Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E183
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your trusted source for the most exciting space and Astronomy news. I'm Anna, and today we've got a stellar lineup of stories that'll take you from the far reaches of the cosmos right back to our own celestial neighborhood.
Highlights:
- James Webb's Galactic Discovery: The James Webb Space Telescope unveils a galaxy, GSnDG 9422, that challenges our understanding of the early universe. This cosmic oddity, appearing a billion years after the Big Bang, features glowing gas outshining its stars, offering insights into galactic evolution.
- Europe's Lunar Navigation Ambitions : The European Space Agency's Moonlight program aims to establish a constellation of satellites providing communication and navigation services for over 400 planned lunar missions. This initiative supports commercial lunar markets and international cooperation.
- International Spaceport Collaboration : Eight spaceports from six countries have signed an agreement to share knowledge and develop global standards for launch facilities. This partnership enhances resilience, operational efficiency, and safety in the space industry.
- Hubble's Cosmic Volcano: The Hubble Space Telescope captures a stellar spectacle, a binary star system displaying explosive eruptions resembling a stellar volcano. This dynamic duo showcases the powerful forces at work in our universe.
- Richard Branson's Next Adventure: Richard Branson returns to his ballooning roots, co-piloting Space Perspective's stratospheric balloon flight. This leisurely six-hour journey offers breathtaking Earth views, marking a gentler approach to space tourism.
- ESA's Hera Mission Insights: The European Space Agency's Hera mission sends back stunning images of Earth and the moon. As it journeys to the Didymos and Dimorphos asteroid system, Hera aims to assess the aftermath of NASA's DART mission and study asteroid structures.
For more space news, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (https://www.spacenutspodcast.com) . There, you can sign up for our free Daily newsletter, catch up on the latest space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed, and listen to all our previous episodes.
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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.
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Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/23559690?utm_source=youtube
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily your go-to
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 source for the most exciting space in
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 astronomy news I'm Anna and today we've
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 got a stellar lineup of stories that'll
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 take you from the far reaches of the
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 cosmos right back to our own Celestial
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 neighborhood we'll kick things off with
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 a mind-bending discovery from the James
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 web Space Telescope that's challenging
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 our understanding of Galactic Evolution
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 then we'll zoom in on the moon as we
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 discuss Europe's ambitious plans for
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 lunar navigation but that's not all
00:00:26 --> 00:00:28 we'll explore a groundbreaking
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 collaboration between International
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 space ports Marvel at a cosmic volcano
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 captured by Hubble and catch up with
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 Richard Branson as he prepares for his
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 next highflying adventure finally we'll
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 check in on a new asteroid Mission
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41 that's sending back some breathtaking
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 views of our home planet so strap in and
00:00:44 --> 00:00:45 get ready for a journey through the
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 latest and greatest in space science and
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 exploration first up today the James web
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 Space Telescope has done it again
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 unveiling a truly extraordinary Galaxy
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 that's challenging our understanding of
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 the early Universe this peculiar Cosmic
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 entity named GS NDG
00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 9 has astronomers scratching their
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 heads and exclaiming that's weird what
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 makes this galaxy so unusual well it's
00:01:08 --> 00:01:10 not the stars that are stealing the show
00:01:10 --> 00:01:13 but rather the gas in Gs NDG
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 9422 the glowing gas outshines the light
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18 from the Stars themselves a phenomenon
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20 we've never observed before this Cosmic
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 Oddity appeared on the scene about a
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 billion years after the big bang making
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 it a window into the universe's toddler
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 years researchers are buzzing with
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 excitement suggesting that this galaxy
00:01:31 --> 00:01:32 might be the missing link in our
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 understanding of Galactic Evolution
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 picture this we're witnessing a brief
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 but intense phase of star formation
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 inside a dense gas cloud this Celestial
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 Nursery is producing an abundance of
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 massive incredibly hot Stars these
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 Stellar powerhouses are bombarding the
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48 surrounding gas cloud with so many
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 photons that the gas itself is glowing
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 brighter than the Stars the stars in GSN
00:01:53 --> 00:01:54 DG
00:01:54 --> 00:01:56 9 are not your average Cosmic light
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 bulbs they're cranking up the heat to
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 over 40 de F that's more than twice
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 as hot as typical massive stars in our
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 neck of the woods while this galaxy
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 doesn't contain the very first
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 generation of stars known as population
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 3 stars it does seem to be a stepping
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 stone between those primordial stars and
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16 the galaxies were more familiar with
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 today this discovery is precisely why we
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 sent the web telescope into space to
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 reveal new phenomena that help us piece
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 together the cosmic story as we speak
00:02:25 --> 00:02:27 astronomers are scouring the skies from
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 more galaxies like GS NDG 9000
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 422 hoping to build a clearer picture of
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 what was happening in the universe
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 during its first billion years the James
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 web Space Telescope continues to live up
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 to its promise Opening Our Eyes to the
00:02:41 --> 00:02:42 wonders of the early universe and
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 reminding us that there's still so much
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 to learn about our Cosmic
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 home next up did you know that more than
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 400 Moon missions are planned by space
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 agencies and private companies over the
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 next two decades this could get chaotic
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 fortunately someone is doing something
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00 about it the European space space agency
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02 is taking a giant leap forward in lunar
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 Exploration with its ambitious Moonlight
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 program this Innovative initiative aims
