00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your daily
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 fix of the latest space news and
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 discoveries I'm Anna and today we have a
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 fascinating lineup of stories to share
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 with you we'll explore Earth's newly
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 named quasi Moon witness breakthrough
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 observations of black hole Jets forming
00:00:14 --> 00:00:17 in real time and discover an Innovative
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 concept that could revolutionize
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 Interstellar travel we'll also look at
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 Europe's ambitious plans for Mars
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 exploration and catch up with an
00:00:25 --> 00:00:27 exciting lunar Mission currently making
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 its way to the moon plus we'll preview
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 an upcoming partial solar eclipse that
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 many of you will be able to witness in
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 March so let's get started on our
00:00:35 --> 00:00:36 eclectic mix of
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 stories in a delightful blend of ancient
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 mythology and modern astronomy one of
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Earth's mysterious quasi moons has
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 finally received its official
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 name previously known by its rather
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 clinical designation 2004 gu9 this
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 celestial object has been christened
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 carda after the ancient goddess of door
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 hinges really the name was chosen
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 through a contest organized by the
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 international astronomical Union and the
00:01:02 --> 00:01:06 popular science podcast Radio Lab clay
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 chil cut a student at the University of
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 Georgia submitted the winning name as
00:01:10 --> 00:01:11 part of an extra credit assignment for
00:01:11 --> 00:01:14 his astronomy class his choice perfectly
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 captures the unique nature of Quasi
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 moons which exist in a fascinating State
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 between being true moons and independent
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 asteroids unlike regular moons that
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 orbit planets directly quasi moons
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 actually orbit the sun while appearing
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 to Circle Earth from our perspective
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 the name karda is particularly fitting
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 because like a door hinge that connects
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 two spaces these quasi moons occupy a
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 transitional space in our Cosmic
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 neighborhood they're not quite moons not
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 quite asteroids but something in between
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 cardia as the goddess who presided over
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48 thresholds and transitions in Roman
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 mythology beautifully symbolizes this
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 Celestial Gateway between Earth and
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 space the contest featured other
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 compelling entries drawing from various
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 mythologies worldwide including akawa
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 from Filipino mythology and T auk from
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 innuit tradition but it was karda that
00:02:06 --> 00:02:07 captured the imagination of the
00:02:07 --> 00:02:10 distinguished panel of Judges which
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 included theoretical physicist sha
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 Carroll astrophysicist Wanda Diaz mered
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 and even Bill Nye the Science Guy this
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20 naming marks another fascinating chapter
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 in our understanding of Earth's Cosmic
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 companions joining camo oala as one of
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 the few named quasi moons in our
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 planet's vicinity
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 these objects while not true satellites
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 of Earth remind us of the complex and
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 often surprising ways celestial bodies
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 can interact with our
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 planet next up you guessed it today's
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 black hole Discovery in an extraordinary
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 astronomical breakthrough scientists
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 have witnessed something never before
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 seen in human history the realtime
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 formation of plasma jets shooting from a
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 super massive black hole this remarkable
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 event occurred 270 million light years
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 away in the constellation Draco where
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 astronomers observed a galaxy known as 1
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 es
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 1 plus
00:03:09 --> 00:03:12 654 the story began in 2018 when this
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 distant black hole started behaving
00:03:14 --> 00:03:17 unusually its x-ray Corona mysteriously
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 vanished followed by a dramatic increase
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 in brightness across multiple
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 wavelengths but what happened next left
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 astronomers completely stunned the black
00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 hole's radio emissions suddenly
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 increased 60-fold over just a few months
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 and researchers watched as massive
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 plasma Jets formed at both poles of the
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 black hole using the very large array
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 and very large Baseline array scientists
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 captured high resolution images showing
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 these Jets expanding outward between
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 2023 and
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 2024 these plasma streams are moving at
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 roughly 20 to 30% of the speed of light
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 an astonishing velocity that
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 demonstrates the incredible power of
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 these Cosmic phenomena while astronomers
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 have observed larger Jets from other
00:03:58 --> 00:04:00 black holes before
00:04:00 --> 00:04:01 some extending hundreds of thousands of
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 light years this observation is
00:04:04 --> 00:04:05 particularly special because it's the
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 first time we've watched one form in
