Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your gateway to the cosmos.
I'm Anna, and today we're exploring some fascinating developments across
our universe, from our neighboring planets to distant galaxies. Coming
up on today's episode, we'll venture to Mars, where the
Perseverance Rover has discovered diverse, rocky outcrops on the rim
of Jesuo Crater, providing new insights into the red planet's
ancient history. We'll also dive into some celestial mathematics to
explain why Easter will come unusually late this year despite
the timing of the full moon. It's a fascinating intersection
of astronomy and tradition. Then we'll explore research suggesting that
millions of interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri might be hiding
in our own solar system, creating connections between star systems
we never imagine. April is Citizen Science Month, and I'll
tell you how you can join NASA's ambitious goal of
achieving one million acts of science and become part of
real astronomical discoveries. Finally, we'll witness the dramatic awakening of
a super massive black hole erupting with the most powerful
X ray blasts ever recorded, challenging scientists understanding of these
cosmic behemoths. So buckle up for a journey across the
cosmos as we explore the latest discoveries and wonders of
our universe. Let's get started with our favorite red planet.
NASA's Perseverance rover has made a remarkable discovery on the
rim of Mars's Jazero Crater, stumbling upon a treasure trove
of diverse, rocky outcrops that have scientists buzzing with excitement.
Since January, this plucky little rover has been analyzing what
scientists describe as a hodgepodge of rocks on the crater rim,
and the findings are proving more valuable than anticipated. Perseverance
has been working at an impressive pace, couring five rocks
and successfully sealing samples from three of them in collection tubes.
It has conducted detailed close up analysis of seven rocks
while assessing another eighty three from a distance using its
laser technology. While this might not sound like a substantial
workload over several months, NASA reports this has actually been
the rover's fastest science mission since landing on the red planet.
In twenty twenty one. The rover reached the crater rim
in December twenty twenty four and has been exploring a
one hundred and thirty five meter tall slope that scientists
have nicknamed which Hazel Hill. What makes this location so
special is the remarkable variety of rock types found in
close proximity to each other. Project's scientist Katie stack Morgan
from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains the significance. During previous
science campaigns in Jezero, it could take several months to
find a rock that was significantly different from the last
rock we sampled and scientifically unique enough for sampling. But
up here on the crater rim there are new and
intriguing rocks. Everywhere the rover turns. It has been all
we had hoped for and more. The western rim of
ja Zero Crater features numerous fragmented rocks that were once molten.
Scientists bel leave these rocks were brought to the surface
by meteor impacts billions of years ago, possibly including the
very impact that created Jesero Crater itself. One particularly exciting
sample was collected on January twenty eighth from a rock
dubbed Shallow Bay. This rock likely formed around three point
nine billion years ago, potentially making it the oldest sample
collected by the rover so far. About one hundred and
ten meters away from Shallow Bay, another intriguing rock caught
scientists attention because it contains minerals that crystallized from magma
deep within the Martian crust. These diverse mineral compositions are
crucial for scientists attempting to piece together Mars' geological history.
By analyzing these rocks, researchers hope to better understand how
the planet formed and evolved over billions of years, including
weather conditions were ever suitable for life to exist. The
abundance and diversity of these rocks will help scientists determine
if Mars was once habitable and if it might still
harbor environments that could support life today. Each sample provides
a window into different periods of Martian history and different
environmental conditions. As Stack Morgan enthusiastically puts it, the last
four months have been a whirlwind for the science team,
and we still feel that which Hazel Hill has more
to tell us. We'll use all the rover data gathered
recently to decide if and where to collect the next
sample from the Crater rim Crater rims. You gotta love them.
If you've ever wondered why the date of Easter seems
to jump around the calendar from year to year, you're
not alone. Easter twenty twenty five is coming particularly late,
falling on April twentieth, and there's a fascinating astronomical reason
behind this mobile holiday. Easter's date is determined by what's
known as the paschal moon, the first full moon that
occurs on or after the spring equinox. In theory, Easter
should fall on the Sunday immediately following this full moon.
This connection between Easter and lunar cycles has ancient ord origins,
linking the Christian celebration to the Hebrew calendar and Passover.
In twenty twenty five, the April full moon, traditionally known
as the pink full moon, will occur on April twelfth.
Despite its name, this moon won't actually appear pink. The
name comes from the blooming of moss pink flocks, flowers
that typically coincide with this lunar event. Since this full
moon happens after the spring equinox, it's also the paschal
moon for twenty twenty five. Given this timing, you might
expect Easter to fall on April thirteenth, the Sunday immediately
following the Paschal moon. However, Easter twenty twenty five will
actually be celebrated a full week later, on April twentieth.
