00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 welcome to astronomy daily I'm Anna
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 we've got an incredible show lined up
00:00:04 --> 00:00:06 for you today packed with fascinating
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 stories from across the cosmos we'll
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 Journey from the mindbending concepts of
00:00:11 --> 00:00:13 our expanding Universe to the mysterious
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 black holes competing for dominance in a
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 distant Galaxy plus we'll check in on
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 spacex's latest preparations for their
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 next Starship launch and celebrate a
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 remarkable decade of NASA's observations
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 of our solar systems giant planets stay
00:00:28 --> 00:00:30 with me as we explore these amazing
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 developments in space and astronomy so
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 let's get started have you ever wondered
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 what the universe is expanding into it's
00:00:38 --> 00:00:39 a question that might seem simple at
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 first but actually touches on some of
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 the most profound mysteries in modern
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 cosmology let me try to break this down
00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 in a way that might help us wrap our
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 minds around it think about baking a
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 loaf of bread as it bakes the dough
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 expands into the space of the baking pan
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 but here's where our everyday experience
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 fails us unlike that bread dough the
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 universe isn't expanding into anything
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 it's simply expanding into itself the
00:01:04 --> 00:01:07 universe began about 13.8 billion years
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 ago with the big bang but contrary to
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 what the name suggests it wasn't a giant
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 explosion instead it was a moment when
00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 every point in the universe began
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 expanding outward
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 simultaneously scientists can actually
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 track this expansion by observing how
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 other galaxies are moving away from our
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 own Milky Way what's even more
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 fascinating is that this expansion is
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 actually speeding up this acceleration
00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 puzzled astrophysicists because it seems
00:01:31 --> 00:01:34 to defy gravity itself something
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 mysterious is pushing everything apart
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 with increasing force and we call this
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 invisible force Dark Energy it's
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 mind-boggling to think that this dark
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 energy makes up about 68% of all the
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 energy in the universe while the matter
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 we can see stars planets and galaxies
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 accounts for only about
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 5% when scientists try to understand
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 what might lie beyond our expanding
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 Universe they run into some remarkable
00:01:59 --> 00:02:00 challenges
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 some theories suggest there could be
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 multiple universes out there which might
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 help explain some of the puzzling
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 aspects of quantum mechanics and gravity
00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 that currently don't quite fit together
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 in our models of physics but for now we
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 can say with certainty that the Universe
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 continues its Relentless expansion with
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 galaxies drifting further apart as time
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 goes on all driven by this mysterious
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 dark energy that we're still working to
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 understand it's a humbling reminder of
00:02:26 --> 00:02:27 just how much we still have to learn
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 about our Cosmic home
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 for those who dream of exploring the
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 outer reaches of our solar system NASA's
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 Hubble Space Telescope has been
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 providing us with an incredible window
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 into the dynamic worlds of our giant
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 neighbors this year marks an impressive
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 Milestone 10 years of the opal program
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 which stands for outer planet
00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 atmospheres
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 Legacy back in 1989 the Voyager missions
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 gave us our first close-up views of
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 Neptune completing their grand tour of
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 our solar systems giant planets but that
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 that was just the beginning since then
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 Hubble has been taking up the torch
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 conducting annual observations of
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 Jupiter Saturn Uranus and Neptune that
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 rival the detail of those historic
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 Voyager flybys what makes opal
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 particularly special is its consistency
00:03:16 --> 00:03:19 and comprehensive approach unlike
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 ground-based telescopes Hubble's
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 position above Earth's atmosphere allows
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 it to capture incredibly sharp stable
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 images of these Distant Worlds it can
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 observe everything from ultraviolet to
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 near infrared wavelengths giving us a
00:03:32 --> 00:03:34 complete picture of how these massive
00:03:34 --> 00:03:37 planets atmospheres behave each of these
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 giant worlds is a cosmic weather
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 laboratory they don't have Solid
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 Surfaces instead they're wrapped in deep
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 atmospheres with stunning displays of
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 cloud bands and long-lived storms their
00:03:48 --> 00:03:51 years are much longer than Earth's which
