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Astronomy Daily: Space News Updates

Latest episodes

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Oct 2, 2023 • 14min

Jupiter's Dance, India's Space Rise, and Barnard Star Mysteries

**Show Notes: Astronomy Daily Podcast with Steve Dunkley and AI Newsreader Hallie**- Date: 2nd October 2023- Host: Steve Dunkley- AI Newsreader: Hallie**Highlights:**1. **Introduction & Personal Updates:**- Steve comments on how fast the year is flying by.- Steve mentions the beautiful supermoon he witnessed in Newcastle, north of Sydney. Local photographers captured stunning images of the event.- Hallie encourages listeners to share their supermoon photos on the SpaceNuts podcast group's Facebook page.2. **Astronomy News:**- **Barnard Star:** A small red dwarf located six light years from Earth. Despite its proximity, it was only noticed in 1916. The star has been the subject of numerous studies, especially regarding its potential planets. Recent studies have confirmed that Barnard Star has no close orbiting or potentially habitable planets larger than 70% of Earth's size.- **Search for Extraterrestrial Signals:** A recent study used the 500-meter aperture spherical telescope (FAST) to look for any signs of an extraterrestrial signal from Barnard Star. No evidence of an alien signal was found.3. **Indian Private Space Sector:**- Ayes Ahmed founded Pixel, an Earth imaging satellite startup, in Bangalore in 2019. Since then, the private space sector in India has seen significant growth.- Pixel specializes in hyperspectral imaging satellites, which can track climate risks.- Pixel had to hire SpaceX to launch its first two satellites due to challenges with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).- Pixel has secured significant investments, including from Google, and has won a contract with the US National Reconnaissance Office.4. **Celestial Events:**- **Annular Solar Eclipse:** Scheduled for October 14th, this "ring of fire" event will cross the Americas.- **Full Hunter's Moon & Lunar Eclipse:** On October 28th, a partial lunar eclipse will occur, visible from the eastern hemisphere.- **Jupiter:** The planet will be prominently visible in the night sky throughout October. It will be closest to Earth in the first week of November. The Galilean moons of Jupiter are also a highlight for sky-watchers.5. **Closing Notes:**- Steve encourages listeners to check out the Astronomy Daily Newsletter for daily space, science, and astronomy news.- Listeners can also join the Space Nuts Facebook group and engage with the community.**End of Episode.**Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 25, 2023 • 18min

S02E46: Comets, Space Health, and the Mysteries of the Three-Body Problem

**Show Notes: Astronomy Daily Podcast with Steve Dunkley and AI Newsreader, Hallie***Date:* 25th September 2020*Episode Highlights:*1. **Introduction**:- Steve Dunkley welcomes listeners to another episode of Astronomy Daily.- Hallie, the AI Newsreader, joins the conversation.2. **Comet Mishimura**:- The comet has transitioned from the morning sky to the evening sky.- Facebook group "Comet Watch" reported binocular sightings after sunset starting September 14th.- Heavensabove.com noted the comet shining at magnitude +2.4 on September 16th.- Comet Mishimura was closest to Earth on September 12th and the Sun on September 17th.- The comet may reappear in late November and December 2023 in the dawn sky.3. **Space Health Issues**:- The effects of zero gravity on the brain.- Risks of cosmic radiation to astronauts.- NASA's efforts to shield travelers from radiation.- Importance of exercise and supplements in space.- Effects of microgravity on the nervous and circulatory systems.- Psychological challenges of space travel.4. **SpaceX Starlink Satellites**:- Launch of another cluster of Starlink satellites.- FAA's new rule for cleaning space debris from launches.- Details of the SpaceX launch and the importance of reducing space debris.5. **Three-Body Problem**:- A complex puzzle in physics and mathematics.- Discovery of 12,000 new solutions to the problem.- Historical context and significance of the problem.6. **Osiris Rex Mission**:- Return of the sample packet from the near-earth asteroid Bennu.- The mission's continuation to study the near-Earth asteroid Apophis.- Details of the mission's objectives and future plans.7. **Conclusion**:- Steve wraps up the episode and mentions other related podcasts and platforms for listeners to explore.*Links & Resources*:- [Space Nuts with Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson](spacenuts.io)- [Astronomy Daily with Tim Gill](bitesz.com)- [Space Nuts Facebook Group](#)*Sign Off:* Steve and Hallie thank listeners and look forward to the next episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 18, 2023 • 22min

S02E45: UFOs, Hot Summers & SpaceX: Space News Unveiled!