This discrepancy highlights the complex relationship between astronomical observations and
ecclesiastical rules. The explanation involves the difference between astronomical reality
and church tradition. While astronomers calculate the exact moment of
a full moon based on the moon's position relative to
Earth and the Sun, the Church follows ecclesiastical tables that
don't always align perfectly with astronomical events. Additionally, there's a
geographical factor at play. In North America, the Paschal full
moon occurs on Saturday, April twelfth, but in European longitudes,
including the Vatican, this same full moon happens after midnight,
technically placing it on Sunday April thirteenth. Since the first
Sunday after the Paschal Moon in the Old World would
be April twentieth, that's when Easter will be celebrated globally.
The rules for determining Easter's date have other interesting quirks.
For instance, the Church fixes the vernal equinox on March
twenty first, even though astronomically it now falls no later
than March twentieth. This can lead to some peculiar situations.
In twenty thirty eight, for example, the equinox will fall
on March twentieth, with a full moon the very next day,
but Easter won't be celebrated until April twenty fifth, the
latest possible date it can occur. Easter can fall as
early as March twenty second, which last happened to eighteen
eighteen and won't happen again until twenty two eighty five,
and as late as April twenty fifth. Interestingly, when Easter
occurs in March, it's always preceded and followed by April Easters.
In adjacent years. Between two thousand and seven thousand, nine
hundred and ninety nine, Easter will fall most frequently on
April nineteenth, occurring on that date two hundred and thirty
one times. However, if we narrow our focus to just
this millennium, April sixteenth becomes the most common Easter date.
So when you mark Easter twenty twenty five on your
calendar for April twentieth. Remember you're participating in a tradition
that blends ancient astronomical observations with ecclesiastical calculations, a fascinating
intersection of science and faith that continues to evolve through
the centuries. Next up today, have you ever wondered if
objects from other star systems might be passing through our
cosmic neighborhood. A fascinating new study from Western University suggests
that our Solar System could be home to millions of
interstellar visitors, primarily from our nearest stellar neighbor, Alpha Centauri.
Astrophysicists Cole Greg and Paul Wiegert have developed a groundbreaking
computer model that simulates interstellar activity between our Solar System
and Alpha Centauri. Their research, published in the Planetary Science
Journal this March, points to Alpha Centauri as a likely
source of interstellar material found within our Solar system. Alpha
Centauri is particularly interesting because it's a triple star system,
unlike our single Sun arrangement. Yet the researchers believe it
might behave similarly to our own Solar system when it
comes to ejecting material into space. As Greg explains giant
planets introduce a degree of chaos, perturbing orbits and giving
objects the velocity boost they need to escape their star's
gravitational pull. The model suggests something truly remarkable. Approximately one
million interstellar objects larger than one hundred meters in diameter
originating from Alpha Centauri may currently be within our solar
systems or at cloud, that vast shell of icy objects
surrounding our planetary neighborhood, and this number is expected to
increase as Alpha Centauri moves closer to us, with its
closest approach predicted in about twenty eight thousand years. Assuming
Alpha Centauri is ejecting material, which it should be, there
are plenty of reasons to expect some of that material
is making its way to us, notes Professor Wigert, who
has discovered more than eighty minor planets during his career.
This research builds on our understanding of interstellar objects that
began with the twenty seventeen discovery of um Wahmua, the
first confirmed interstellar visitor spotted by Western scientist Robert Warrick. Umwahmua,
a reddish object estimated to be between one hundred and
one thousand meters long was just the first glimpse of
what could be a much larger population of interstellar wanderers.
Before you worry about interstellar impacts, the researchers offer reassurance.
Their model projects that while as many as ten met
years from Alpha Centauri might enter Earth's atmosphere annually, these
would be microscopic, no larger than one hundred micrometers in size.
In fact, only about one in a trillion meteor striking
Earth might originate from Alpha centaury. The real significance of
this research lies in how it transforms our understanding of
cosmic systems. As Greg eloquently puts it, throughout the history
of astronomy, every time we look at a system, we
think of it as a closed system. The galaxy isn't
a collection of all these individual star systems. Rather, they
should be studied as an interconnected system, one that shares
all of this interstellar material among the stars. This interconnected
view of our galaxy challenges the traditional notion of star
systems as isolated entities. Instead, it suggests a cosmic ecosystem
where matter regularly travels between neighboring stars, creating a complex
web of interstellar exchange that has been ongoing for billions
of years. Next something you may like to take part in.
April marks a special time for science enthusiasts around the world.
It's Citizen Science Month, and NASA is embarking on an
ambitious mission they're calling one million Acts of Science. This
initiative aims to harness the collective power of volunteers everywhere
to help solve some of astronomy's greatest mysteries. Citizen Science
represents a beautiful intersection of professional research and public participation.
Through these programs, ordinary people like you and me can
contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery without specialized degrees or equipment.
NASA's citizen Science projects are designed to address real world problems,
protect our planet, and unravel the secrets of the universe.
The concept is simple yet powerful. By distributing scientific tasks
across thousands of volunteers, researchers can accomplish what would be
impossible for even the largest professional teams. Your contribution, combined
with others around the globe, creates a formidable force for
scientific advancement. So what exactly counts as an act of science?
