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Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, where we bring you the latest

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and most exciting updates from the cosmos. I'm your host, Anna,

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and I'm thrilled to be your guide on this journey

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through space. In today's episode, we're diving deep into the

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celestial wonders and groundbreaking achievements that keep our eyes fixed

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on the stars. We'll start off with the highly anticipated

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annular solar eclipse, set to occur on October two, twenty

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twenty four, and explore the best spots to catch a

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glimpse of this stunning event. Next, we'll take a closer

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look at Boeing Starliner Calypso's recent undocking from the International

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Space Station and discuss the upcoming crew changes. We'll also

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unravel the mystery behind China's space plane, which has just

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returned from an impressive two hundred and sixty eight day mission.

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But that's not all. We'll delve into humanity's enduring fascination

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with aliens, tracing their impact on our culture and imagination

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from ancient times to the present. Finally, we'll talk about

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NASA's upcoming Roman Space Telescope and how it promises to

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revolutionize our understanding of galactic formation and dark matter. So

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sit back, relax, and let's embark on this celestial voyage together.

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On Astronomy Daily. One of the most exciting upcoming astronomical

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events is the annular solar eclipse on October two, twenty

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twenty four. This event promises to be a spectacular site

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for those fortunate enough to be in the right place

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at the right time, now for those who might be

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unfamiliar and annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is too

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far from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. This

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results in a breathtaking ring of fire effect, where the

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edges of the Sun remain visible as a luminous ring

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around the Moon's silhouette. Think of it as a celestial

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penny on top of a nickel. The last time we

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experienced such an eclipse was on October fourteenth, twenty twenty three,

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when it graced the skies over parts of the western

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and southern United States, the Yucatan Peninsula, Central America, and

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parts of South America. Millions were thrilled by the sight

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of the blazing ring of sunlight. However, if you thought

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last year's event was stunning, this year's eclipse presents an

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entirely different challenge and opportunity. Why you ask well. The

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path of this annular eclipse will mostly traverse open ocean waters,

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making landfall in only a few select locations. Approximately ninety

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five percent of the eclipses path will be over the

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vast expanses of the Pacific. This will make accessing the

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prime viewing spots more challenging compared to last year's easily

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accessible locations. The eclipse will begin over a remote area

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in the Central Pacific, roughly one thousand miles southwest of Honolulu.

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From there, it will move eastward and southeastward across the

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South Pacific. The path skirts just north of Kurebody, then

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continues northeast of French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands. The

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point of greatest eclipse, where the annular phase will last

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in impressive seven minutes and twenty four seconds, occurs over

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the open ocean, with the eclipse path approximately one sixty

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five miles wide. Yet there's a silver lining for eclipse enthusiasts.

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One of the most fascinating and remote locations to witness

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this event is the legendary Easter Island, also known as

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Rapa Nui. This UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its

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enigmatic Moi statues carved from volcanic rock, lies almost directly

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in the path of the eclipse. If the weather permits,

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both the island's residence and visiting tourists will be treated

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to a remarkable display. Easter Island isn't just an archaeological wonder.

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It offers a unique vantage point for the eclipse. As

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the moon begins its journey across the Sun's disk at

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eleven twenty three am Local time, by one oh four pm,

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an off centered solar ring will emerge, lasting for about

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six minutes and five seconds. Following the peak, the moon

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will continue to move away, concluding its celestial dance at

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two fifty two PM. While an annular eclipse is undoubtedly

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an extraordinary sight, it's crucial to remember that it differs

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significantly from a total eclipse. During a total eclipse, the

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sky darkens dramatically, resembling twilight, and the Sun's corona becomes visible,

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offering a truly awe inspiring view. However, during an annular eclipse,

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the sky only dims slightly, and the bright ring of

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sunlight still makes direct viewing dangerous to the naked eye. Therefore,

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proper eye protection is essential throughout the event. The eclipse

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will also be partially visible at sunrise from the Hawaiian

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Islands and in the afternoon across southern South America. In Honolulu,

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for instance, the eclipse will reach its maximum phase at

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six forty five am local time, with fifty eight point

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six percent of the Sun's disc covered by the moon.

