Speaker 1: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go to source for the
most recent space and astronomy news. I'm Anna and I'll
be your host for today's cosmic Journey. We've got an
action packed episode lined up for you, covering a wide
range of fascinating topics from our Solar System and beyond.
We'll start by exploring the upcoming Drakeened meteor shower, known
for its potential to produce spectacular displays in the night sky.
Then we'll zoom out to the International Space Station for
an update on crew changes and mission developments. From there,
we'll venture even further into space, discussing new research on
the effects of long term space travel on the human brain,
crucial information for future Mars missions. We'll also delve into
some cutting edge astronomy, looking at how the James Web
Space Telescope is helping to solve one of cosmology's biggest puzzles. Plus,
we'll talk about Earth's temporary new mini moon and check
in on the Curiosity Rovers ongoing mission on Mars. So
buckle up and get ready for an exciting tour of
the latest astronomical discoveries and space exploration news. Get ready
for a celestial spectacle stargazers. The Drakenid meteor Shower is
set to light up our night skies in the coming days.
This annual event is famous for its potential to produce
breathtaking meteor storms, and this year's show promises to be
a treat for skywatchers. The Drakenids are expected to peak
on October seventh, with the best viewing time right after nightfall.
Unlike other meteor showers that require you to stay up late,
the Drakenids are considerate enough to perform their cosmic dance
in the early evening hours. These meteors get their name
from the constellation Draco the Dragon, as they appear to
radiate from that point in the sky. But don't worry
about finding Draco. Meteors will be visible across the night sky.
The Drakenids are caused by debris left behind by Comet
twenty one p slashed Giacobini's inner. As Earth passes through
this trail of cosmic dust, we're treated to a beautiful
light show as the particles burn up in our atmosphere.
While most years see a modest display of around ten
metiears per hour, the Drakenids are known for occasional outbursts
in nineteen thirty three and nineteen forty six, observers witness
thousands of meteors per hour a true meteor storm. To
maximize your chances of seeing the Drakenids, find a dark
location away from city lights. No special equipment is needed,
just your eyes and a comfortable place to relax. Patience
is key, as it can take up to thirty minutes
for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness. While
this year's shower is expected to be relatively mild, astronomers
are already looking ahead to twenty twenty five. That's when
come at twenty one, piece slash Jacobeani's inner will make
its closest approach to Earth, potentially setting the stage for
another spectacular outburst. So mark your calendars, bundle up, and
prepare for a cosmic light show courtesy of the Drachenids.
It's a reminder of the wonders that await us when
we take the time to look up and marvel at
the night sky. Next up and update from the ISS.
In a significant development at the International Space Station, astronauts
Butch Wilmore and Sunny Williams are gearing up for their
return journey aboard the SpaceX Crew nine Dragon in spacecraft.
This marks a notable transition, as the duo initially arrived
at the station via the Boeing Starliner. The astronauts have
been busy integrating with the newly arrived Crew nine spacecraft.
They've completed crucial tasks such as trying on their SpaceX
Intravehicular Activity space suits and conducting pressurized suit leak checks.
The team also tested the suit's audio configurations and performed
seat fit checks inside the Dragon spacecraft. These preparations are
essential as Wilmore and Williams will now use the Crew
nine Dragon as their primary and emergency return vehicle. They're
set to remain on the space station as part of
Expedition seventy two, continuing their science mission until February twenty
twenty five. Joining Wilmore and Williams for the return journey
will be NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov,
who arrived at the station on September twenty ninth. Meanwhile,
the Crew eight spacecraft, which had been serving as the
emergency return vehicle for Wilmore and Williams, is preparing for
its own departure. The temporary seats inside Crew eight will
be dismantled before it leaves the station. Crew eight, consisting
of NASA astronauts Matthew Dominic, Michael Barrett, and Jeanette Epps,
along with ros Cosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gribenkin, is scheduled to
return to Earth in about a week, weather permitting. This
crew rotation highlights the ongoing collaboration between NASA and commercial
partners in maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit,
furthering our understanding of space and paving the way for
future exploration. As we look towards future Mars missions, scientists
are uncovering some concerning effects that deep space travel might
have on the human brain. Recent studies on mice have
shed light on the long lasting impact of galactic cosmic
radiation on cognitive abilities. When we venture beyond Earth's protective
magnetic field, astronauts are exposed to high energy particles from
sources like supernova explosions. This galactic cosmic radiation can penetrate
spacecraft's shielding, posing a real threat to human health during
itsx extended missions. In a groundbreaking experiment, researchers simulated the
space radiation environment. Using a specialized ion beam. They exposed
both male and female mice to radiation levels similar to
what astronauts would experience on a deep space mission. The
results were eye opening. The radiation impaired numerous central nervous
system functions in the mice, including memory pattern separation, anxiety levels, vigilance,
social behavior, and motor controls. Surprisingly, female mice seemed to
be more affected than males. But it's not all doom
and gloom. The study also revealed a potential protective measure.
