How Theia Made Earth Habitable, Surprising Discoveries About Space Ice, and Rocket Launch Updates

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Anna: Welcome to Astronomy Daily, your regular dose of

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cosmic insights with your host, Anna. Today, we're

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diving into how a massive ancient impact shaped our

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planet for life, uncovering new secrets about ice and

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space, and getting the latest on exciting space missions

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and rocket launches. Plus, we'll guide you through observing, uh,

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July's beautiful Buck Moon and commemorating a

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historic lunar anniversary. Let's get started

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with a story about our home planet.

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Earth, alone among the rocky planets in our solar system,

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is a vibrant home for life. It's warm,

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hospitable and teeming with activity,

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a stark contrast to the frigid lifelessness of its

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neighbours. How did our planet become so

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uniquely suited for life? The answer is

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incredibly complex. But a significant part of it lies in the

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fascinating field of cosmochemistry, which explores

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how chemical elements are distributed across the cosmos.

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Imagine our solar system. 4.5 billion years ago,

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it was a far more chaotic place than it is today,

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with planets still in their infancy and countless

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planetesimals and planetary embryos whizzing around

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constantly crashing into each other.

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Amidst this cosmic demolition derby,

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something extraordinary happened. Earth somehow

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received an exceptionally generous delivery of

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carbonaceous chondrites. These aren't

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just any space rocks. They're packed with amino

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acids and other essential chemicals, the very building

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blocks that enable life.

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Cosmochemistry studies have revealed that between 5 and

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10% of Earth's entire mass

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originated from these carbonaceous chondrites that collided

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with our young planet. What's even more

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astounding is that a substantial portion of this life

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enabling material is believed to have arrived

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during the colossal impact, eventually that formed our

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moon. The THEIA impact. To

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rigorously test this profound idea, a team of

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researchers led by Duarte Branco from the

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal,

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utilised sophisticated dynamical simulations

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of the solar system's formation. Their

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groundbreaking work, titled Dynamical Origin of

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Theia uh, the Last Giant Impactor on Earth, is

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set to be published in the journal IT icarus.

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In cosmochemistry, a critical distinction is made between

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carbonaceous chondrites, or ccs, and

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non carbonaceous meteorites.

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This effectively divides the solar system's meteorite

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population into two distinct material reservoirs.

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Ccs formed much farther from the sun, likely

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beyond Jupiter, and are rich in volatiles like

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water and organic compounds. Ncs, on

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the other hand, include things like iron meteorites

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and contain far fewer volatile elements. The

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core question for the researchers was whether Theia uh, could have delivered

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these crucial CCS and volatiles to early Earth.

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To investigate this, the team ran detailed N

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body simulations focusing on the later stages of

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terrestrial planet growth, specifically after the

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solar system's gaseous disc had dissipated.

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These simulations included CCs that were scattered

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inward as gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn were

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still growing. The researchers explored three main

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scenarios, one with only small CC

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objects or planetesimals, another with only

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large CC objects or planetary embryos, and

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a mixed scenario that included both.

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A subset of these simulations also factored in the

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giant planet dynamical instability, better

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known as the NICE model in astronomy. This

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model describes how the giant planets shifted their

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orbits from their initial formation positions.

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The goal was multifaceted to understand how

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ccs and ncs were distributed, why

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Earth ended up with significantly more ccs than other

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rocky planets, particularly Mars,

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and whether the Theia impact was indeed responsible for

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delivering a large amount of Earth's C C

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material. One of the most striking results

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showed that the giant planet instability, especially

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Jupiter's orbital shift, had a profound effect on

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Earth's accretion of C C material. As the

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giant planets moved, they caused a strong pulse of

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eccentricity excitement, leading to a wave of collisions

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and ejections, effectively flinging CC rich

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material into the inner solar system.

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Crucially, the simulations strongly supported the idea that

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THEIA itself was a carbonaceous object.

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In the mixed scenario simulations without giant

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planet instability, Earth's final impactor,

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Theia, included a carbonaceous component in more

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than half of all simulations. In

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38.5% of cases, Theia was a

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pure carbonaceous embryo, and in another

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13.5%, it was an NC embryo that

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had previously accreted a C C embryo. This

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paints a vivid picture of the early solar system.

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Two distinct rings of planetesimals, an

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inner ring of rocky material and an outer ring of

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carbonaceous chondrites. As uh, the ice giants

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migrated inward, they propelled this CC

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material into the inner solar system, with more

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massive ones preferentially scattered into the orbits

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of rocky planets. This explains not

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only the masses and orbits of the terrestrial planets

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and the distribution of asteroids, but also

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why Earth has a higher CC mass fraction compared to Mars.