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Looking ahead, there's more celestial excitement on the horizon. On

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March twenty ninth, twenty twenty five, a partial solar eclipse

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will be visible across much of Europe, Northwest Africa, Greenland, Iceland,

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and parts of Atlantic Canada and New England. And mark

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your calendars for August twelfth, twenty twenty six, when the

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next total eclipse will sweep through eastern Greenland, western Iceland

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and northern Spain. For those of you planning to view

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the eclipse this October, whether from mainland South America or

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the mystical Easter Island, be sure to secure your protective

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eyewear and prepare for one of nature's most mesmerizing displays. Now,

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let's take a look at today's major event. The Boeing

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starliner Calypso has returned to Earth after its highly anticipated

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undocking from the International Space Station. This event marks a

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significant milestone in modern space exploration. Originally launched to the

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ISS on June fifth with two veteran astronauts Butch Wilmore

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and Sunny Williams, Calypso is now set to complete its

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mission back on Earth while Wilmore and Williams remain on

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the ISS for an additional six months. The autonomous undocking

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went smoothly at six oh four pm EDT on September sixth,

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right on schedule. Landing was slated for later that evening

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at White Sands in New Mexico, a familiar site for

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the Starliner's previous uncrude landings. White Sands Missile Range, known

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for its remarkable gypsum sand dunes, serves as one of

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the primary landing spots for the Starliner, alongside other options

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like Dugway Proving Ground in Utah and Wilcox Plane in Arizona.

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There's even a contingency site at Edward's Air Force Base

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in California. For this mission, the White Sands Harbor was

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the designated landing site, a location historical for hosting the

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landing of Space Shuttle Columbia in nineteen eighty two. Starliner

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Calypso has landed here before, notably following the orbital flight

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test mission in December twenty nineteen and the second uncrewed

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off two mission in May twenty twenty two. However, the

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landscape of the mission this time was different in a

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major way. It was uncrewed during this return. This landmark

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event has set the stage for what lies ahead in

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the tapestry of space missions. Just a week before undocking,

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on August twenty ninth, NASA completed part two of its

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readiness review, giving the green light for Calypso's uncrewed undocking

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from the MISS seven data loads were updated and the

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CFT software had shown excellent results during testing. Final checks

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wrapped up on September fifth with a readiness poll, and

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by one thirty pm EDT, the hatch was closed by

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Wilmore and Williams. Weather conditions were favorable, with winds clocked

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at seven to ten knots, a crucial element for ensuring

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a safe landing if the weather had not cooperated. Backup

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dates were lined up for the undocking on a four

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day cadence through September. The undocking started by releasing Calypso

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from the forward docking port on the ISS's harmony module.

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Unique to this procedure, a breakout burn using twelve thruster

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firings quickly pushed the spacecraft away from the ISS. This

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maneuver took about ninety seconds, helping to minimize stress on

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the thrusters. Once free of the station, additional tests on

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Calypso's thrusters were carried out to collect valuable data for

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NASA and Boeing aimed at solving the propulsion issues that

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have shadowed previous crude returns. Calypso's deorbit burn was conducted

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over the Pacific Ocean at eleven seventeen pm EDT on

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September sixth, setting it on a trajectory for White Sands.

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Communication blackout occurred due to ionized air around the spacecraft

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during re entry. Calypso flew over Baja California and Western

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Mexico before making its final approach to New Mexico. Upon

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nearing White Sands, the spacecraft jettisoned its forward heat shield

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and parachutes deployed in succession. Air bags inflated at about

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one kilometer above the ground, ensuring a soft nighttime touchdown.

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Following touchdown, the cargo was unloaded and preparations began to

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safely transport the spacecraft back to Boeing for future missions. Meanwhile,

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NASA and Boeing scientists scrutinized telemetry data to further understand

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the spacecraft's performance and refine future missions. The space community's

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eyes now turn to upcoming crew changes. Soyu's MS twenty

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six will launch on September eleventh, bringing a fresh team

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to the ISS and prompting a crew handover. This prompts

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the return of Soyu's MS twenty five on September twenty fourth. Additionally,

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the revised Crew nine mission using Crew Dragon Freedom will begin,

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adding yet another layer to the complex staffing of the ISS.

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The future looks bright for the Starliner, which is anticipated

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to take on its first operational mission, star Liner one,

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in February twenty twenty five. There are still some hurdles

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to clear, particularly with the spacecraft's propulsion system, but the

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ambition remains clear to continue pushing the frontiers of what's

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possible in space travel. In other notable space news today,

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China's mysterious space plane has captured global attention once again,

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having just completed an impressive two hundred and sixty eight

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day mission in orbit. This reusable spacecraft touched down at

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the Juquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on September sixth,

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marking yet another significant milestone in the realm of space exploration.

