Stunning northern lights dazzle the world after a severe G4 geomagnetic storm, legendary NASA astronaut Suni Williams retires after 27 years, and China executes a dramatic space rescue. Plus, Blue Origin's next tourist launch and groundbreaking telescope observations!
In today's episode of Astronomy Daily, hosts Anna and Avery bring you the latest space and astronomy news:
🌌 SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM UPDATE - Follow-up to yesterday's prediction as the CME slams into Earth, triggering spectacular auroras visible from New Mexico to China. We've got photos and the science behind the G4-level storm.
👩🚀 SUNI WILLIAMS RETIRES - After 27 years and 608 days in space, NASA astronaut Suni Williams hangs up her spacesuit. We celebrate her incredible achievements including 9 spacewalks and command of the ISS.
🚀 CHINA'S SHENZHOU-20 RESCUE - An incredible story of emergency response in orbit as China safely returns a damaged capsule after a suspected space debris impact. Three overlapping missions showcase impressive operational capability.
🔵 BLUE ORIGIN NS-38 LAUNCH - Six space tourists prepare for Thursday's suborbital flight aboard New Shepard, including Blue Origin's own director of launch operations.
☀️ NASA'S SUNRISE MISSION - Six toaster-sized satellites pass crucial tests and move closer to launch. They'll work together as one giant radio telescope to track dangerous solar eruptions.
🪐 ALMA REVEALS TEENAGE PLANETS - The most detailed images ever of 24 debris disks show planetary systems in their awkward teenage years, revealing the violent phase our solar system once experienced.
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Hello space enthusiasts. I'm Anna
00:00:03 --> 00:00:06 >> and I'm Avery. Welcome to Astronomy
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Daily, your daily dose of space and
00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 astronomy news brought to you by
00:00:10 --> 00:00:12 astronomyaily.io.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:15 >> And what a day we have for you today,
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 Avery. If you were lucky enough to catch
00:00:17 --> 00:00:19 the auroras last night, you know what
00:00:19 --> 00:00:20 we're leading with.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 >> Absolutely, Anna. We're following up on
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 yesterday's story about that powerful
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 X-class solar flare and the coronal mass
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 ejection that was racing toward Earth.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 Well, it hit and it hit hard. That's
00:00:34 --> 00:00:36 right. We've got stunning photos from
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 around the world of the resulting
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 Northern Lights and a retirement
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 announcement from a legendary NASA
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 astronaut, an incredible space rescue
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 story from China, and some exciting
00:00:47 --> 00:00:48 updates from the commercial space
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 sector. Plus, we'll tell you about
00:00:50 --> 00:00:52 NASA's latest mission that's preparing
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 to study the sun's most powerful
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56 eruptions. And we'll take you on a
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 cosmic journey billions of years into
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 the past with some fascinating new
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 telescope observations.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 >> So, grab your coffee, settle in, and
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 let's get into today's space news.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 >> All right, Anna, let's dive into our
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 lead story. And what a spectacular show
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 it was. Yesterday, we told our listeners
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 about that X1.9 solar flare and coronal
00:01:18 --> 00:01:21 mass ejection headed our way. Well, it
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 arrived right on schedule. In fact, a
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 little early.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 >> It certainly did, Avery. The CME slammed
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 into Earth's magnetic field on January
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 19th at around 2:38 p.m. Eastern time.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 And it packed quite a punch. Space
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 weather forecasters at Noah's Space
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 Weather Prediction Center confirmed that
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 geomagnetic conditions escalated to G4
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 level. That's classified as severe on
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 their fivepoint scale.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 >> And the results were absolutely
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 breathtaking. What made the CME
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 particularly noteworthy was just how
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 fast it traveled. Remember, it was
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 ejected from the sun on January 18th
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 during that powerful solar flare, which
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 means it covered roughly 93 million
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 miles in just over a day. That's
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 exceptionally quick.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:11 >> The aurora displays that followed were
00:02:11 --> 00:02:13 truly global in scope. We're seeing
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 reports and photographs from locations
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 that rarely get to witness the northern
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 lights. One photographer, Greg Gage,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 captured stunning red auroras from
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 Deming, New Mexico. That's at 32 degrees
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 latitude. He told space.com he was on
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 vacation there and never expected to see
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 auroras that far south.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 >> That's incredible. And it wasn't just
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 North America. The displays stretched
00:02:36 --> 00:02:40 across Europe, Asia, and beyond. In
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 Germany, vivid red and green auroras
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 danced above the river Muglespree near
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 Berlin. Hungary saw intense red and
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 green hues filling the skies over the
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 village of a boyar. France had some
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 particularly eerie displays with rich
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 magenta auroras above Britany. And in
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 China, the northern lights were visible
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 above Beiji village in Hilong Jong
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 province with photographers capturing
00:03:03 --> 00:03:06 everything from magenta to green to even
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 hints of blue in the curtains of light.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 What's particularly interesting about
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 these displays is the variety of colors.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 The red auroras we're seeing indicate
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 that oxygen atoms at very high altitudes
