Highlights:
- Elon Musk's Ambitious Mars Plans: Explore SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's bold timeline for sending an uncrewed starship to Mars by the end of 2026. This mission aims to coincide with a crucial launch window, but Musk acknowledges the challenges ahead, including the need for humanoid robots to simulate human crews.
- Breakthrough Discovery in Mars's Atmosphere: Dive into the recent findings from NASA's MAVEN mission, which has finally observed atmospheric sputtering on Mars. This long-sought phenomenon reveals how solar particles erode the Martian atmosphere, providing crucial insights into the planet's climatic history.
- Unprecedented Views of the Sun's Corona: Witness the revolutionary observations of the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, using an advanced adaptive optic system. Discover stunning details of coronal rain and previously unseen plasma features, shedding light on solar dynamics and mysteries.
- Europa's Dynamic Surface: Journey to Jupiter's moon Europa, where recent James Webb Space Telescope observations indicate a surprisingly active surface. The presence of both amorphous and crystalline ice suggests ongoing geological processes and the potential for a subsurface ocean.
- The Perfectly Circular Object Teleios: Uncover the mystery of Teleios, a remarkably symmetrical supernova remnant discovered in our Milky Way. With an astonishing circularity score, this celestial bubble raises questions about its formation and the nature of stellar explosions.
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, YouTube Music, 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.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Elon Musk's ambitious Mars plans
10:00 - Breakthrough discovery in Mars's atmosphere
15:30 - Unprecedented views of the Sun's corona
20:00 - Europa's dynamic surface
25:00 - The perfectly circular object Teleios
✍️ Episode References
SpaceX Mars Plans
[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com/ (https://www.spacex.com/) )
MAVEN Mission Findings
[NASA MAVEN]( https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/maven/main/index.html) )
Solar Observations
[Big Bear Solar Observatory]( http://www.bbso.njit.edu/ (http://www.bbso.njit.edu/) )
Europa Research
[James Webb Space Telescope](https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/)
Teleios Discovery
[Murchison Widefield Array]( https://www.mwatelescope.org/ (https://www.mwatelescope.org/) )
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/27388062?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your source
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 for the latest developments in space
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 exploration and astronomical
00:00:05 --> 00:00:08 discoveries. I'm your host, Anna, and
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 today we'll be exploring Elon Musk's
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 ambitious timeline for reaching the red
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 planet. A groundbreaking discovery about
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 Mars' atmosphere that's been a decade in
00:00:17 --> 00:00:20 the making and unprecedented views of
00:00:20 --> 00:00:22 our sun's outer atmosphere that are
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 revolutionizing solar science. Then
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 we'll journey to Jupiter's icy moon
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 Europa, where recent observations reveal
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31 a surprisingly dynamic surface before
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 examining a mysteriously perfect sphere
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 discovered deep within our Milky Way
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 galaxy. So settle in as we embark on
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 this cosmic journey through the latest
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 and most fascinating developments in our
00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 quest to understand the universe around
00:00:44 --> 00:00:48 us. Let's start with Elon's latest plan.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 ambitious plans to send an uncrrewed
00:00:53 --> 00:00:57 Starship to Mars by the end of 2026.
00:00:57 --> 00:00:58 This timeline would coincide with a
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 crucial astronomical window that occurs
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 only once every 2 years when Earth and
00:01:03 --> 00:01:05 Mars align in their orbits around the
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 sun to create the most efficient path
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 between the two planets. This alignment
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 would minimize both travel time and fuel
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 consumption with the journey to Mars
00:01:14 --> 00:01:17 expected to take between 7 and 9 months.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 Despite the optimistic timeline, Musk
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 himself acknowledges the challenges,
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 giving the mission only a 50/50 chance
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 of meeting this deadline. If Starship
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 isn't ready by then, SpaceX would need
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 to wait another 2 years for the next
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 optimal launch window. What makes this
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 proposed mission particularly
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 fascinating is the planned cargo rather
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 than traditional scientific equipment.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 Musk intends to send one or more Tesla
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 built humanoid Optimus robots as a
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 simulated crew. These robots would serve
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 as stand-ins for human astronauts,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 potentially testing various systems and
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 protocols that would eventually be used
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 by actual people. According to Musk's
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 vision, human crews would follow on the
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 second or third Mars landings. His
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 long-term ambition is staggeringly bold,
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 eventually launching between 1 to
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 2 ships to Mars every 2 years to
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 rapidly establish a self-sustaining
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 permanent human settlement on the red
00:02:11 --> 00:02:14 planet. This timeline represents a
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 significant shift from NASA's more
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17 conservative approach, which aims to
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 return humans to the moon first, using
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Starship as the landing vehicle before
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 attempting Mars missions sometime in the
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 2030s. Musk has long advocated for a
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 more Mars focused human spaceflight
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32 program. previously targeting 2024 for a
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 first crude mission to the red planet.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 It's worth noting that Musk has a
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 history of setting ambitious timelines
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 that later get revised. He had
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 previously mentioned sending an unmanned
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 SpaceX vehicle to Mars as early as 2018,
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 a goal that wasn't realized. The recent
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 setback with Starship's 9inth test
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 flight, which ended with the vehicle
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 spinning out of control and
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 disintegrating, highlights the
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 significant technical challenges that
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 remain before any Mars mission becomes
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 reality. Nevertheless, Musk appeared
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 undeterred by the failure, describing it
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 as providing good data to review and