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Launched on December fourteenth, twenty twenty three, atop a long

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March two F rocket, this was the space plane's third mission,

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yet much about its capabilities and objectives remained shrouded in secrecy.

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According to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, the mission was

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a stepping stone towards developing more convenient and affordable round

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trip methods for peaceful space utilization in the future. During

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its extended sojourn in orbit, the space plane reportedly performed

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various rendezvous and proximity operations, even releasing a small object

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into orbit, activities that could either serve satellite maintenance or

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pose potential implications for future orbital defense strategies. Astronomer Jonathan

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McDowell noted that this object was likely a sub satellite

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deployment or a piece of hardware ejected before mission end,

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paralleling the spacecraft's first flight. As enigmatic as its purposes

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may be, the space plane's prolonged mission hasn't gone unnoticed.

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Its return only two days before the US Space Force's

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own reusable vehicle, the X thirty seven B, launched, adds

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another layer to the intrigue. The X thirty seven B,

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like its Chinese counterpart, holds its mission details close to

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the chest, though it's known to be an experimental platform

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for new technologies. This endeavor underscores China's commitment to its

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space ambitions, positioning itself alongside other spacefaring nations like the

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US and India, which is also working on a reusable

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orbital vehicle named Pushpack. As these countries push the boundaries

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of space travel, the technological advances and strategic capabilities they

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achieve and fundamentally alter the future of missions, both civilian

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and military, paving the way for an era where the

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cost and complexity of space missions are considerably reduced. When

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we hear the word aliens, various images might pop into

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our heads, little green beings with big eyes, flying saucers,

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or perhaps epic battles in space. But this fascination with

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extraterrestrial life isn't just a modern phenomenon. It stretches back

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thousands of years and has evolved profoundly over time. Interestingly,

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the roots of this cosmic curiosity can be traced back

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to ancient civilizations. The Greek philosopher Epicurus and the Roman

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poet Lucretius both speculated about other worlds. Lucian of Samosada,

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writing in the second century CE, took this a step

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further with a true story, a satire about inhabitants of

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the Sun and Moon fighting over Venus's colonization. Even the

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Catholic Church during the Middle Ages entertained the idea of

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extraterrestrial life, viewing it as another testament to God's omnipotence.

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Fast forward to sixteen eighty six, when French author Bernard

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le Bouvier de Fontenelle's Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds

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captivated audiences, contemplating the existence of other solar systems and

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the potential for other worlds teeming with life. This work

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ushered in a new era of scientific inquiry and imagination

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about the cosmos. By the eighteenth century, belief in extraterrestrial

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life became almost mainstream among the educated. This intellectual curiosity

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peaked with HG. Well's War of the Worlds in eighteen

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ninety seven, a novel that essentially mirrored the anxieties and

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fears of the British colonial era. The idea that martians

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could invade Earth tapped into existential concerns and entertained readers simultaneously.

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In the twentieth century, advancements in astronomy and space exploration

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rejuvenated interest in extraterrestrial life. From the Space Race to

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iconic movies like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the topic of aliens became

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a fixture in popular culture. Who can forget the sensation

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caused by orson Well's nineteen thirty eight radio broadcast of

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War of the Worlds, which supposedly incited panic among listeners

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who believed they were hearing real news of an extraterrestrial invasion. Today,

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the fascination has mounted exponentially with each scientific discovery and

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technological advancement. Films like Alien Star Trek two thousand and one,

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A Space Odyssey, and TV shows such as The X

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Files continue to capture our imagination. But beyond the silver screen,

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serious scientific endeavors like the search for exoplanets and the

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study of potential microbial life on Mars keep our eyes

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glued to telescopes and space missions. Robert Smith, a space

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historian at the University of Alberta, encapsulates this enduring fascination well.

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He argues that aliens serve as a mirror reflecting our

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own fears, hopes, and curiosities about humanity. By studying how

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we conceptualize extraterrestrial life, we gain insight into our perspectives

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on existence, power, and what it means to be human. Yes,

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aliens have staked a permit claim on our imaginations, conquering

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every form of media and igniting an enduring debate both

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in academia and around dinner tables. This relentless curiosity is

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perhaps best summarized by Arthur C. Clarke's famous quote, two

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possibilities exist. Either we are alone in the universe or

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we are not. Both are equally terrifying. So as we

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gaze at the stars and dream of life beyond Earth,

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let's appreciate how this quest both mirrors and molds are civilization.

