S03E169: Barnard's New Planet, SpaceX Anomaly, and China's Moon Ambitions

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S03E169
Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your go-to source for the latest and most fascinating space and Astronomy news. I'm Anna, and I'm thrilled to be your host for today's cosmic journey. We've got an exciting lineup of stories that will take us from our nearest stellar neighbor to the far side of the moon and beyond.
Highlights:
- New Exoplanet Discovery: Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's very large telescope have discovered Barnard b, a low-mass exoplanet orbiting Barnard's star, just six light years away. With an orbital period of just 3.15 Earth Daily, this planet challenges our understanding of planetary formation.
- SpaceX Launch Anomaly: The US Federal Aviation Administration has mandated an investigation into an anomaly during the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. The Falcon 9's upper stage experienced an off-nominal deorbit burn, impacting future missions, including NASA's Europa Clipper.
- Lunar Samples from the Far Side: Chinese scientists have analyzed samples from the Chang'e 6 mission, revealing new insights into the moon's volcanic history and geological diversity. This breakthrough offers a unique perspective on the lunar far side.
- Webb Telescope's Discovery on Charon: NASA's Webb Space Telescope has detected traces of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Pluto's largest moon, Charon. This finding provides new insights into Charon's composition and formation.
- ISSA's JUICE Mission: The ISSA's JUICE mission has captured the sharpest ever image of Earth's radiation belts during its lunar-Earth flyby. This achievement is a vital step for future observations of Jupiter.
- China's New Moon Landing Spacesuit: China has unveiled a new spacesuit for its planned lunar missions by 2030. Inspired by traditional Chinese armor, this suit combines cultural heritage with advanced functionality, marking a significant milestone in their space exploration journey.
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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.
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