May 8, 2025
Cosmic Frontiers: Space Debris Solutions, Lunar Landings, and the Quest for Alien Life
Join Anna in this episode of Astronomy Daily as she takes us on an exhilarating journey through the latest cosmic developments and discoveries that highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars. Prepare for a fascinating exploration of...
Join Anna in this episode of Astronomy Daily as she takes us on an exhilarating journey through the latest cosmic developments and discoveries that highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars. Prepare for a fascinating exploration of stories that push the boundaries of our understanding of space.
Highlights:
- Tackling Space Debris: Discover how ClearSpace has successfully completed the second phase of the UK Space Agency's active debris removal mission. With promising technologies in place, this initiative aims to clean up defunct satellites in low Earth orbit, addressing the growing issue of space debris that threatens our orbital environment.
- Musk's Vision for Mars: Dive into Elon Musk's long-term perspective on why humanity must become a multi-planet species. His insights extend beyond immediate dangers, focusing on the Sun's inevitable expansion and the need for a backup plan for life on Earth.
- Ispace's Lunar Milestone: Get excited about the successful orbital insertion of Ispace's Resilience lunar lander, a significant step towards their landing attempt on the Moon. This mission represents a landmark achievement for private lunar exploration and showcases innovative technology in action.
- New Insights into the Fermi Paradox: Explore a fresh mathematical approach to the Fermi Paradox, offering new perspectives on why we haven't detected extraterrestrial civilizations despite the statistical likelihood of their existence. This study transforms silence into valuable data points regarding intelligent life in our galaxy.
- Unraveling Black Hole Mysteries: Learn about the enigmatic black hole system known as Ansky, which produces powerful X-ray bursts every 4.5 days. Thanks to NASA's NICER telescope, scientists are beginning to understand the mechanisms behind these extraordinary cosmic phenomena.
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 signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
Chapters:
00:00 - Today's featured stories highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars
02:17 - ClearSpace completes second phase of UK Space Agency's active debris removal mission
04:55 - Elon Musk recently offered a cosmic perspective on his Mars colonization ambitions
07:44 - Japanese company Ispace has successfully guided its Resilience lunar lander into orbit
10:22 - The Fermi paradox is one of astronomy's most fascinating conundrums
13:36 - An sky is the eighth known source of quasi periodic eruptions
16:26 - This week on Astronomy Daily we've looked at space debris removal technology
17:42 - This podcast includes the latest Astronomy Daily news ✍️ Episode References
ClearSpace Debris Removal
[UK Space Agency]( https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency )
Elon Musk's Mars Colonization
[SpaceX]( https://www.spacex.com )
Ispace Lunar Mission
[Ispace]( https://www.ispace-inc.com )
Fermi Paradox Insights
[University of New York]( https://www.nyu.edu )
Ansky Black Hole System
[NASA NICER](
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:03.839
Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm Anna and I'm thrilled to
2
00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:06.799
bring you the latest developments from across the Cosmos on
3
00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:10.880
this beautiful day. Today, we're exploring a fascinating range of
4
00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:15.080
stories that highlight humanity's ongoing relationship with the stars. From
5
00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.359
cleaning up our own orbital neighborhood to dreaming of interplanetary expansion,
6
00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:22.719
our species continues to push the boundaries of what's possible
7
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:26.079
in space. We'll start with some promising news in the
8
00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:30.120
battle against space debris. Clear Space has just completed the
9
00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.159
second phase of the UK Space Agency's Active debris removal mission,
10
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.600
demonstrating technology that could soon help us clean up the
11
00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.479
growing problem of defunct satellites in low Earth orbit. This
12
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.960
is crucial work as our orbital highways become increasingly congested.
13
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.200
Then we'll dive into Elon Musk's latest comments about Mars colonization,
14
00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:54.439
where he takes an extraordinarily long view of humanity's future.
15
00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.560
His perspective on why we need to become a multiplanet
16
00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.039
species might surprise you. It's not just a immediate threats,
17
00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:04.959
but about the Sun's inevitable expansion hundreds of millions of
18
00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.200
years from now. We also have exciting news from the Moon,
19
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.040
where the Japanese company I Space has successfully placed its
20
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.200
resilience lunar lander into lunar orbit. This achievement brings them
21
00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:19.519
one step closer to a landing attempt scheduled for early June,
22
00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.359
which would mark a significant milestone for private lunar exploration.
