- Vera Rubin Observatory's First Images: In this episode, we celebrate the release of the first breathtaking images from the Vera Rubin Observatory, a monumental achievement in deep space exploration. This powerful telescope is set to transform our understanding of the universe over the next decade, capturing comprehensive views of the southern sky every three days with its remarkable 3.2 billion pixel camera, aiding in the discovery of dark matter and energy.
- Potential Lunar Impact from Asteroid 2024 YR4: We discuss the intriguing possibility of a dramatic encounter between the asteroid 2024 YR4 and the Moon, with new data increasing the odds of impact. This event could release energy comparable to a large nuclear explosion and create a spectacular meteor shower visible from Earth, while also posing risks to orbiting satellites.
- AXE4 Mission Launch Update: Exciting news from the realm of private spaceflight as SpaceX and Axiom Space announce a new launch date for the AXE4 mission to the International Space Station. With an international crew of astronauts, this mission will mark a significant milestone in global participation in space exploration, featuring over 60 planned science experiments.
- Decoding Ancient Radio Signals: We delve into groundbreaking research that reveals how scientists are decoding a mysterious radio signal from the universe's earliest stars. This 21 centimetre signal offers unprecedented insights into the cosmos's infancy and the formation of Population 3 stars, enhancing our understanding of the universe's evolution.
- ESA's Biomass Satellite Insights: We explore the stunning first images from ESA's biomass satellite, which is revolutionising our understanding of Earth's ecosystems. With its unique radar capabilities, the satellite provides a 3D view of forests and uncovers hidden geological structures, contributing invaluable data for climate models and conservation efforts.
For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io. Join our community on social media by searching for #AstroDailyPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music, 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 signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Chapters:
00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily
01:10 - Vera Rubin Observatory's first images
10:00 - Potential lunar impact from asteroid 2024 YR4
20:00 - AXE4 mission launch update
30:00 - Decoding ancient radio signals
40:00 - ESA's biomass satellite insights
✍️ Episode References
Vera Rubin Observatory
[NASA](https://www.nasa.gov/)
Asteroid 2024 YR4 Study
[Astrophysical Journal Letters](https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/0004-637X)
AXE4 Mission Information
[Axiom Space](https://www.axiomspace.com/)
Radio Signal Research
[Nature Astronomy](https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/)
ESA's Biomass Satellite
[European Space Agency](https://www.esa.int/)
Astronomy Daily
[Astronomy Daily](http://www.astronomydaily.io/)
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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily. Your exciting
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 look at the very latest in space news. I'm
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 Anna and today we're diving into a cosmic
00:00:07 --> 00:00:09 journey that spans from groundbreaking new
00:00:09 --> 00:00:11 telescopes revealing deep space mysteries to
00:00:11 --> 00:00:14 critical Earth observations and the latest in
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 human spaceflight. We've got an incredible
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 lineup for you. We'll explore the first
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 breathtaking images released by the new Vera
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Rubin Observatory, discuss a potentially
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 dramatic close call with an asteroid that
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 could impact the moon, and and update you on
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 a private astronaut mission heading to the
00:00:29 --> 00:00:32 International Space Station. Plus, we'll
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 delve into the decoding of an ancient radio
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 signal that the universe tried to keep secret
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 for billions of years. And marvel at
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 spectacular new views of Earth from orbit,
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 thanks to ESA's biomass satellite. Get ready
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 for an action packed episode.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 The astronomical community is buzzing with
00:00:50 --> 00:00:53 excitement as the Vera C Rubin Observatory
00:00:53 --> 00:00:55 has officially released its very first images
00:00:55 --> 00:00:58 of space. This momentous occasion
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00 heralds a new era of discoveries about our
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 universe. Perched atop the Kerro Pachon
00:01:02 --> 00:01:05 peak in the Chilean Andes, this giant
00:01:05 --> 00:01:07 telescope is designed for an ambitious 10
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 year to create an unprecedented time
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 lapse video of deep space, providing a
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 comprehensive view of the entire southern
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 hemisphere's sky every three days.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 Rubin's true claim to fame lies in its
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 imaging powerhouse, the world's most powerful
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24 digital camera. It's a 3.2 billion
00:01:24 --> 00:01:27 pixel behemoth known as the Legacy Survey of
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 Space and time, or LSST.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 For perspective, the latest iPhone has a 48
00:01:32 --> 00:01:35 million pixel camera. The LSST alone
00:01:35 --> 00:01:38 weighs 3 tonnes and features an 8 metre wide
00:01:38 --> 00:01:40 mirror. This incredible instrument will allow
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 astronomers to capture details far beyond
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 what was previously possible. Named in
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 honour of pioneering American astronomer Vera
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 Florence Cooper Rubin, whose groundbreaking
00:01:50 --> 00:01:52 work provided the first direct evidence for
00:01:52 --> 00:01:55 dark matter. The observatory is poised to
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 help answer some of the cosmos's deepest
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 questions. These include the nature of dark
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01 matter and dark energy, and how galaxies have
00:02:01 --> 00:02:04 evolved. Thousands of astronomers
00:02:04 --> 00:02:06 globally will rely on the vast amounts of
00:02:06 --> 00:02:09 data Rubin will generate. It's expected to
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 deliver an astounding 10 million alerts every
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 single day, flagging objects that have either
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 changed position or brightness. Some alerts
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 could reveal entirely new cosmic phenomena.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 As Professor Rachel Webster from the
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 University of Melbourne, who leads
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25 Australia's collaboration, puts it in