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 promising a faster launch cadence for
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 upcoming test flights. As Spac X
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 continues to refine its massive Starship
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 vehicle, the race to put humans on Mars
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 intensifies with significant
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 implications for the future of space
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 exploration and potentially human
00:03:21 --> 00:03:22 civilization
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 itself. While we're talking about Mars,
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 in a breakthrough discovery, NASA's
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 Maven mission has finally observed a
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 long theorized atmospheric escape
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 process at Mars. After a decade of
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 searching, scientists have directly
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 detected a phenomenon called atmospheric
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 sputtering, which works similar to a
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 cannonball splash in a swimming pool,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 but on a planetary scale. When energetic
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 charged particles from the sun crash
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 into Mars's atmosphere, they essentially
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 knock atoms out into space, gradually
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 eroding the planet's atmosphere over
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 billions of years. Dr. Dr. Shannon
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 Curry, Maven's principal investigator at
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 Physics, explains that previous evidence
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 of sputtering was like finding ashes
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 from a campfire. Scientists knew it
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 happened, but had never directly
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 observed the process until now. This
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 discovery is crucial to understanding
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 Mars's dramatic climate evolution.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:16 Billions of years ago, Mars had a thick
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 atmosphere and liquid water flowing on
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 its surface. However, when the planet
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 lost its protective magnetic field early
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 in its history, the atmosphere became
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 directly exposed to the solar wind and
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 solar storms, making it vulnerable to
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 processes like sputtering. To make this
00:04:32 --> 00:04:35 observation, Maven scientists needed
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 precise simultaneous measurements from
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 three different instruments aboard the
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 spacecraft, capturing data from both the
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 dayside and night side of Mars at low
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 altitudes, a process that took years to
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 achieve. The result was a new kind of
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 map showing sputtered argon in relation
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 to the solar wind, revealing argon at
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 high altitudes exactly where energetic
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 particles had collided with the
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59 atmosphere. Perhaps most surprising,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 researchers discovered that this
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 atmospheric erosion is happening at a
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 rate four times higher than previously
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 predicted, and the rate increases even
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 further during solar storms. This
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 confirms that sputtering was likely a
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 primary driver of atmospheric loss in
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Mars' early history when the sun's
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 activity was much more intense. The
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 findings published in Science Advances
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 provide critical insights into the
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 conditions that once allowed liquid
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 water to exist on Mars's surface and the
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 implications for potential ancient
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 habitability.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 By understanding how Mars lost its
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 atmosphere, scientists gain valuable
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 knowledge about planetary evolution and
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 the fragility of conditions needed to
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 support life as we know
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 it. Next up today, the sun's outer
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 atmosphere, known as the corona, has
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 long been a source of fascination and
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 frustration for scientists. Its extreme
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 temperatures, violent eruptions, and
00:05:48 --> 00:05:51 towering prominences have been difficult
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 to study in detail until now. Thanks to
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 a revolutionary adaptive optic system
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 called Kona installed at the 1.6 meter
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 good solar telescope at Big Bear Solar
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Observatory in California, we now have
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 unprecedented views of the sun's most
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 elusive layer. These new observations
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 provide the sharpest images ever
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 captured of the corona, revealing
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 details that have never been seen
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 before. One of the most striking
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 discoveries is an incredibly detailed
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 view of coronal rain. delicate threads
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 of cooling plasma cascading back down to
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 the solar surface. Some of these plasma
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 threads are astonishingly narrow, less
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 than 12 miles across. Unlike rain on
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 Earth, this solar precipitation doesn't
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 fall straight down, but follows the
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 sun's magnetic field lines, creating
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 beautiful arching and looping patterns
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 as it returns to the surface. Perhaps
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 even more exciting is the first ever
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 observation of what scientists are
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 calling a plasmoid, a finely structured
00:06:47 --> 00:06:50 plasma that forms and collapses rapidly.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52 This snake- like feature moves at speeds
00:06:52 --> 00:06:56 approaching 62 m/s across the solar
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 surface. Dr. Vassel Jrushin, who
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 co-authored the study, notes that these
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 features have never been observed
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 before, and scientists aren't entirely