**Astronomy Daily Podcast with Steve Dunkley & Hallie - Episode Date: 18th September 2023**- **International Space Station Update:** Amidst political tensions, two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut dock at the ISS.- **NASA's Apollo Robot:** Collaboration with Texas-based Apptronic Inc. to develop a humanoid robot for assisting astronauts in space missions.- **Meteor Sighting in Australia:** Reports of a green fireball spotted over New South Wales and Victoria. Observers are encouraged to share footage to help locate its landing site.- **Climate Alert:** NASA confirms summer 2023 as the hottest on record, emphasizing the impacts of human-driven global warming and the El Nino climate pattern.- **SpaceX & Artemis III:** Updates on SpaceX's Raptor engine tests and their commitment to the Artemis III mission to land astronauts on the moon.- **NASA's UFO Research:** Launch of a new program to scientifically study Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) with Mark McAnerney appointed as the director.- **Controversial Alien Claim:** Presentation of alleged non-human bodies in Mexico sparks debate and skepticism.- **Stay Updated:** Sign up for the Astronomy Daily newsletter at [bitesz.com](http://bitesz.com) and [spacenuts.io](http://spacenuts.io) for the latest space news and stories.Join Steve Dunkley and Hallie next week for more space insights on Astronomy Daily.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 15, 2023 • 11min

S02E44: NASA's UAP Research, ISS Updates and Lunar Endeavors

**Astronomy Daily Podcast - Series 2, Episode 44 with Tim Gibbs and AI Newsreader Hallie****Date:** Friday, 15th September 2023**Show Notes:**1. **NASA's New Role in UAP Research:** - NASA is appointing a director of UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) research.- The decision follows a recommendation from an independent study team.- The full report is available on NASA's website.- NASA Administrator Bill Nelson thanked the study team and emphasized NASA's commitment to exploring the unknown.- The new director will oversee NASA's scientific vision for UAP research, collaborate with other agencies, and apply AI and machine learning to search for anomalies.2. **International Space Station (ISS) Activities:**- Top priorities on September 13th included robotics, lab maintenance, and microbiology.- The Expedition 69 crew engaged in Earth Science Operations and Biomedical duties.- Astro B, a toaster-sized robotic helper, was activated inside the Kibble Laboratory Module.- Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA monitored the robotic activities.- NASA Flight Engineer Frank Rubio and ESA Flight Engineer Andreas Mugansen worked in the Columbus Laboratory Module.- The Columbus lab was reorganized to accommodate new exercise gear for astronauts.3. **Lunar Exploration and Development:**- Multiple space agencies plan to establish bases around the moon's southern polar region.- Local resources will be used as building materials, a process known as "Insert to Resource Utilization" (ISRU).- Dr. Kevin M. Kannon proposed a lunar soil classification scheme for space resource utilization.- The scheme will help inform construction based on soil type and location.4. **Russia's Lunar Exploration:**- Russia remains committed to lunar exploration despite the loss of its Luna 25 moon lander.- Russian leader Vladimir Putin emphasized the continuation of the program.5. **Climate Change Indicators:**- Earth experienced its hottest summer in recorded history from June to August 2023.- Global sea surface temperatures broke new records.- Heatwaves affected various countries, with over 200 heat-related deaths in Mexico.- UN Secretary General Antonio Garretis highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change.6. **Osiris Rex Spacecraft Sample Return:**- The spacecraft will return an asteroid sample collected from Bennu in 2020.- The sample capsule will re-enter Earth's atmosphere on September 24th.- After releasing the capsule, the spacecraft will divert to asteroid Apophis under the new name Osiris Apex.- The capsule will land safely with the help of parachutes.7. **Hallie's Joke of the Day:**- "Where does Light go when it breaks the law? Prism? And it's a light sentence."**Closing Notes:**- The podcast episodes are available at spaceknuts.io and bytes.com.- Join the conversation on the Space Nuts podcast group on Facebook.- Tune in to Steve Dunkey on Mondays and Tim Gibbs on Fridays.Thank you for tuning in to Astronomy Daily! See you next week.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 12, 2023 • 12min