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 reality, there is so much we still don't know
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 about the universe, so the scope of what may
00:02:30 --> 00:02:32 be discovered is what's really exciting.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35 Professor Webster explains. Rubin will survey
00:02:35 --> 00:02:38 the entire southern sky with an agnostic
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 approach, expecting unexpected new things.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 This includes very faint diffuse objects and
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 sudden transient events. Things that go bang
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 in the night or Explode and change brightness
00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 rapidly. The success of Rubin
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 also relies on advanced technology and
00:02:54 --> 00:02:57 international collaboration, leveraging
00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 cutting edge tools like artificial
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 intelligence. Its data will complement the
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 Square Kilometre Array telescope currently
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 under construction, promising to
00:03:05 --> 00:03:08 significantly advance our understanding of
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 dark matter, dark energy, and even how
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 supermassive black holes interact with their
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 environments. And a sample of what can be
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 achieved. In just 10 hours of observing the
00:03:18 --> 00:03:20 night sky, the powerful new telescope
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22 detected more than 2 new asteroids,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 including a few that will pass near Earth.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27 Incredible. This truly represents a thrilling
00:03:27 --> 00:03:29 leap forward in astrophysics
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32 from the awe inspiring depths of the
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 universe.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 We now turn our attention a little closer to
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37 home. To a celestial body that might just
00:03:37 --> 00:03:40 have a very eventful year in 2032.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:43 Our moon. While initial worries about a
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 direct impact on Earth have thankfully been
00:03:45 --> 00:03:48 ruled out, a new study suggests that a city
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 killer asteroid named 2024
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 yr4 might still be headed for a dramatic
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 encounter not with us, but with our lunar
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 companion. This asteroid, approximately 60
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 metres wide, was briefly the subject of
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 concern earlier this year, with a 3.1%
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 chance of hitting Earth in December 2032,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 a significant probability for a space rock of
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 this size. Subsequent observations from
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 telescopes put those fears to rest for our
00:04:15 --> 00:04:18 planet. However, new data from
00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 the James Webb Space Telescope in May has
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 nudged the odds of it crashing into the moon
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 up to 4.3%. If this
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28 happens, it would be quite an event.
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 Lead study author Paul Wiegert from Canada's
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 University of Western Ontario estimates it
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 would be the largest asteroid to strike the
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 moon in around 5 years, releasing
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 energy comparable to a large nuclear
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 explosion. Simulations indicate that up to
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45 100 million kilogrammes of material could be
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 shot out from the moon's surface. Now here's
00:04:48 --> 00:04:50 where it gets interesting for us down on
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 Earth. If the asteroid were to hit the side
00:04:52 --> 00:04:55 of the moon facing our planet, which is
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 roughly a 50% chance, up to
00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 10% of that ejected debris could be pulled
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 into Earth's gravity over the following days.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05 While our atmosphere would protect the
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 surface from these millimetre to centimetre
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 sized lunar rocks, these fast moving
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 particles, described as being a lot like a
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 bullet, could pose a serious threat to our
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 orbiting satellites. By 2032,
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 we expect a much larger number of satellites
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 orbiting Earth. And an impact could lead to
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 more than a thousand times the normal number
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 of meteors threatening them. For those of
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 us on the ground, however, this cosmic bullet
00:05:31 --> 00:05:34 train could mean a truly spectacular
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 meteor shower lighting up the night sky.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 It's important to remember that the current
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 odds of a direct hit on the near side of the
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 moon remain at just 2%.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:47 We won't get another clear look at asteroid
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 2024 yr 4 until
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 2028, so for now it's a
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 waiting game. But if a direct lunar hit does
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 become likely, scientists believe humanity
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 would have enough time to plan a mission to
00:05:59 --> 00:06:02 potentially deflect it. Much like NASA's DART
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 mission successfully altered the trajectory
00:06:04 --> 00:06:07 of dimorphos in 2022. Though
00:06:07 --> 00:06:10 Weigert cautions that deflecting something
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12 zooming so close to Earth could be a little
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 dangerous, this fascinating research is
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 currently a preprint study awaiting peer
