In this episode, we take a deep dive into the cosmic events and scientific discoveries that await us in 2026. We kick off with an exciting preview of lunar exploration, as NASA's Artemis program prepares to send astronauts on a historic flyby of the Moon, alongside a fleet of robotic landers from various commercial companies, including Jeff Bezos's Blue Moon. Next, we highlight the total solar eclipse on August 12, which will cross the Arctic, as well as a ring of fire eclipse in Antarctica, making 2026 a year for eclipse chasers.Shifting our focus to the edge of our solar system, we discuss the latest findings from the Voyager probes, which have uncovered a "wall of fire" at the boundary of the heliosphere, challenging our understanding of solar and interstellar interactions. We also explore Russia's recent launch of the Abzor R1, a radar Earth observation satellite that enhances their surveillance capabilities, marking a significant step in their sovereign space program.In a discovery that feels like science fiction, scientists have detected interstellar tunnels—narrow structures of hot plasma extending from our solar bubble into the galaxy, possibly formed by ancient supernovae. This revelation adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of galactic structure.Finally, we examine the rapidly evolving commercial space race, with updates on China's reusable rocket initiatives and how companies like Stokespace and Relativity Space are transforming Florida's historic Space Coast into a hub for future launches. Join us as we explore these captivating stories and much more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Astronomy Daily brings you the latest news from across the cosmos
00:43 – **2026 is shaping up to be a monumental year for lunar exploration
01:41 – **A total solar eclipse will cross over the Arctic on August 12th
02:36 – **NASA's Voyager probes have detected a searingly hot region of space
04:16 – **Russia launches new radar Earth observation satellite with huge strategic importance
05:24 – **Scientists have detected narrow structures of hot plasma extending into the wider galaxy
06:58 – **The reusable rocket race is heating up, and it's not just SpaceX
08:22 – **Stokespace and Relativity Space are building out launch sites at Cape Canaveral
09:40 – **This is the end of today's Astronomy Daily show### Sources & Further Reading1. NASA (https://www.nasa.gov/) 2. Roscosmos (https://www.roscosmos.ru/) 3. Space.com (https://www.space.com/) ### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
Instagram: @astrodailypod
Email: hello@astronomydaily.io
Website: astronomydaily.io (http://astronomydaily.io/)
Clear skies and see you next time! 🌟Become a supporter of this podcast: Support Us (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN . To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit You'll be glad you did!
Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support)
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/30872267?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, [music] your
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 source for the latest news from across
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 the cosmos. I'm Avery.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 >> And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 today. We start [music] with a more
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 comprehensive look ahead at the cosmic
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 wonders 2026 has [music] in store for
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 us. From moon missions to major
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 eclipses.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:17 >> That's right. We'll also [music] dive
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 into a mindbending discovery from the
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 Voyager probes at the edge of our solar
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 system and discuss Russia's new Earth
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 observation satellite. Plus, scientists
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 may [music] have found interstellar
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 tunnels in our galactic neighborhood.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 And finally, we'll [music] cover the
00:00:31 --> 00:00:34 rapidly evolving commercial space race
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 with updates on China's reusable rockets
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 and the transformation of Florida's
00:00:39 --> 00:00:40 historic space coast. [music]
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 >> It's a lot to cover, so let's get
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 started. Anna, why don't you kick us off
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 with the astronomical [music]
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 forecast update for 2026?
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 >> Absolutely, Avery. 2026 is shaping up to
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 be a monumental year, especially for
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 lunar exploration. NASA's Aremis program
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 is sending the first astronauts to fly
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 by the moon in over 50 years.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02 >> And this is the mission that will pave
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 the way for the actual moon landing.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:04 Right.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 >> Exactly. This crew, three Americans and
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 one Canadian, will do a flyby of the far
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 side, which could give us our first good
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 look at areas the Apollo missions never
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 saw. But they're not alone. We're also
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 expecting a caravan of robotic landers
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 from commercial companies,
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 >> including Jeff Bezos's Blue Moon lander.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 I read that thing is going to be huge
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 and taller than the Apollo landers.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 >> That's right. And companies like
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines are
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 also heading back. While Firefly
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 Aerospace is aiming for the moon's far
00:01:35 --> 00:01:37 side, even China is targeting the South
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Pole to search for ice.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 >> The moon is certainly getting busy. What
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 about other celestial events? I heard
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 there's a big eclipse coming. There is.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 On August 12th, a total solar eclipse
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 will cross over the Arctic, Greenland,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 Iceland, and Spain. Totality will last
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 just over 2 minutes. And for those at
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 the other end of the world, there's a
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 ring of fire eclipse in Antarctica in
00:02:00 --> 00:02:00 February.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 >> Sounds like a year for the eclipse
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 chasers. And we also have those planet
00:02:04 --> 00:02:05 parades to look forward to.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 >> We do. At the end of February, six
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 planets, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:13 Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, will line
00:02:13 --> 00:02:16 up in the sky just after sunset. Mars
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 will be the only one missing, but it
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 joins a different six planet parade in
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 August.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 >> Incredible. It seems there's something
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 for everyone in 2026, from lunar
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 missions to planetary alignments.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 >> It really does. And that's just the
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 beginning. Let's move on to our next
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 story, which takes us far beyond the
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 moon, to the very edge of our solar
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 system. Avery, what have the Voyager
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 probes been up to?
