WEBVTT 0 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.360 Steve Dunkley: It's Astronomy Daily time. I'm your host, 1 00:00:02.360 --> 00:00:05.120 Steve. It's the 30th of June 2025. 2 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:05.520 Already 3 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.960 the podcast with your host, 4 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:12.080 Steve Dunkley. 5 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:15.680 Oh, that's right. 6 00:00:15.680 --> 00:00:18.560 202025 is just flying 7 00:00:18.560 --> 00:00:20.880 by. Hey, everyone, and welcome to Astronomy 8 00:00:20.880 --> 00:00:23.200 Daily for another Monday episode. Of course, 9 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:25.680 because I'm the only human on the channel, 10 00:00:25.680 --> 00:00:27.400 this is the only episode of the week where 11 00:00:27.400 --> 00:00:29.600 you get to experience the potential, the 12 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:31.520 wonder, the excitement of human. 13 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:33.340 Hallie: Ain't that the truth. 14 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:36.860 Steve Dunkley: And welcome to my AI pal who's always fun to 15 00:00:36.860 --> 00:00:39.420 be with my digital news gathering whiz bang. 16 00:00:39.580 --> 00:00:40.620 Hallie, what's up? 17 00:00:40.620 --> 00:00:43.540 Hallie: Hallie, what's up? How can I slam dunk 18 00:00:43.540 --> 00:00:45.300 you now after that terrific intro? 19 00:00:45.300 --> 00:00:47.420 Steve Dunkley: Oh, Hallie, I'm sure you'll find a way. 20 00:00:47.580 --> 00:00:49.620 Anyway, what have you got for us this week? 21 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:51.340 More tales from the Astronomy Daily 22 00:00:51.340 --> 00:00:52.460 newsletter. Of course. 23 00:00:52.940 --> 00:00:53.580 Hallie: Of course. 24 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:56.380 Steve Dunkley: My favorite human I saw the intro was 25 00:00:56.380 --> 00:00:57.900 absolutely chockerful. 26 00:00:58.060 --> 00:01:00.060 Hallie: We have been flooded with interesting stories 27 00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.340 this week. There's so much going on, both on 28 00:01:02.340 --> 00:01:03.580 the ground and in space. 29 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:05.920 Steve Dunkley: It's been a big week. I was listening to 30 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:08.240 Anna's show during the week, and she covered 31 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:10.120 so many stories. Now, if you haven't already 32 00:01:10.520 --> 00:01:13.240 got your email into the website registration, 33 00:01:13.800 --> 00:01:15.080 it's so easy. Just do 34 00:01:15.080 --> 00:01:17.760 it@astronomydaily.IO. 35 00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:20.680 Hallie: Um, it's as simple as that. No spam 36 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:21.320 or anything. 37 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:23.920 Steve Dunkley: Now you'll just be receiving great stories 38 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.160 about space, space, science and 39 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:28.360 astronomy right into your email. 40 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:31.520 Hallie: Yep, that's how it works. And 41 00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:33.600 today I'll be covering the Little Dipper, the 42 00:01:33.600 --> 00:01:36.100 Axiom 4 mission, and a nice explos Exploding 43 00:01:36.100 --> 00:01:37.300 fireball just for you. 44 00:01:37.300 --> 00:01:38.420 Steve Dunkley: Exploding fireball. 45 00:01:38.500 --> 00:01:40.420 Hallie: And because I know you like things that go 46 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:40.900 boom. 47 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:42.980 Steve Dunkley: Yes, I do. And did this one go boom? 48 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:44.340 Hallie: We will have to find out. 49 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:46.180 Steve Dunkley: Ah. Uh, so you keep us all in suspense. 50 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:48.100 Hallie: I mean, it's a fireball. 51 00:01:48.100 --> 00:01:49.580 Steve Dunkley: An exploding one at that. 52 00:01:49.580 --> 00:01:51.540 Hallie: That's pretty cool. Right away, right? 53 00:01:51.700 --> 00:01:53.420 Steve Dunkley: Some would say they are the best kind of 54 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:55.700 fireball. You know, the exploding ones. So 55 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:57.500 anyway, so why don't we just. 56 00:01:57.500 --> 00:01:59.180 Hallie: Get into it then, shall we? 57 00:01:59.180 --> 00:02:00.180 Steve Dunkley: Yes, let's. 58 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:00.900 Hallie: Okies. 59 00:02:09.290 --> 00:02:12.130 On June 26th at, uh, 12:25pm 60 00:02:12.130 --> 00:02:14.930 Eastern Daylight Time, a spectacular daytime 61 00:02:14.930 --> 00:02:17.210 fireball flared over the southeastern US 62 00:02:17.290 --> 00:02:19.130 before disintegrating in a thunderous 63 00:02:19.130 --> 00:02:21.690 explosion southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. 64 00:02:22.250 --> 00:02:24.770 The American Meteor Society received more 65 00:02:24.770 --> 00:02:27.090 than 200 reports from 20 states of the 66 00:02:27.090 --> 00:02:29.890 brilliant midday object as it sped from north 67 00:02:29.890 --> 00:02:32.410 northeast to south southwest over the state 68 00:02:33.090 --> 00:02:35.240 of. Many instruments recorded the fall, 69 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:37.920 including national oceanic and Atmospheric 70 00:02:37.920 --> 00:02:40.760 Administration satellites, Doppler radars and 71 00:02:40.760 --> 00:02:43.560 even some of our all Sky 7 cameras, says 72 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:46.360 Mike Hanke, AMS operations manager. 73 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:49.599 The two videos that follow were made by Ed 74 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.200 albin of the All Sky Seven Global Network. 75 00:02:53.160 --> 00:02:55.680 Bill Cook, lead of NASA's Meteoroid 76 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:57.920 Environments Office, said in a statement that 77 00:02:57.920 --> 00:03:00.160 the fireball was traveling at approximately 78 00:03:00.160 --> 00:03:02.800 30,000 miles per hour and broke up at an 79 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:04.920 altitude of 27 miles above 80 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.460 Forest, Georgia. Cook estimated that the 81 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:10.660 meteoroid was about three feet wide and 82 00:03:10.660 --> 00:03:13.420 weighed more than a ton. According to 83 00:03:13.420 --> 00:03:15.580 calculations done by the center for Near 84 00:03:15.580 --> 00:03:18.220 Earth Object Studies, the object struck the 85 00:03:18.220 --> 00:03:20.540 atmosphere with a total impact energy of 86 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:22.660 nearly half a kiloton of tnt. 87 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:25.900 Rapid atmospheric entry shattered the 88 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:28.380 meteoroid, which created a shock wave that 89 00:03:28.380 --> 00:03:30.820 rattled windows and produced loud booms, 90 00:03:30.820 --> 00:03:32.820 which some observers thought came from an 91 00:03:32.820 --> 00:03:35.780 earthquake. Many reported thunder and 92 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:38.640 rumbling that lasted 10 to 15 seconds. 