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<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome to Astronomy Daily, your gateway to the cosmos.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Anna, and today we're exploring some fascinating developments across

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<v Speaker 1>our universe, from our neighboring planets to distant galaxies. Coming

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<v Speaker 1>up on today's episode, we'll venture to Mars, where the

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<v Speaker 1>Perseverance Rover has discovered diverse, rocky outcrops on the rim

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<v Speaker 1>of Jesuo Crater, providing new insights into the red planet's

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<v Speaker 1>ancient history. We'll also dive into some celestial mathematics to

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<v Speaker 1>explain why Easter will come unusually late this year despite

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<v Speaker 1>the timing of the full moon. It's a fascinating intersection

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<v Speaker 1>of astronomy and tradition. Then we'll explore research suggesting that

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<v Speaker 1>millions of interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri might be hiding

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<v Speaker 1>in our own solar system, creating connections between star systems

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<v Speaker 1>we never imagine. April is Citizen Science Month, and I'll

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<v Speaker 1>tell you how you can join NASA's ambitious goal of

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<v Speaker 1>achieving one million acts of science and become part of

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<v Speaker 1>real astronomical discoveries. Finally, we'll witness the dramatic awakening of

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<v Speaker 1>a super massive black hole erupting with the most powerful

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<v Speaker 1>X ray blasts ever recorded, challenging scientists understanding of these

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<v Speaker 1>cosmic behemoths. So buckle up for a journey across the

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<v Speaker 1>cosmos as we explore the latest discoveries and wonders of

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<v Speaker 1>our universe. Let's get started with our favorite red planet.

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<v Speaker 1>NASA's Perseverance rover has made a remarkable discovery on the

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<v Speaker 1>rim of Mars's Jazero Crater, stumbling upon a treasure trove

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<v Speaker 1>of diverse, rocky outcrops that have scientists buzzing with excitement.

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<v Speaker 1>Since January, this plucky little rover has been analyzing what

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<v Speaker 1>scientists describe as a hodgepodge of rocks on the crater rim,

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<v Speaker 1>and the findings are proving more valuable than anticipated. Perseverance

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<v Speaker 1>has been working at an impressive pace, couring five rocks

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<v Speaker 1>and successfully sealing samples from three of them in collection tubes.

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<v Speaker 1>It has conducted detailed close up analysis of seven rocks

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<v Speaker 1>while assessing another eighty three from a distance using its

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<v Speaker 1>laser technology. While this might not sound like a substantial

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<v Speaker 1>workload over several months, NASA reports this has actually been

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<v Speaker 1>the rover's fastest science mission since landing on the red planet.

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<v Speaker 1>In twenty twenty one. The rover reached the crater rim

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<v Speaker 1>in December twenty twenty four and has been exploring a

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<v Speaker 1>one hundred and thirty five meter tall slope that scientists

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<v Speaker 1>have nicknamed which Hazel Hill. What makes this location so

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<v Speaker 1>special is the remarkable variety of rock types found in

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<v Speaker 1>close proximity to each other. Project's scientist Katie stack Morgan

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<v Speaker 1>from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains the significance. During previous

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<v Speaker 1>science campaigns in Jezero, it could take several months to

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<v Speaker 1>find a rock that was significantly different from the last

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<v Speaker 1>rock we sampled and scientifically unique enough for sampling. But

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<v Speaker 1>up here on the crater rim there are new and

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<v Speaker 1>intriguing rocks. Everywhere the rover turns. It has been all

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<v Speaker 1>we had hoped for and more. The western rim of

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<v Speaker 1>ja Zero Crater features numerous fragmented rocks that were once molten.

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<v Speaker 1>Scientists bel leave these rocks were brought to the surface

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<v Speaker 1>by meteor impacts billions of years ago, possibly including the

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<v Speaker 1>very impact that created Jesero Crater itself. One particularly exciting

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<v Speaker 1>sample was collected on January twenty eighth from a rock

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<v Speaker 1>dubbed Shallow Bay. This rock likely formed around three point

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<v Speaker 1>nine billion years ago, potentially making it the oldest sample

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<v Speaker 1>collected by the rover so far. About one hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>ten meters away from Shallow Bay, another intriguing rock caught

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<v Speaker 1>scientists attention because it contains minerals that crystallized from magma

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<v Speaker 1>deep within the Martian crust. These diverse mineral compositions are

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<v Speaker 1>crucial for scientists attempting to piece together Mars' geological history.