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 >> Well, this is a fascinating one. Voyager
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 1 and two, NASA's longest running
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 missions, have detected a searingly hot
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 region of space where the sun's
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 influence ends. Some are calling it a
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 wall of fire.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:55 >> A wall of fire? That sounds intense.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 What exactly is it?
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 >> It's a boundary zone at the edge of the
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 heliosphere. That's the bubble created
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 by the solar wind where temperatures
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 spiked to between 30 and 50
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 Kelvin. This region called the helio
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 sheath acts as a sort of thermal
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 barrier.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12 >> That's incredibly hot. How did the probe
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 survive passing through it?
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 >> That's the key part. While the plasma
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 particles are moving at extremely high
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 velocities, creating that high
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 temperature, the particle density is
00:03:21 --> 00:03:24 incredibly low. It's basically a near
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 vacuum. So, there aren't enough
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 particles hitting the spacecraft to
00:03:28 --> 00:03:29 transfer significant heat.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:32 >> Ah, that makes sense. High energy but
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 low heat transfer. So, what does this
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 discovery tell us?
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 >> It's revising our understanding of how
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 our solar system interacts with the
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 wider galaxy. But the temperature spike
00:03:42 --> 00:03:44 wasn't the only surprise. The magnetic
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 field data was also unexpected.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 >> Really? How so? Scientists found that
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 the magnetic field lines just inside the
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 heliosphere aligned with those in
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 interstellar space just outside of it.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57 They also discovered a leakage of
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 particles through this boundary,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 suggesting the heliosphere isn't a
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 perfect shield against galactic cosmic
00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 rays.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 >> So, our solar systems protective bubble
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 is more permeable than we thought. The
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 Voyager probes just keep delivering
00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 incredible science decades after their
00:04:14 --> 00:04:14 launch.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 >> They certainly do. Now, let's bring our
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 focus a little closer to home. There's
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 been a significant launch from Russia
00:04:21 --> 00:04:22 recently.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 >> Yes, Russia launched a Soyuse rocket
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 carrying a new radar Earth observation
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 satellite called Absor R number one. The
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 launch took place at the Placets
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Cosmodrome, a site often used for
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 military missions.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 >> And what makes this satellite so
00:04:37 --> 00:04:39 important is its radar capability.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 Unlike optical satellites that need
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 clear skies and daylight, radar can see
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 through clouds, smoke, and darkness,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 >> right? That gives it a huge strategic
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 advantage for surveillance,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 environmental mapping, and disaster
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 response. This mission really
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 underscores Moscow's push to expand its
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 own space-based intelligence
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 capabilities, independent of any foreign
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 partners.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03 >> So, this is a big step for their
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 sovereign space program.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 >> It is. The Absor R series represents a
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 new generation of homegrown Russian
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 radar systems. It's a dualuse technology
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 serving both military and civilian
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 needs. And it's a clear geopolitical
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 statement in a world where remote
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 sensing is more critical than ever.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 >> A powerful tool indeed. Well, from
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 geopolitical moves in orbit, let's turn
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 to a discovery that feels like it's
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 straight out of science fiction. Anna,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 you mentioned something about
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 interstellar tunnels. I did, and it's
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 just as cool as it sounds. Using the
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 Erosa Space Telescope, scientists have
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 detected narrow structures of hot plasma
00:05:43 --> 00:05:45 that seem to extend from the bubble of
00:05:45 --> 00:05:48 space surrounding our sun out into the
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 wider galaxy.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 >> Wow. So, these are like corridors
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 through the interstellar medium. What
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 could have formed them?