It could be as straightforward as categorizing galaxies based on
their shapes, identifying features on Mars, tracking changes in cloud patterns,
or monitoring light pollution in your local area. Many projects
require nothing more than a smartphone and a curious mind.
What makes these initiatives particularly valuable is that they're not
just busy work. The data collected through citizen science efforts
has led to genuine discoveries and appears in peer reviewed
scientific publications. Your contributions help NASA scientists understand our changing planet,
identify new asteroids, study distant galaxies, and monitor space weather.
The beauty of citizen science is its accessibility. Projects are
designed to accommodate various interests, time commitments, and skill levels.
Whether you have five minutes while waiting for your coffee
or want to dedicate several hours each week, there's a
project perfectly suited to your availability. If you're in interested
in participating, NASA's Citizen Science website offers a comprehensive directory
of active projects, from helping classify exoplanets to tracking wildlife
responses to solar eclipses. The diversity of opportunities means you're
bound to find something that captures your imagination by joining
this worldwide community of citizen scientists, you become part of
something much larger than yourself, a global effort to expand
human knowledge and address some of our most pressing challenges.
And during this special month celebrating citizen Science, your participation
helps NASA reach that ambitious goal of one million scientific contributions. Remember,
science isn't just for professional researchers in labs. It belongs
to all of us, and through citizen science, we all
have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding
just a little bit further. If you're interested in finding
out more, I'll leave a link in the show notes
for you. We've all experienced grumpy mornings, but nothing compares
to the cosm tantrum recently thrown by a supermassive black
hole in a galaxy far far away. Astronomers have observed
something truly extraordinary, a monster black hole, unleashing the longest
and most powerful X ray eruptions ever recorded from such
an object. The black hole in question sits at the
center of galaxy sdss on Thy three hundred thirty five
plus zero seven two eight, approximately three hundred million light
years from Earth. After decades of inactivity, this cosmic giant
has suddenly awakened with a vengeance, beginning to devour surrounding
matter and producing what scientists call quasi periodic eruptions or qpease.
This active region at the galaxy's heart, nicknamed Anski by researchers,
first showed signs of awakening in late twenty nineteen. By
February of this year, astronomers using NASA's Swift X ray
space telescope observed the black hole erupting with flares at
surprisingly regular intervals, providing a rare opportunity to monitor a
feeding black hole in real time. What makes these observations
particularly remarkable is their unprecedented scale. As MIT researcher Joheen
Chakraborti explains, the bursts of X rays from Anski are
ten times longer and ten times more luminous than what
we see from a typical QPE. Each eruption releases one
hundred times more energy than previously observed elsewhere, with eruptions
occurring roughly every four and a half days, the longest
interval ever seen. These extreme behaviors are challenging existing scientific
models and forcing astronomers to reconsider their understanding of such events. Typically,
qpes have been associated with super massive black holes capturing
and shredding stars, then consuming the stellar remnants. However, this
doesn't appear to be happening with Anski, leaving scientists puzzled
about what's triggering these massive outbursts. The observations were made
possible through an international collaborative effort utilizing multiple space telescopes,
the European space agencies XMMM, Newton, NASA's NISS and Chandra missions,
and archived data from Arisida. These repetitive bursts may also
be generating gravitational waves, ripples, and space time that could
potentially be detected by future missions like the Laser Interferometer
Space Antenna, a joint ESA NASA space based detector scheduled
for launch in twenty thirty seven. Having complementary X ray
observations alongside gravitational wave data could prove crucial in solving
the mysteries of massive black hole behavior. The research on
this extraordinary cosmic event was published in the journal Nature
Astronomy just last month, marking an important step forward in
our understanding of black hole dynamics. As astronomers continue monitoring
Anski's volatile behavior, we may gain valuable insights into the
extreme physics governing these cosmic behemoths that lurk at the
centers of most galaxies, including our own Milky Way, and
that brings us to the end of another fastening journey
through the cosmos. Today, we've explored everything from Martian geology
to the mysteries of black holes, with some interesting astronomical
calendar facts and citizen science opportunities along the way. We've
seen how Perseverance is uncovering Mars's geological history through diverse
rock samples on the Jesuo Crater, rim potentially revealing clues
about the planet's habitability. We've demystified why Easter will arrive
later than expected this year thanks to the complex interplay
between astronomical events and ecclesiastical rules. We've learned that millions
of interstellar visitors from Alpha Centauri might be hiding in
our Solar system, challenging our view of star systems as
isolated entities. We've discovered how you can participate in NASA's
Citizen Science Month and contribute to their ambitious goal of
one million acts of science. And finally, we've witnessed the
dramatic awakening of a monster black hole, producing unprecedented X
ray eruptions that are forcing scientists to rethink their understanding
of these cosmic giants. I'm Anna, your host for Astronomy Daily,
and I hope you've enjoyed today's cosmic exploration. If you'd
like to stay updated on all things astronomy, please visit
our website at Astronomy Daily dot io, where you can
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anyone else who gazes up at the night sky with wonder.
Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about
our magnificent universe. Sunday Stars Star