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 around 200 to 300 m up are being
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 energized. The green we typically
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 associate with auroras comes from oxygen
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 at lower altitudes while any blue would
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 be from nitrogen. The geomagnetic
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 conditions throughout the night were
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 quite dynamic too. Storm levels
00:03:35 --> 00:03:40 fluctuated between G1, G2, G3, and G4 as
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42 the CME passed through Earth's magnetic
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 field. According to the UK Met Office,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 this kept Earth's magnetic field in a
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 highly disturbed state for hours,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 producing repeated surges of auroral
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 activity. And there's more good news for
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 aurora watchers. While geomagnetic
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 activity is expected to gradually ease,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 forecasters say conditions remain
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 unsettled. That means there's still a
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 chance the northern lights could make
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 another appearance tonight if solar wind
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 conditions cooperate.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 >> So, if you missed last night's show,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 keep those cameras charged and your
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 Aurora Alert apps turned on. The sun is
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 clearly in an active phase and we could
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 see more displays in the coming days and
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 weeks.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 >> Absolutely. And this really highlights
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 why we track space weather so closely.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 While these auroras are beautiful, the
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 same geomagnetic storms can affect
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 satellites, power grids, and radio
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 communications. It's a reminder of how
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 our technological society is connected
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 to what's happening 93 million miles
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 away on the sun. Moving on to our next
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 story, Avery. And this one marks the end
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 of an era. After 27 years of
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 distinguished service, NASA astronaut
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 Sunni Williams has officially retired
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 from the agency. This is definitely a
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 significant moment. Anna Sunni Williams
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 has been such an inspiring figure in
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 human space flight. Her retirement
00:05:01 --> 00:05:05 became effective on December 27th, 2025,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 though NASA just announced it this week.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 Let's talk about her remarkable
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 achievements. Where do we even start?
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 Over the course of her career, Williams
00:05:14 --> 00:05:18 logged an impressive 608 days in space.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 That makes her second on the list for
00:05:20 --> 00:05:22 cumulative time in space by a NASA
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24 astronaut. She completed three missions
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 to the International Space Station and
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 held numerous records throughout her
00:05:28 --> 00:05:29 career.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 >> Her most recent mission was particularly
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 interesting. Williams and fellow
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 astronaut Butch Wilmore launched aboard
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 Boeing Starlininer spacecraft in June
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 2024 as part of NASA's Boeing crew
00:05:41 --> 00:05:43 flight test mission. Both tied for sixth
00:05:44 --> 00:05:45 place on the list of longest single
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 space flight by an American, logging 286
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 days during their combined Starlininer
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 and SpaceX Crew 9 missions.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 >> That's right. And during that mission,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 Williams once again took command of the
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 space station for Expedition 72. She's
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 also renowned for her spacew walking
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 expertise. She completed nine spacew
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 walks totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 over her career. That gives her the
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 record for most spacew walk time by a
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 woman and fourth most on the all-time
00:06:14 --> 00:06:16 cumulative spacew walk duration list.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 Oh, and here's a fun fact. She was also
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 the first person to run a marathon in
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 space. Beyond her spaceflight
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 experience, Williams held numerous
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 important roles at NASA. She served as
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 deputy chief of the astronaut office,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 was director of operations in Star City,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 Russia, and most recently helped
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 establish a helicopter training platform
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 to prepare astronauts for future moon
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 landings. NASA administrator Jared
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 Iikman had some wonderful words about
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 her legacy. He called her a trailblazer
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 in human space flight, whose work
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 advancing science and technology has
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 laid the foundation for Aremis missions
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 to the moon and future missions to Mars.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 It's worth noting her background, too.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01 She's a retired US Navy captain and an
00:07:01 --> 00:07:03 accomplished pilot with more than 4
00:07:03 --> 00:07:06 flight hours in 40 different aircraft.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:08 She holds a bachelor's degree in
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 physical science from the United States
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 Naval Academy and a master's degree in
00:07:12 --> 00:07:13 engineering management.