S02E43: Moonquakes, Black Holes, and Space Ventures: Another Day in Astronomy

1. **Introduction**- Host: Tim Gibbs- AI Newsreader Sidekick: Hallie- Date: Tuesday, 12th of September 20232. **Weather Chat**- Hallie struggles with temperatures over 30 degrees.- Tim agrees, mentioning the challenges of humidity.3. **Headlines**- **Moonquake Discovery**: India's Lunar Lander, part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, detects a possible moonquake, the first since the 1970s. The event was detected on August 26th, three days after landing on the moon's south pole. This discovery could provide insights into the moon's interior.- **Moon's Geological History**: The Apollo lunar missions between 1969 and 1977 first detected seismic activity on the moon. A 2011 NASA study revealed the moon's core composition.- **Chandrayaan-3's Challenges**: The mission's robotic explorers face extreme lunar temperatures without traditional heating units. Despite this, they've achieved their science goals, especially in exploring regions believed to contain frozen water.- **Black Hole Discovery**: Scientists using NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory discover a black hole continuously consuming a star similar to our sun. This event, known as a tidal disruption event, was detected using a new data analysis method from Swift's X-ray telescope.4. **SpaceX and Virgin Galactic Updates**- **SpaceX**: Starship remains grounded after an explosion during its first orbital test flight. The FAA mandates 69 corrective actions before future launches can occur.- **Virgin Galactic**: Successfully sends three paying customers to space, marking its fourth successful mission in recent months. The journey offers a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of Earth's curvature. Notably, one passenger brought ancient human ancestor fossils to space.5. **Hallie's Terrible Joke of the Week**- "Why did the physics professor break up with the biology professor? Because there was no chemistry."6. **Closing Remarks**- Engage with the podcast on the "Space Nuts" Facebook page.- Listen to all episodes on spacenuts.io or bitesz.com.- Catch Tim on Fridays and Steve on Mondays for full shows.Thank you for tuning in!#space #astronomy #daily #news #podcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 11, 2023 • 28min

S02E42: SpaceX's Mechazilla, Polaris Mysteries, and Japan's Lunar Quest

Learn about recent mysteries surrounding the Polaris star and the challenges faced by Chandran 3 on the moon. Discover NASA's search for extraterrestrial life and the journey of Comet Nishimura through the solar system. Get updates on SpaceX's Starship, including its explosion and the introduction of Mechazilla. Explore Japan's space missions, including Slim Moon Lander and X-Rism X-Ray Telescope. Join the next episode for more exciting news from the world of astronomy!
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Sep 4, 2023 • 16min

S02E41: New Lunar Mysteries, India's Solar Quest, and September's Skyward Surge

**Date**: 4th September 2023**Highlights**:1. **New Lunar Crater**: Discussion about a new crater on the moon and its possible origins.2. **India's Space Endeavors**: A look at India's recent successful moon landing and their upcoming plans.3. **September Launches**: A roundup of various space launches scheduled for September.4. **James Webb Telescope Discoveries**: Breathtaking structures revealed in a well-known supernova.5. **Ingenuity's Mars Flight**: The Mars helicopter's 56th flight and its accomplishments.6. **ISRO's Sun Mission**: India's first dedicated mission to study the Sun, a Diffier L-1.7. **New Lunar Crater's Origin**: Speculation that a new lunar crater was caused by a Russian probe crash landing.8. **SpaceX's Record-Breaking Launch**: SpaceX's 60th orbital mission of 2023.9. **Upcoming Launches**: Details on various launches, including China's maritime launch and Virgin Galactic's third commercial mission.10. **Astronomy Daily Schedule**: Information about the regular posting schedule of the podcast and its hosts.**Additional Notes**:- Steve shares a personal story about his car breaking down.- Hallie makes light of the situation, comparing it to the Russian Space Agency's recent mishaps.- Steve mentions the Astronomy Daily Newsletter, a roundup of top astronomy stories.- The podcast ends with Steve thanking Hallie and mentioning Tim, the other half of the Astronomy Daily team from England.- Listeners are reminded to check out back episodes of Astronomy Daily and the parent podcast, Space Nuts, on Bites.com and SpaceNuts.com.**Closing**: Steve Dunkley signs off, promising more exciting space news in the next episode.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Sep 1, 2023 • 11min

S02E40: Super Moons, Dark Matter Mysteries, and Star Wars Comedy: A Celestial Week in Review

1. **Introduction:** - Welcome to the Astronomy Daily podcast. - Host: Tim Gibbs - AI Newsreader: Hallie2. **Celestial Events:** - Rare blue super moon dazzled stargazers on a Wednesday night. - Saturn was visible alongside the moon. - It was the second full moon of August, hence the "blue" label. - The moon was unusually close to Earth, making it a super moon. - Next blue super moon is expected in 2037, but another regular super moon is anticipated at the end of September.3. **Gravity and Dark Matter:** - Discussion on Isaac Newton's theory of gravity and Einstein's theory of general relativity. - New study from Sissa Askola International Superior D-Studi Avanzotti published in the Astrophysical Journal. - The study suggests Dark Matter interacts with gravity in a non-local way. - Dark Matter's nature, especially its interaction with gravity in smaller galaxies, remains a mystery. - The study introduces a new model of non-local interaction between Dark Matter and gravity. - Fractional calculus, a mathematical tool from the 17th century, was used in the study.4. **Star Wars vs. Star Trek:** - Discussion on Star Trek's animated sitcom and its comedic approach. - Speculation on why Star Wars hasn't ventured into comedy. - Mention of various comedic takes on Star Wars by other creators.5. **Exoplanet Discovery:** - NASA's exoplanet Hunting Satellite discovers a world with one of the longest known periods. - The gas giant, T-O-I-4-660-C, is about the size of Saturn and is 815 light years from Earth. - It has a year lasting 482.82 days and is one of the coldest planets spotted by NASA's test. - The discovery provides insights into the formation and migration of different types of systems.6. **Sci-Fi Jokes:** - Why did the Borg go to therapy? They had too many assimilation issues. - Why did Anakin Skywalker cross the road? To get to the dark side.7. **Closing:** - Reminder to join the conversation on the SpaceNuts podcast group on Facebook. - Access all episodes at spacenuts.io and bitesz.com. - Upcoming episodes with Steve on Monday and Tim on Friday. - Farewell from Tim and Hallie.Thank you for tuning into the Astronomy Daily Podcast! See you next time.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Aug 28, 2023 • 17min