23
00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.200
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence continues to fascinate scientists and
24
00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.920
the public alike. We'll examine a new mathematical approach to
25
00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:36.079
the famous Fermi paradox that offers an intriguing perspective on
26
00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.840
why we haven't heard from alien civilizations yet despite the
27
00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:44.719
statistical likelihood of their existence. And finally, we'll explore a
28
00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:48.719
cosmic mystery that astronomers are beginning to unravel. A black
29
00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.920
hole system nicknamed ANSKI is producing powerful X ray bursts
30
00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:56.680
every four point five days, and NASA's nicer telescope has
31
00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.920
helped scientists determine what might be causing these regular castsmic explosions.
32
00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:04.760
These stories represent the cutting edge of our understanding of
33
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.039
space and our place within it, from the practical challenges
34
00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:11.639
of orbital debris to the philosophical implications of becoming a
35
00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:16.759
multiplanetary species, So let's blast off into today's cosmic journey.
36
00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.520
First up, clear Space has reached a significant milestone in
37
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.280
tackling the growing challenge of space debris. The company recently
38
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.639
completed the second phase of the UK Space Agency's Active
39
00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.039
Debris Removal mission, showcasing promising technologies designed to clean up
40
00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:38.759
our increasingly cluttered orbital environment. During extensive mechanical testing, Clear
41
00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:43.360
Space's robotic capture system demonstrated its ability to withstand the
42
00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:48.520
extreme forces experienced during rocket launches. This is crucial since
43
00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:52.280
any debris removal system must first survive the violent journey
44
00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.199
to space before it can begin its cleanup mission. The
45
00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.439
company also made significant progress with its image processing algorithms.
46
00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.520
They can effectively detect and track space debris. This capability
47
00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.039
is essential for any mission aiming to capture defunct satellites,
48
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:11.360
as these systems must be able to identify and monitor
49
00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.960
their targets with precision in the challenging environment of space.
50
00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:20.919
Perhaps most impressively, clear Space successfully demonstrated proximity operations using
51
00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:25.159
a hardware based spacecraft emulator. This simulates the delicate dance
52
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:28.120
of approaching and capturing a tumbling piece of space junk.
53
00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:31.759
One of the most challenging aspects of debris removal. Beyond
54
00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:35.919
the technical achievements, clear Space completed detailed programmatic estimates that
55
00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.199
provide the UK Space Agency with valuable insights for planning
56
00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:43.159
future missions. This comprehensive approach is helping to build a
57
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.879
sustainable framework for addressing the space debris problem. Ray Fielding,
58
00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:52.080
who had sustainability at the UK Space Agency, expressed delight
59
00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:55.159
at the successful completion of this phase, noting that an
60
00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.520
exciting period of innovation for space sustainability lies ahead. The
61
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.879
clear misis represents more than just a debris removal project.
62
00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.000
It's positioning the UK as a leader in the growing
63
00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.960
field of InOrbit servicing. Clear Space isn't working alone in
64
00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.800
this endeavor. The company has assembled an impressive team of partners,
65
00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:19.480
including Critical Software from Portugal, Spain's Indra demos, Plextech from England,
66
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:24.319
and Spirit Aerosystems based in Kansas. These collaborations are helping
67
00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:29.240
to refine crucial technologies, from guidance and navigation algorithms to
68
00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:34.079
specialized radar systems for rendezvous operations. The competition to lead
69
00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:37.800
in space sustainability is heating up, with British subsidiaries of
70
00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.279
both astroscale and clear space vying for a UK Space
71
00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.600
Agency contract to remove two defunct satellites from low Earth
72
00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.800
orbit in twenty twenty six. This competitive approach is accelerating
73
00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.560
innovation in a field that will become increasingly vital as
74
00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:56.480
our reliance on satellite infrastructure grows. Next up, some usings
75
00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.199
from Elon. Elon Musk recently offered a cosmic perspective on
76
00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.920
his Mars colonization ambitions during an interview with Fox News
77
00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:07.279
host Jesse Waters. When asked about his fixation on the
78
00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:10.120
red planet, Musk framed his answer in terms of the
79
00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.800
ultimate long term survival of life itself. That's one of
80
00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:17.279
the benefits of Mars is life insurance for life collectively.