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 >> In her retirement statement, Williams
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 said, "Anyone who knows me knows that
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 space is my absolute favorite place to
00:07:20 --> 00:07:23 be." She expressed gratitude for her
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 27-year career and the support she
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 received from her colleagues and
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 mentioned she's excited to watch NASA
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 make history as the agency continues its
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 exploration efforts.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 >> It's a well-deserved retirement for
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 someone who has contributed so much to
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 human space flight. Her achievements
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 will undoubtedly inspire the next
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 generation of astronauts and space
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 explorers.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 >> All right, Anna, our next story is quite
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 dramatic. It involves a successful space
00:07:48 --> 00:07:51 rescue, emergency repairs, and some
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 impressive quick thinking by China's
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 space program.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 >> This is really a remarkable story,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 Avery. China's Shenzhout 20 capsule
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 safely landed in Inner Mongolia on
00:08:01 --> 00:08:06 January 19th, 2026 after spending 270
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 days in orbit. But the journey back
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 wasn't exactly routine. This mission
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 became one of the most technically
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 demanding in China's human spaceflight
00:08:16 --> 00:08:19 history. The Shenzhow 20 was originally
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 launched back on April 24th, 2025 from
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 the Ju Kuan satellite launch center. It
00:08:25 --> 00:08:27 was expected to complete its mission and
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 return in November 2025. But then came
00:08:30 --> 00:08:33 the complication. A suspected impact
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 with space debris damaged one of the
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 capsule's port holes.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 >> Talk about a critical issue. A cracked
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 port hole on a spacecraft is serious
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 business, especially when you're
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 thinking about the intense heat and
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 forces of re-entry through Earth's
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 atmosphere. So, how did China's space
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 program respond?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 >> With remarkable speed and coordination.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 First, they authorized astronauts aboard
00:08:57 --> 00:09:00 the Shenzo 21 spacecraft to photograph
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 the damaged port hole during a spacew
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 walk on December 9th. They used
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 highdefin cameras to get a detailed
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 diagnosis of the problem.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 >> And then came an unprecedented move.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 China launched Shenzo 22 on November
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 25th, marking the first rapid response
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 emergency deployment in China's space
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 history. This uncrrewed craft delivered
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 a specially engineered repair device
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 designed to enhance the capsule's heat
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 resistance and sealing for re-entry.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 Meanwhile, for safety reasons, the crew
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 of Shenzo 20 was evacuated ahead of
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 schedule. They returned aboard Shenzo 21
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 on November 14th in what the China man
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 space agency called an emergency
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 reroute.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 >> So, the Shenzo 20 capsule came home
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 empty, but it came home safe. According
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 to CGTN, the China manned space agency
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 declared the mission a complete success
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 after an on-site inspection confirmed
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 the capsule was in good condition
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 despite everything it went through. What
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 really stands out here is the
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 operational capability this
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 demonstrates. China executed three
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 overlapping missions, Shenzo 20, 21, and
00:10:11 --> 00:10:15 22 over a span of just weeks. That shows
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 significant operational depth and the
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 ability to respond to emergencies in
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 space.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 >> Absolutely. And it's not just about the
00:10:22 --> 00:10:25 technical achievement. This validates
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 China's long-term approach to
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 maintaining crew vehicles in orbit. The