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<v Speaker 1>By analyzing these rocks, researchers hope to better understand how

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<v Speaker 1>the planet formed and evolved over billions of years, including

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<v Speaker 1>weather conditions were ever suitable for life to exist. The

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<v Speaker 1>abundance and diversity of these rocks will help scientists determine

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<v Speaker 1>if Mars was once habitable and if it might still

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<v Speaker 1>harbor environments that could support life today. Each sample provides

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<v Speaker 1>a window into different periods of Martian history and different

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<v Speaker 1>environmental conditions. As Stack Morgan enthusiastically puts it, the last

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<v Speaker 1>four months have been a whirlwind for the science team,

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<v Speaker 1>and we still feel that which Hazel Hill has more

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<v Speaker 1>to tell us. We'll use all the rover data gathered

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<v Speaker 1>recently to decide if and where to collect the next

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<v Speaker 1>sample from the Crater rim Crater rims. You gotta love them.

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<v Speaker 1>If you've ever wondered why the date of Easter seems

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<v Speaker 1>to jump around the calendar from year to year, you're

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<v Speaker 1>not alone. Easter twenty twenty five is coming particularly late,

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<v Speaker 1>falling on April twentieth, and there's a fascinating astronomical reason

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<v Speaker 1>behind this mobile holiday. Easter's date is determined by what's

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<v Speaker 1>known as the paschal moon, the first full moon that

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<v Speaker 1>occurs on or after the spring equinox. In theory, Easter

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<v Speaker 1>should fall on the Sunday immediately following this full moon.

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<v Speaker 1>This connection between Easter and lunar cycles has ancient ord origins,

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<v Speaker 1>linking the Christian celebration to the Hebrew calendar and Passover.

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<v Speaker 1>In twenty twenty five, the April full moon, traditionally known

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<v Speaker 1>as the pink full moon, will occur on April twelfth.

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<v Speaker 1>Despite its name, this moon won't actually appear pink. The

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<v Speaker 1>name comes from the blooming of moss pink flocks, flowers

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<v Speaker 1>that typically coincide with this lunar event. Since this full

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<v Speaker 1>moon happens after the spring equinox, it's also the paschal

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<v Speaker 1>moon for twenty twenty five. Given this timing, you might

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<v Speaker 1>expect Easter to fall on April thirteenth, the Sunday immediately

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<v Speaker 1>following the Paschal moon. However, Easter twenty twenty five will

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<v Speaker 1>actually be celebrated a full week later, on April twentieth.

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<v Speaker 1>This discrepancy highlights the complex relationship between astronomical observations and

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<v Speaker 1>ecclesiastical rules. The explanation involves the difference between astronomical reality

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<v Speaker 1>and church tradition. While astronomers calculate the exact moment of

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<v Speaker 1>a full moon based on the moon's position relative to

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<v Speaker 1>Earth and the Sun, the Church follows ecclesiastical tables that

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<v Speaker 1>don't always align perfectly with astronomical events. Additionally, there's a

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<v Speaker 1>geographical factor at play. In North America, the Paschal full

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<v Speaker 1>moon occurs on Saturday, April twelfth, but in European longitudes,

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<v Speaker 1>including the Vatican, this same full moon happens after midnight,

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<v Speaker 1>technically placing it on Sunday April thirteenth. Since the first

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<v Speaker 1>Sunday after the Paschal Moon in the Old World would

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<v Speaker 1>be April twentieth, that's when Easter will be celebrated globally.

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<v Speaker 1>The rules for determining Easter's date have other interesting quirks.

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<v Speaker 1>For instance, the Church fixes the vernal equinox on March

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<v Speaker 1>twenty first, even though astronomically it now falls no later

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<v Speaker 1>than March twentieth. This can lead to some peculiar situations.

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<v Speaker 1>In twenty thirty eight, for example, the equinox will fall

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<v Speaker 1>on March twentieth, with a full moon the very next day,

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<v Speaker 1>but Easter won't be celebrated until April twenty fifth, the

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<v Speaker 1>latest possible date it can occur. Easter can fall as

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<v Speaker 1>early as March twenty second, which last happened to eighteen

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<v Speaker 1>eighteen and won't happen again until twenty two eighty five,

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<v Speaker 1>and as late as April twenty fifth. Interestingly, when Easter

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<v Speaker 1>occurs in March, it's always preceded and followed by April Easters.