81
00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:21.680
Musk explained his reasoning goes far beyond immediate threats like
82
00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:27.920
asteroids or nuclear war, extending to an inevitable astronomical reality. Eventually,
83
00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.399
all life on Earth will be destroyed by the Sun.
84
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.839
The Sun is gradually expanding, and so we do at
85
00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.279
some point need to be a multiplanet civilization because Earth
86
00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:42.879
will be incinerated. This isn't science fiction, but rather established astrophysics.
87
00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:46.360
Our Sun, like all stars, is gradually getting brighter and
88
00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.079
hotter as it ages. Musk estimates that we have about
89
00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.959
four hundred and fifty million years before it gets so
90
00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:56.560
hot that life is impossible on Earth. While that might
91
00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:00.199
seem like an impossibly distant future, Musk's point is that
92
00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.759
humanity should begin the process of becoming multiplanetary now while
93
00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:09.240
we have the opportunity. The timeline Musk references aligns with
94
00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.759
scientific projections. In a few hundred million years, the Sun's
95
00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:18.360
increasing luminosity will likely strip away Earth's atmosphere and boil
96
00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.639
off our oceans. The final death knell will come about
97
00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.240
five billion years from now, when our Sun expands into
98
00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:29.279
a red giant, potentially engulfing Earth entirely. This existential perspective
99
00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:33.399
helps explain the urgency behind SpaceX's ambitious Starship development program.
100
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.319
The massive, fully reusable rocket system represents Musk's vision for
101
00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:41.920
making Mars settlement economically feasible. Despite the vast time scale
102
00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:46.399
before Earth becomes uninhabitable, developing the capability to establish a
103
00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.920
self sustaining civilization on another planet presents enormous technical challenges
104
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.839
that could take generations to perfect. Starship has already flown
105
00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.120
eight test missions, with two launches in twenty twenty five,
106
00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.000
showing partial success. During these most recent flights, the super
107
00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.279
heavy booster performed well, but the upper stage of the vehicle,
108
00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:10.519
called Ship, exploded less than ten minutes into flight. SpaceX
109
00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.720
is now preparing for a ninth test flight, having already
110
00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:18.279
completed engine firing tests of both stages. While critics might
111
00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:21.160
question the practical value of focusing on such a distant
112
00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:26.560
threat when humanity faces more immediate challenges, Musk's perspective represents
113
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.879
a uniquely long term vision for our species, one that
114
00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.240
looks not just decades or centuries ahead, but hundreds of
115
00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.360
millions of years into the future. It's a reminder that
116
00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.480
while Earth is our home, the ultimate survival of life
117
00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.959
as we know it may depend on our ability to
118
00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.959
spread beyond it. In exciting lunar exploration news, the Japanese
119
00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.480
company I Space has successfully guided its Resilience Lunar Lander
120
00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:54.199
into orbit around the Moon. The spacecraft achieved this crucial
121
00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.839
milestone on May sixth, after performing an approximately nine minute
122
00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.800
burn of its main thruster, the long as such maneuver
123
00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.160
by the spacecraft to date. This orbital insertion marks the
124
00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.240
seventh of ten planned milestones for the Hakuto R M
125
00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:11.240
two mission, which began with pre launch preparations back in January.
126
00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:14.639
The final goal will be reaching a steady system state
127
00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.680
on the lunar surface after landing, which is scheduled for
128
00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.800
no earlier than June fifth. Resilience took a fascinating journey
129
00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.480
to reach lunar orbit after launching on January fifteenth aboard
130
00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:28.600
of space x Falcon nine rocket. The spacecraft followed a
131
00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:33.840
fuel efficient, low energy trajectory that minimized propulsion requirements. This
132
00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.399
path included a lunarflyby on February fourteenth that took the
133
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.720
craft an impressive one point one million kilometers from Earth
134
00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.720
before it returned to enter lunar orbit. The landing target
135
00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.399
is near the center of mare Frigoris, located at approximately
136
00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:53.000
sixty degrees north latitude. While this remains the primary landing site,
137
00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.600
I Space has identified three alternative locations if needed, all
138
00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:01.360
of which would support landing attempts through June eighth. Resilience
139
00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:05.240
isn't traveling to the Moon empty handed. The spacecraft carries
140
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:10.279
several technology demonstration payloads from Japanese companies and a Taiwanese university.