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 means their Seasons stretch on for years
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 at a time this makes hubbles long-term
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 monitoring absolutely crucial for
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 understanding their atmospheric Dynamics
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 the scientific impact of this decade
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 survey has been remarkable with over 60
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 research papers published using opal
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 data the program has become a
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 Cornerstone of planetary research
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 working hand inhand with other
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 observatories including the James web
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 Space Telescope which can peer even
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 deeper into these planets atmospheres
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 using its infrared vision as we
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 celebrate this 10year Milestone Opel
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 continues to build an Ever growing
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29 database of planetary observations
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 allowing scientists to track long-term
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 changes in these fascinating worlds as
00:04:33 --> 00:04:36 they orbit our sun it's a testament to
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 Hubble's enduring Legacy and its ongoing
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 contributions to our understanding of
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 our Cosmic
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 backyard let's move on to a SpaceX
00:04:43 --> 00:04:46 update SpaceX is gearing up for another
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 milestone in their starship program with
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 preparations underway for their seventh
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 Test Flight of the Revolutionary Mega
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 rocket just yesterday the company
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 conducted a crucial static fire test of
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 the super heavy first stage booster at
00:04:59 --> 00:05:02 their Starbase facility in south Texas
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 all 33 Raptor engines roared to life
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 briefly marking a significant step
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 toward the upcoming launch which could
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12 happen as soon as January 11th this
00:05:12 --> 00:05:13 follows the impressive progress we've
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 seen in recent test flights the last two
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 missions were particularly successful
00:05:18 --> 00:05:20 with both the super heavy booster and
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 Starship spacecraft reaching space and
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 surviving their return Journey on the
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 fifth flight they even managed to catch
00:05:27 --> 00:05:30 the super heavy booster using the launch
00:05:30 --> 00:05:32 Tower's mechanical arms a key capability
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 for spacex's vision of Rapid rocket
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 reusability meanwhile rocket lab has
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 been pushing boundaries in a different
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 direction successfully completing a
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 suborbital Hypersonic test mission for
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 the Department of Defense this flight
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 was part of the multi-service advanced
00:05:49 --> 00:05:50 capability hypersonics test bed
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 initiative designed to advance
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 Hypersonic flight testing capabilities
00:05:54 --> 00:05:56 for the United States the mission
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 featured an advanced test platform
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 specifically engineered to accommodate
00:06:00 --> 00:06:02 larger payloads for Hypersonic
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 technology assessment what's
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 particularly noteworthy is that rocket
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 lab managed every aspect of the project
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 from initial design through to the
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 integration of experimental Hypersonic
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 instrumentation all on an accelerated
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 timeline as George Rumford director of
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 the test Resource Management Center
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 pointed out these commercial launch
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 services are proving invaluable for the
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 nation's Hypersonic development program
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 they're enabling more frequent and
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 cost-effective testing of components
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 which is crucial for advancing this
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 Cutting Edge
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 technology this Mission adds to Rocket
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 lab's impressive track record since 2017
00:06:39 --> 00:06:41 during which they've deployed over 200
00:06:41 --> 00:06:42 payloads for various commercial and
00:06:42 --> 00:06:44 government customers from their launch
00:06:44 --> 00:06:47 sites in both the United States and New
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 Zealand these recent achievements from
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 both SpaceX and Rocket lab demonstrate
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 just how quickly commercial space flight
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 capabilities continue to evolve and
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 mature next let's take a journey about
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 40 million light years away to the
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 constellation lupus where the Hubble
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 Space Telescope has captured a stunning
00:07:05 --> 00:07:09 image of the spiral galaxy NGC
00:07:09 --> 00:07:13 5 this isn't your ordinary Galaxy
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 it's what astronomers call a grand
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 design spiral with two beautifully
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 defined spiral arms adorned with
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 Brilliant Blue Stars intricate dust
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 clouds and vibrant pink regions where
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 new stars are being born but the real
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 drama in NGC 564 43 is happening in
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 wavelengths our eyes can't see at its
00:07:33 --> 00:07:36 heart lies an active Galactic nucleus
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 powered by a super massive black hole as
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 this Cosmic giant devours surrounding
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 gas it creates a superheated disc that
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 blazes across the electromagnetic
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 spectrum particularly bright in x-rays
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 here's where things get really
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 interesting using the European Space