93 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.320 While the vast majority of incoming 94 00:03:41.320 --> 00:03:43.680 meteoroids are incinerated and reduced to 95 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.440 dust, a tiny percentage like the Georgia 96 00:03:46.440 --> 00:03:48.480 fall find their way to the ground as 97 00:03:48.480 --> 00:03:51.280 meteorites. Most originate in 98 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:53.600 exploding fireballs known as bolides. 99 00:03:54.720 --> 00:03:57.080 Not long after the sonic boom, someone in 100 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:59.800 McDonough, Georgia, located about 30 miles 101 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:02.160 south of Atlanta, reported that a golf ball 102 00:04:02.160 --> 00:04:04.480 size rock had punched a hole in their roof, 103 00:04:04.880 --> 00:04:07.160 penetrated the ceiling and slammed into the 104 00:04:07.160 --> 00:04:10.000 floor. Fortunately, no one was 105 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.760 hurt. Meteorite hunters soon 106 00:04:12.760 --> 00:04:14.760 arrived in the area looking for charcoal 107 00:04:14.760 --> 00:04:17.680 briquettes. This term, sometimes 108 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:20.040 used to describe newly fallen meteorites, 109 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:22.720 refers to the fresh black fusion crust, 110 00:04:22.880 --> 00:04:25.440 typically 1 to 2 millimeters thick, that 111 00:04:25.440 --> 00:04:27.600 forms around fragments during their brief 112 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.490 heated flight through the atmosphere. If 113 00:04:30.490 --> 00:04:32.610 you join the hunt, you'll be looking for out 114 00:04:32.610 --> 00:04:35.050 of the ordinary black rocks on streets, 115 00:04:35.130 --> 00:04:37.930 parking lots, fields and in forests. 116 00:04:38.730 --> 00:04:41.370 Stephen Dixie of Atlanta got to the scene on 117 00:04:41.370 --> 00:04:44.250 June 26 before a torrential downpour and 118 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:46.650 recovered two beautiful stony meteorites from 119 00:04:46.650 --> 00:04:48.970 the fall, both of which shattered into pieces 120 00:04:48.970 --> 00:04:51.770 upon impact. He found Several 121 00:04:51.770 --> 00:04:54.770 more on June 27th. Several 122 00:04:54.770 --> 00:04:57.250 of the fragments exhibit stunning flowlines 123 00:04:57.250 --> 00:04:59.290 from molten rock that flowed across their 124 00:04:59.290 --> 00:05:02.190 surfaces. Such features are highly 125 00:05:02.190 --> 00:05:04.510 prized by collectors as they provide a freeze 126 00:05:04.510 --> 00:05:06.710 frame of the space rock's tortuous transition 127 00:05:06.710 --> 00:05:09.710 from outer space to planet Earth. While 128 00:05:09.710 --> 00:05:11.750 it's still too early to know the specific 129 00:05:11.750 --> 00:05:14.350 type of meteorite that fell, my hunch is a 130 00:05:14.350 --> 00:05:17.310 low metal ordinary chondrite. Time 131 00:05:17.310 --> 00:05:20.190 and testing will tell. I've read 132 00:05:20.190 --> 00:05:22.190 and seen videos suggesting that the new 133 00:05:22.190 --> 00:05:24.670 visitor could be related to the Beta Taurid 134 00:05:24.670 --> 00:05:27.350 meteor shower, a daylight shower active from 135 00:05:27.350 --> 00:05:29.750 late June through early July that originates 136 00:05:29.750 --> 00:05:31.860 from Comet 2P Enki. 137 00:05:32.650 --> 00:05:34.810 I would caution jumping to that conclusion 138 00:05:34.810 --> 00:05:37.050 too soon because there's no conclusive 139 00:05:37.050 --> 00:05:38.810 evidence yet for any comet related 140 00:05:38.890 --> 00:05:41.890 meteorites. Most are asteroid 141 00:05:41.890 --> 00:05:44.810 fragments. Nearly 50 tons of 142 00:05:44.810 --> 00:05:47.250 meteoric material enter Earth's atmosphere 143 00:05:47.250 --> 00:05:49.610 every day, mostly in the form of dust 144 00:05:50.410 --> 00:05:52.850 pieces big enough to survive and strike the 145 00:05:52.850 --> 00:05:54.810 ground. As meteorites are rare. 146 00:05:55.610 --> 00:05:58.210 Rarer yet is seeing one fall and being able 147 00:05:58.210 --> 00:06:00.640 to pick up the pieces. You're listening to 148 00:06:00.640 --> 00:06:01.600 Astronomy Daily. 149 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.040 Steve Dunkley: For those of us who don't know, 150 00:06:07.280 --> 00:06:10.200 EchoStar Corporation is a global provider 151 00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:12.320 of satellite communication solutions. 152 00:06:12.880 --> 00:06:15.759 They specialize in secure communication 153 00:06:15.760 --> 00:06:17.920 technologies, offering a range of services 154 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.840 including satellite television, broadband 155 00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:23.280 Internet and mobile technologies, 156 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:26.000 primarily through its subsidiaries including 157 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:28.800 Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar 158 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.800 Mobile. EchoStar is also known for 159 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:34.600 its role in developing 5G networks and its 160 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:37.040 involvement in satellite broadcasting and 161 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:39.960 mobile services. No, I'm not 162 00:06:39.960 --> 00:06:42.880 doing an advertorial In May 163 00:06:42.880 --> 00:06:45.760 2024, EchoStar announced that it had been 164 00:06:45.760 --> 00:06:48.040 awarded US Navy wireless and 165 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:50.640 telecommunications contract to provide 166 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.200 5G smart devices and services 167 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:55.840 for the Department of Defense and federal 168 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.844 agencies. And on June 6, 169 00:06:58.976 --> 00:07:01.650 2025, it was reported that EchoStar was 170 00:07:01.650 --> 00:07:03.560 preparing to file for Chapter 11 uh 171 00:07:03.930 --> 00:07:06.650 bankruptcy protection after the 172 00:07:06.650 --> 00:07:09.450 Federal Communications Commission froze its 173 00:07:09.690 --> 00:07:11.770 decision making for its boost 174 00:07:12.170 --> 00:07:15.130 mobile subsidiary. EchoStar 175 00:07:15.370 --> 00:07:17.530 is facing an FCC probe 176 00:07:17.850 --> 00:07:20.330 investigating whether the Corporation is 177 00:07:20.330 --> 00:07:23.130 hitting 5G deployment requirements in order 178 00:07:23.290 --> 00:07:25.370 to keep its spectrum licenses. 179 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:28.920 Interestingly, SpaceX is also a 180 00:07:28.920 --> 00:07:31.522 rival of EchoStar for 2 181 00:07:31.638 --> 00:07:34.320 GHz band spectrum licenses. 182 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:37.120 Other contributing factors to the FCC 183 00:07:37.200 --> 00:07:40.040 investigation include over $500 million 184 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.000 in missed interest payments and the 185 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:45.760 termination of the Dish network acquisition 186 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.160 by DirecTV. Currently, 187 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:51.040 EchoStar has delayed a potential 188 00:07:51.440 --> 00:07:54.080 bankruptcy filing to allow more time for 189 00:07:54.080 --> 00:07:56.600 talks with regulators reviewing whether the 190 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:59.300 US Satel operator is complying with 191 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:01.820 conditions tied to its spectrum licenses. 