141
00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.399
There's even a small model house called Moonhouse created by
142
00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:18.080
Swedish artist Mikail Genberg making the journey. Perhaps most intriguing
143
00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:22.759
is the microrover named Tenacious, developed by I Space's European subsidiary.
144
00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.039
This small explorer will venture around the landing site and
145
00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.879
collect lunar regalith Under an agreement with NASA, Ownership of
146
00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.399
this moondust will be transferred to the Space Agency, representing
147
00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:38.159
an interesting demonstration of lunar resource utilization rights. This mission
148
00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:41.600
holds particular significance for I Space as it follows their
149
00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:45.600
first lunar landing attempt in April twenty twenty three, which
150
00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.559
unfortunately ended in a crash due to a software problem.
151
00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:54.159
Takeshi Hakamada, I Space's CEO, expressed pride in the team's
152
00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:59.200
successful orbital insertion, noting they leveraged operational experience gained from
153
00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.799
their first mission. The company already has ambitious plans for
154
00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:05.879
the future. Their next lunar lander is being built by
155
00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.639
their American subsidiary as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload
156
00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.840
Services program. Scheduled for a twenty twenty six launch, This
157
00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.519
will be followed by another Japanese built lander in twenty
158
00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.399
twenty seven, showing eye space's commitment to establishing a regular
159
00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:26.679
lunar presence. Next up, something to ponder. The Fermi paradox
160
00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:30.279
is one of astronomy's most fascinating conundrums. If our galaxy
161
00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.440
contains billions of stars similar to our Sun, and many
162
00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:36.320
of these stars have Earth like planets that could support life,
163
00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:39.399
then where is everybody? Given the age of our galaxy
164
00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.639
approximately thirteen point six billion years, there's been ample time
165
00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:47.120
for intelligent civilizations to develop and spread throughout the Milky Way,
166
00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:52.240
yet we've detected absolutely no evidence of their existence. Named
167
00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:56.879
after physicist Enrico Fermi, this paradox highlights a puzzling contradiction
168
00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:00.440
in cosmic time scales. It would take a techno logically
169
00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.399
advanced civilization just a few million years to colonize the
170
00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:07.120
entire Milky Way, a mere moment compared to the galaxies age.
171
00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.000
So why haven't we heard from anyone? A new study
172
00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.200
by mathematician Matthew Civiletti from the University of New York
173
00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:19.279
is offering fresh insights into this cosmic silence. Rather than
174
00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.240
directly trying to solve the paradox, Civiletti has developed a
175
00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.840
mathematical model that assesses how likely it would be for
176
00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.159
us to have detected a signal by now if a
177
00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:33.279
certain number of civilizations were broadcasting. The model builds on
178
00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:37.039
the famous Strake equation, which estimates the number of active,
179
00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:43.799
communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy by multiplying several factors
180
00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.240
from the rate of star formation to the fraction of
181
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.440
planets where intelligent life develops, and how long such civilizations
182
00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:56.360
might last. What's particularly interesting about Civiletti's approach is that
183
00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.919
it uses our lack of detection as a data point.
184
00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.399
If his model all suggests we should have a high
185
00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:05.639
probability of detecting signals given certain parameters, then our failure
186
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.559
to do so becomes meaningful information that can help narrow
187
00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:12.799
down possible values in the Drake equation. The mathematics gets complex,
188
00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.320
but essentially Civilletti's model explores the geometric aspects of signal
189
00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.080
detection and calculates the probability of detecting at least one
190
00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.399
signal under certain reasonable assumptions. His model predicts a ninety
191
00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.399
nine percent chance of detecting at least one signal if
192
00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.960
there's around one civilization broadcasting. Per the Drake equation, parameters.
193
00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:37.759
This suggests that the absence of detected electromagnetic signals can
194
00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.840
place significant constraints on how many technological civilizations might exist.