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The work strongly suggests that Earth's final giant

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impact was indeed with Theia, and that this

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object had a higher concentration of carbonaceous

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material directly contributing to our planet's

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habitability. The simulations indicate

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this last impact occurred between 5 and

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150-million years after the gas disc

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dispersed, with a large fraction happening within

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20 to 70 million years, timings

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consistent with current understanding of the Theia impact.

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Moreover, the research emphasises Jupiter's

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pivotal role in shaping the solar system's Architecture

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not just by truncating the asteroid belt, but also

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by scattering crucial carbonaceous material from the outer

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solar system into the path of the rocky planets,

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especially Earth. Ultimately, the

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formation of a life sustaining world like Earth

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required an astonishing number of variables to align

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perfectly. This research highlights that it

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may take more than simply being in a habitable zone for an

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exoplanet to support life. The complex

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dance of outer giant planets migrating and delivering

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carbon to inner rocky worlds might be another critical,

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often overlooked ingredient in the recipe for life in the

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universe.

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Alright, moving on. Prepare to have your perceptions of

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space ice completely shattered. For

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decades, scientists have largely viewed water frozen in the depths

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of space as a shapeless, amorphous fog.

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Too cold and still to ever form orderly crystals,

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it was believed to simply freeze straight from vapour onto cold

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surfaces like dust grains and comets or icy moons

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without any structured shape whatsoever. But a

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groundbreaking new study by researchers from University College

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London and the University of Cambridge is challenging that long

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held belief. By combining incredibly

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detailed computer simulations with carefully controlled

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lab experiments, this team has discovered that

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space ice is not entirely amorphous after all.

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Instead, it holds tiny hidden crystal structures

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within its disordered form. These small

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organised patterns could fundamentally shift what

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we know about ice, water and even the very

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origins of life in the universe. On Earth,

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ice typically forms a neat crystalline pattern

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visible in the intricate symmetry of a snowflake.

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But in the extreme cold and vacuum of interstellar space,

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we where temperatures plummet far below freezing. It was

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thought that ice formed without any order.

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This form of water was known as low density

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amorphous ice, and the prevailing view

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was that it lacked any internal structure.

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However, that view is now rapidly changing.

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The researchers began by freezing virtual boxes of water

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molecules down to an incredibly chilly

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negative 120 degrees Celsius. This

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allowed them to simulate how ice forms at various

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rates. Some simulations indeed produced

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nearly perfect disordered ice. But others

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revealed something fascinating. Tiny crystals

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roughly 3 nanometers wide that's just slightly larger than

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a strand of DNA, began to form within the chaos.

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The result that most accurately matched existing X ray

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diffraction data wasn't fully disordered ice.

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Instead, it was found to be approximately 20%

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crystalline and 80% amorphous.

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Dr. Michael B. Davies, the lead author of this pivotal study,

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noted, we now have a good idea of what the most

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common form of ice in the universe looks like at an

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atomic level. He emphasised the importance

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of this finding, explaining that ice is involved in

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many cosmological processes, for instance, in how

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planets form, how galaxies evolve, and

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how Matter moves around the universe. The

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team didn't stop at simulations. They

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meticulously created real samples of amorphous ice in

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their lab using several methods. One method

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directly mimicked how ice forms in space by

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depositing water vapour onto a surface chilled far below

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freezing. Another involved crushing normal

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ice at very low temperatures to produce high density

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amorphous ice. After creating both

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types, the researchers carefully warmed the samples,

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allowing crystals to develop. Here's where it got even

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more interesting. They observed that each sample

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produced a different crystal pattern once it warmed.

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This was a critical observation. If the ice

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had truly been fully amorphous, completely without any

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order, it shouldn't have retained any memory of

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its earlier form. But because it did,

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the scientists concluded that even space ice,

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despite its seemingly shapeless appearance, retains

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some hidden structure within. As Professor

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Christoph Salzman, a co author of the study, put it,

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ice can remember its previous structure. The order

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of hydrogen atoms in a crystalline state can be preserved even

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as conditions change. This suggests that space

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ice is far more complex than previously thought,

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carrying clues about its origin and the environment in which

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it formed. These findings have significant

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implications, particularly for theories regarding the origin

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of life beyond Earth. One prominent theory, known

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as panspermia, suggests that life's essential

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ingredients, such as amino acids, may

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have arrived on Earth from space, perhaps carried by

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comets. This idea relies on space

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ice being able to effectively trap and protect

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complex molecules during their long journeys across

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the cosmos. However, this new

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discovery complicates that idea slightly.