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 real time these smaller shorter-lived
00:04:10 --> 00:04:14 Jets known as compact symmetric objects
00:04:14 --> 00:04:15 may actually be more common throughout
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 the Universe than their larger
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 counterparts the team believes these
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 Jets might have formed when the black
00:04:22 --> 00:04:25 hole consumed a star or gas cloud
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 providing valuable insights into how
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 black holes interact with their
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 surroundings
00:04:30 --> 00:04:31 while many questions remain about
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 exactly how these Jets form and what
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 powers them this unprecedented
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 observation brings us one step closer to
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 understanding these mysterious Cosmic
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 processes the discovery opens up
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 exciting new possibilities for studying
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 how super massive black holes influence
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 their galaxies and the broader Universe
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 scientists will continue monitoring this
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 remarkable system hoping to unlock more
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 secrets about one of space's most
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 enigmatic
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 phenomena now let's take a trip into the
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 realm of what many would have considered
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05 science fiction a short time ago in what
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 could be a game-changing development for
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09 space exploration researchers have
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 proposed an Innovative new method of
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 interstellar travel that could
00:05:12 --> 00:05:15 dramatically reduce Journey times to
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 other star systems the concept revolves
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 around using relativistic electron beams
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 streams of electrons accelerated to
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 nearly the speed of light to propel
00:05:25 --> 00:05:28 spacecraft across the vast distances of
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 space the fundamental challenge of
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 interstellar travel has always been
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 generating and transferring enough
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 energy to spacecraft efficiently and
00:05:36 --> 00:05:39 affordably current chemical Rockets even
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 with gravitational assists from planets
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 and the Sun simply can't achieve the
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 speeds necessary for practical
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 Interstellar missions but this new
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 approach could change everything the
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 proposed system would use a beam
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 generating spacecraft positioned near
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 the sun taking advantage of intense
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 solar energy to power an electron beam
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 accelerator these high-speed electrons
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 would then be directed at the spacecraft
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 providing continuous propulsion over
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 vast
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 distances what makes this concept
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 particularly fascinating is how it
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 handles one of the biggest challenges
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 keeping the Electron Beam focused over
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 such enormous
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 distances at relativistic speeds time
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 dilation actually works in our favor
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 giving the beam less time to spread out
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 additionally the natural plasma present
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 in space creates a magnetic field effect
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 that helps keep the beam concentrated
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 similar to what we observe in Jets from
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 black holes this relativistic pinch
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 effect could maintain beam coherence for
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 thousands of times the distance from
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 Earth to the Sun the numbers are
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 incredibly promising calculations
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 suggest this system could accelerate a
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 2 lb probe about the size of Voyager
00:06:49 --> 00:06:53 1 to 10% of the speed of light at that
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 velocity we could reach Alpha centor in
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 just 40 years compared to the current
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 70 year Journey time
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 even more encouraging this approach
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 could be significantly more cost
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 effective than Alternatives like laser
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 propulsion while capable of moving much
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 larger
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 spacecraft while significant engineering
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 challenges remain particularly in
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 converting the beam's energy into
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 propulsion without melting the
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 spacecraft this concept represents one
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 of our most promising paths toward
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 making Interstellar exploration a
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 reality within a human
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 lifetime the European space agency is
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 setting its sights on an ambitious new
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 chapter in Mars Exploration with plans
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 to develop Advanced Landing Technologies
00:07:36 --> 00:07:39 for a mission targeted to launch in
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 2035 while the agency is currently
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 focused on sending the rosin Franklin
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 Rover to Mars in 2028 they're already
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 looking ahead to tackle even greater
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 challenges the new initiative calls for
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 the development of guided entry Landers
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 with high Precision Landing
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 capabilities Esa is getting an early
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 start on this project recognizing that
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 2035 presents the most favorable launch
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 window of the decade for reaching the
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 red planet the timing of this
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 development is crucial with key