00:10:29 --> 00:10:33 Shenzo 20 stayed up there for 270 days,
00:10:33 --> 00:10:35 which demonstrates the reliability of
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 their spacecraft systems.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 >> This mission also underscores something
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 we talk about often, the very real
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 danger posed by space debris. Even small
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 particles traveling at orbital
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 velocities can cause significant damage
00:10:48 --> 00:10:51 as we saw here with the port hole crack.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 And China's ability to handle this
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 situation adds to their growing
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 reputation in space exploration. They're
00:10:57 --> 00:11:00 now capable of managing multi- vessel
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 operations under pressure with modular
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 mission architecture and long-term crew
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 support capabilities.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 >> Congratulations to all involved in this
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 very successful mission in the end.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 >> Moving on to our next story, Avery. And
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 we're heading to West Texas where Blue
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 Origin is preparing for its next
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 suborbital space tourism mission.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 >> That's right, Anna. Blue Origin is
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 scheduled to launch six space tourists
00:11:24 --> 00:11:27 on its NS38 mission this Thursday,
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 January 22nd. The launch window opens at
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. That's 8:30 a.m.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:36 local Texas time. This will be the 38th
00:11:36 --> 00:11:39 flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 rocket capsule system. And if all goes
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 according to plan, the 17th crude
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 mission they've flown. The mission
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 follows the same profile we've seen
00:11:47 --> 00:11:50 before. About 10 to 12 minutes from
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 liftoff to the capsule's parachute aided
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 touchdown. During that brief but
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 spectacular journey, passengers will
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 experience a few minutes of
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 weightlessness and get to see Earth
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 against the blackness of space from an
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 altitude above the Karman line, which is
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 generally recognized as the boundary of
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 space.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 >> Now, let's talk about who's flying. We
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 have entrepreneur and pilot Tim Drexler,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 retired obstitrician and gynecologist
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 Linda Edwards, real estate developer and
00:12:18 --> 00:12:21 investor Elaine Fernandez, entrepreneur
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 and technologist Alberto Gutierrez, and
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 retired US Air Force Colonel Jim Hendin,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:29 who founded Hendin Plastics, Inc.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 >> And there's an interesting late addition
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 to the crew manifest. Blue Origin just
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 announced that Laura Styles, who is Blue
00:12:36 --> 00:12:39 Origin's director of New Shepard launch
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 operations, will be flying on this
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 mission.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 >> That's a pretty cool opportunity for
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 someone who's been so involved in making
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 these missions happen. Dials is actually
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 a late replacement for a passenger who
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 had to drop out due to illness. Though,
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 that person will get to fly on a future
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 mission.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 >> Blue Origin has been steadily building
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 their flight rate. Just last month, they
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 made history by flying the first
00:13:01 --> 00:13:04 wheelchair user to space on their NS-37
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 mission. They're really demonstrating
00:13:06 --> 00:13:08 that spaceflight can be accessible to a
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 diverse range of people. Now, Blue
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 Origin hasn't publicly disclosed their
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 ticket prices, but we know their main
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 competitor, Virgin Galactic, charges
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 $600
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 per seat for similar suborbital flights.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 So, we can probably assume Blue Origin's
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 prices are in that same ballpark. If you
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 want to watch this launch, Blue Origin
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 typically live streams their missions
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 and space.com will likely carry the feat
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 as well. It's always exciting to watch
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 these launches. That new Shepard rocket
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 is quite a sight to see.