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 to establish a constellation of five
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 satellites orbiting the moon providing
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 crucial communication and navigation
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 services for the hundreds of lunar
00:03:15 --> 00:03:16 missions planned over the next two
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 decades the Moonlight lunar
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 Communications and navigation services
00:03:20 --> 00:03:24 or lcns will enable precise autonomous
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 Landings and surface Mobility for
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 various spacecraft and Rovers it will
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 also facilitate High speed communication
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 and data transfer between Earth and the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 Moon Bridging the vast 250 mile gap
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 between our planet and its Celestial
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 neighbor issa's director General yoseph
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 ashbacher emphasized the program's
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 significance stating that it's a crucial
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 step in supporting both the future
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 commercial lunar market and ongoing
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 lunar missions the agency plans to
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 launch the first component the lunar
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 Pathfinder Communications relay
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 satellite in
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 2026 by 2028 moonlight's initial
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 services are expected to be operational
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 with full capability achieved by 2030
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 the program will prioritize coverage of
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 the moon's South Pole an area of intense
00:04:11 --> 00:04:12 interest due to its unique lighting
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 conditions and potential water ice
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 deposits in permanently shadowed craters
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 Moonlight isn't just about exploration
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 it's about collaboration and
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 standardization Isa is working with NASA
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 and Jaa on lunet a framework for lunar
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 communication and navigation standards
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 this cooperation ensures compatibility
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 with future lunar infrastructures and
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Technologies Paving the way for a new
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 era of international lunar exploration
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 and
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 development speaking of international
00:04:40 --> 00:04:42 cooperation in an exciting development
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 for the space industry eight space ports
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 from six different countries have
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 recently joined forces signing a
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 groundbreaking agreement to collaborate
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 and share knowledge this partnership
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 aims to potentially develop Global
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 standards for launch facilities marking
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 a significant step towards International
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 coop operation in space exploration the
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 agreement signed during the
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 international astronautical Congress in
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 Milan brings together a diverse group of
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 spaceports ranging from wellestablished
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 facilities to those still in the
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 planning stages participants include the
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 Virginia Pacific Spaceport complex in
00:05:17 --> 00:05:21 Alaska Sweden's srange Space Center and
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 emerging facilities in the United
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25 Kingdom Japan Australia and Peru this
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 collaboration is set to address various
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28 challenges faced by space ports
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 worldwide by sharing Lessons Learned and
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 best practices these facilities hope to
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 enhance the overall resilience and
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 responsiveness of launch systems
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 globally the partnership will focus on
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 key areas such as infrastructure
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 development operational procedures and
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 Regulatory Compliance one of the primary
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 goals of this initiative is to establish
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 International Spaceport standards this
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 could lead to more efficient and
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 streamlined operations across different
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 facilities potentially reducing costs
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 and improving safety in the long run
00:05:57 --> 00:05:59 it's a proactive approach to addressing
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 the growing demands of the commercial
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 space industry and the increasing number
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 of planned missions as the space sector
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 continues to evolve rapidly this
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 collaborative effort represents a
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 forward-thinking strategy to ensure that
00:06:13 --> 00:06:15 launch facilities worldwide are prepared
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 to meet future challenges and
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 opportunities in space exploration and
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 commercial space
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 activities the Hubble Space Telescope
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 has once again amazed us with its
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 stunning imagery this time capturing a
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 Celestial Spectrum icle that can only be
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 described as a stellar volcano about 700
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 light years away a binary star system
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 known as our aquarii is putting on quite
00:06:37 --> 00:06:40 a show this dynamic duo consists of an
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 aging Red Giant star more than 400 times
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 heavier than our sun and its companion a
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 burned out white dwarf the red giant
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 pulsates and varies dramatically in
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 brightness while the white dwarf orbits
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 around it every 44 years when the white
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 dwarf gets close to the red giant it
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 pulls hydrogen gas from its larger
00:06:57 --> 00:07:00 companion this gas accumulates around
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 the dwarf star triggering nuclear fusion
00:07:02 --> 00:07:05 and resulting in explosive eruptions
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06 these eruptions send plasma filaments
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 shooting into space at mindboggling
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 speeds of over 1.6 million km per
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 hour the force of these explosions
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 combined with the Stars strong magnetic
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 field creates a remarkable spiral
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 pattern extending an astonishing 400
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 billion kmers into space to put that