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 decisions expected at an upcoming
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 ministerial meeting in Breman later this
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 year meanwhile in current lunar
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 exploration news fireflies Blue Ghost
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 lunar lander is making excellent
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 progress on its 45-day Journey To The
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 Moon the spacecraft carrying 10 NASA
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 scientific instruments has successfully
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 completed its first main engine burn
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 marking a crucial milestone in its
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 Mission the journey plan is quite
00:08:36 --> 00:08:39 intricate Blue Ghost will spend 25 days
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 orbiting Earth before embarking on a
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 4-day transit to lunar orbit followed by
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 16 days circling the moon before
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 attempting its Landing one of the
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 mission's most impressive achievements
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 so far comes from the lunar gnss
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 receiver experiment or lugra which has
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 already set a new record the system
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 successfully calculated its position
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 using earth-based navigation signals at
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 a distance of more than 205 mi from
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 Earth that's about 90% of the way to the
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 moon this breakthrough suggests that
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 conventional GPS style navigation could
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 be viable for future deep space missions
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 the spacecraft has also captured some
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 breathtaking footage during its Journey
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 including spectacular views of earth
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 eclipsing the sun these early successes
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 boded well for both the immediate
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 mission objectives and our broader
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 understanding of lunar navigation and
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 Landing
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 Technologies mark your calendars for
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 March 29th 2025 when skywatchers across
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 the Northern Hemisphere will be treated
00:09:38 --> 00:09:42 to a remarkable partial solar eclipse
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 while we won't see a total blackout of
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 the sun this event promises to be quite
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 spectacular with up to 94% of the sun's
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51 disc being blocked by the moon in some
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 locations the eclipse will be visible
00:09:53 --> 00:09:57 from 850 to 12:43 UTC with the best
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 views coming from eastern North America
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 and parts of Europe if you're in Far
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 Northern Quebec you'll be among the
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 lucky few just about
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 44 people who will witness the moon
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 covering 90% or more of the Sun for
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 viewers in New Brunswick and Maine the
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 show will be particularly dramatic with
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 the partially eclipsed sun rising as two
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 distinct horns on the Eastern
00:10:20 --> 00:10:23 Horizon across the Atlantic Europe will
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 get varying views of this Celestial
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 spectacle the British Isles will see a
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 fairly deep Eclipse with double
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 experiencing 41% coverage and London
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 about 30% as you move Eastward the
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 eclipse becomes progressively smaller
00:10:37 --> 00:10:41 with Paris seeing 23% Berlin 15% and
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 Moscow just catching a glimpse with 2%
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 coverage northwest Africa will also get
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 to participate in this event though to a
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 lesser extent the best views will be
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 from Morocco's coastal regions where
00:10:52 --> 00:10:55 cities like eljadida will see about 18%
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 of the sun covered remember no matter
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 where you're viewing from proper eye
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 protection is absolutely essential never
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 look directly at the Sun during an
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 eclipse without certified solar eclipse
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 glasses this event will kick off a
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 series of partial solar eclipses
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 stretching through the rest of the
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 decade with the next one visible from
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 Tasmania and New Zealand in September
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 2025 it's a reminder of the constant
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 dance between the Sun Moon and Earth
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 that brings us these fascinating
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 astronomical
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 events this has been astronomy daily I'm
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 Anna and thank you for joining me on
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 this Cosmic journey through today's
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 space news whether it's quasi moons
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 black hole Jets or the promise of faster
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 Interstellar travel there's always
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 something fascinating happening in our
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 universe if you'd like to catch up on
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 any of our previous episodes or dive
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 deeper into the stories we've covered
00:11:46 --> 00:11:49 today head over to astronomy
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 daily. you'll find our complete Archive
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 of episodes there along with additional
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 resources links and information about
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59 all the topics we discuss stay connected
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 with with us on social media by
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 following Astro daily pod on Facebook X
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00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 we're always sharing the latest updates
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 and engaging with our community of space
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 enthusiasts until tomorrow keep looking
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 up and wondering about the Mysteries
00:12:13 --> 00:12:20 that await Us in the cosmos
00:12:20 --> 00:12:34 [Music]
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 told