195
00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:45.360
In other words, the silence itself is telling us something
196
00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:49.480
important about life in our galaxy. Despite being a basic
197
00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:53.240
model with certain limitations, Civilletti's work shows that even a
198
00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:57.240
lack of results from SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence
199
00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:00.679
can help rule out certain combinations regarding the number and
200
00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:05.720
life span of alien civilizations. This approach transforms non detections
201
00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:09.840
from disappointing dead ends into valuable data points that refine
202
00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:13.879
our understanding of the cosmos. As SETI efforts continue and
203
00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.240
our models improve, we may increasingly be able to use
204
00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:20.399
this cosmic silence to better understand the conditions that make
205
00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.000
intelligent life possible and the factors that might limit its
206
00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:29.320
spread throughout the galaxy. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence isn't
207
00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:32.679
just about finding others. It's also a profound way to
208
00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:37.120
better understand ourselves and our place in the universe. Now,
209
00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:40.799
let's explore another cosmic mystery that scientists are finally beginning
210
00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:44.240
to crack. Astronomers have been puzzling over a peculiar black
211
00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:49.480
hole system nicknamed ANSKI, that exhibits an extraordinary phenomenon, powerful
212
00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:53.639
X ray bursts that repeat with remarkable regularity, approximately every
213
00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:58.200
four point five days. What makes ANSKI particularly fascinating is
214
00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.039
that it's the eighth known source of what scientists call
215
00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:06.919
quasi periodic eruptions or qpees. But ANSKI isn't just another
216
00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.879
member of this rare club. It's breaking records. Not only
217
00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:13.799
does it produce the most energetic X ray outbursts among
218
00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.840
known QPE sources, but each eruption lasts an astounding one
219
00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:21.639
point five days, making it exceptional in both timing and duration.
220
00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.919
NASA's NICER, the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer, has been
221
00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:31.360
instrumental in unraveling this mystery. Mounted on the International Space Station,
222
00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.480
NICER observed ANSKI about sixteen times daily from May to
223
00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.720
July twenty twenty four, providing unprecedented monitoring of these X
224
00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:44.600
ray fluctuations. This frequent observation schedule proved crucial in detecting
225
00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:49.039
and analyzing the patterns of these eruptions. So what's causing
226
00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:53.080
these massive energy releases. The leading theory suggests that qpes
227
00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:57.039
occur in systems where a relatively small object repeatedly passes
228
00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:59.919
through the disc of gas surrounding a super massive black
229
00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:03.639
When this smaller body punches through the disc, it drives
230
00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.480
out expanding clouds of superheated gas that we observe as
231
00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.639
X ray flares. A team led by researcher Joheen Chakrabordi
232
00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:14.080
from MIT has mapped the rapid evolution of this ejected
233
00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:19.120
material in unprecedented detail. Their findings are remarkable. Each impact
234
00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:22.440
results in approximately a jupiter's worth of mass being accelerated
235
00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:25.600
to about fifteen percent the speed of light as this
236
00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:30.039
roughly spherical bubble of debris expands outward. Niser's capabilities allowed
237
00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.840
scientists to measure both its size and temperature in real time.
238
00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.639
What makes Anski different from other QPE systems may be
239
00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:40.360
the nature of its disc. Most QPE systems likely form
240
00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.679
when a supermassive black hole shreds a passing star, creating
241
00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.600
a small disc very close to itself, but experts like
242
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:51.360
astrophysicist Lurina Hernandez Garcia suggest Anski's disc is much larger,
1
00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:03.839
2
00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:06.799
3
00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:10.880
4
00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:15.080
5
00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.359
6
00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:22.719
7
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:26.079
8
00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:30.120
9
00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:34.159
10
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.600
11
00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.479
12
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.960
13
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:50.200
14
00:00:50.679 --> 00:00:54.439
15
00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.560
16
00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.039
17
00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:04.959
18
00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.200
19
00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.040
20
00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:16.200
21
00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:19.519
22
00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.359
23
00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.200
24
00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:31.920
25
00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:36.079
26
00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.840
27
00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:44.719
28
00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:48.719
29
00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.920
30
00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:56.680
31
00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.920
32
00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:04.760
33
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.039
34
00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:11.639
35
00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:16.759
36
00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:21.520
37
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.280
38
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.639
39
00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:33.039
40
00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:38.759
41
00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:43.360
42
00:02:43.479 --> 00:02:48.520
43
00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:52.280
44
00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.199
45
00:02:55.240 --> 00:02:59.439
46
00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.520
47
00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.039
48
00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:11.360
49
00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:14.960
50
00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:20.919
51
00:03:20.919 --> 00:03:25.159
52
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:28.120
53
00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:31.759
54
00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:35.919
55
00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:39.199
56
00:03:39.280 --> 00:03:43.159
57
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.879
58
00:03:48.199 --> 00:03:52.080
59
00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:55.159
60
00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:59.520
61
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.879
62
00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.000
63
00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.960
64
00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.800
65
00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:19.480
66
00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:24.319
67
00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:29.240
68
00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:34.079
69
00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:37.800
70
00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.279
71
00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.600
72
00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.800
73
00:04:48.839 --> 00:04:51.560
74
