Astronomy Daily: Space News Updates Cosmic Chronicles: SphereX's Sky Mapping, Lunar Trailblazer's Silent Struggles
May 2, 2025
18:45
In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes us on an exhilarating journey through the latest cosmic discoveries and developments that highlight the ever-evolving nature of our universe. Prepare to be captivated by this week’s stellar lineup of stories that push the boundaries of our understanding of space.
Highlights:
- NASA's SphereX Space Telescope: Join us as we dive into the ambitious mission of NASA's SphereX space telescope, which has just begun mapping the entire sky in unprecedented detail. Discover how this innovative observatory captures 3,600 unique images daily in 102 different infrared wavelengths, aiming to unravel the mysteries of the universe's origins and the building blocks of life.
- The Lunar Trailblazer Orbiter: Learn about the ongoing efforts to revive NASA's Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which went silent shortly after its launch. With cautious optimism, mission controllers are hoping for a window of opportunity to reestablish contact and guide the orbiter into its intended lunar orbit.
- The Enigmatic Big Ring Structure: Explore the discovery of a colossal ring of galaxies, dubbed the Big Ring, that challenges existing cosmological models. This astonishing structure measures 1.3 billion light years in diameter and raises intriguing questions about the distribution of matter in the universe.
- Cosmos 482's Unplanned Return: Track the unexpected return of Cosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe that has been orbiting Earth for over five decades. As it prepares for reentry, experts speculate on the possibility of its survival and the implications of this historical spacecraft's descent.
- The Search for Planet Nine: Delve into the compelling evidence for the elusive Planet Nine, uncovered through archival data from two space telescopes. Researchers are excited about the potential discovery of this massive planet, which could reshape our understanding of the solar system's outer reaches.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - NASA's SphereX mission begins
10:15 - Update on Lunar Trailblazer Orbiter
15:30 - Discovery of the Big Ring structure
20:45 - Cosmos 482's return to Earth
25:00 - Evidence for Planet Nine
✍️ Episode References
NASA's SphereX Space Telescope
[NASA SphereX](https://www.nasa.gov/spherex)
Lunar Trailblazer Mission
[NASA Lunar Trailblazer](https://www.nasa.gov/lunartrailblazer)
Big Ring Structure Discovery
[American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/)
Cosmos 482 Reentry
[Harvard Smithsonian Center](https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/)
Planet Nine Evidence
[National Tsinghua University](https://www.nthu.edu.tw/en/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
Sponsor Details:
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Highlights:
- NASA's SphereX Space Telescope: Join us as we dive into the ambitious mission of NASA's SphereX space telescope, which has just begun mapping the entire sky in unprecedented detail. Discover how this innovative observatory captures 3,600 unique images daily in 102 different infrared wavelengths, aiming to unravel the mysteries of the universe's origins and the building blocks of life.
- The Lunar Trailblazer Orbiter: Learn about the ongoing efforts to revive NASA's Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which went silent shortly after its launch. With cautious optimism, mission controllers are hoping for a window of opportunity to reestablish contact and guide the orbiter into its intended lunar orbit.
- The Enigmatic Big Ring Structure: Explore the discovery of a colossal ring of galaxies, dubbed the Big Ring, that challenges existing cosmological models. This astonishing structure measures 1.3 billion light years in diameter and raises intriguing questions about the distribution of matter in the universe.
- Cosmos 482's Unplanned Return: Track the unexpected return of Cosmos 482, a Soviet-era Venus probe that has been orbiting Earth for over five decades. As it prepares for reentry, experts speculate on the possibility of its survival and the implications of this historical spacecraft's descent.
- The Search for Planet Nine: Delve into the compelling evidence for the elusive Planet Nine, uncovered through archival data from two space telescopes. Researchers are excited about the potential discovery of this massive planet, which could reshape our understanding of the solar system's outer reaches.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - NASA's SphereX mission begins
10:15 - Update on Lunar Trailblazer Orbiter
15:30 - Discovery of the Big Ring structure
20:45 - Cosmos 482's return to Earth
25:00 - Evidence for Planet Nine
✍️ Episode References
NASA's SphereX Space Telescope
[NASA SphereX](https://www.nasa.gov/spherex)
Lunar Trailblazer Mission
[NASA Lunar Trailblazer](https://www.nasa.gov/lunartrailblazer)
Big Ring Structure Discovery
[American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org/)
Cosmos 482 Reentry
[Harvard Smithsonian Center](https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/)
Planet Nine Evidence
[National Tsinghua University](https://www.nthu.edu.tw/en/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support.
Sponsor Details:
Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!
Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click Here