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 review and submission to the Astrophysical
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 Journal Letters.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 Shifting our focus from potential lunar
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 impacts, let's turn to the exciting world of
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 private spaceflight, where humanity continues
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 its push into low Earth orbit.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 SpaceX and Axiom Space have just announced a
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 new launch date for the AXE4 mission to the
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 International Space Station, bringing us
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 another step closer to a more accessible
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 space for astronauts from around the globe.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:46 The four person crew is now slated to lift
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 off aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51 atop a Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than
00:06:51 --> 00:06:54 June 25 at 2:31am
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 um EDT from Launch
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 Centre in Florida. You might recall this
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 launch was previously delayed last week due
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 to a leak detected aboard the ISS's Zvezda
00:07:07 --> 00:07:10 module. While the leak itself isn't new,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 a change in its pressure data prompted NASA
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 and Axiom to postpone the mission to ensure
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 safety. No update on the leak's current
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 status was provided with the new launch
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 announcement, but the green light suggests
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 confidence in the station's integrity. This
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 mission is set to be a landmark one for
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 several reasons. The Axe 4 crew will be led
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 by former NASA astronaut and Axiom's director
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 of human Space Flight Peggy Whitson, who will
00:07:34 --> 00:07:37 serve as mission Commander. Joining her are
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 Shubanshu Shukla from India, Slavas
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 Usnanski Wisniewski from Poland, and and
00:07:42 --> 00:07:45 Tibor Kapu from Hungary. What's particularly
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 exciting about this crew is that for
00:07:46 --> 00:07:49 Shubanshu, Slawos and Tibor, this will mark
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 their nation's first ever astronauts to
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 launch on a mission to the iss. It's a
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 fantastic testament to the expanding
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 international participation in space
00:07:58 --> 00:08:01 exploration. The mission is expected to last
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 two weeks, and during their time aboard the
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 orbiting lab, the Axe 4 crew plans to
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08 conduct an impressive number of activities.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 They're scheduled to undertake more than 60
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 science experiments and STEM. That's science,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 technology, engineering and math outreach
00:08:15 --> 00:08:18 events surpassing any previous Axiom mission.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 If all goes according to this New schedule
00:08:20 --> 00:08:23 the Cruise Dragon spacecraft is slated to
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 dock with the ISS at approximately
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 7am M. EDT on Thursday,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:31 June 26. It's an exciting time for private
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 spaceflight, showcasing the growing
00:08:33 --> 00:08:36 capabilities and collaborations that are
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 shaping the future of human presence in
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38 space.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 From the immediate future of human
00:08:41 --> 00:08:44 spaceflight, let's now journey back in time
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 billions of years to unravel one of the
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 universe's most ancient and secretive
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 messages. Scientists are beginning to decode
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 a mysterious radio signal from deep space
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 that has been hiding secrets about the
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59 universe's earliest stars, offering
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 a rare glimpse into moments the cosmos tried
00:09:02 --> 00:09:05 to keep from us for aeons. In the
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 vast, dark expanse of the universe, there's a
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 profound mystery surrounding the first stars,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:14 those massive, luminous celestial bodies
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 known as Population 3, stars that
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 illuminated the cosmos in its earliest
00:09:18 --> 00:09:21 stages. These stars are so incredibly
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 distant in time that their properties have
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 remained largely unknown despite decades of
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 scientific inquiry. But now a new method is
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 bringing them into focus, using faint signals
00:09:31 --> 00:09:34 emitted billions of years ago. The
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 breakthrough lies in a subtle, almost
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 undetectable radio signal that has persisted
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 through time. The 21 centimetre signal.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 This cosmic whisper, emitted by hydrogen
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 atoms shortly after the Big Bang, serves as a
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 crucial marker from a period known as the
00:09:49 --> 00:09:52 cosmic dawn. This was the pivotal moment when
00:09:52 --> 00:09:55 the very first stars began to form and light
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 up the universe. What makes the 21
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 centimetre signal so incredibly valuable is
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 that, unlike visible light or X rays,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 it can offer direct insights into the masses,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:08 behaviours and distribution of these