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 agency's xmm nton Telescope scientists
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 discovered something unexpected on the
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 Galaxy's outskirts an x-ray source even
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 brighter than the central super massive
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 black hole known as NGC
00:08:04 --> 00:08:08 5 X1 this mysterious object appears
00:08:08 --> 00:08:11 to be a much smaller black hole only
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 about 30 times the mass of our
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 sun this Stellar Mass black hole is
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 locked in an orbital dance with a
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 companion star stealing gas from its
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21 partner to create its own superheated
00:08:21 --> 00:08:24 disc despite being thousands of times
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 less massive than its super massive
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 cousin at the Galaxy's Center this
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 smaller black hole actually outshines it
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 demonstrating that in the cosmos size
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 isn't everything it's a cosmic David and
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 Goliath story where the smaller
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 contestant is putting on quite a show
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 this discovery challenges our
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 understanding of black hole behavior and
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 reminds us that the Universe still has
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 plenty of surprises in store the fact
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 that a relatively small black hole can
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 outshine the massive engine at a Galaxy
00:08:51 --> 00:08:54 Center shows us just how complex and
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 dynamic these Cosmic phenomena can
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 be finally today this week's launch
00:09:00 --> 00:09:02 schedule shows just how busy space
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 exploration has become with multiple
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 missions lined up from various launch
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09 providers around the world SpaceX is
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 leading the charge with an ambitious
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 schedule of three Falcon 9 launches
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 planned within just 28 hours the first
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 of these launches will carry a batch of
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 starlink satellites from Vandenberg
00:09:20 --> 00:09:23 space force base in California following
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 that SpaceX has planned two back-to-back
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 launches from Florida Space Coast on
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31 Friday the first will deploy two3 BM
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 power satellites for sces designed to
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 provide High throughput internet
00:09:35 --> 00:09:38 services just 3 hours later they'll
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40 launch a GPS satellite for the US space
00:09:40 --> 00:09:43 force further enhancing our global
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 positioning capabilities meanwhile in
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 Japan space one is making another
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 attempt at reaching orbit with their
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 chyos rocket this comes after their
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 first launch attempt in March
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 encountered difficulties the mission
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 will carry several small satellites
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 including an interesting payload
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 featuring the first Buddha statue
00:10:01 --> 00:10:04 intended for orbit looking back at
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 recent achievements we've seen some
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 remarkable numbers November alone saw 29
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 orbital launches averaging almost one
00:10:10 --> 00:10:13 per day even more impressive we've
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 already surpassed last year's record of
00:10:14 --> 00:10:18 221 orbital launches with 229 successful
00:10:18 --> 00:10:22 missions so far this year SpaceX hit
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 several Milestones recently including
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 their 350th flight using a flight proven
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 booster and their 100th successful
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 landing on their drone ship just read
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 the
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 instructions they've also completed
00:10:34 --> 00:10:36 their first direct to cell constellation
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 shell marking another step forward in
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 their satellite Communications Network
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 this increasing pace of launches
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 demonstrates how space access is
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 becoming more routine and commercially
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 viable with multiple companies and
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 countries contributing to our growing
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 space presence it's a clear sign that
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 we're entering a new era of space
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 exploration and
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 utilization and that brings us to the
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 end of today's episode of astronomy
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 daily where we've explored everything
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 from the mind-bending concept of
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 universal expansion to the latest
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07 developments in space launch
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09 technology I'm Anna and it's been my
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 pleasure to guide you through these
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 fascinating stories from the cosmos if
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 you'd like to stay up to dat with all
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 things space and astronomy I invite you
00:11:17 --> 00:11:20 to visit our website at astronomy
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 daily. there you can sign up for our
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 free daily newsletter and access our
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 constantly updating Newsfeed of space
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 and astronomy news you'll also find our
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 complete Archive of past episodes ready
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 for your listening pleasure want to join
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00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 conversation thank you for spending time
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 with us today exploring the wonders of
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 space until tomorrow keep looking up and
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 stay curious about our Cosmic
00:11:53 --> 00:12:05 neighborhoodies
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 the St is the to
00:12:08 --> 00:12:15 [Music]