Mice that were given antioxidant and anti inflammatory drugs showed
less severe cognitive effects from the radiation exposure. These findings
are crucial for planning long duration space missions, especially to Mars.
As we prepare to send humans farther into space than
ever before, Understanding and mitigating these risks will be essential
for the health and safety of our astronauts. Next, the
space telescope that just keeps on giving. The James Webb
Space Telescope has once again wowed astronomers with a stunning image,
this time capturing a distant supernova in a galaxy that
appears stretched like warm taffy. But this golden smear isn't
just visually striking, It could help solve one of the
biggest mysteries in cosmology. The supernova, nicknamed Supernova Hope, exploded
when the universe was just three point five billion years old.
What makes it special is that it's a type IA supernova,
which astronomers use as standard candles to measure cosmic distances.
This ties into a major problem in cosmology called the
Hubble tension. Essentially, scientists can't agree on the exact rate
at which the universe is expanding. Measurements from the early
universe don't match up with those from the more recent universe.
Supernova Hope could provide a bridge between these two methods.
By observing how its light is bent by the gravitational
lensing effect of a galaxy cluster, astronomers can calculate a
new value for the Hubble constant. Interestingly, then, incial results
from Supernova Hope seem to align more closely with measurements
from the local universe. While this is just one data point,
it gives astronomers hope that the James Web Telescope could
help resolve this cosmic conundrum. As we continue to peer
deeper into the universe. Each discovery brings us closer to
understanding the fundamental nature of our cosmos. The Hubble tension
may soon become a thing of the past thanks to
the incredible capabilities of our newest space observatory. Now, let's
answer a question being asked around the globe at the moment.
Earth has recently gained a temporary celestial companion, a small
asteroid that's been dubbed our new mini moon. This cosmic hitchhiker,
officially named twenty twenty four PT five, was captured by
Earth's gravity on September twenty ninth, and is expected to
stick around for about two months before resuming its solo
journey around the Sun. Now, before you get too excited
about spotting a second moon in the night sky, I
should mention that this mini moon is incredibly small. At
just thirty three feet wide, where about the length of
a school bus. It's roughly three hundred thousand times smaller
than our familiar Moon. That means it's far too tiny
to be seen with the naked eye or even with
most amateur telescopes. This space rock is actually classed as
a near Earth asteroid, likely originating from the Arjuna asteroid belt.
It's predicted to orbit our planet for fifty seven days
before breaking free on November twenty fifth. But don't worry
if you miss it this time. Astronomers say it'll make
another close pass by Earth in January twenty twenty five
and again in twenty fifty five. So while we won't
be able to see our temporary mini moon, it's a
fascinating reminder of the dynamic nature of our cosmic neighborhood
and Earth's gravitational influence. Finally, today, how about an update
from Mars. NASA's Curiosity rover has been trekking across the
Martian landscape for over a decade now, and its wheels
are really starting to show their age. Recent images from
the rovers Mars hand Lands Imager reveal significant wear and tear,
with dense punctures and even major gashes in the aluminum wheels.
But don't worry, spaces, Curiosity is still rolling along just fine.
The rover's team has been monitoring this damage since twenty
thirteen and has taken steps to prolonged wheel life, like
steering Curiosity towards smoother terrain when possible. They've even uploaded
new software to adjust wheel speeds and reduce pressure from rocks.
While wheel damage continues to occur. It's not all bad news.
NASA has used this information to improve the design of
newer Mars rovers. The Perseverance Rover, for instance, now sports
more durable wheels thanks to lessons learned from Curiosity's journey.
As Curiosity continues its mission to search for signs of
ancient microbial life on Mars, its battle worn wheels serve
as a testament to the harsh realities of planetary exploration,
but they also showcase the ingenuity of NASA engineers in
keeping this intrepid explorer rolling across the Red planet. And
that wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily. I hope
you've enjoyed our cosmic journey through the latest space and
astronomy news. From the upcoming Drakeened meteor shower to the
potential resolution of the Hubble tension, We've covered quite a
bit of ground, or should I say space. Remember, if
you want to stay up to date with all things astronomy,
be sure to visit our website at Astronomy Daily dot io.
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sharing even more celestial content. This is Anna thanking you
for tuning into Astronomy Daily. Until next time, keep your
eyes on the skies and your mind in the stars.
Keep looking up today, Star Star. The story is the
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