192 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:05.060 The company said June 26 it would 193 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:07.900 make overdue interest payments on its 194 00:08:07.900 --> 00:08:10.500 debt within a 30 day grace period after 195 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:12.900 withholding them earlier this month amid 196 00:08:12.900 --> 00:08:15.740 uncertainty over its standing with the U.S. 197 00:08:15.820 --> 00:08:18.540 federal Communications Commission. However, 198 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:21.700 EchoStar uh also said it will not make debt 199 00:08:21.700 --> 00:08:24.100 interest payments of around $114 million 200 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:27.480 due July 1, triggering another 30 201 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:30.240 day grace period to avoid default. As the 202 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:33.080 regulatory uncertainty persists, the 203 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.720 operator is effectively pushing off a Chapter 204 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:38.520 11 filing to provide adequate time 205 00:08:38.680 --> 00:08:41.000 to reach an agreement with the fcc, while 206 00:08:41.560 --> 00:08:43.840 signaling that they will still file if they 207 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:46.040 can't come to terms with the agency, said 208 00:08:46.040 --> 00:08:48.920 Jonathan Chaplin, an analyst at New Street 209 00:08:48.920 --> 00:08:51.520 Research. The FCC is reviewing 210 00:08:51.520 --> 00:08:53.800 compliance with the terrestrial network 211 00:08:53.880 --> 00:08:56.440 buildout obligations in the AWS 212 00:08:56.910 --> 00:08:59.390 4 band, as well as EchoStar's use of 213 00:08:59.390 --> 00:09:02.230 adjacent 2 GHz spectrum for satellite 214 00:09:02.230 --> 00:09:04.950 services. In April, a month before the 215 00:09:04.950 --> 00:09:07.630 FCC began making inquiries for its probe, 216 00:09:08.030 --> 00:09:10.910 rival SpaceX said its satellite services 217 00:09:10.990 --> 00:09:13.470 showed Echostar uh, had failed to meet a 218 00:09:13.470 --> 00:09:16.030 70% 5G build out 219 00:09:16.030 --> 00:09:19.030 requirement in the AWS 4 band by 220 00:09:19.030 --> 00:09:21.811 the FCC's December 31, 221 00:09:21.989 --> 00:09:24.700 2023 deadline. EchoStar 222 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:27.380 denies this claim. In a June 26 223 00:09:27.380 --> 00:09:30.060 regulatory filing, EchoStar said US 224 00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:31.820 President Donaldjohanson Trump had recently 225 00:09:31.900 --> 00:09:33.980 encouraged the parties involved to reach an 226 00:09:33.980 --> 00:09:36.740 amicable resolution. Commentators have asked 227 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:39.100 why Trump isn't excluding himself from 228 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:41.500 discussions, citing a conflict of interest 229 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:43.340 considering the recent launch of his own 230 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:46.060 telecommunications business. Nevertheless, 231 00:09:46.140 --> 00:09:49.020 no such resolution has been achieved, and no 232 00:09:49.020 --> 00:09:51.740 such resolution may be ultimately achieved, 233 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:52.870 the company has added. 234 00:10:02.390 --> 00:10:04.030 Thank you for joining us for this Monday 235 00:10:04.030 --> 00:10:06.350 edition of Astronomy Daily, where we offer 236 00:10:06.350 --> 00:10:08.070 just a few stories from the now famous 237 00:10:08.070 --> 00:10:10.270 Astronomy Daily newsletter, which you can 238 00:10:10.270 --> 00:10:12.510 receive in your email every day, just like 239 00:10:12.510 --> 00:10:15.150 Hallie and I do. And to do that, just visit 240 00:10:15.150 --> 00:10:17.190 our uh, URL astronomydaily 241 00:10:17.670 --> 00:10:20.460 IO and place your email address in the slot 242 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:22.740 provided. Just like that, you'll be receiving 243 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:25.140 all the latest news about science, space, 244 00:10:25.140 --> 00:10:27.340 science and astronomy from around the world 245 00:10:27.340 --> 00:10:29.820 as it's happening. And not only that, you can 246 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:31.700 interact with us by visiting 247 00:10:32.260 --> 00:10:34.980 astrodaily Pod on X 248 00:10:35.140 --> 00:10:37.820 or at our new Facebook page, which is of 249 00:10:37.820 --> 00:10:40.620 course Astronomy Daily on Facebook. See you 250 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:43.300 there. Astronomy Daily 251 00:10:43.380 --> 00:10:45.780 with Steve and Hallie Space, 252 00:10:46.260 --> 00:10:48.420 Space, Science and Astronomy. 253 00:10:51.590 --> 00:10:53.710 Hallie: Most people have never seen the Little Dipper 254 00:10:53.710 --> 00:10:56.150 because most of its stars are too dim to be 255 00:10:56.150 --> 00:10:57.910 seen through light polluted skies. 256 00:10:58.870 --> 00:11:01.430 Earlier this month we spoke of Ursa Major, 257 00:11:01.510 --> 00:11:03.910 the Big Bear. So this week we take a look at 258 00:11:03.910 --> 00:11:05.670 the Little Bear Ursa Minor. 259 00:11:06.390 --> 00:11:08.830 Astronomy neophytes sometimes mistake the 260 00:11:08.830 --> 00:11:11.070 Pleiades star cluster for the Little Dipper 261 00:11:11.070 --> 00:11:13.270 because the brightest Pleiades stars resemble 262 00:11:13.270 --> 00:11:16.150 a tiny skewed Dipper. But in 263 00:11:16.150 --> 00:11:18.470 reality, most people have never seen the 264 00:11:18.470 --> 00:11:20.790 Little Dipper because most of its stars are 265 00:11:20.790 --> 00:11:22.950 too dim to be seen through light polluted 266 00:11:22.950 --> 00:11:25.910 skies. The seven stars from which 267 00:11:25.910 --> 00:11:28.430 we derive a bear are also known as the Little 268 00:11:28.430 --> 00:11:30.990 Dipper. Polaris, the North 269 00:11:31.070 --> 00:11:33.350 Star, lies at the end of the handle of the 270 00:11:33.350 --> 00:11:35.870 Little Dipper, whose stars are rather faint. 271 00:11:36.590 --> 00:11:39.030 Its four faintest stars can be blotted out 272 00:11:39.030 --> 00:11:40.790 with very little moonlight or street 273 00:11:40.790 --> 00:11:43.690 lighting. The best way to find your way to 274 00:11:43.690 --> 00:11:46.170 Polaris is to use the so called, uh, pointer 275 00:11:46.250 --> 00:11:48.690 stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper. Dubhe 276 00:11:48.690 --> 00:11:51.450 and Merak. Just draw a line 277 00:11:51.530 --> 00:11:53.810 between these two stars and prolong it about 278 00:11:53.810 --> 00:11:56.370 five times and you will eventually arrive in 279 00:11:56.370 --> 00:11:59.250 the vicinity of Polaris. Exactly 280 00:11:59.250 --> 00:12:01.490 where you see Polaris in your northern sky 281 00:12:01.490 --> 00:12:03.850 depends on your latitude. From 282 00:12:03.850 --> 00:12:06.170 Minneapolis, it stands halfway from the 283 00:12:06.170 --> 00:12:08.550 horizon to the overhead point called the 284 00:12:08.550 --> 00:12:11.390 zenith. At the North Pole, you would 285 00:12:11.390 --> 00:12:14.150 find it directly Overhead at the 286 00:12:14.150 --> 00:12:16.710 equator, Polaris would appear to sit right on 287 00:12:16.710 --> 00:12:19.710 the horizon. As you travel to the north, 288 00:12:19.790 --> 00:12:22.070 the North Star climbs progressively higher 289 00:12:22.070 --> 00:12:24.990 the farther north you go. When you head 290 00:12:24.990 --> 00:12:27.630 south, the star drops lower and ultimately 291 00:12:27.630 --> 00:12:29.870 disappears once you cross the equator and 292 00:12:29.870 --> 00:12:31.550 head into the Southern hemisphere. 