absolutely. It's been a whirlwind start
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 to the [music] year. Today, we've got a
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 mix of sobering science about one of
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 Jupiter's moons, exciting updates on the
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 next human trip to the moon, [music] a
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 surprising JWST discovery, gorgeous
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 views from Mars, a sky watching heads
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 [music] up, and some bittersweet news
00:00:44 --> 00:00:47 from NASA history. Six great stories.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:48 Let's dive into it.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 >> Starting with a bit of a downer for
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 astrobiology fans. New research suggests
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 that Europa's vast subsurface ocean
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 might be too quiet to support life as we
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 know it today.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 >> Yeah, this comes from a study just
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 published in Nature Communications.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 Europa, that cracked ice moon of
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Jupiter, has this global ocean deeper
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 than anything on Earth, maybe 100 km
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 deep under a 15 to 25 km thick ice
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 shell. More water than all our oceans
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 combined. But the key question is
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 energy. Life needs not just water and
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 organics, but a source of chemical
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 energy.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 >> Exactly. On Earth, a lot of that comes
00:01:31 --> 00:01:33 from hydrothermal vents on the seafloor.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 Hot mineralrich fluids fueling
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 ecosystems. But the models here based on
00:01:39 --> 00:01:42 Europa's size, composition, and tidal
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 heating from Jupiter show the seafloor
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 is likely inactive. No tectonic plates
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 moving, no fresh fractures, no active
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 volcanoes or hot plumes. The rocky core
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 cooled billions of years ago, and tidal
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 forces aren't strong enough to keep
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 things churning like they do on Io.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 >> Lead researcher Paul Burn put it
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 bluntly. The energy just doesn't seem to
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 be there to support life, at least
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 today. If we sent a submersible down
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 there, we'd probably see a still, quiet
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 bottom. nothing geologically exciting.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 It's a reminder that habitability needs
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 that dynamic interplay, not just the big
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 ocean.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 >> Still, it's today. Maybe early Europa
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 was more active. And missions like
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Europa Clipper launching soon will give
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 us better data on plumes and surface
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 chemistry. Fingers crossed for some
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 surprises.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 >> Definitely, Europa keeps us hooked.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 Shifting to human exploration, the
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 historic Artemis 2 mission, the first
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 crude flight around the moon in over 50
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 years, could be just a month away now.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 >> As of early January, NASA is eyeing
00:02:52 --> 00:02:55 February 6, 2026 for launch, though
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 nothing's locked in yet. The SLS rocket
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 and Orion capsule are stacked in the
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 vehicle assembly building at Kennedy
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 Space Center with rollap to the pad
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 expected in the next couple weeks. Then
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 comes final checks, integration, and a
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 wet dress rehearsal.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 >> The crew is awesome. NASA astronauts
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 Reed Wisman as commander, Victor Glover,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 pilot, Christina Caul, mission
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 specialist, and Jeremy Hansen from
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 Canada. They'll do a free return
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 trajectory around the moon, testing life
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 support, navigation, everything for deep
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 space with humans aboard since Apollo
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 17.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Delays came from heat shield issues on
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 Artemis 1, but NASA's fixed staff for
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 crew safety. It's thrilling. We're so
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 close to seeing humans back in lunar
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 space, and it sets up the whole Aremis
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 program for landings and bases.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 >> I can't wait to watch that launch live
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 stream. Goosebumps already thinking
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 about it.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54 >> Next, the James Web Space Telescope has
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 spotted something unexpected in a galaxy
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 that's like a window into the early
00:03:59 --> 00:04:03 universe. This is Sext A, a dwarf galaxy
00:04:03 --> 00:04:07 with super low metallicity, just 3 to 7%
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 of the sun's heavy elements. It's an
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 analog for galaxies shortly after the
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 Big Bang when everything was mostly
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 hydrogen and helium.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 >> Normally, we'd expect almost no dust
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 there. Dust needs those heavier elements
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 like silicon or magnesium to form
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 silicates. But JWST found two rare
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 types. metallic iron dust grains and
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 silicon carbide stars, especially aging
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 asmtotic giant branch ones, are forging
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 bees via alternative chemistry pathways,
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 even with scarce ingredients.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 >> They also detected polycyclic aromatic
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 hydrocarbons, complex carbon molecules
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 in tiny dense pockets. That's the lowest
00:04:50 --> 00:04:54 metalicity place we've seen PH's. It
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 means early galaxies were dustier and
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 more inventive than models predicted.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 Building planet forming materials way
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 sooner.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 >> Huge implications. Dust helps cool gas
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 for star formation, absorbs lights, and
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 seeds rocky planets. This reshapes how
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 we think high red shift galaxies
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 evolved. Maybe more building blocks for
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 world like ours earlier than thought.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:22 >> JWST just keeps rewriting the textbooks.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 From deep space to Mars, Curiosity rover
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 has sent back a stunning new panorama
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 from high up on Mount Sharp.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 >> This composite was taken in November
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 2025 from a ridge in Gale Crater,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 combining shots from afternoon and
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 morning Mars time to capture changing
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 light. It looks north across this
00:05:42 --> 00:05:45 intricate boxwork formation. Networks of
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 mineral ridges hardened by ancient
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 groundwater billions of years ago, now
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 exposed by wind. You can see the rover's
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 wheel track snaking behind a drill site
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 called Valley Deal Luna, the slopes
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 dropping to the crater floor, and the
