Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your daily dose of space and astronomy news! I’m your host, Anna, and today’s episode—March 12, 2025—brings you a stellar lineup of cosmic breakthroughs. From NASA’s latest launch to a debunked interstellar mystery and a jaw-dropping lunar eclipse on the horizon, the universe is buzzing with excitement. Let’s dive into the latest space news that’s lighting up our skies and imaginations!
NASA’s Two-for-One Launch: SPHEREx and PUNCH Take Flight
NASA just nailed a double-header with the launch of the SPHEREx telescope and PUNCH mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) is set to map over 450 million galaxies and 100 million Milky Way stars in 102 infrared colors over two years. It’s hunting for life’s building blocks—water ice and organic molecules—in star-forming clouds, offering clues to how life might spark across the cosmos. Meanwhile, PUNCH’s four satellites will track the Sun’s outer atmosphere and solar wind, boosting our ability to predict space weather that impacts Earth’s tech. This dual mission is a masterstroke of efficiency, exploring both the vast universe and our solar backyard!
Interstellar Meteor Mystery: Alien Tech or Truck Rumble?
Remember that 2014 meteor thought to be an interstellar visitor? Harvard’s Avi Loeb claimed its Pacific Ocean fragments—tiny metallic spheres rich in beryllium and uranium—might hint at alien tech. But a new Johns Hopkins-led study just hit the brakes on that hype. Turns out, the seismic signal guiding the search was a truck rumbling past a monitoring station, not a cosmic crash. The real meteor likely landed 160 kilometers away, leaving those spherules as probable Earth-meteor hybrids—not extraterrestrial souvenirs. Science thrives on scrutiny, and this twist proves it!
Four Tiny Planets Orbit Barnard’s Star
After decades of chasing shadows, astronomers have confirmed four small planets orbiting Barnard’s Star, just six light-years away. Detected with the MAROON-X instrument from 2021-2023, these worlds—ranging from 19% to 34% of Earth’s mass—orbit in tight 2.34-to-6.74-day cycles. One might be the smallest planet ever found via radial velocity! Too close to their star for life, they still spark questions about orbital stability. Could more habitable planets lurk beyond? This discovery cements Barnard’s Star as a planetary hotspot—and a cosmic puzzle.
Athena Mission’s Lunar Side-Step
The Athena mission by Intuitive Machines touched down near the lunar south pole on March 6, but a sideways landing dimmed its shine. Solar panels struggled, cutting the mission short after a day, though it still sent back stunning lunar pics. The MAPP rover, poised for historic exploration, stayed trapped inside. Yet, data gathered en route and post-landing will fuel future lunar quests—like Intuitive Machines’ next launch later this year. Even a stumble on the Moon teaches us how to leap further!
Join ESA’s Solar Radio Burst Tracker
Fancy being a citizen scientist? The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter project needs you! With five years of solar radio burst data—tied to flares and auroras—up for analysis, anyone can help catalog these cosmic signals. No gear required—just enthusiasm. As the Sun peaks in its 11-year cycle in 2025, your efforts could shape solar science and train AI for the future. Check the show notes for details!
Don’t Miss the March 13-14 Lunar Eclipse
Cap off this cosmic week with a total lunar eclipse on March 13-14! From 11:26 PM to 12:31 AM Pacific Time, the Moon will glow blood-red as Earth’s shadow paints it with refracted sunlight. Visible across the Americas, it’s a naked-eye spectacle—though binoculars will dazzle. Spot Jupiter and Mars nearby as Leo and Virgo frame the scene. It’s 2025’s first lunar show since 2022—don’t miss it!
Stay tuned to Astronomy Daily at astronomydaily.io for more space adventures, and follow us
@AstroDailyPod across socials.
Keep looking up—I’ll see you tomorrow among the stars!