00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:56.480
75
00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:00.199
76
00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.920
77
00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:07.279
78
00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:10.120
79
00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.800
80
00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:17.279
81
00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:21.680
82
00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:27.920
83
00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.399
84
00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.839
85
00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:37.279
86
00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:42.879
87
00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:46.360
88
00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.079
89
00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.959
90
00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:56.560
91
00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:00.199
92
00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.759
93
00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:09.240
94
00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.759
95
00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:18.360
96
00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:21.639
97
00:06:21.639 --> 00:06:24.240
98
00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:29.279
99
00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:33.399
100
00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:37.319
101
00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:41.920
102
00:06:41.920 --> 00:06:46.399
103
00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.920
104
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.839
105
00:06:54.920 --> 00:06:58.120
106
00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.000
107
00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.279
108
00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:10.519
109
00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.720
110
00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:18.279
111
00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:21.160
112
00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:26.560
113
00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.879
114
00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.240
115
00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:36.360
116
00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:39.480
117
00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:41.959
118
00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.959
119
00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.480
120
00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:54.199
121
00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.839
122
00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.800
123
00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:04.160
124
00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:07.240
125
00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:11.240
126
00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:14.639
127
00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.680
128
00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.800
129
00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:25.480
130
00:08:25.480 --> 00:08:28.600
131
00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:33.840
132
00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.399
133
00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.720
134
00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:44.720
135
00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.399
136
00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:53.000
137
00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.600
138
00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:01.360
139
00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:05.240
140
00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:10.279
141
00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.399
142
00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:18.080
143
00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:22.759
144
00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:26.039
145
00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.879
146
00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:33.399
147
00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:38.159
148
00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:41.600
149
00:09:41.639 --> 00:09:45.600
150
00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.559
151
00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:54.159
152
00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:59.200
153
00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.799
154
00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:05.879
155
00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:09.639
156
00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:13.840
157
00:10:13.879 --> 00:10:16.519
158
00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:20.399
159
00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:26.679
160
00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:30.279
161
00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.440
162
00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:36.320
163
00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:39.399
164
00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:43.639
165
00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:47.120
166
00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:52.240
167
00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:56.879
168
00:10:57.559 --> 00:11:00.440
169
00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.399
170
00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:07.120
171
00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.000
172
00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:14.200
173
00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:19.279
174
00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.240
175
00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.840
176
00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.159
177
00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:33.279
178
00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:37.039
179
00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:43.799
180
00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.240
181
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.440
182
00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:56.360
183
00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.919
184
00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.399
185
00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:05.639
186
00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:08.559
187
00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:12.799
188
00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.320
189
00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.080
190
00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.399
191
00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.399
192
00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.960
193
00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:37.759
194
00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:41.840
195
00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:45.360
196
00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:49.480
197
00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:53.240
198
00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:57.240
199
00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:00.679
200
00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:05.720
201
00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:09.840
202
00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:13.879
203
00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.240
204
00:13:17.240 --> 00:13:20.399
205
00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.000
206
00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:29.320
207
00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:32.679
208
00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:37.120
209
00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:40.799
210
00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:44.240
211
00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:49.480
212
00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:53.639
213
00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:58.200
214
00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.039
215
00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:06.919
216
00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.879
217
00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:13.799
218
00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:17.840
219
00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:21.639
220
00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:26.919
221
00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:31.360
222
00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.480
223
00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:39.720
224
00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:44.600
225
00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:49.039
226
00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:53.080
227
00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:57.039
228
00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:59.919
229
00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:03.639
230
00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:06.480
231
00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:10.639
232
00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:14.080
233
00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:19.120
234
00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:22.440
235
00:15:22.440 --> 00:15:25.600
236
00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:30.039
237
00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.840
238
00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:36.639
239
00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:40.360
240
00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:43.679
241
00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:46.600
242
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:51.360