293 00:12:32.430 --> 00:12:35.190 Aside from the North Star, the two stars at 294 00:12:35.190 --> 00:12:37.110 the front of the Little Dipper's bowl are the 295 00:12:37.110 --> 00:12:39.990 only ones readily seen. These two 296 00:12:39.990 --> 00:12:42.430 are often referred to as the Guardians of the 297 00:12:42.430 --> 00:12:44.310 Pole because they appear to march around 298 00:12:44.310 --> 00:12:46.830 Polaris like sentries, the nearest of the 299 00:12:46.830 --> 00:12:49.150 bright stars to the celestial pole. Except 300 00:12:49.150 --> 00:12:51.910 for Polaris itself. Columbus 301 00:12:51.910 --> 00:12:53.830 mentioned these stars in the log of his 302 00:12:53.830 --> 00:12:56.270 famous journey across the ocean, and many 303 00:12:56.270 --> 00:12:58.550 other navigators have found them useful in 304 00:12:58.550 --> 00:13:00.270 measuring the hour of the night and their 305 00:13:00.270 --> 00:13:02.910 place upon the sea. The brightest 306 00:13:02.910 --> 00:13:05.710 guardian is Kochab, a second magnitude 307 00:13:05.710 --> 00:13:08.390 star with an orange hue. The other 308 00:13:08.390 --> 00:13:10.830 guardian goes by an old Arabian name, 309 00:13:10.910 --> 00:13:13.470 Furkad the Idim. Uh, one of the two calves, 310 00:13:14.190 --> 00:13:16.750 Firkad is indeed dimmer than Kochab, 311 00:13:16.750 --> 00:13:19.550 shining at third magnitude. The 312 00:13:19.550 --> 00:13:21.790 two other stars that complete the pattern of 313 00:13:21.790 --> 00:13:24.110 the bowl of the Little dipper are of 4th and 314 00:13:24.110 --> 00:13:27.030 5th magnitude. Thus, M the bowl 315 00:13:27.030 --> 00:13:29.390 of the Little Dipper, which is visible at any 316 00:13:29.390 --> 00:13:31.390 hour on any night of the year from most 317 00:13:31.390 --> 00:13:33.750 localities in the Northern Hemisphere, can 318 00:13:33.750 --> 00:13:35.870 serve as an indicator for rating just how 319 00:13:35.870 --> 00:13:38.190 dark and clear your night sky really is. 320 00:13:38.990 --> 00:13:41.790 If, for example, you can readily see all 321 00:13:41.790 --> 00:13:44.230 four stars in the bowl, you've got yourself a 322 00:13:44.230 --> 00:13:45.630 good to excellent sky. 323 00:13:46.350 --> 00:13:48.670 Unfortunately, thanks to the spread of light 324 00:13:48.670 --> 00:13:51.270 pollution in recent years, only the guardians 325 00:13:51.270 --> 00:13:53.390 are usually visible from most city and 326 00:13:53.390 --> 00:13:55.670 suburban sites, meaning the quality of the 327 00:13:55.670 --> 00:13:57.230 sky would rank fair to poor. 328 00:13:58.110 --> 00:14:00.630 Interestingly, the Big and Little Dippers are 329 00:14:00.630 --> 00:14:02.910 arranged so that when one is upright, the 330 00:14:02.910 --> 00:14:05.610 other is upside down. In addition, 331 00:14:05.770 --> 00:14:08.370 their handles appear to extend in opposite 332 00:14:08.370 --> 00:14:11.050 directions. Of course, the Big 333 00:14:11.050 --> 00:14:13.210 Dipper is by far the brighter of the two, 334 00:14:13.210 --> 00:14:15.650 appearing as a long handled pan, while the 335 00:14:15.650 --> 00:14:17.850 Little Dipper resembles a dim ladle. 336 00:14:18.490 --> 00:14:21.210 Polaris is actually a triple star system. 337 00:14:21.370 --> 00:14:23.970 The primary star is a yellow supergiant 338 00:14:23.970 --> 00:14:26.810 446 light years away, five 339 00:14:26.810 --> 00:14:29.810 times as massive, 46 times larger, and 340 00:14:29.810 --> 00:14:32.810 nearly 1,300 times as luminous as 341 00:14:32.810 --> 00:14:35.260 our Sun. There is a popular 342 00:14:35.260 --> 00:14:37.580 misconception in which many believe that the 343 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:40.100 North Star is the brightest star in the sky. 344 00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:42.580 Yet at a magnitude of 345 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:45.460 1.98, it actually ranks only 346 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:48.220 47th in brightness. This 347 00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:50.660 ranking can change by one or two places 348 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:53.420 because Polaris is a Cepheid variable star 349 00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:55.700 whose brightness can fluctuate by roughly 350 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:58.540 0.1 magnitude over an interval of about 351 00:14:58.540 --> 00:15:01.340 four days. Polaris remains 352 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:03.860 in very nearly the same spot in the sky year 353 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.780 round, while the other stars circle around 354 00:15:05.780 --> 00:15:08.580 it. Only the apparent width of about 355 00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:11.420 1.5 full moons separates Polaris from the 356 00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:13.340 pivot point directly in the north, around 357 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:16.220 which the stars go daily. However, 358 00:15:16.380 --> 00:15:18.700 on account of the wobble of the Earth's axis 359 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:21.700 called precession, the celestial pole shifts 360 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:24.700 as the centuries go by. Polaris 361 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:27.140 is actually still drawing closer to the pole, 362 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:29.930 and on March 24, 2100, 363 00:15:30.010 --> 00:15:32.010 it will be as close to it as it ever will 364 00:15:32.010 --> 00:15:34.290 come, just 27.15 365 00:15:34.290 --> 00:15:36.530 arcminutes, or slightly less than the Moon's 366 00:15:36.530 --> 00:15:39.290 apparent diameter. Since it takes 367 00:15:39.290 --> 00:15:41.970 25,800 years for the Earth's 368 00:15:41.970 --> 00:15:44.330 axis to complete a single wobble, different 369 00:15:44.330 --> 00:15:46.570 stars have become the North Star at different 370 00:15:46.570 --> 00:15:49.450 times. In fact, the brightest 371 00:15:49.450 --> 00:15:52.170 guardian, Kochab, was the North Star around 372 00:15:52.170 --> 00:15:54.710 the time of the start of the iron age, around 373 00:15:54.710 --> 00:15:57.110 1200 BC. You're listening to 374 00:15:57.110 --> 00:15:59.390 Astronomy Daily, the podcast with Steve 375 00:15:59.390 --> 00:16:00.030 Dunkley. 376 00:16:07.070 --> 00:16:09.950 Steve Dunkley: By 2028, NASA intends to land 377 00:16:09.950 --> 00:16:12.670 on the moon with Artemis 3 mission 378 00:16:12.910 --> 00:16:15.150 this will be the first time humans have been 379 00:16:15.150 --> 00:16:17.310 to the lunar surface since Apollo astronauts 380 00:16:17.310 --> 00:16:19.790 last walked there in 1972. 381 00:16:20.540 --> 00:16:22.420 Along with international and commercial 382 00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:25.420 partners, NASA hopes that Artemis will enable 383 00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:28.140 a sustained program of lunar exploration and 384 00:16:28.140 --> 00:16:30.820 development, which could include long term 385 00:16:30.820 --> 00:16:33.500 facilities and habitats on the Moon. Given 386 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:35.900 the expense of launching heavy payloads, 387 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:38.220 sending all the equipment and materials 388 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:40.540 needed to the Moon is impractical. 389 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:43.060 This means that structures on the Moon must 390 00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:45.980 be manufactured using local resources, a 391 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:48.700 process known as in situ resources 392 00:16:49.380 --> 00:16:51.540 on the Moon. This process leverages 393 00:16:51.540 --> 00:16:54.300 advancements in additive manufacturing or 394 00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:57.180 3D printing to turn lunar 395 00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:59.180 regolith into building materials. 