- Unlocking the Sun's Secrets: Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the Sun's corona, observing twisting magnetic waves that may explain why this outer atmosphere is millions of degrees hotter than the surface. This confirmation of decades-old theories could reshape our understanding of stellar dynamics.
- Brightest Cosmic Flash: The brightest fast radio burst ever recorded, dubbed RB Float, has left astronomers perplexed as it has not repeated since its initial observation. This silence challenges existing theories about the origins of these enigmatic signals and suggests new possibilities for their formation.
- Preparing for Solar Storms: The European Space Agency has conducted its most extreme solar storm simulation to date, highlighting the potential risks of such events on spacecraft and Earth’s infrastructure. This preparation underscores the importance of monitoring space weather as the Sentinel 1D mission approaches.
- Japan's Successful Cargo Launch: JAXA has successfully launched its HTV X1 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. This mission not only supports ISS operations but also lays groundwork for future lunar missions as part of the Artemis program.
- Spotting Legendary Spacecraft: Learn how to locate some of humanity's most iconic spacecraft in the night sky this October. From the James Webb Space Telescope to Voyager 1, discover where to look and appreciate the incredible journeys these machines have undertaken.
- For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTubeMusic, TikTok, and our new Instagram account! Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- Thank you for tuning in. This is Anna and Avery signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the wonders of our universe.
Sun's Corona Discovery
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Fast Radio Bursts Research
[CHIME](https://chime.phas.ubc.ca/)
ESA Solar Storm Simulation
[ESA](https://www.esa.int/)
JAXA HTV X1 Launch
[JAXA](https://www.jaxa.jp/)
Night Sky Guide for Spacecraft
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Avery: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast that
00:00:03 --> 00:00:05 brings you the universe, one story at a time.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 I'm Avery.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:08 Anna: And I'm Anna. It's great to be with you
00:00:09 --> 00:00:12 today. We've got a fantastic lineup. We'll be
00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 looking at twisting magnetic waves on the sun
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 that could finally solve a decades old
00:00:17 --> 00:00:18 mystery.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 Avery: We'll also dive into the brightest cosmic
00:00:21 --> 00:00:24 radio flash ever seen and why its silence
00:00:24 --> 00:00:26 is baffling astronomers. But plus, a sobering
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 look at Europe's simulation of a catastrophic
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 solar storm.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:33 Anna: And on a lighter note, a successful launch
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 for Japan's new cargo ship. And we'll even
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 tell you how you can spot some of humanity's
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 most legendary spacecraft in the night sky.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43 Avery: It's a packed show. Let's get started.
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 Anna: Alright, Avery, let's start with our own
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 star, the Sun. For more than 80
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 years, scientists have puzzled over a
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 major solar mystery. Why is the
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 Sun's atmosphere the corona mill
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 millions of degrees hotter than its surface?
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 Avery: Right. It's completely counterintuitive.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 You'd expect it to get cooler the farther you
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 move away from the heat source.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Anna: Exactly. But now, for the first time,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 astronomers have direct evidence of a
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 phenomenon that might be the key. They've
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 observed twisting magnetic waves in the
00:01:17 --> 00:01:20 corona, something that was first proposed way
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 back in the 1940s.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Avery: And these aren't just any waves. They're
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 called small scale torsional alfven waves.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 Essentially, imagine the Sun's magnetic field
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 lines as guitar strings. These waves are like
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 a, twisting or plucking motion traveling
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 along those strings carrying enormous amounts
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 of energy from the sun's surface up into the
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 corona.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:43 Anna: That's a great analogy. This energy heats the
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 corona to its incredible temperatures.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:47 According to one of the lead researchers,
00:01:48 --> 00:01:50 this discovery provides essential validation
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 for the models describing how this process
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 works. He said having direct
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 observations for finally allows us to test
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 these models against reality.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:02 Avery: It's a huge deal. This isn't just confirming
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 a theory. It's a fundamental piece of the
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 puzzle of how our star works. And by
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 extension, how other stars work too. A
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 mystery 80 years in the making might finally
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 be getting solved. Next, from a mystery
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 solved to one that just got deeper, let's
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 talk about fast radio bursts, or FRBs.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 These are intense, millisecond long bursts of
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 radio waves from deep space.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Anna: And recently, astronomers spotted the
00:02:27 --> 00:02:28 brightest one ever.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 Avery: Right. This new Signal is designated
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 FRB2025
00:02:32 --> 00:02:35 16A, but it has a much
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 better nickname, RB Float, which stands for
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 radio brightest flash of all time.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 Anna: I love when scientists have fun with the
00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 names. So they traced this incredibly
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 bright flash to a nearby galaxy, giving them
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 a fantastic view. But here's the
00:02:51 --> 00:02:51 twist.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 Avery: The twist is that it's gone completely
00:02:54 --> 00:02:54 silent.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 Anna: Exactly. Many known FRBs are
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 repeaters. They flash over and over again
00:02:59 --> 00:03:01 from the same spot, which helps astronomers
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 study them. But RB Float, despite being the
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 brightest ever detected by the CHIME
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 telescope, hasn't sent out a single repeat
00:03:09 --> 00:03:09 burst.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 Avery: And that challenges a major theory in the
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 field, which is that, all FRBs might
00:03:14 --> 00:03:16 eventually repeat if we just watch them for
00:03:16 --> 00:03:16 long enough.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:20 Anna: Mm. This non repeater, especially one
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 so powerful, opens the door to reconsidering
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 other origins. It suggests that at least
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 some of these events might be caused by a
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 single cataclysmic explosion, like the
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 collapse of a massive star, rather than a
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 repeating source like a magnetar.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:38 Avery: So the brightest flash ever seen has left us
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 with more questions than answers. Classic
00:03:40 --> 00:03:41 astronomy.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 Anna: Well, from distant cosmic explosions
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 to a potential threat much closer to home,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 the European Space Agency recently ran its
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 most extreme space weather simulation ever.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 And the scenario was so severe that in the
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 exercise, no spacecraft was left
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 unscathed.