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<v Speaker 1>In adjacent years. Between two thousand and seven thousand, nine

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<v Speaker 1>hundred and ninety nine, Easter will fall most frequently on

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<v Speaker 1>April nineteenth, occurring on that date two hundred and thirty

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<v Speaker 1>one times. However, if we narrow our focus to just

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<v Speaker 1>this millennium, April sixteenth becomes the most common Easter date.

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<v Speaker 1>So when you mark Easter twenty twenty five on your

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<v Speaker 1>calendar for April twentieth. Remember you're participating in a tradition

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<v Speaker 1>that blends ancient astronomical observations with ecclesiastical calculations, a fascinating

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<v Speaker 1>intersection of science and faith that continues to evolve through

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<v Speaker 1>the centuries. Next up today, have you ever wondered if

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<v Speaker 1>objects from other star systems might be passing through our

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<v Speaker 1>cosmic neighborhood. A fascinating new study from Western University suggests

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<v Speaker 1>that our Solar System could be home to millions of

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<v Speaker 1>interstellar visitors, primarily from our nearest stellar neighbor, Alpha Centauri.

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<v Speaker 1>Astrophysicists Cole Greg and Paul Wiegert have developed a groundbreaking

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<v Speaker 1>computer model that simulates interstellar activity between our Solar System

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<v Speaker 1>and Alpha Centauri. Their research, published in the Planetary Science

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<v Speaker 1>Journal this March, points to Alpha Centauri as a likely

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<v Speaker 1>source of interstellar material found within our Solar system. Alpha

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<v Speaker 1>Centauri is particularly interesting because it's a triple star system,

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<v Speaker 1>unlike our single Sun arrangement. Yet the researchers believe it

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<v Speaker 1>might behave similarly to our own Solar system when it

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<v Speaker 1>comes to ejecting material into space. As Greg explains giant

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<v Speaker 1>planets introduce a degree of chaos, perturbing orbits and giving

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<v Speaker 1>objects the velocity boost they need to escape their star's

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<v Speaker 1>gravitational pull. The model suggests something truly remarkable. Approximately one

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<v Speaker 1>million interstellar objects larger than one hundred meters in diameter

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<v Speaker 1>originating from Alpha Centauri may currently be within our solar

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<v Speaker 1>systems or at cloud, that vast shell of icy objects

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<v Speaker 1>surrounding our planetary neighborhood, and this number is expected to

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<v Speaker 1>increase as Alpha Centauri moves closer to us, with its

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<v Speaker 1>closest approach predicted in about twenty eight thousand years. Assuming

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<v Speaker 1>Alpha Centauri is ejecting material, which it should be, there

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<v Speaker 1>are plenty of reasons to expect some of that material

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<v Speaker 1>is making its way to us, notes Professor Wigert, who

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<v Speaker 1>has discovered more than eighty minor planets during his career.

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<v Speaker 1>This research builds on our understanding of interstellar objects that

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<v Speaker 1>began with the twenty seventeen discovery of um Wahmua, the

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<v Speaker 1>first confirmed interstellar visitor spotted by Western scientist Robert Warrick. Umwahmua,

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<v Speaker 1>a reddish object estimated to be between one hundred and

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<v Speaker 1>one thousand meters long was just the first glimpse of

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<v Speaker 1>what could be a much larger population of interstellar wanderers.

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<v Speaker 1>Before you worry about interstellar impacts, the researchers offer reassurance.

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<v Speaker 1>Their model projects that while as many as ten met

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<v Speaker 1>years from Alpha Centauri might enter Earth's atmosphere annually, these

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<v Speaker 1>would be microscopic, no larger than one hundred micrometers in size.

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<v Speaker 1>In fact, only about one in a trillion meteor striking

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<v Speaker 1>Earth might originate from Alpha centaury. The real significance of

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<v Speaker 1>this research lies in how it transforms our understanding of

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<v Speaker 1>cosmic systems. As Greg eloquently puts it, throughout the history

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<v Speaker 1>of astronomy, every time we look at a system, we

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<v Speaker 1>think of it as a closed system. The galaxy isn't

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<v Speaker 1>a collection of all these individual star systems. Rather, they

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<v Speaker 1>should be studied as an interconnected system, one that shares

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<v Speaker 1>all of this interstellar material among the stars. This interconnected

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<v Speaker 1>view of our galaxy challenges the traditional notion of star

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<v Speaker 1>systems as isolated entities. Instead, it suggests a cosmic ecosystem

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<v Speaker 1>where matter regularly travels between neighboring stars, creating a complex

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<v Speaker 1>web of interstellar exchange that has been ongoing for billions

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<v Speaker 1>of years. Next something you may like to take part in.