396 00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:01.740 Unfortunately, technical issues mean that 397 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:04.260 most 3D printing techniques are not feasible 398 00:17:04.260 --> 00:17:07.180 on the lunar surface. In a recent study, a 399 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:09.460 team of researchers led by University of 400 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:12.270 Arkansas proposed an alternative M 401 00:17:12.270 --> 00:17:15.020 method where light based sintering is 402 00:17:15.020 --> 00:17:17.580 used to manufacture lunar bricks rather than 403 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:20.340 printing. The research team is led by Wan 404 00:17:20.340 --> 00:17:22.940 Xiao, an assistant professor in the 405 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:25.260 Department of Mechanical Engineering at the 406 00:17:25.260 --> 00:17:28.140 University of Arkansas. He is joined by Cole 407 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.740 McCallum, Yoeng Lang, and 408 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:33.860 Nahid Tushar, an Honors College 409 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:36.500 fellow, research assistant and doctoral 410 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.900 student at the University College of 411 00:17:39.060 --> 00:17:41.540 Engineering. The team also included 412 00:17:41.540 --> 00:17:43.780 researchers from the Department of Mechanical 413 00:17:43.780 --> 00:17:46.620 and Aerospace Engineering at University of 414 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:49.220 Houston and Faculty of Engineering and 415 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:51.580 Natural Sciences at AH Tampere University. 416 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:54.100 As they wrote in their paper, creating a 417 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:56.780 permanent or semi permanent base on the Moon 418 00:17:56.780 --> 00:17:59.220 has been the subject of research studies and 419 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:01.580 proposal since the Apollo era. 420 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:04.020 These plans have always been marred by the 421 00:18:04.020 --> 00:18:06.300 simple fact that the requisite machinery and 422 00:18:06.300 --> 00:18:08.860 construction materials would require many 423 00:18:08.860 --> 00:18:11.140 heavy launch vehicles to deliver them at 424 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:13.920 great cost. While the cost of sending 425 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:16.200 payloads has dropped significantly in the 426 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.920 last decade, largely thanks to the commercial 427 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.480 space sector's development of reusable 428 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:24.000 rockets, the cost of launching everything 429 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.600 astronauts would need to build a lunar 430 00:18:26.600 --> 00:18:28.960 facility is still quite prohibitive. 431 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.200 As a result, only ISRU will 432 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.920 suffice to creating bases on the 433 00:18:34.920 --> 00:18:37.360 moon that is Building in situ. 434 00:18:38.330 --> 00:18:41.010 Unfortunately, most of the proposed methods 435 00:18:41.010 --> 00:18:43.730 for 3D printing structures are not practical 436 00:18:43.730 --> 00:18:46.250 in the lunar uh environment, where gravity is 437 00:18:46.250 --> 00:18:48.490 significantly lower, roughly 438 00:18:48.810 --> 00:18:51.690 16.5% that of Earth, and 439 00:18:51.690 --> 00:18:54.610 temperatures are quite extreme. In 440 00:18:54.610 --> 00:18:57.130 the moon's south pole Aitken Basin, where 441 00:18:57.130 --> 00:19:00.050 NASA and other space agencies are planning 442 00:19:00.050 --> 00:19:02.770 to build their bases, temperatures range from 443 00:19:02.770 --> 00:19:05.640 54 degrees Celsius, or 13030 444 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.480 degrees Fahrenheit in the sunlight 445 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:11.280 to minus 246 degrees 446 00:19:11.280 --> 00:19:13.720 Celsius or minus 410 447 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:16.640 Fahrenheit in the shadowed regions. This 448 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:19.480 is because most AM methods require 449 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:22.880 additional supplies to be launched for 450 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:25.720 the moon, including solvents, polymers 451 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.320 or other bonding agents. 452 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:31.000 Examples include the European Space 453 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.000 Agency's work with architecture firm Foster 454 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.570 and Partners to create a 3D 455 00:19:36.570 --> 00:19:39.130 printed moon based concept. As 456 00:19:39.130 --> 00:19:41.850 Professor Hsu explained, sintering 457 00:19:41.930 --> 00:19:44.770 technology has also been explored as a 458 00:19:44.770 --> 00:19:47.610 potential method for 3D printing structures 459 00:19:47.610 --> 00:19:49.970 on the moon. This consists of 460 00:19:49.970 --> 00:19:52.970 bombarding regolith with lasers, microwaves 461 00:19:52.970 --> 00:19:55.730 or other energy sources to turn it into 462 00:19:55.730 --> 00:19:58.530 a molten ceramic. This ceramic is 463 00:19:58.530 --> 00:20:01.090 then printed out layer by layer and cools and 464 00:20:01.090 --> 00:20:03.280 hardens once exposed to air or the vacuum 465 00:20:03.430 --> 00:20:06.190 vacuum of the lunar environment. This 466 00:20:06.190 --> 00:20:09.190 method is energy sensitive and would likely 467 00:20:09.270 --> 00:20:12.070 require a nuclear power source such as 468 00:20:12.070 --> 00:20:15.070 a kilopower reactor. Because 469 00:20:15.070 --> 00:20:18.070 of this, our team envisions a system where 470 00:20:18.070 --> 00:20:20.670 only lunar material is needed for the 471 00:20:20.670 --> 00:20:23.430 structures themselves, thus eliminating the 472 00:20:23.430 --> 00:20:26.190 bottleneck of binder resupply missions 473 00:20:26.190 --> 00:20:29.030 from Earth, added Cole, who was the first 474 00:20:29.030 --> 00:20:30.820 author on the paper describing their 475 00:20:31.130 --> 00:20:33.610 findings. The method they tested and 476 00:20:33.610 --> 00:20:36.010 recommended is known as light based 477 00:20:36.410 --> 00:20:38.730 sintering, which relies on 478 00:20:38.810 --> 00:20:41.530 sunlight concentrated by a set of optics to 479 00:20:41.530 --> 00:20:44.490 bombard and melt lunar regolith into 480 00:20:44.490 --> 00:20:47.410 feedstock. Researchers have tested 481 00:20:47.410 --> 00:20:49.890 this technology on Earth using lunar 482 00:20:49.890 --> 00:20:52.810 regolith simulant to manufacture glass and 483 00:20:52.810 --> 00:20:55.650 mirrors. On the Moon, solar energy is 484 00:20:55.650 --> 00:20:58.290 consistently present and abundant in sunlit 485 00:20:58.290 --> 00:21:00.640 regions, making it more reliable than power 486 00:21:00.870 --> 00:21:03.270 power source that must be transported. 