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 Avery: Wow, that sounds intense. So what was the
00:04:02 --> 00:04:04 purpose of this cosmic fire drill?
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 Anna: It was designed to test how spacecraft
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 operations teams and space weather experts
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 would handle a truly catastrophic solar
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14 storm. This is all in preparation for the
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 upcoming Sentinel 1D mission, which is
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 set to launch in November. They want to be
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21 ready for the worst.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Avery: And these storms are no joke. A major one
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 could knock out satellites, disrupt gps,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:29 and even take down power grids here on Earth.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32 Anna: Precisely. The lead simulation officer,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34 Gustavo Baldo Carvalho, put it bluntly.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 He said the key takeaway is that it's not a
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 question of if this will happen, but when.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 Avery: Sobering words. So what are they doing? To
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 prepare for the inevitable, ESA is.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 Anna: Expanding its network of space weather
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 monitors. They're placing sensors on more
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 satellites, and even developing a dedicated
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 mission called Vigil, which is planned for
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 2031. It will be positioned at a stable
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 point in space to give us an early warning of
00:05:00 --> 00:05:03 any dangerous solar activity heading our way.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 Avery: That's good to hear. It's a reminder that
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 space isn't just about discovery. It's also
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 about understanding and mitigating the risks
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 that come with living next to an active star.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 On a much more positive note, let's talk
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 about a successful mission launch. The Japan
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 has successfully launched its new advanced
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 cargo spacecraft, the HTV
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 X1, aboard an H3 rocket.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 Anna: Yes, it lifted off from the Tanegashima
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 Space center and is now on its way to the
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 International Space Station. This is a big
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 deal for JAXA and for the station's crew.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:41 Avery: So what makes this spacecraft special?
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 Anna: The HTV X1 is an uncrewed
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 expendable ship designed to resupply the ISS
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 with essentials like food, water and science
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 experiments. But it's also a platform for
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 technical demonstrations, testing new
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 technologies in space. It's a real workhorse.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 Avery: And it seems JAXA has its sights set much
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01 further than the iss.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 Anna: They absolutely do. With the International
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 Space Station scheduled for deorbit in 2030,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 space agencies are planning for what comes
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 next. The HTVX platform is
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 designed to be versatile in the future. It's
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 intended to deliver cargo to Gateway, the
00:06:17 --> 00:06:20 planned lunar orbiting space station that
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 will support the Artemis missions to the
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 moon.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24 Avery: So this launch isn't just about keeping the
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 lights on at the iss. It's a critical step
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 in building the infrastructure for humanity's
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 return to the moon and missions beyond low
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 Earth orbit. A very exciting development from
00:06:35 --> 00:06:35 Japan.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 Anna: And for our final story today, we're bringing
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 things back to Earth, or at least back to our
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 own backyards. We all know the names of
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 legendary spacecraft like the James Webb
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 Space telescope and Voyager 1. But do you
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 know where to find them in the night sky?
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 Avery: That is a great question. I think most people
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 assume they're just up there somewhere,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 completely invisible. But with a bit of
00:06:58 --> 00:07:00 guidance, you can actually point to the patch
00:07:00 --> 00:07:01 of sky where they are.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 Anna: Exactly. And a recent guide has laid out
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 where to look for five of these incredible
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 explorers during October of 2025.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12 It's a great way to feel to these missions.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 Avery: Okay, so let's run through them. For the
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 James Webb Space Telescope or jwst.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 You'll need to find the famous red star
00:07:19 --> 00:07:22 Aldebaran and the constellation Taurus.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 JWST will be in that same area of the sky.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:28 Anna: And what about the Parker solar probe, the
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 craft that's touching the Sun?
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 Avery: That one can be found low in the southwestern
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 sky right around sunset. Next up is
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 NASA's Juno spacecraft which is orbiting
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 Jupiter. It can be found high overhead
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 in the eastern sky during the pre dawn hours.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:46 Anna: Two more to go. The New Horizons probe, which
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 flew past Pluto.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 Avery: For New Horizons, you'll need to locate the
00:07:49 --> 00:07:52 famous Teapot Asterism in the constellation
00:07:52 --> 00:07:55 Sagittarius. The probe is cruising through
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 that region of space. And finally, the
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 legend itself, Voyager 1, humanity's most
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 distant object.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Anna: Where can we wave hello to Voyager?
00:08:04 --> 00:08:07 Avery: To find Voyager 1, you'll first need to
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 locate the stars of the constellation
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 Ophiuchus. It's out there
00:08:12 --> 00:08:15 over 15 billion miles away in
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 that direction. Of course, you can't see the
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 spacecraft themselves, but just knowing
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 you're looking at their exact location in the
00:08:22 --> 00:08:25 cosmos is pretty amazing. And that's a
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 wrap for today's episode of Astronomy Daily.
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 From solving the sun's mysteries to spotting
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 our most distant explorers in the night.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 Anna: Sky, thanks for listening. I'm Anna
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 reminding you to keep looking up.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Avery: And I'm Avery Clear Skies.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 Anna: It's a constant reminder of how much is
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 happening out there and how much we are a
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 part of it. We hope you enjoyed the journey
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 with us today.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:51 Avery: Be sure to subscribe to Astronomy Daily
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 wherever you get your podcasts so you don't
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 miss an episode.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 Hm.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 The.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:07 Anna: Story.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 Avery: For Soul.