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<v Speaker 1>April marks a special time for science enthusiasts around the world.

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<v Speaker 1>It's Citizen Science Month, and NASA is embarking on an

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<v Speaker 1>ambitious mission they're calling one million Acts of Science. This

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<v Speaker 1>initiative aims to harness the collective power of volunteers everywhere

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<v Speaker 1>to help solve some of astronomy's greatest mysteries. Citizen Science

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<v Speaker 1>represents a beautiful intersection of professional research and public participation.

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<v Speaker 1>Through these programs, ordinary people like you and me can

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<v Speaker 1>contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery without specialized degrees or equipment.

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<v Speaker 1>NASA's citizen Science projects are designed to address real world problems,

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<v Speaker 1>protect our planet, and unravel the secrets of the universe.

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<v Speaker 1>The concept is simple yet powerful. By distributing scientific tasks

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<v Speaker 1>across thousands of volunteers, researchers can accomplish what would be

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<v Speaker 1>impossible for even the largest professional teams. Your contribution, combined

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<v Speaker 1>with others around the globe, creates a formidable force for

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<v Speaker 1>scientific advancement. So what exactly counts as an act of science?

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<v Speaker 1>It could be as straightforward as categorizing galaxies based on

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<v Speaker 1>their shapes, identifying features on Mars, tracking changes in cloud patterns,

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<v Speaker 1>or monitoring light pollution in your local area. Many projects

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<v Speaker 1>require nothing more than a smartphone and a curious mind.

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<v Speaker 1>What makes these initiatives particularly valuable is that they're not

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<v Speaker 1>just busy work. The data collected through citizen science efforts

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<v Speaker 1>has led to genuine discoveries and appears in peer reviewed

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<v Speaker 1>scientific publications. Your contributions help NASA scientists understand our changing planet,

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<v Speaker 1>identify new asteroids, study distant galaxies, and monitor space weather.

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<v Speaker 1>The beauty of citizen science is its accessibility. Projects are

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<v Speaker 1>designed to accommodate various interests, time commitments, and skill levels.

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<v Speaker 1>Whether you have five minutes while waiting for your coffee

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<v Speaker 1>or want to dedicate several hours each week, there's a

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<v Speaker 1>project perfectly suited to your availability. If you're in interested

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<v Speaker 1>in participating, NASA's Citizen Science website offers a comprehensive directory

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<v Speaker 1>of active projects, from helping classify exoplanets to tracking wildlife

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<v Speaker 1>responses to solar eclipses. The diversity of opportunities means you're

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<v Speaker 1>bound to find something that captures your imagination by joining

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<v Speaker 1>this worldwide community of citizen scientists, you become part of

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<v Speaker 1>something much larger than yourself, a global effort to expand

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<v Speaker 1>human knowledge and address some of our most pressing challenges.

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<v Speaker 1>And during this special month celebrating citizen Science, your participation

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<v Speaker 1>helps NASA reach that ambitious goal of one million scientific contributions. Remember,

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<v Speaker 1>science isn't just for professional researchers in labs. It belongs

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<v Speaker 1>to all of us, and through citizen science, we all

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<v Speaker 1>have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding

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<v Speaker 1>just a little bit further. If you're interested in finding

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<v Speaker 1>out more, I'll leave a link in the show notes

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<v Speaker 1>for you. We've all experienced grumpy mornings, but nothing compares

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<v Speaker 1>to the cosm tantrum recently thrown by a supermassive black

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<v Speaker 1>hole in a galaxy far far away. Astronomers have observed

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<v Speaker 1>something truly extraordinary, a monster black hole, unleashing the longest

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<v Speaker 1>and most powerful X ray eruptions ever recorded from such

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<v Speaker 1>an object. The black hole in question sits at the

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<v Speaker 1>center of galaxy sdss on Thy three hundred thirty five

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<v Speaker 1>plus zero seven two eight, approximately three hundred million light

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<v Speaker 1>years from Earth. After decades of inactivity, this cosmic giant

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<v Speaker 1>has suddenly awakened with a vengeance, beginning to devour surrounding

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<v Speaker 1>matter and producing what scientists call quasi periodic eruptions or qpease.