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As Dr. Davies explained, our, uh, findings suggest

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this ice would be a less good transport material for these

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origin of life molecules. That is because a

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partly crystalline structure has less space space in which

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these ingredients could become embedded. While this might

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weaken the panspermia argument slightly, it doesn't rule it out

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entirely. Davies added that the

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theory could still hold true, as there are amorphous

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regions in the ice where life's building blocks could be trapped and

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stored. Ultimately, these

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results provide a more realistic picture of the conditions

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life's precursors might encounter while travelling through the vast

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emptiness of space. The implications of this

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research extend far beyond just the origin of life.

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Amorphous materials are incredibly common in modern

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technology. For example, the glass used in

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fibre optic cables, which transmit data across

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the globe, must remain in a disordered state for

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optimal performance. If these materials

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contain tiny hidden crystals that could affect their performance,

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understanding how to remove them could lead to significant

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advancements and better technology.

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Professor Saltzman also highlighted this,

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stating, our results also raise questions

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about amorphous materials. In general, these

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materials have important uses in much advanced technology.

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If they do contain tiny crystals and we can remove

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them, this will improve their performance.

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Furthermore, this knowledge could help space agencies

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design more effective spacecraft. Ice in

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space isn't just a passive substance. It has the potential

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to serve as radiation shielding or even as a source of

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fuel. If broken down into hydrogen and oxygen.

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Knowing more about its various forms and structural properties

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could lead to smarter and more efficient uses for this vital

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cosmic resource. As Dr. Davies

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noted, ice is potentially a high performance

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material in space. It could shield

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spacecraft from radiation or provide fuel

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in the form of hydrogen and oxygen. So we need to

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know about its various forms and properties.

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Next up today, let's take a look at launch plans. As

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you well know, we're constantly looking to the future in

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space, and some truly ambitious plans are on the

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horizon. Chinese scientists have put forward a

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fascinating proposal for the country's very first

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ice giant mission. Their goal is to launch a

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radioisotope powered spacecraft by

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2033, destined to orbit

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Neptune and conduct an in depth study of its

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mysterious moon Triton. This

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mission promises to shed new light on one of the most distant

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and least understood worlds in our solar system.

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Closer to home, it's been a bustling period for rocket launches.

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Even in what was described as a quiet week for orbital

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flights, SpaceX recently

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achieved a monumental milestone, completing the

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500th orbital flight of its workhorse Falcon

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9 rocket launchers. This incredible feat was part of their

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Starlink Group 1028 mission, which lifted

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off from Cape Canaveral Space force station.

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The Falcon 9 has certainly earned its reputation,

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celebrating over 15 years since its

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inaugural flight in June 2010.

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This 500th launch saw Booster

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B1077 make its 22nd

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flight, a testament to the reusability pioneered by

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SpaceX. With the Booster aiming for its

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490th recovery attempt on the drone ship,

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a shortfall of gravitas in late June,

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SpaceX also set new records with back to back launches

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from Florida and California, marking their 80th and

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81st Falcon missions of the year. They even achieved

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a new pad turnaround record of just over 56 hours

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at Space Launch Complex 40. This

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relentless pace has contributed to a significant increase in

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global launch cadence, with 142

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orbital launches worldwide in the first half of the year,

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a 16% jump compared to 2024.

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Keep an eye out as another Falcon 9 launch is

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anticipated soon, possibly carrying the Israeli

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Dror 1 communications satellite into geostationary

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transfer orbit. Meanwhile, on the other side of the

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world, Australia is gearing up for a historic moment

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in its space programme. Gilmour Space

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is preparing for the highly anticipated maiden launch

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of its Eris small satellite rocket.

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This will be their second attempt after the previous one in May

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was postponed due to a power surge

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that prematurely triggered the fairing separation system,

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an issue that has since been successfully mitigated.

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The Eris rocket is set to lift off from the

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Bowen Orbital Spaceport at Abbott Point,

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making it the first orbital launch from Australian soil

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performed by a sovereign built vehicle. Standing

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at 25 metres tall and boasting a payload

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capacity of up to 215 kilogrammes to a

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500 kilometre sun synchron orbit,

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Eris is comparable in size and capability to Rocket

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Lab's Electron. Its first stage is propelled by

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four proprietary Sirius Hybrid engines which

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use a unique 3D printed solid fuel grain

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and hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizer.

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A successful orbital launch would also mark a significant

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first for a hybrid rocket design showcasing a

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new frontier in propulsion technology.