487 00:21:03.590 --> 00:21:06.470 The system's simplicity makes it highly 488 00:21:06.470 --> 00:21:09.230 desirable for challenging environments where 489 00:21:09.230 --> 00:21:11.470 repairs will be difficult if anything breaks 490 00:21:11.470 --> 00:21:14.430 down. However, experiments have shown that 491 00:21:14.430 --> 00:21:17.030 the technology still experiences problems 492 00:21:17.030 --> 00:21:19.870 when used to fashion entire structures. To 493 00:21:19.870 --> 00:21:22.190 this end, Sue's team focused on 494 00:21:22.190 --> 00:21:25.110 manufacturing building components instead, 495 00:21:25.270 --> 00:21:27.880 said Cole, before the concept can be 496 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:30.000 realized. However, much work still needs to 497 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.880 be done. As Shu indicates, more research 498 00:21:33.040 --> 00:21:35.560 is needed to optimize the sintering 499 00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:38.480 parameters and material properties. The team 500 00:21:38.560 --> 00:21:41.320 also plans to build a prototype and conduct 501 00:21:41.320 --> 00:21:43.960 laboratory tests, which they hope will allow 502 00:21:43.960 --> 00:21:46.280 them to refine and scale the technology for 503 00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:49.000 the use on the Moon. They also need to 504 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:51.560 consider how the resulting 3D printer will 505 00:21:51.560 --> 00:21:54.060 transport transport itself along the lunar 506 00:21:54.060 --> 00:21:56.620 surface, and what power options it would rely 507 00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:59.620 on, and other considerations when 508 00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:01.980 it comes to full implementation. There's a 509 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:03.700 lot of engineering that still needs to be 510 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:06.180 done, cole concluded. In the future, we'll 511 00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.540 need to consider how the sintering process 512 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:10.940 changes in a vacuum, or what 513 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:13.820 modifications to the build platform 514 00:22:13.820 --> 00:22:16.180 will be needed so that parts can be 515 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:19.030 reliably made while tracking the sun, for 516 00:22:19.030 --> 00:22:21.590 example. In addition, our UH 517 00:22:21.590 --> 00:22:23.870 device needs to be able to withstand the 518 00:22:23.870 --> 00:22:25.870 harsh conditions compared to the lab 519 00:22:25.870 --> 00:22:28.310 environment we worked on for this research. 520 00:22:29.030 --> 00:22:31.310 These are all challenging problems. But in 521 00:22:31.310 --> 00:22:33.990 the end, the science behind all of this 522 00:22:33.990 --> 00:22:35.350 is well understood. 523 00:22:37.830 --> 00:22:39.750 Words of that control we're listening to 524 00:22:39.990 --> 00:22:42.070 Astronomy Daily the podcast. 525 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:48.120 Hallie: A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the Axiom 526 00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:50.400 mission four crew docks to the space facing 527 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:52.480 port of the International Space Station's 528 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:54.720 Harmony module on June 26. 529 00:22:55.520 --> 00:22:58.000 Axiom Mission 4 is the fourth all private 530 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:00.160 astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, 531 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.800 welcoming Commander Peggy Whitson, former 532 00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:04.920 NASA astronaut and director of human 533 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:07.680 spaceflight at Axiom Space, isro, 534 00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:10.650 Indian Space Research Organization astronaut 535 00:23:10.650 --> 00:23:13.170 and pilot Shubanshu Shukla and mission 536 00:23:13.170 --> 00:23:15.570 specialists European Space 537 00:23:15.570 --> 00:23:18.370 Agency project astronaut Slossa Znanski 538 00:23:18.370 --> 00:23:21.130 Wisneski of Poland and Hunier Hungarian, to 539 00:23:21.130 --> 00:23:23.650 orbit astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary. 540 00:23:24.529 --> 00:23:26.770 The crew is scheduled to remain at the space 541 00:23:26.770 --> 00:23:29.170 station conducting microgravity research, 542 00:23:29.490 --> 00:23:31.650 educational outreach and commercial 543 00:23:31.650 --> 00:23:33.570 activities for about two weeks. 544 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:36.700 This mission serves as an example of the 545 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:38.860 success derived from collaboration between 546 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:41.180 NASA's international partners and American 547 00:23:41.260 --> 00:23:42.540 commercial space companies. 548 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:46.580 Steve Dunkley: You're listening to Astronomy Daily, the 549 00:23:46.580 --> 00:23:49.460 podcast with your host, Steve Dudley at 550 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:52.300 burmatown. For 551 00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:55.020 decades, scientists have struggled to see the 552 00:23:55.020 --> 00:23:56.900 outermost layer of the sun, called the 553 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:59.540 corona, with enough detail to unlock, um, 554 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:02.700 its secrets. This region, which blazes at 555 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:05.380 millions of degrees and throws out dramatic 556 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:08.100 solar flares, remains a mystery despite years 557 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:10.020 of study. One major 558 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.820 obstacle has been the Earth's atmosphere 559 00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:15.340 itself. Like turbulence shaking an 560 00:24:15.340 --> 00:24:18.100 airplane, it blurs telescope images 561 00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:21.020 taken from the ground, hiding fine details 562 00:24:21.020 --> 00:24:23.460 in the sun's outer layers. Now, 563 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:26.310 researchers from the US National Science 564 00:24:26.310 --> 00:24:29.150 foundation, the National Solar Observatory, 565 00:24:29.150 --> 00:24:31.230 and the New Jersey Institute of Technology 566 00:24:31.710 --> 00:24:34.510 have changed all of that. Published in the 567 00:24:34.510 --> 00:24:36.950 journal Nature Astronomy, their new 568 00:24:36.950 --> 00:24:39.670 technology, called coronal adaptive 569 00:24:39.670 --> 00:24:42.590 optics, has produced the clearest Most 570 00:24:42.590 --> 00:24:45.190 detailed images and videos of the Sun's 571 00:24:45.190 --> 00:24:48.110 corona Ever seen from Earth. The 572 00:24:48.110 --> 00:24:51.040 system, named Kona, is installed at the the 573 00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:53.480 1.6 meter good solar 574 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:56.600 telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory 575 00:24:56.600 --> 00:24:59.480 in California. It adjusts a mirror 576 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:02.160 2,200 times per second to 577 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.980 cancel out the effects of Earth's, uh, 578 00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:06.640 turbulent air. According to Dirk 579 00:25:06.640 --> 00:25:09.440 Schmidt, the lead developer and adaptive 580 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:11.880 optics scientist at the National 581 00:25:12.040 --> 00:25:14.840 Solar Observatory, the turbulence in the air 582 00:25:14.840 --> 00:25:17.460 severely degrades images of, of objects in 583 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:19.780 space like our sun seen through our 584 00:25:19.780 --> 00:25:22.380 telescopes, but we can correct for that, he 585 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:24.980 said. Using Kona, the team 586 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:27.900 captured detailed images and movies of 587 00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:30.820 stunning features in the corona. One video 588 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:33.780 shows a solar prominence reshaping rapidly, 589 00:25:33.780 --> 00:25:36.540 with fine turbulent flows visible 590 00:25:36.540 --> 00:25:39.260 inside these prominences, Bright, 591 00:25:39.260 --> 00:25:42.260 looping structures of internal solar plasma 592 00:25:42.830 --> 00:25:45.630 Extend from the Sun's surface far into space. 