From Danish Moonshots to Vanishing Planets: Your Daily Space Update

In this episode, we traverse the cosmos, unveiling the latest developments in space exploration and astronomical discoveries. We kick off with exciting news from Denmark, as the European Space Agency has greenlit its first lunar mission, named Mani, aimed at high-resolution mapping of the Moon's surface. This marks a significant milestone for Denmark, showcasing its commitment to lunar exploration alongside ESA's push for cost-effective missions.Next, we celebrate SpaceX's impressive start to 2026, with the successful launch of the Cosmoskymet satellite, enhancing Earth observation capabilities for various applications. As we shift our focus to exoplanets, we unravel the mystery of Fomalhaut B, which has been revealed as an expanding cloud of debris rather than a planet, highlighting the dynamic nature of protoplanetary systems.Our journey continues with insights from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing the tumultuous history of the Milky Way through the study of distant galaxies. This research reshapes our understanding of galactic evolution, showcasing a violent youth filled with mergers and intense star formation.As we look to the night sky, we provide tips for stargazing, with Jupiter shining brightly during its opposition on January 10th. This is the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts to spot the gas giant and its moons, as well as enjoy the Quadrantids meteor shower.Finally, we share good news for the International Space Station crew, as a persistent leak in the Russian segment has been successfully sealed after years of effort. This development ensures continued stability for ongoing operations aboard the ISS.Join us as we explore these captivating stories and more in this episode of Astronomy Daily!00:00 – **Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to spot for space and astronomy news
00:34 – **Danish team gets green light from esa for first lunar mission
01:56 – **SpaceX launches Italian Earth observing satellite Cosmoskymet on January 2
04:24 – **Canadian astronomers used JWST data to piece together Milky Way's turbulent past
07:02 – **After years of dealing with leak in Russian segment, it's stopped
08:00 – **This week's Astronomy Daily includes: New missions, launches and more### Sources & Further Reading1. European Space Agency2. SpaceX3. NASA4. Hubble Space Telescope### Follow & ContactX/Twitter: @AstroDailyPod
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Clear skies and see you next time! 🌟

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