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 sure what they are. The new imaging
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 technology has also captured stunning
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 views of solar prominences. Those
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 massive loops of plasma that extend from
00:07:13 --> 00:07:16 the sun's surface far into the corona.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 These detailed observations show these
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 structures dancing and twisting in
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 response to the sun's magnetic field
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 with unprecedented clarity. These
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 sharper views aren't just visually
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 spectacular. They're scientifically
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 invaluable. They may help solve one of
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 solar physics mysteries. Why the corona
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 blazes millions of degrees hotter than
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 the solar surface itself. The technology
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40 also provides crucial insights into
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 filament eruptions and coronal mass
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 ejections. powerful blasts that can
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 impact space weather and create
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 spectacular auroras on Earth. Dr. Thomas
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 Rimmel, National Solar Observatory Chief
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Technologist, explains that this new
00:07:54 --> 00:07:57 system finally closes a decades old gap
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 in our observational capabilities,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 delivering images of coronal features at
00:08:02 --> 00:08:06 63 km resolution, the theoretical limit
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 of the telescope. Scientists hope to
00:08:09 --> 00:08:10 bring this groundbreaking technology to
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 even larger telescopes, including the 4
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 meter Daniel K. Inuier Solar Telescope
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 in Hawaii, promising an even closer look
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 at our stars most dynamic
00:08:20 --> 00:08:24 regions. Next, some mythbreaking. You
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 might think that icy worlds are frozen
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 in time and space. After all, they're
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 covered in ice. But Jupiter's moon
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 Europa is proving to be far more dynamic
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 than previously imagined. Recent
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 observations by the James Webb Space
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 Telescope have revealed fascinating
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 changes happening on this distant frigid
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 world. Europa's surface is showing
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 evidence of both amorphous and
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 crystalline ice. Two different
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 structural forms of frozen water. This
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 distinction is significant because on
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 Europa the natural state should be
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 amorphous ice. As the moon orbits
00:08:54 --> 00:08:57 Jupiter, its surface is bombarded by
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 charged particles trapped in Jupiter's
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 powerful magnetic field. This radiation
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03 bombardment disrupts the crystal
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 structure of ice, converting it to an
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 amorphous form. So why are scientists
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 finding crystalline ice on the surface?
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 Dr. Udual Route of the Southwest
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 Research Institute believes this points
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 to active processes bringing fresh water
00:09:15 --> 00:09:18 from below. Our data showed strong
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 indications that what we are seeing must
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 be sourced from the interior, perhaps
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 from a subsurface ocean nearly 20 m
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 beneath Europa's thick icy shell. route
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 explains, "The most compelling evidence
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 comes from an area known as Tara Reio, a
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 chaotic terrain region where scientists
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 have detected not only crystallin ice,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 but also sodium chloride, essentially
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 table salt, along with carbon dioxide
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 and hydrogen peroxide. The presence of
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 these compounds strongly suggest they
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 originated from Europa's subsurface
00:09:47 --> 00:09:50 ocean. What's particularly remarkable is
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 how quickly these changes occur. In some
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 regions, the ice is recristallizing in
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 cycles as short as two weeks. This rapid
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 transformation indicates that Europa's
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 surface is likely porous and warm enough
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 in certain areas to allow for quick
00:10:04 --> 00:10:07 recristallization despite the constant
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 radiation
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 bombardment. Scientists believe two main
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 heat sources are at work beneath
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 Europa's icy shell. Tidal heating from
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 Jupiter's gravitational pole and
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 radioactive decay in the moon's core.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 These processes warm the subsurface
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 ocean and force water upward through
00:10:23 --> 00:10:26 cracks and fissures. This water may
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 reach the surface through various
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 mechanisms, including diapers,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 essentially stove pipes that convey
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 warmer water and slush upward or through
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 geyser-like plumes that shower the
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 surface with ice grains. The discovery
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 of these dynamic processes adds to the
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 mounting evidence for a liquid ocean
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 beneath Europa's icy shell, making this
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 moon one of the most promising places in
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 our solar system to search for
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 conditions that could support life. The
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 upcoming Europa Clipper mission will
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 study these regions in much greater
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 detail during its close passes of this
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 fascinating moon, potentially revealing
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 even more about Europa's hidden ocean
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 and its constant cycle of surface
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 renewal.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 Finally, today, a puzzling discovery in
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 our own backyard, so to speak. In the