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<v Speaker 1>This active region at the galaxy's heart, nicknamed Anski by researchers,

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<v Speaker 1>first showed signs of awakening in late twenty nineteen. By

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<v Speaker 1>February of this year, astronomers using NASA's Swift X ray

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<v Speaker 1>space telescope observed the black hole erupting with flares at

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<v Speaker 1>surprisingly regular intervals, providing a rare opportunity to monitor a

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<v Speaker 1>feeding black hole in real time. What makes these observations

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<v Speaker 1>particularly remarkable is their unprecedented scale. As MIT researcher Joheen

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<v Speaker 1>Chakraborti explains, the bursts of X rays from Anski are

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<v Speaker 1>ten times longer and ten times more luminous than what

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<v Speaker 1>we see from a typical QPE. Each eruption releases one

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<v Speaker 1>hundred times more energy than previously observed elsewhere, with eruptions

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<v Speaker 1>occurring roughly every four and a half days, the longest

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<v Speaker 1>interval ever seen. These extreme behaviors are challenging existing scientific

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<v Speaker 1>models and forcing astronomers to reconsider their understanding of such events. Typically,

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<v Speaker 1>qpes have been associated with super massive black holes capturing

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<v Speaker 1>and shredding stars, then consuming the stellar remnants. However, this

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<v Speaker 1>doesn't appear to be happening with Anski, leaving scientists puzzled

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<v Speaker 1>about what's triggering these massive outbursts. The observations were made

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<v Speaker 1>possible through an international collaborative effort utilizing multiple space telescopes,

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<v Speaker 1>the European space agencies XMMM, Newton, NASA's NISS and Chandra missions,

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<v Speaker 1>and archived data from Arisida. These repetitive bursts may also

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<v Speaker 1>be generating gravitational waves, ripples, and space time that could

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<v Speaker 1>potentially be detected by future missions like the Laser Interferometer

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<v Speaker 1>Space Antenna, a joint ESA NASA space based detector scheduled

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<v Speaker 1>for launch in twenty thirty seven. Having complementary X ray

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<v Speaker 1>observations alongside gravitational wave data could prove crucial in solving

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<v Speaker 1>the mysteries of massive black hole behavior. The research on

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<v Speaker 1>this extraordinary cosmic event was published in the journal Nature

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<v Speaker 1>Astronomy just last month, marking an important step forward in

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<v Speaker 1>our understanding of black hole dynamics. As astronomers continue monitoring

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<v Speaker 1>Anski's volatile behavior, we may gain valuable insights into the

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<v Speaker 1>extreme physics governing these cosmic behemoths that lurk at the

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<v Speaker 1>centers of most galaxies, including our own Milky Way, and

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<v Speaker 1>that brings us to the end of another fastening journey

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<v Speaker 1>through the cosmos. Today, we've explored everything from Martian geology

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<v Speaker 1>to the mysteries of black holes, with some interesting astronomical

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<v Speaker 1>calendar facts and citizen science opportunities along the way. We've

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<v Speaker 1>seen how Perseverance is uncovering Mars's geological history through diverse

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<v Speaker 1>rock samples on the Jesuo Crater, rim potentially revealing clues

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<v Speaker 1>about the planet's habitability. We've demystified why Easter will arrive

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<v Speaker 1>later than expected this year thanks to the complex interplay

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<v Speaker 1>between astronomical events and ecclesiastical rules. We've learned that millions

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<v Speaker 1>of interstellar visitors from Alpha Centauri might be hiding in

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<v Speaker 1>our Solar system, challenging our view of star systems as

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<v Speaker 1>isolated entities. We've discovered how you can participate in NASA's

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<v Speaker 1>Citizen Science Month and contribute to their ambitious goal of

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<v Speaker 1>one million acts of science. And finally, we've witnessed the

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<v Speaker 1>dramatic awakening of a monster black hole, producing unprecedented X

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<v Speaker 1>ray eruptions that are forcing scientists to rethink their understanding

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<v Speaker 1>of these cosmic giants. I'm Anna, your host for Astronomy Daily,

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<v Speaker 1>and I hope you've enjoyed today's cosmic exploration. If you'd

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<v Speaker 1>like to stay updated on all things astronomy, please visit

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<v Speaker 1>our website at Astronomy Daily dot io, where you can

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<v Speaker 1>sign up for our free daily newsletter and access all

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<v Speaker 1>our previous episodes. If you're enjoying the podcast, we'd be

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<v Speaker 1>thrilled if you'd share it with your family, friends, or

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<v Speaker 1>anyone else who gazes up at the night sky with wonder.

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<v Speaker 1>Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about

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<v Speaker 1>our magnificent universe. Sunday Stars Star