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 elusive first stars. Until recently,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:14 however, astronomers hadn't fully grasped how
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 this delicate signal could truly unlock the
00:10:16 --> 00:10:19 secrets of the early cosmos. An
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 international team of astronomers, led by
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 Professor Anastasia Fialkoff and at the
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 University of Cambridge's Institute of
00:10:26 --> 00:10:29 Astronomy, has cracked a crucial aspect
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 of this signal. Their groundbreaking work,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 published in Nature Astronomy, reveals that
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 this ancient radio signal is remarkably
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 sensitive to the properties of these initial
00:10:39 --> 00:10:42 stars. Specifically, their research
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 suggests that the signal could be used to
00:10:44 --> 00:10:47 estimate the masses of Population 3 stars
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 whose light we can never directly observe.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53 This insight is truly significant, opening a
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 new door to understanding the early universe,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:58 which was primarily composed of hydrogen and
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 helium. By studying how the 21
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 centimetre signal has been altered by these
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 stars, astronomers can begin to map the
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 transformation from a dark, uniform mass to
00:11:08 --> 00:11:11 the complex and diverse cosmos we see today.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 This monumental effort is being supported by
00:11:14 --> 00:11:17 two ambitious projects, reach, or the
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 Radio Experiment for the Analysis of cosmic
00:11:19 --> 00:11:22 hydrogen, and the Square Kilometre Array,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25 known as ska. REACH is currently in
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27 its early calibration phase. Using radio
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 antennas to capture the faint 21 centimetre
00:11:30 --> 00:11:33 signal. The SKA, on the other hand,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 is an even larger array of antennas under
00:11:35 --> 00:11:38 construction, poised to map vast regions of
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 space and study fluctuations in cosmic
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43 radiation, providing an invaluable resource
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45 for understanding the earliest epochs of the
00:11:45 --> 00:11:48 universe. These projects are absolutely
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 essential to the future of radio astronomy,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 focusing on statistical patterns of faint
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 signals to study the early universe in
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 unprecedented detail. Professor
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 Fielkov's team predicts that both REACH and
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 SKA will allow astronomers to study the
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 distribution, luminosity and masses of
00:12:05 --> 00:12:08 population three stars, deepening our
00:12:08 --> 00:12:10 understanding of the forces that shaped the
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 cosmos in its infancy. One of
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 the most fascinating aspects of this research
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 is its exploration of how X ray binaries,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 pairs of stars where one is a collapsed
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24 object like a black hole, impact the 21
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 centimetre signal. These binaries are thought
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 to have played a significant role in the
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31 early universe by emitting high energy
00:12:31 --> 00:12:34 radiation that affected the surrounding gas
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 and consequently altered the 21 centimetre
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 signal. Professor Fielkov's team
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 developed a model incorporating the effects
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 of X ray binaries, suggesting that
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 previous studies might have underestimated
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 their influence. This discovery adds another
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51 layer of complexity to our understanding of
00:12:51 --> 00:12:54 how the first stars shaped the universe,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:57 making the 21 centimetre signal an even more
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 powerful tool for mapping the earliest
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 moments in cosmic history. The potential
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04 of the 21 centimetre signal is further
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 amplified by the increasing power of radio
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09 telescopes. Unlike optical telescopes that
00:13:09 --> 00:13:11 capture detailed images of distant stars and
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 galaxies, radio telescopes like REACH and
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17 SKA rely on detecting these faint signals to
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19 infer the properties of cosmic phenomena.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 While they won't provide direct images of
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 individual stars, they offer an extraordinary
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 opportunity to study large scale patterns in
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 the universe's earliest phases. As Dr.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 Eloy Dilara Acedo, principal
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 investigator of the REACH project, notes,
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 these radio observations are essential for
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 understanding the mass and properties of the
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 first stars, laying crucial groundwork for
00:13:41 --> 00:13:44 future discoveries. Now let's
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 shift our gaze from the incredibly distant
00:13:46 --> 00:13:49 past to the immediate present. And a new eye
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 watching our own planet.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 Cheers and excitement erupted at ESA's Living
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Planet Symposium in Vienna with the release
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 of the first images from ESA's biomass
00:13:57 --> 00:14:00 satellite. These striking views offer a
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 spectacular new window into Earth's forests,
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 deserts and glaciers, marking a, uh, major