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 into perspective that's 24 times the
00:07:27 --> 00:07:30 diameter of our entire solar system
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 NASA aptly describes this Cosmic display
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 as resembling a lawn sprinkler gone
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 berserk it's a vivid reminder of the
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 powerful forces at work in our universe
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 and the incredible phenomena that exist
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 beyond our
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 world next up he's been quiet for a
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 while but he's planning a spectacular
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 comeback Richard Branson the renowned
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 entrepreneur and founder of Virgin
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 Galactic is set to embark on a new
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 adventure that hearkens back to his
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 ballooning routs Branson will serve as
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 co-pilot on the first crude flight of
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 space perspective a Florida company
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 specializing in stratospheric balloon
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 flights this exciting Mission scheduled
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 for
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 2025 will offer a unique experience
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 compared to the rocket powered
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 suborbital trips provided by Virgin
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 Galactic and blue origin space
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 perspectives flights will use a giant
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 hydrogen filled balloon to carry
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 passengers in a capsule called spaceship
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 Neptune unlike the quick adrenaline
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 fueled rocket rides these balloon
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 flights will be leisurely 6-hour
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 Journeys traveling at the speed of the
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 wind spaceship Neptune is is designed
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 for Comfort featuring large Windows a
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 bar and even a fully equipped bathroom
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 while the balloon won't reach the
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 technical boundary of space it will
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 Ascend to an impressive altitude of
00:08:38 --> 00:08:41 about 20 mil from this Vantage Point
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 passengers will enjoy breathtaking views
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 of earth against the Blackness of space
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 Branson's involvement in this Venture
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 goes beyond co-piloting he has also
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 invested in space perspective which has
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 raised 100 million to date with over
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58 1 people already reserving seats at
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 $125
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 each it seems their significant interest
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 in this gentler approach to space
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 tourism for Branson this flight will be
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 a return to his ballooning Adventures of
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 the past allowing him to compare the
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 experience with his suborbital trip on
00:09:12 --> 00:09:16 Virgin galactics vsss unity in
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 20121 and finally today the European
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 space agency's Hera asteroid Mission has
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 recently beamed back its first stunning
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 images from space offering us a
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 breathtaking view of Earth and the moon
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 these were captured after the
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 spacecraft's instruments were activated
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 for the first time following its
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 successful launch on October 7th hara's
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 primary mission is to follow up on
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 NASA's Dart or double asteroid
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 redirection test which intentionally
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 crashed into the asteroid demoro last
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 year the purpose of Dart was to
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 demonstrate a potential planetary
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 defense technique by altering the
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 trajectory of an asteroid now Hera is
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 embarking on its journey to revisit the
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 binary asteroid system of dios and
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 dioros its goal is to assess the
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 aftermath of dart's impact and conduct a
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 more detailed study of both asteroid
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 surface and internal structure the
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 images were taken using three of Hera's
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 instruments including the asteroid
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 framing camera the thermal infrared
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 imager and the hypers Scout H instrument
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 each of these tools will play a crucial
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 role in studying the asteroids once Hera
00:10:17 --> 00:10:20 reaches its destination in late
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 2026 these initial images not only serve
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 as a poent farewell to our home planet
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 but also demonstrate the capabilities of
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 hara's Advanced Imaging systems as the
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 mission progresses we can look forward
00:10:31 --> 00:10:34 to more fascinating insights into
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 asteroid composition and behavior
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 furthering our understanding of these
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 celestial bodies and potentially
00:10:40 --> 00:10:43 improving our planetary defense
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 strategies and that brings us to the end
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48 of today's episode of astronomy daily I
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 hope you've enjoyed this Cosmic Journey
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 Through the latest discoveries and
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54 developments in space exploration from
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 web's weird Galaxy to Europe's lunar
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 plans and from Stellar volcanoes to
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 asteroid missions
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 the universe never ceases to amaze us
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 I'm Anna and it's been my pleasure to
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 guide you through these fascinating
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 stories if you're hungry for more space
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 news be sure to visit our website at
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 astronomy
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 daily. there you can sign up for our
00:11:13 --> 00:11:16 free daily newsletter catch up on all
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 the latest space and astronomy news with
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 our constantly updating news feed and
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 listen to all our back episodes don't
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 forget to follow us on social media too
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 you can find us as Astro daily pod on
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 Facebook X YouTube and Tik Tok thanks
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 for listening and keep looking up at the
00:11:30 --> 00:11:37 stars
00:11:37 --> 00:11:52 [Music]