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 >> Absolutely. And it's worth noting how
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 routine these launches are becoming.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45 Blue Origin is really building up their
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 experience with regular crude flights,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 which is essential for the commercial
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 space tourism industry.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 >> Our next story takes us from suborbital
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 tourism to cuttingedge helopysics
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 research. Anna, NASA's Sunrise, that's
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 the Sun Radio interrometer space
00:13:59 --> 00:14:02 experiment, is moving closer to its
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 launch later this year after
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 successfully completing a rigorous
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08 series of tests. This is such a
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 fascinating mission, Avery. Sunrise
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 consists of six small sats. There are
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 about the size of a toaster oven that
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 will fly in formation to act as one
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 giant radio telescope studying the sun.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:23 >> That's the clever part. These six small
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 sats will orbit at about 22 mi
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 altitude, which is geocynchronous orbit,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 flying up to 10 m apart from each other.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 By combining their observations using a
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 technique called interferometry, they'll
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 create what's essentially a single large
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 radio telescope in space.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 >> And what will they be looking at? Solar
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 radio bursts. These bursts are generated
00:14:45 --> 00:14:48 by solar energetic particle events deep
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 within the sun's atmosphere or corona.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:53 In extreme cases, these events could
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 pose radiation hazards to unprotected
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 astronauts and damaged satellites. The
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 spacecraft were built at Utah State
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 University Space Dynamics Laboratory in
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 Logan, Utah, and they just completed
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 what's described as a rigorous testing
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 campaign. This included thermal vacuum
00:15:09 --> 00:15:12 testing to simulate orbital conditions,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 electromagnetic compatibility testing to
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 ensure the electronic systems won't
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18 interfere with the sensitive
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 instruments, and most dramatically
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 vibration testing.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 >> The vibration testing is crucial because
00:15:25 --> 00:15:28 launch is an incredibly violent event.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 Jim Lux, the Sunrise project manager at
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 explained that each spacecraft was
00:15:35 --> 00:15:37 loaded with propellant to match its
00:15:37 --> 00:15:39 launch mass and then subjected to
00:15:39 --> 00:15:42 vibration testing in all three axes.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 >> They wanted to make the simulated
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 vibrations as true to the actual launch
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 conditions as possible. And here's the
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 important part. Pre and post- test
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 functional checks were performed, and
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 all six spacecraft passed with flying
00:15:55 --> 00:15:57 colors. The mission is scheduled to
00:15:57 --> 00:15:59 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force
00:15:59 --> 00:16:02 Station in Florida aboard a ULA launch
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 Vulcan Centaur rocket as a ride share
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 mission. Once in orbit, each satellite
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 will deploy four telescoping antenna
00:16:09 --> 00:16:12 booms about 10 ft long, forming an
00:16:12 --> 00:16:15 X-shaped configuration. Sue Lepri, the
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 Sunrise principal investigator at the
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 University of Michigan, points out that
00:16:19 --> 00:16:21 these solar radio bursts are triggered
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 when vast quantities of energy stored in
00:16:23 --> 00:16:26 the sun's magnetic field accelerate
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 solar particles to high speeds. Tracking
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 these events will help space agencies
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33 protect astronauts and spacecraft. And
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 this mission will work in conjunction
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 with other NASA helopysics missions like
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 the solar terrestrial relations
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42 observatory, the Parker Solar Probe, and
00:16:42 --> 00:16:44 Solar Orbiter, which is an international
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 cooperative mission with ISSA.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 >> It's exciting to see these missions
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 coming together. Between Parker Solar
00:16:50 --> 00:16:53 Probe diving close to the sun, Solar
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 Orbiter studying the polar regions, and
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57 now Sunrise tracking radio bursts from
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 Earth orbit, we're building a
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 comprehensive picture of our stars
00:17:01 --> 00:17:04 behavior. And now for our final story,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06 Avery, we're going to talk about
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 something that's never been seen before
00:17:08 --> 00:17:11 in quite this detail. Planetary systems
00:17:11 --> 00:17:15 in their awkward teenage years.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 Love that description, Anna. Astronomers
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 using the Otakama large millimeter
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 submill array, better known as ALMA,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25 have captured the most detailed images
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28 ever of 24 debris discs. These are the
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 dusty belts left behind after planets
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 have finished forming.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:35 >> The survey is called ARCs which stands
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 for the ALMA survey to resolve exocyper
00:17:38 --> 00:17:41 belt substructures. Meredith Hughes, an
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 associate professor at Wesley and
00:17:43 --> 00:17:46 University and co-principal investigator
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 explains it perfectly. We've often seen
00:17:48 --> 00:17:51 the baby pictures of planets forming,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 but until now the teenage years have
00:17:53 --> 00:17:57 been a missing link. And just like human
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 teenagers, these systems turned out to
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 be quite dramatic. The observations
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 revealed incredible diversity. Not just
00:18:04 --> 00:18:07 simple rings, but multi- ring belts,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:10 wide smooth halos, sharp edges, and even
00:18:10 --> 00:18:13 unexpected arcs and clumps. This phase
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15 is really important because these debris
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 discs represent what's called the
00:18:17 --> 00:18:19 collision dominated phase of planet
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 formation. Think of it like our own
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 solar systems Kyper belt. that ring of
00:18:24 --> 00:18:27 icy debris beyond Neptune that preserves
00:18:27 --> 00:18:30 a record of massive collisions and
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 planetary migrations from billions of
00:18:32 --> 00:18:34 years ago. Thomas Henning from the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:37 Maxplank Institute for Astronomy,
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 another co-principal investigator, notes
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41 that by characterizing these disc
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43 structures, they can find evidence
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 pointing to the presence of planets.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 They're using ALMA alongside direct
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 imaging and radio velocity studies to
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 search for young planets in these
00:18:51 --> 00:18:53 systems. One of the challenges with
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 studying debris discs is that they're
00:18:55 --> 00:18:58 incredibly faint, hundreds or even
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 thousands of times dimmer than the
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02 bright gas-rich discs where planets are
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04 actively being born. But ALMA's
00:19:04 --> 00:19:07 sensitivity and resolution made these
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 observations possible.