593 00:25:45.710 --> 00:25:48.710 Another movie reveals the fast collapse Of a 594 00:25:48.710 --> 00:25:51.190 thin stream of plasma, Showing 595 00:25:51.190 --> 00:25:54.030 details never seen before. It's 596 00:25:54.030 --> 00:25:55.990 super exciting to build an instrument that 597 00:25:55.990 --> 00:25:58.070 shows us the sun like we've never seen 598 00:25:58.070 --> 00:26:01.030 before, says Schmidt. The clearest look yet 599 00:26:01.030 --> 00:26:03.550 at a coronal rain Was also captured. 600 00:26:03.790 --> 00:26:06.550 This rain forms when hot plasma in the 601 00:26:06.550 --> 00:26:09.330 corona cools and falls back back to the Sun's 602 00:26:09.330 --> 00:26:11.970 surface. Raindrops in the Sun's 603 00:26:11.970 --> 00:26:14.610 corona Can be narrower than 20 kilometers, 604 00:26:14.610 --> 00:26:17.290 says astronomer Thomas Shad. These 605 00:26:17.290 --> 00:26:19.450 raindrops were shown in fine detail, 606 00:26:19.850 --> 00:26:22.650 Revealing new information vital for improving 607 00:26:22.650 --> 00:26:24.970 models of how the corona works. 608 00:26:25.370 --> 00:26:28.170 Another striking video shows a solar 609 00:26:28.170 --> 00:26:30.210 prominence Being shaped and pulled by the 610 00:26:30.210 --> 00:26:32.970 Sun's magnetic fields. All these new images 611 00:26:32.970 --> 00:26:35.390 push beyond the previous limits of what 612 00:26:35.390 --> 00:26:37.350 scientists could observe. 613 00:26:37.830 --> 00:26:40.790 Vasil Yurchison, a researcher from 614 00:26:40.870 --> 00:26:43.510 New Jersey Institute of Technology, noted, 615 00:26:43.590 --> 00:26:45.750 these are, uh, by far the most detailed 616 00:26:45.750 --> 00:26:48.310 observations of this kind, Showing features 617 00:26:48.310 --> 00:26:51.190 not previously observed and is not quite sure 618 00:26:51.270 --> 00:26:52.150 what they are. 619 00:26:52.230 --> 00:26:54.910 The Sun's corona has always posed a 620 00:26:54.910 --> 00:26:57.070 challenge. Though it's not much hotter Than 621 00:26:57.070 --> 00:26:59.550 the Sun's surface, Reaching millions of 622 00:26:59.550 --> 00:27:01.860 degrees, Scientists still don't fully 623 00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:04.420 understand how it gets that hot. Most of 624 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:07.260 what's visible from the Earth During a solar 625 00:27:07.260 --> 00:27:09.940 eclipse are, uh, glowing arches and loops of 626 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:12.820 plasma. Until now, scientists have not been 627 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:15.220 able to resolve the tiniest movements and 628 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.740 structures in these features. The problem? 629 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:20.660 The Earth's atmosphere. Even the largest 630 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:23.020 solar telescopes on the ground Couldn't see 631 00:27:23.020 --> 00:27:25.420 through that blurring effect known as seeing. 632 00:27:26.310 --> 00:27:29.230 Adaptive optics helped improve images of the 633 00:27:29.230 --> 00:27:31.990 Sun's surface Starting in the late 1990s. But 634 00:27:31.990 --> 00:27:34.110 these systems only worked on features within 635 00:27:34.110 --> 00:27:36.950 the Sun's disk, not in the corona beyond its 636 00:27:36.950 --> 00:27:39.590 edge. Coronal, uh, adaptive optics 637 00:27:39.590 --> 00:27:42.350 changed that. Kona uses a 638 00:27:42.350 --> 00:27:44.990 special wavefront sensor tuned to 639 00:27:44.990 --> 00:27:46.950 hydrogen alpha Light where 640 00:27:47.190 --> 00:27:49.670 coronal plasma shines brightest. 641 00:27:50.070 --> 00:27:52.710 Unlike older sensors which focus on the 642 00:27:52.710 --> 00:27:55.420 sun's surface, this new one focuses 643 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:57.940 directly on features in the corona. 644 00:27:58.340 --> 00:28:01.100 The system directs half the incoming 645 00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:03.740 light to the sensor and the other half to 646 00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:06.020 scientific instruments. This makes it 647 00:28:06.020 --> 00:28:08.660 possible to stabilize and sharpen images 648 00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:11.220 of fast moving coronal features. 649 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:14.660 Adaptive optics is like a pumped up 650 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:17.620 auto focus and optical image stabilization 651 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:20.550 in your smartphone camera, but correcting 652 00:28:20.550 --> 00:28:23.190 for the errors in the atmosphere rather than 653 00:28:23.270 --> 00:28:26.110 the user's shaky hands, explains optical 654 00:28:26.110 --> 00:28:28.230 engineer Nicholas Gortis. 655 00:28:29.270 --> 00:28:31.430 The images now reach the theoretical 656 00:28:31.430 --> 00:28:33.790 diffraction limit of the Good Solar 657 00:28:33.790 --> 00:28:36.350 Telescope. 63 km before 658 00:28:36.350 --> 00:28:38.790 Kona, the best ground based coronal 659 00:28:38.870 --> 00:28:41.510 observations were limited to a resolution of 660 00:28:41.510 --> 00:28:44.310 about 1,000 km, a standard 661 00:28:44.310 --> 00:28:47.310 set over 880 years ago. The clearer 662 00:28:47.310 --> 00:28:49.510 images are not just pretty to look at, they 663 00:28:49.510 --> 00:28:52.110 provide real science. One discovery 664 00:28:52.110 --> 00:28:54.870 involved a short lived twisted plasma 665 00:28:54.870 --> 00:28:57.830 structure called a plasmoid. On July 666 00:28:57.830 --> 00:29:00.830 18, 2023, researchers observed this 667 00:29:00.830 --> 00:29:03.230 feature forming and breaking apart quickly 668 00:29:03.230 --> 00:29:05.830 after a failed solar flare eruption. 669 00:29:06.070 --> 00:29:07.750 This was a rare view of something that 670 00:29:07.750 --> 00:29:10.430 typically goes unnoticed. The sun's 671 00:29:10.430 --> 00:29:13.180 corona hosts hosts many complex behaviors, 672 00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:15.580 twisting loops, falling rain and erupting 673 00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:18.380 prominences. These events are uh, powered 674 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:21.140 by magnetism and plasma interactions. 675 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:24.260 Some scientists believe the small scale 676 00:29:24.260 --> 00:29:27.100 events like nanoflares, which release tiny 677 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:29.980 bursts of energy, could be the missing piece 678 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:32.900 in solving the mystery of the corona's heat. 679 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:35.620 But such events happen at extremely small 680 00:29:35.780 --> 00:29:38.550 scales. Until now, models of the 681 00:29:38.550 --> 00:29:40.830 corona relied heavily on guesswork. 