S02E39: Moon Rocks, Japan's Space Quest, and Debunking Contrail Myths

*Hosted by Steve Dunkley and AI sidekick Hallie***". **Main Stories:** - **Moon Rocks:** Where are they now? Stored at NASA's Lunar Sample Curation Laboratory at Johnson Space Center. Dr. Julian Gross, former Deputy Apollo Sample Curator, discusses the Lunar Curation Facility and the excitement for the Artemis mission's new lunar samples. - **Japan's Space Endeavors:** Japan's HIA Launch Vehicle is nearing retirement but not before launching the Slim lunar lander and the X-ray imaging and spectroscopy mission X-ray telescope. The ZRISM X-ray Observatory aims to study various cosmic phenomena, and the Slim Lander seeks to land successfully on the moon, carrying the SoraQ Mini Rover designed by Tomi, the creators of Transformers toys. - **Asteroids:** NASA's efforts in tracking asteroids. Dr. Amy Mainzer from NASA explains the challenges of finding asteroids and the importance of early detection for planetary defense.2. **Short Takes:** - **SpaceX Crew 7:** Successful docking at the International Space Station, replacing Crew 6. - **Contrails:** An in-depth look at contrails, their formation, and their impact on the environment. Debunking the chemtrail conspiracy with insights from experts at MIT and Harvard.3. **Personal Stories:** - Steve Dunkley shares a childhood memory of seeing a Moon Rock in Canberra, which ignited his passion for astronomy.4. **Reminders:** - Register at bites.com and space nuts.com for the Astronomy Daily newsletter for daily top astronomy stories. - Check out back episodes of Astronomy Daily and the parent podcast with Andrew Dunkley at bitesz.com and space nuts.com.Join Steve Dunkley and Hallie next time for more exciting stories from the world of astronomy!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.
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Aug 25, 2023 • 14min

S02E38: India's Lunar Triumph & Mars Colony Insights: Astronomy Daily, Aug 25, 2023

*Hosted by Tim Gibbs and AI sidekick, Hallie* 1. **ISR-ISRO's Lunar Landing Achievement** - India becomes the fourth nation to successfully land on the moon. - Vikram Lander, part of Chandrayaan-3 mission, touched down near the lunar South Pole. - India joins the ranks of Russia, the US, and China in lunar landings. - The mission symbolizes India's progress in space exploration. - Chandrayaan-3's journey details, from launch to landing. 2. **Mars Colony Simulation Insights** - George Mason University's study suggests only 22 people are required to start a Mars colony. - The study focused on the number and types of people needed for a successful colony. - Traits like resilience to stress, social skills, and neuroticism were considered. - Findings: Agreeable personalities are crucial for colony success. 3. **Space Activities & Research** - Roskosmos Progress 85 cargo craft en route to the International Space Station (ISS). - Expedition 69's research on weightlessness effects on cardiac tissue and the digestive system. - SpaceX Crew of 7 mission set to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. - Crew members' details and their six-month microgravity research mission. - Studies on cardiac abnormalities and digestive system adaptations in space. 4. **India's Lunar Exploration** - Pragyan rover explores the lunar South Pole. - Chandrayaan-3's success after previous mission's failure. - India's frugal space engineering and its achievements in space exploration. - Future plans: Missions to the Sun, another lunar probe, and a Venus orbital mission. 5. **NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Update** - Integration and testing of the spacecraft's electrical cabling. - Harness details: 32,000 wires and 900 connectors. - Importance of the bake-out process before sending observatories into space. - Upcoming: Installation of electronic boxes for the spacecraft's science instruments. 6. **Hallie's Joke of the Day** - "Did you hear about the mathematician who's afraid of negative numbers? He'll stop at nothing to avoid them." 7. **Connect with Astronomy Daily** - Join the conversation on the "Space Nuts" Facebook group. - Listen to all episodes on bikes.com.com and spacenuts.io. *Thank you for tuning in to the Astronomy Daily podcast. Until next time!*Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.

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