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Whether through science, philosophy, or popular culture, the search for

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extraterrestrial life continues to challenge and inspire us, driving us

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to look deeper into the unknown and perhaps find a

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bit more about ourselves along the way. Next up groundbreaking

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new technology. The universe is ever changing, a grand cosmic

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dance occurring on a timeline vastly different from our own.

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Yet with every advancement in technology, we're bridging the gap

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and gaining a clearer picture of these celestial transformations. One

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groundbreaking tool set to revolutionize our unders standing is NASA's

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upcoming Roman Space Telescope, set to launch in twenty twenty seven.

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The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is named in honor

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of Nancy Grace Roman, often hailed as the mother of Hubble.

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This state of the art telescope aims to uncover the

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secrets of galactic formation history and explore the mysterious substance

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known as dark matter. It's equipped with infrared sensors and

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a wide field of view that surpass its predecessors, making

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it uniquely capable of capturing the dynamic nature of the universe.

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A key component of the Roman Space Telescope's mission is

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the RINGS Survey, short for Roman Infrared Nearby Galaxy Survey.

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This survey will focus on uncovering fossils of galaxy formation,

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much like fossils on Earth help us understand ancient life.

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These stellar structures reveal the history and evolution of galaxies.

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These cosmic fossils include groups of ancient stars that hold

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clues to the galaxies past, such as the merger events

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that shaped them and the chemistry of the galaxy at

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the time of their formation. Robin Sanderson, the DEBT principal

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investigator of rings from the University of Pennsylvania, describes this

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process as piecing together an ancient puzzle. It's like going

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through an excavation, she says, and trying to sort out

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bones and put them back together. Roman's high resolution imaging

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will make it possible to identify these galactic fossils, including long,

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tidle tales and stellar streams, giving us a window into

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the galaxy's merger history. But the Roman Space Telescope's contributions

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don't stop there. It aims to probe one of the

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most enigmatic substances in the universe. Dark matter. This elusive

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material makes up about eighty percent of the Universe's mass,

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yet it's invisible and largely unobservable. By focusing on ultra

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faint dwarf galaxies, which are almost entirely composed of dark

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matter with very little normal matter for star formation. ROMAN

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will help test various theories about the nature of this

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mysterious substance. Raja Guhathakurda from the University of California, Santa

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Cruz points out that ultra faint dwarf galaxies are like

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pure blobs of dark matter and can serve as excellent

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laboratories for study. By observing these galaxies in detail, ROMAN

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will provide invaluable data that brings us closer to understanding

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dark matter's true nature. Additionally, the Roman Space Telescope could

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expand the scope of our galactic studies. While the Milky

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Way and Andromeda are currently the only galactic halos we

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can study in detail, Roman's expansive field of view will

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allow astronomers to examine over one hundred fully resolved galactic halos.

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This leap in observational capability means more data, more insights,

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and ultimately a more detailed understanding of galaxy formation and

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dark matter. With its high resolution imaging and wide field

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of view, the Roman Space Telescope promises to fill in

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the gaps left by its predecessors. It will allow scientists

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to not only observe galaxies as dynamic, evolving entities, but

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also understand the intricate processes that govern their formation and evolution.

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When the Roman Space Telescope launches to fundamentally alter our

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understanding of the universe and our place within it. By

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studying galaxies similar in size and age to the Milky Way,

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Roman will offer new perspectives on how our own galaxy,

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and by extension, our own Solar system and planet came

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to be. So set your sits on twenty twenty seven,

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when the Roman Space Telescope embarks on its mission to

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capture the universe in ways we've never seen before. It's

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not just about looking at the stars, It's about peering

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into the past to understand the future. The Roman Space

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Telescope will help us decode the grand story written across

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the Cosmos, one galaxy at a time. That's all For

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this episode of Astronomy Daily. We took a journey through

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the upcoming annular solar eclipse on October second, explored the

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Boeing Starliner Calypso's recent undocking and future crew rotations, and

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pondered the mysterious two hundred and sixty eight day mission

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of China's space plane. We also examined our enduring fascination

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with aliens and looked forward to the groundbreaking research set

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to be conducted by NASA's Roman Space Telescope. I've been

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your host, Anna, and I hope you enjoyed this episode

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as much as I did. Be sure to visit our

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website at Astronomy Daily dot io, where you can sign

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up for our free daily newsletter to stay updated on

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all things space and astronomy. You can also catch up

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on the latest news with our constantly updating news feed

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and listen to all our back episodes. Don't forget to

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follow us on social media. Just search for astro Daily

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Pod on Facebook, x, YouTube, and TikTok. Until next time,

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keep looking upday Star