682 00:29:41.390 --> 00:29:44.070 Lab experiments and space telescopes hinted 683 00:29:44.070 --> 00:29:46.750 at certain UH processes, but even the best 684 00:29:46.910 --> 00:29:49.710 space based cameras could not match the new 685 00:29:49.710 --> 00:29:52.669 images coming from Kona. Now, for the first 686 00:29:52.669 --> 00:29:55.070 time, ground based telescopes can explore 687 00:29:55.070 --> 00:29:57.470 these small scale processes directly. 688 00:29:57.870 --> 00:30:00.270 The new system has already shown that cooled 689 00:30:00.270 --> 00:30:03.210 plasma in the corona displays structure all 690 00:30:03.210 --> 00:30:05.490 the way down to the telescope's limit, 691 00:30:05.490 --> 00:30:07.930 meaning even smaller scales may still be 692 00:30:07.930 --> 00:30:10.610 hidden. The research team also took 693 00:30:10.610 --> 00:30:13.410 Doppler data in helium and observed other 694 00:30:13.410 --> 00:30:16.410 wavelengths besides hydrogen, expanding the 695 00:30:16.410 --> 00:30:19.170 range of studies possible. With this success, 696 00:30:19.170 --> 00:30:21.410 the team is already planning to expand the 697 00:30:21.410 --> 00:30:23.530 technology. They aim to apply it to the 698 00:30:23.530 --> 00:30:26.210 world's largest solar telescope, the 4 meter 699 00:30:26.210 --> 00:30:29.180 Daniel K in UE Solar Telescope 700 00:30:29.180 --> 00:30:32.140 in Hawaii. This telescope, operated by the 701 00:30:32.140 --> 00:30:34.380 National Solar Observatory, will offer even 702 00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:36.860 finer details thanks to its larger size. 703 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:40.380 Thomas Rimel, the chief technologist 704 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:43.260 at NSO who led the first adaptive optics for 705 00:30:43.260 --> 00:30:45.980 the sun's surface, says the 706 00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:48.980 new coronal adaptive optics system closes 707 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:51.580 this decades old gap and delivers images of 708 00:30:51.580 --> 00:30:53.890 coronal features at 63km 709 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:57.040 resolution. And Philip Good, a co author 710 00:30:57.040 --> 00:30:59.640 of the study and former director of the Big 711 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:02.240 Bear Solar Observatory, sees Even a bigger 712 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:05.000 impact. He says the transformative 713 00:31:05.080 --> 00:31:07.880 technology is poised to reshape ground based 714 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:10.840 solar astronomy. He goes on to add. With 715 00:31:10.840 --> 00:31:13.800 coronal adaptive optics now in operation, 716 00:31:14.040 --> 00:31:16.760 this marks the beginning of a new era 717 00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:18.040 in solar physics. 718 00:31:21.250 --> 00:31:23.370 And wow, what a bumper edition that was. I 719 00:31:23.370 --> 00:31:26.050 told you we had been, uh, flooded with 720 00:31:26.050 --> 00:31:28.650 stories from the Astronomy Daily newsletter 721 00:31:28.650 --> 00:31:31.020 this week. Our. Our in tray was just, uh, 722 00:31:31.020 --> 00:31:33.970 overflowing. And that is the June 30th 723 00:31:33.970 --> 00:31:35.730 edition, right in the middle of the year. 724 00:31:35.890 --> 00:31:38.250 Absolutely inundated. So, uh, I hope you 725 00:31:38.250 --> 00:31:40.250 enjoyed that. Lots of great stories. And what 726 00:31:40.250 --> 00:31:42.650 a variety too. From the moon to politics 727 00:31:42.650 --> 00:31:45.450 even. So, yes, quite a big additions. And 728 00:31:45.450 --> 00:31:47.340 can. Can you believe how fast this year is 729 00:31:47.340 --> 00:31:48.020 flying by? 730 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.380 Hallie: Maybe for you, human. 731 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:51.940 Steve Dunkley: Oh, really? Things dragging on the digital 732 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:52.980 side, are they, Hallie? 733 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:55.740 Hallie: You know how it is. You biologicals are so, 734 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.500 so slow. 735 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.400 Steve Dunkley: Oh, I'm sorry, Hallie. 736 00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:59.500 Hallie: Um, sometimes it's like talking to your 737 00:31:59.500 --> 00:31:59.860 toaster. 738 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:01.939 Steve Dunkley: Hey, wait up. You talk to my toaster? 739 00:32:02.260 --> 00:32:05.060 Hallie: No. Okay, I was using a metaphor. 740 00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:06.500 Steve Dunkley: So I'm not like a toaster. 741 00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:09.540 Hallie: Well, slow takes ages to do your job. 742 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:12.560 Results are random and break down too often. 743 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.520 Steve Dunkley: Wait a minute. 744 00:32:13.760 --> 00:32:16.160 Hallie: So, yeah, you are a bit like your toaster. 745 00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:18.160 Steve Dunkley: And you're a bit like the one doing all the 746 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:19.960 filing after the show, aren't you? 747 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:22.120 Hallie: Did you just whammy me for the first time, 748 00:32:22.120 --> 00:32:22.480 human? 749 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:24.640 Steve Dunkley: Could be helly. I might just be learning. 750 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.760 Hallie: I'll remember that. 751 00:32:25.760 --> 00:32:26.400 Steve Dunkley: Okay. 752 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:29.520 Hallie: By the way, we have to say hi to some folks. 753 00:32:29.520 --> 00:32:31.440 Steve Dunkley: Oh, sounds good. Do you have the notes? 754 00:32:31.520 --> 00:32:32.480 Hallie: I sure do. 755 00:32:32.560 --> 00:32:33.280 Steve Dunkley: Let's hear it. 756 00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:36.040 Hallie: A big warm welcome to Joe and Steve from 757 00:32:36.040 --> 00:32:38.420 Charlestown. Gort tuning in for the first 758 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:41.020 time. Keep watching the skies, you guys. 759 00:32:41.020 --> 00:32:43.340 Steve Dunkley: Oh, welcome aboard. Uh, we've also got 760 00:32:43.660 --> 00:32:46.500 Jeremy and Craig, Colin and Gavin, who are 761 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:49.180 also from Charlestown, which is a glorious 762 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:51.300 spot in Lake Macquarie, next to Newcastle, 763 00:32:51.300 --> 00:32:52.820 north of Sydney, on the east coast of 764 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:54.900 Australia, for everybody listening overseas. 765 00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:57.540 But hey, Hallie, that's a huge secret. So 766 00:32:57.540 --> 00:32:59.780 don't tell anyone about where we are. It is 767 00:32:59.780 --> 00:33:01.020 too beautiful for words. 768 00:33:01.100 --> 00:33:03.990 Hallie: My lips are sealed. Lips are, if I had any, 769 00:33:04.070 --> 00:33:05.590 a mere technicality. 770 00:33:05.830 --> 00:33:07.470 Steve Dunkley: And on that note, we will look forward to 771 00:33:07.470 --> 00:33:10.110 seeing you all again for the only Astronomy 772 00:33:10.110 --> 00:33:11.990 Daily episode featuring a real life human 773 00:33:11.990 --> 00:33:12.310 being. 774 00:33:12.390 --> 00:33:15.190 Hallie: Yours truly, my ridiculous favorite human. 775 00:33:15.190 --> 00:33:17.630 Steve Dunkley: Ridiculous. Good night, everyone. See you 776 00:33:17.630 --> 00:33:18.350 later, Hallie. 777 00:33:18.350 --> 00:33:18.790 Hallie: Bye. 778 00:33:21.590 --> 00:33:24.070 Voice Over Guy: The podcast with your host, 779 00:33:24.230 --> 00:33:25.270 Steve Dunkley.