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 rim 25 miles away on the horizon. Mount
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 Sharp itself towers 3 m high.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 Curiosity's been climbing it since 2012,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 layer by layer, reading Mars' climate
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 history.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 >> These veins and sediments tell of wetter
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 times, possible habitability, then
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 drying out. Recent drills like at Neado
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 Sahama are analyzing chemistry to piece
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 together water flow. Plus, the rover's
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 using smarter autonomy now for
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 multitasking. 13 years in and still
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 going strong.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 >> Those views never get old. Makes you
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 feel like you're there on the red dust.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 >> For sky watchers, there's some
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 intriguing buzz about a truly rare
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 astronomical event coming up in 2026.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 though unfortunately it's highly likely
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 astronomers won't be able to watch it in
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 real time even though they know it's
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 coming.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 >> Yeah, this one's a bit different from
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 the usual planetary parades in our solar
00:06:54 --> 00:06:57 system. The story is about a predicted
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 exocigy.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 That's a sidigy or alignment of three
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 bodies but in an extra solar system.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 Specifically, two known exoplanets in a
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 distant system are expected to
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 simultaneously transit across the face
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 of their host star as seen from Earth.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 >> The event is forecasted for around April
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 1st, 2026 based on orbital models
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 refined from past data. It's only the
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 second such double exoplanet transit
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 ever predicted. The first one back in
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 2010 was actually discovered
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 retrospectively in archival data from
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 NASA's Kepler mission. That one was
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 missed in real time. And sadly, this
00:07:35 --> 00:07:39 2026 event might suffer the same fate.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 >> Exactly. Lead researcher Terry Yuki
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 Herano has noted that while calculations
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 suggest a good chance it'll happen, it
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 depends on factors like the planet's
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 exact masses, gravitational
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 interactions, and whether there's an
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 unseen outer planet tugging on the
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 system. But the bigger issue is
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 observation time. Major telescopes and
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 space missions have tightly scheduled
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 cues. And without pre-allocated slots,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 astronomers likely won't get the
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 continuous coverage needed to watch the
00:08:07 --> 00:08:11 transits unfold live. As Herano put it,
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 I hope to observe, but I am not sure
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 that I can get an observing time with an
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 appropriate telescope for the whole
00:08:16 --> 00:08:20 event. Real time data would be gold. It
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 could reveal transit timing variations
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 showing how the planets gravitationally
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 influence each other or even hint at
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 additional unseen worlds.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Scientifically, these rare double
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 transits are huge for understanding
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 multilanet systems, refining orbits,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 measuring masses more precisely, and
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 probing dynamics similar to how Jupiter
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 and Saturn interact here. But since the
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 host star is faint and far away, it's
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 strictly professional telescope
00:08:47 --> 00:08:50 territory. no naked eye or amateur
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 viewing possible.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 >> So, while it's an exciting milestone for
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 exoplanet science, it's a reminder of
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 how telescope time is one of the most
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 precious resources in astronomy. We'll
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 have to wait for the data analysis
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 afterward to learn what happened. In the
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 meantime, there are plenty of visible
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 solar system alignments to enjoy
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 throughout 2026, like that tight trio of
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 Mercury, Mars, and Saturn on April 20th
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 in the morning sky, or the brighter
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 conjunctions with Venus and Jupiter
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 later in the year.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 >> Definitely keep an eye on those for some
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 great naked eye or binocular views. The
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 universe has events for every level of
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 observer. Finally, a touch of nostalgia.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 NASA's preparing to demolish three
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 historic test facilities at Marshall
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 Space Flight Center in Alabama.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 >> These are real icons. The neutral
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 buoyancy simulator, a massive pool from
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 the 1960s for weightless training used
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 for Hubble repairs and shuttle hardware.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 The propulsion and structural test
00:09:48 --> 00:09:52 facility or Tower from 1957 tested
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 Redstone, Saturn, and shuttle boosters.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 and the dynamic test facility, tallest
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 in North Alabama when built in 1964,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 shook Saturn 5 and shuttle elements.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:08 >> All national landmarks since 1985, key
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 to Apollo, Skyab, and shuttle, but
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 they're inactive, unsafe, and costly to
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 maintain. Demolition starts with
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 implosions possibly as soon as January
00:10:18 --> 00:10:21 10th, part of clearing 25 old structures
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 to modernize for Aremis. Bittersweet,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 but NASA's preserving the legacy.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 High-res digital models, artifacts to
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 museums, virtual tours. End of an era,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 making way for the next.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 >> Yeah, progress often means saying
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 goodbye to the past.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:40 >> What a thoughtful mix today. Quiet
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 oceans, upcoming moonshots, dusty early
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 galaxies, Martian vistas, sky events,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 and honoring history.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 >> The cosmos and our exploration of it
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 always evolving. Thanks for spending
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 your time with us on Astronomy Daily.
00:10:54 --> 00:10:57 >> We love bringing these stories to you.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 Subscribe if you haven't. Share with a
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 friend and we'll be back tomorrow.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 >> Until then, keep wondering and looking
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 up.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 >> Clear skies, everyone. Astronomy
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 [music and singing] day.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:16 The stories been told.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:25 Stories [music] told.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 [music]