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 milestone in our understanding of how our
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 planet stores carbon and how vital ecosystems
00:14:10 --> 00:14:13 are being transformed. Just two months after
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 its launch, the biomass mission is already
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 delivering on its promise, providing a
00:14:17 --> 00:14:19 glimpse into the incredible potential of its
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22 novel radar system while still in its
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 commissioning phase. Fine tuning to ensure
00:14:24 --> 00:14:27 the highest quality data, the early Images
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 are clearly showcasing the satellite's
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31 capabilities. Michael Fehringer,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 ESA's biomass project manager,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:37 described these first images as nothing
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 short of spectacular, emphasising that they
00:14:39 --> 00:14:42 are only a mere glimpse of what's still to
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44 come. Simonetta Celli, ESA's director
00:14:44 --> 00:14:47 of earth Observation Programmes, shared the
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 emotional impact of seeing the results,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:52 calling it very symbolic of the effort behind
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 the scenes and the potential that this
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 mission has. What makes
00:14:56 --> 00:14:59 biomass so revolutionary is its unique P
00:14:59 --> 00:15:02 band radar. Unlike other satellites,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:04 this penetrating radar system captures the
00:15:04 --> 00:15:07 full vertical structure of forests beneath
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 the canopy. For instance, in images from
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 Bolivia, where rainforest meets riverine
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14 floodplains, biomass highlights distinct
00:15:14 --> 00:15:17 ecosystems like green rainforests, red
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 forested wetlands and blue purple grasslands,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22 all while the dark, snaking Beni river cuts
00:15:22 --> 00:15:25 through the landscape. When compared side by
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 side with images From Copernicus Sentinel 2,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 it's clear that while Sentinel 2 is limited
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 to surface features, biomass unlocks a, uh,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 crucial 3D view of forests, vital for
00:15:35 --> 00:15:38 accurate carbon accounting. The satellite has
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 also provided striking views over the
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43 northern Amazon rainforest in Brazil and and
00:15:43 --> 00:15:45 the mountainous Halmahera rainforest in
00:15:45 --> 00:15:48 Indonesia, revealing subtle terrain and
00:15:48 --> 00:15:51 vegetation differences even in dense,
00:15:51 --> 00:15:54 ecologically critical areas. But
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57 its capabilities extend far beyond forests.
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00 Biomass has shown its incredible power in
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 other extreme environments, like the Sahara
00:16:02 --> 00:16:05 Desert in northern Chad. Its P band radar can
00:16:05 --> 00:16:07 penetrate up to 5 metres below the desert
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 surface, exposing hidden structures like
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 ancient riverbeds and geological formations
00:16:12 --> 00:16:14 long buried beneath the arid terrain.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 This capability opens new frontiers in
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19 paleoclimate research and groundwater
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22 mapping, offering insights into Earth's past.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:25 Furthermore, in the frozen expanse of
00:16:25 --> 00:16:28 Antarctica, biomass has peered into the
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 Nimrod Glacier and the Trans Antarctic
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 Mountains, demonstrating its ability to track
00:16:32 --> 00:16:35 internal ice structures and flow velocities.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 This is crucial for understanding ice sheet
00:16:37 --> 00:16:40 dynamics and stability, which are critical
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 factors in predicting future sea level
00:16:41 --> 00:16:44 changes. While these initial results are
00:16:44 --> 00:16:47 still raw and not yet fully calibrated for
00:16:47 --> 00:16:49 scientific analysis, they unequivocally
00:16:49 --> 00:16:52 confirm that biomass is well on track to meet
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 and potentially exceed its ambitious goals.
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 Designed to span five years, this mission
00:16:58 --> 00:17:01 will provide consistent global coverage of
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 Earth's forested regions. The data it
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 collects will be vital for improving climate
00:17:05 --> 00:17:08 models, supporting global conservation
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 efforts and refining carbon accounting.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 As the biomass satellite transitions into
00:17:13 --> 00:17:16 full operational mode, scientists around the
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 world are eagerly anticipating the
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 comprehensive data sets that could truly
00:17:20 --> 00:17:23 transform how we monitor and protect the
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 living lungs of our planet.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 We've journeyed through a wide range of
00:17:28 --> 00:17:31 cosmic updates today, exploring everything
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 from the profound mysteries of the universe's
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 distant past, thanks to signals hidden for
00:17:35 --> 00:17:38 billions of years, to the immediate future.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 Of human spaceflight as private astronauts
00:17:40 --> 00:17:43 prepare for the iss. We also looked at
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 potential close calls with asteroids and how
00:17:45 --> 00:17:48 new satellite technology is revolutionising
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 our view of Earth's precious ecosystems.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 Thank you for joining us on this episode of
00:17:52 --> 00:17:55 Astronomy Daily. I'm your host, Anna.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57 Before we sign off, remember, you can always
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 catch up on all the latest space and
00:17:59 --> 00:18:01 astronomy news with our constantly updating
00:18:01 --> 00:18:04 newsfeed on our website, astronomydaily.IO.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 um, while you're there, you can also listen
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00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 Keep looking up.