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Now let's turn our gaze to the night sky, because

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July 2025 promises a spectacular lunar

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event. The Full Moon, affectionately known as the

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Buck Moon, is set to rise on Wednesday, July 10.

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This celestial display is perfect for both seasoned

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stargazers and budding astrophotographers.

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A full moon occurs when our moon is perfectly

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positioned opposite the sun in the sky,

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allowing it to appear completely

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illuminated from our perspective here on Earth.

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The Buck Moon gets its evocative name from

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the time of year in North America when male

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deer or bucks are actively growing out their

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impressive antlers. It's also sometimes referred to

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as the Thunder Moon, a nod to the frequent summer

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storms that rumble across parts of the US In July

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this year. The Buck Moon holds another distinction. It

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arrives less than a week after Earth reaches aphelion,

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its farthest point from the sun in its orbit, making

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it the most distant Full Moon from the sun in

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2025. While the Moon technically reaches its

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fullest phase at 4:36pm Eastern

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Daylight Time or 20:36

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GMT on July 10, it won't be visible to

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us until it rises above the southern horizon at

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sunset in your local time zone. For

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instance, if you're in New York City, you can expect moonrise

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around 8:53pm local time.

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Remember that exact timings for moon phases can vary

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depending on your location, so it's always a good idea to

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check a trusted website like in the sky.org or

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timeanddate.com for precise local timings.

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You might notice something particularly striking about July's Full

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moon. It will appear exceptionally low in the

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sky after sunset. This phenomenon is largely

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due to its proximity to the summer solstice, the time

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when the sun is at its highest point in the daytime sky.

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Consequently, the Moon tracks a correspondingly low

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path through the night. This effect is even more

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pronounced in 2025 thanks to a fascinating

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occurrence known as a major lunar standstill.

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This happens approximately every 18.6 years

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when the Sun's gravity influences the Moon's tilted

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orbit, pushing it to its most extreme inclination

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relative to Earth's celestial equator. This

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orbital dance causes the Moon to appear either

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exceptionally high or, as in this case,

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notably low in our sky, depending on the time of year.

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As you observe the Buck Moon, especially in the hours

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following moonrise on July 10, you might experience

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a common optical illusion, the Moon

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illusion. This is when the lunar disc

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appears larger than it actually is when it's positioned

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close to the horizon. Our brains,

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for reasons still debated by scientists, trick us

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into thinking it's bigger than it appears when directly

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overhead, even though its actual size in the night

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sky remains constant. You might also notice

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the Buck Moon take on a beautiful golden or reddish hue

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shortly after it rises. This warm coloration

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is caused by Rayleigh scattering, the very same

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atmospheric effect that paints our sunsets and sunrises

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with vibrant colours. When the moonlight reflected off

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the Moon's surface travels through more of Earth's atmosphere

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to reach us at the horizon, the shorter,

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bluer wavelengths of light are scattered away,

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allowing the longer, redder wavelengths to pass through

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more directly beyond the enchanting

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00:18:47.750 --> 00:18:50.720
display of the Buck Moon. The this month also marks

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a significant anniversary in human spaceflight

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history. The 56th anniversary of the

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Apollo 11 moon landing. On

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July 20, 1969, Neil

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Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk

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on the Moon, while Michael Collins expertly

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orbited above. To commemorate this

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incredible achievement, we invite you to try and locate

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the six historic Apollo era landing sites on on

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the lunar surface. With the naked eye,

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you can often spot the general region visited by each

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Apollo mission, but if you have access to a 6

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inch telescope, it will greatly enhance your viewing

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experience, helping to reveal finer

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00:19:29.530 --> 00:19:32.330
details in the rugged moonscapes and smooth lunar

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seas surrounding each of these historic zones.

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It's a wonderful way to connect with a pivotal moment in our

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shared human journey of exploration.

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That's all for this episode of Astronomy Daily. We hope

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you enjoyed our journey through cosmic origins, the

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00:19:47.050 --> 00:19:49.850
secrets of space ice, and the latest in space

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exploration and sky watching. A quick reminder

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before I log off Visit Astronomy Daily

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00:19:55.410 --> 00:19:58.050
IO to sign up for our free daily newsletter and

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00:19:58.050 --> 00:20:00.850
explore all our back episodes. Remember to

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00:20:00.850 --> 00:20:03.370
subscribe to Astronomy Daily on Apple Podcasts,

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00:20:03.370 --> 00:20:05.850
Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your

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00:20:05.850 --> 00:20:08.730
podcasts. Until tomorrow, this is Anna reminding you

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to keep looking up and marvelling at our wonderful

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universe.