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 vast universe of spherical objects,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 planets, moons, and stars, astronomers
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 have recently discovered something that
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 stands out for its extraordinary
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 perfection. Deep within our Milky Way
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 galaxy lies a mysteriously circular
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 object that has left researchers both
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 fascinated and puzzled. This celestial
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29 bubble accidentally discovered by
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 astrophysicist Miruslav Filipovich of
00:11:31 --> 00:11:34 Western Sydney University has been named
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 Tleos after the Greek word for perfect
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 and for good reason. While scientists
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 believe it's a supernova remnant, the
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 expanding shell of gas and dust left
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 behind after a massive stellar
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 explosion. To exhibits an almost
00:11:48 --> 00:11:51 unnaturally perfect form. What makes
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 this discovery so remarkable is its
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 astonishing symmetry. Tleos has been
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 measured with a circularity score of
00:11:58 --> 00:12:01 95.4%. Placing it among the most
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 geometrically perfect supernova remnants
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 ever observed. As Philipovich explains,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 this level of symmetry is extremely
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 unusual. Typical supernova remnant
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 shapes vary dramatically, he notes,
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 either from asymmetries in the initial
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 explosion, disruption from expanding
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 into an imperfect environment, or
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 various other interfering factors. Yet
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 To displays none of these common
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 irregularities. Instead, it appears to
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27 have expanded with almost textbook
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 perfection, as if created in an
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 idealized simulation rather than the
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 chaotic reality of space. The secret to
00:12:33 --> 00:12:36 Toleos's perfect form may lie in its
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 location. Situated 2.2° below the
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 galactic plane, it exists in a region
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 with significantly less interstellar gas
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 and dust.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 This relatively empty environment has
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 allowed the remnant to expand
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 undisturbed for thousands of years,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 maintaining its symmetrical shape. But
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 the mysteries of Toleos don't end with
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 its shape. Unlike most supernova
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 remnants, which emit radiation across
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 multiple wavelengths, toos is only
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 detectable in radio frequencies with
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 just a hint of hydrogen alpha emissions.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 This peculiar characteristic has made it
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 difficult for astronomers to determine
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 exactly what type of stellar explosion
00:13:14 --> 00:13:16 created it. The most likely explanation
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 is that Toleos resulted from a type 1A
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 supernova, the spectacular death of a
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 white dwarf star that consumed too much
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 material from a companion star.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 Alternatively, it might be the result of
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 a type 1 ax supernova, a similar but
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 less common event that leaves behind a
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 zombie star. However, the observable
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 data doesn't perfectly match either
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 model. Using data from the Australian
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 Square Kome Array Pathfinder and the
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 Merchesen Widefield Array, researchers
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 estimate that TEO spans somewhere
00:13:46 --> 00:13:50 between 46 and 157 lighty years across
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 depending on its exact distance from
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 Earth, which is still being determined.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 As researchers continue to study this
00:13:56 --> 00:13:59 celestial oddity, Toleos stands as a
00:13:59 --> 00:14:01 reminder that the universe still has
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 plenty of perfectly formed mysteries
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 waiting to be unraveled by our
00:14:04 --> 00:14:08 increasingly sophisticated astronomical
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 instruments. That wraps up today's
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 journey through our cosmic neighborhood.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 From Elon Musk's ambitious plans to
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 reach Mars to the groundbreaking
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 discoveries about atmospheric loss on
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 the red planet to unprecedented views of
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 our sun's fiery corona to Europa's
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 surprisingly dynamic icy surface and
00:14:26 --> 00:14:29 finally to the mysteriously perfect
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 sphere called Toleos. We've covered
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 quite a bit of astronomical territory
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 today. These stories remind us that our
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 understanding of the universe continues
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 to evolve with each new observation and
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 technological advancement. Whether it's
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 solving ancient planetary mysteries or
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 capturing never-before-seen solar
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 phenomena, the field of astronomy
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 remains as exciting and full of
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 discovery as ever. I'm Anna, your host
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 for Astronomy Daily. If you enjoyed
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 today's episode, please visit our
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 website at
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 astronomydaily.io where you can listen
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 to all our back episodes and find more
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 information about the stories we've
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 covered today. Don't forget to follow us
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 on social media as well. Just search for
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00:15:13 --> 00:15:15 Tik Tok to stay updated with our latest
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 content and join our community of space
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 enthusiasts. Until next time, keep
00:15:19 --> 00:15:30 looking up.
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 Stories told.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:39 [Music]