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 >> The leading theory is that they were
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 carved out by ancient supernova
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 explosions. Our solar system sits inside
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 something called the local hot bubble. a
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 300 lightyear wide cavity that was
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 itself formed by supernova about 10 to
00:06:09 --> 00:06:10 20 million years ago.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 >> Right. I've heard of that.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 >> Well, scientists have long theorized
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 that these bubbles could be
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18 interconnected, forming a kind of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 network. These new X-ray observations
00:06:20 --> 00:06:23 from Erosa are providing the first real
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 evidence that these tunnels or chimneys
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 might actually exist, connecting our
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 local bubble to other regions.
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 >> That's incredible. It paints a picture
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 of our galaxy's structure that's much
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 more complex and dynamic than just empty
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 space between stars.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 >> It really does. The data also showed a
00:06:40 --> 00:06:41 temperature difference between the
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 northern and southern halves of our
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 bubble, suggesting it's not a uniform
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 sphere, but has been shaped by
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 asymmetrical forces. It could be that
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 these tunnels act as pathways for cosmic
00:06:52 --> 00:06:55 rays and gas to flow through the galaxy.
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 >> A galactic subway system of sorts.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 Amazing. This brings us to the
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 commercial side of space, which is also
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 creating new pathways, albeit to orbit.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 The reusable rocket race is heating up,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 and it's not just SpaceX anymore.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 >> That's right. The Chinese rocket startup
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 Land Space has made it clear they're
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 inspired by SpaceX. They recently
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 conducted the first reusable rocket test
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 by a Chinese entity with their Zuki 3
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21 rocket,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 >> and they've been very open about
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 modeling it after the Falcon 9. The
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 deputy chief designer even called it a
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 high compliment to be referred to as the
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 Chinese Falcon 9.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 >> It's a major paradigm shift. China's
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 state-led space program has historically
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 been very riskaverse, whereas land space
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 is embracing the test, fail iterate
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 philosophy that SpaceX is famous for.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 Their first test actually ended in a
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 crash, but state media covered it
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 openly. Elon Musk himself even commented
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 on it, noting that they've adopted
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 aspects of both Falcon 9 and Starship.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 He acknowledged their design could
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 potentially beat Falcon 9, though he
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 added that Starship is in another
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 league.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 >> It shows how quickly the global
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 landscape is changing. With Beijing
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 support and plans for massive satellite
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 constellations, lowcost reusable launch
00:08:11 --> 00:08:14 is a top priority. It's also worth
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 remembering that SpaceX had two failed
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 booster landing attempts before their
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 first success in 2015.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 >> A very good point. And speaking of
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 launch infrastructure, our final story
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 looks at how two other ambitious
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 companies are transforming the iconic
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 Space Coast in Florida.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 >> This is really exciting. Stoke space and
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 Relativity Space are rapidly building
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 out launch sites at Cape Canaveral.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42 Stoke space is at launch complex 14
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 which is a site rich with history.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 >> That's the pad where John Glenn became
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 the first American to orbit the Earth
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 back in 1962. It's been inactive for
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 over 50 years and now it's being prepped
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 for Stoke's fully reusable Nova rocket.
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 >> Exactly. Aerial views show the launchpad
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 is nearly complete. And right next door
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 at launch complex 16, Relativity Space
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 is making massive upgrades for its much
00:09:07 --> 00:09:10 larger Tan R rocket.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 >> The progress there is really visible.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 They've installed a towering water tower
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 for the Delu system, added huge new
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 propellant tanks, and are pouring
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 concrete for the launch mount.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 >> It's a perfect example of how the Space
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 Coast is evolving, reviving historic
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 sites to become hubs for the next
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 generation of space flight. Stoke is
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 targeting a first launch in early 2026
00:09:32 --> 00:09:36 with Relativity aiming for late 2026.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 >> It truly shows the accelerating pace of
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 the commercial space industry. And that
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 brings us to the end of our show for
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 today.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 >> We've journeyied from the celestial
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 events of 2026 to the edge of the solar
00:09:48 --> 00:09:50 system and seen how new technologies on
00:09:50 --> 00:09:53 Earth are poised to reshape our access
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 to space.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 >> Thanks so much for joining us. I'm
00:09:56 --> 00:09:56 Avery.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:59 >> And I'm Anna. We'll see you next time on
00:09:59 --> 00:09:59 Astronomy
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 >> Daily.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:11 [music and singing]
00:10:11 --> 00:10:15 Stories [music] to tell.