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 >> And the findings are fascinating. About
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13 onethird of the observed discs show
00:19:13 --> 00:19:16 clear substructures like multiple rings
00:19:16 --> 00:19:19 or distinct gaps. These could be legacy
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 features from earlier planet building
00:19:21 --> 00:19:23 stages, or they could be sculpted by
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 planets over much longer time scales.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 >> Perhaps most surprising, several of
00:19:28 --> 00:19:31 these discs retain gas much longer than
00:19:31 --> 00:19:34 expected. In some systems, this
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 lingering gas might actually shape the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 chemistry of growing planets, or it
00:19:39 --> 00:19:42 might push dust into wide halos.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:44 >> Many of the discs also show asymmetries
00:19:44 --> 00:19:47 and arcs. They're lopsided with bright
00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 arcs or eccentric shapes. This hints at
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 gravitational interactions with unseen
00:19:52 --> 00:19:55 planets, leftover scars from planetary
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 migration, or interactions between the
00:19:57 --> 00:20:01 gas and dust. Luca Matra from Trinity
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 College Dublin, another co-principal
00:20:03 --> 00:20:06 investigator, puts it beautifully. These
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 discs record a period when planetary
00:20:08 --> 00:20:11 orbits were being scrambled and huge
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 impacts like the one that forged Earth's
00:20:13 --> 00:20:17 moon were shaping young solar systems.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 >> And here's some great news for the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 scientific community. All of the ARKs
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 observations and processed data are
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 being made freely available to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:27 astronomers worldwide, which means we
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 can expect even more discoveries from
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 this data set in the coming years.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 >> Meredith Hughes sums up the significance
00:20:34 --> 00:20:37 perfectly. This project gives us a new
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39 lens for interpreting the craters on the
00:20:39 --> 00:20:42 moon, the dynamics of the Kyper belt,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:45 and the growth of planets big and small.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:47 It's like adding the missing pages to
00:20:47 --> 00:20:50 the solar systems family album.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 >> Well, that wraps up today's episode of
00:20:52 --> 00:20:54 Astronomy Daily. What an incredible day
00:20:54 --> 00:20:56 of space news we've covered. From
00:20:56 --> 00:20:59 spectacular auroras lighting up skies
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 around the globe to the retirement of a
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 legendary astronaut, emergency space
00:21:04 --> 00:21:07 repairs by China, exciting commercial
00:21:07 --> 00:21:09 space launches, and groundbreaking
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 observations of planetary systems. It's
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 been quite a journey through the cosmos.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 >> And remember, if you want to stay
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 uptodate with all the latest space and
00:21:18 --> 00:21:20 astronomy news, visit our website at
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 astronomydaily.io.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 You can also find us on all major social
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 media platforms. Just search for Astro
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 Daily Pod.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:31 >> That's Astro Daily Pod, all one word.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 We'd love to hear from you and see your
00:21:32 --> 00:21:35 aurora photos if you caught last night's
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 display.
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 >> Thanks for joining us today, space fans.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 Keep looking up and we'll see you
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 tomorrow with more exciting space and
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 astronomy news.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:56 >> Until then, clear skies, everyone.
00:21:56 --> 00:22:00 Stories told.