S03E41: Hubble's Gyro Grit & TESS's Troubles: A Tale of Cosmic Tenacity

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Welcome to Astronomy Daily, the podcast
your celestial guide to the latest happenings in

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the boundless depths of space. This
episode is a cosmic journey through the most

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recent astronomical discoveries and milestones that continue
to shape our understanding of the universe.

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Today, we'll delve into the triumphant
revival of the Hubble Space Telescope and the

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mysterious challenges faced by NASA's very own
exoplanet sentinel tests. We'll probe the concerning

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anomalies discovered in NASA's Artemis one mission
and explore what the future holds for lunar

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exploration. Strap yourselves in as we
ride the high of success with NASA's high

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Sea Flare sounding rocket, shedding unprecedented
light on the vibrant drama of solar flares.

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We'll unravel the cosmic mystery behind a
peculiar binary star system that defies our

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established models of stellar evolution. And
finally, we'll travel close to home with

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NASA's Lucy spacecraft to uncover the youthful
secrets of an asteroid moonlight, changing what

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we thought we knew about our solar
neighborhood. Prepare to embark on an interstellar

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Voyage where the wonders of the Cosmos
come alive. Stay tuned as we navigate

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through the stars right here on Astronomy
Daily, the podcast The Autonomy Podcast.

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In a Space of Joy and Caution, NASA's venerable Hubble Space Telescope has been

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restored to full functionality, once again
peering into the depths of the cosmos.

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After a suspenseful week operating in safe
mode, engineers skillfully resolved a perplexing gyroscope

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glitch that had seized Hubble's gaze on
April twenty third, an issue which alludes

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to the telescope's storied past and its
ongoing tale of technological resilience. These gyroscopes

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are like celestial compasses, essential for
the telescope's precision, and revivifying them was

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a nod to the legacy of Hubble's
thirty four US survey of the stars.

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As each of Hubble's instruments hummed back
to life, the scientific community sighed in

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relief, celebrating the continuation of a
mission that has profoundly expanded our understanding of

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the universe. Yet, as Hubble
triumphantly resumes its cosmic watch, concern lingers

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for its planetary sentinel sibling the Transiting
Exoplanet Survey satellite TESTS, in a striking

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coincidence, Test two suspended its search
for distant worlds on the very same day

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as Hubble's safe mode initiation. The
roots of Tests's operational pause remained shrouded in

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mystery, with investigation efforts fervently underway
to decode the cause of the satellite silence

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and reactivate its mission to catalog extrasolar
realms. Such interruptions are not new guests

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to Tess's journey. In April alone, a separate incident had coerced the Exoplanet

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Hunter into standby, a scenario from
which it briefly emerged, only to relapse

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into stasis. NASA's probe into whether
these incidents share a common thread is a

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testament to the iterative pursuit of discovery, a pursuit that, despite setbacks,

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marches inexorably onward. Reflecting on milestones, both Hubble and Tests have recently crossed

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anniversary thresholds, marking places in time
that stand as testaments to human ingenuity and

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the ceaseless quest for knowledge. Test
commemorated its sixth year in orbit on April

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eighteenth, a mission launched atop the
power of a space X Falcon nine and

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entrusted with the grand task of unveiling
the secrets of distant worlds. Hubble,

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a titan among telescopes, observed thirty
four years in space. Just six days

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later, as test lingers in a
tentative state, NASA issued an expression of

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interest call on April thirtieth, seeking
guidance on scientific objectives to prioritize during its

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third and fourth extended mission periods,
a clear signal of NASA's commitment to Tests's

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mission despite its current operation challenges.
Such anniversaries not only celebrate the past,

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but invigorate the future. With extended
missions unfolding, Hubble continues to unfurl the

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mysteries of the universe, while Tests, ever, the intrepid explorer, patiently

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awaits its return to the frontier of
exoplanetary science. The dance of these celestial

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watchkeepers, one in steadfast observation,
the other poise to resume its watch is

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a reminder of the delicate, yet
determined nature of our cosmic odyssey. Shifting

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gears. Let's delve into the Artemis
one mission, a critical precursor to returning

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astronauts to the Moon. However,
with great ambition comes great complexity, and

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recent findings suggest there are obstacles to
overcome. Notably, the Orion spacecraft's heat

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shield encountered unforeseen challenges during its lunar
voyage. Upon re entry to Earth's atmosphere,

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over one hundred areas on the shield
displayed unexpected were, raising concerns over

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the materials used to protect the craft
from the fiery descent, a site to

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behold. As Oryan re entered,
its heat shield bore the scorching marks of

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its journey, jettisoning charred material,
some of which clung briefly to the capsule's

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windows. NASA is proactive in its
approach, modifying the heat shield to prevent

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recurrence, Yet the concerns extend beyond
the shield itself, touching on the bolts

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connecting the crew capsule to its service
module. Adjustments are being made to counteract

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unwonted melting around these crucial components.
Moving inward, the electrical distribution anomalies that

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surfaced cannot be overlooked. The spacecraft's
transit was marred by episodes affecting power management,

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suspected to be induced by radiation.
This revelation led NASA to craft operational

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workarounds, while caution is advised against
potential loss of redundancy or even propulsion and

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pressurization. Highlighting the critical importance of
a permanent hardware solution, The Office of

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Inspector General's report pulls no punches.
It stresses the need for NASA to closely

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monitor the process from development to testing
of the Artemis two hardware for the safety

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of future crew members. It is
imperative this methodical advancement, however, is

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not without its temporal costs. Delays
have arisen, which in turn impact subsequent

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missions as anticipated dates are revised.
With Artemis two now slated for September twenty

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twenty five, the Artemis I three
mission may not grace the Moon until the

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latter half of the decade at the
earliest. It's worth acknowledging the unforeseen latency

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in the communication sphere as well.
A hair raising four point five hour loss

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of connection between Orion and mission control
courtesy of an outage at a deep space

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network facility serves as a reminder of
the vast and perilous nature of space exploration.

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The report from the Inspector General's Office
lays bare the challenges on our path

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to the Moon. It underlines the
significance of meticulous preparation. Our pursuits in

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the Cosmos are as fraught with peril, as they are propelled by hope and

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perseverance. With each test and trial, NASA inches closer to safeguarding future lunar

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explorers, ensuring that the precipice of
space exploration is met with unwavering resolve and

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robust technology. In a solar spectacle
of truly unprecedented detail, NASA's High Resolution

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Coronal Immager Flare mission, affectionately dubbed
High Sea Flare, has given scientists and

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astronomers a never before seen view of
solar flare intricacies. After a thorough preparation

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period and following its predecessor's flight several
years prior, the High Sea Flare mission

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blasted off from Alaska's Poker Flat Research
Range aboard the Black Brant ninth Sounding rocket.

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It is no small feat that the
advanced low noise cameras precisely crafted at

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NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center were part
of such a revolutionary experiment. The aims

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were ambitious, yet crystal clear,
to peel back the layers shrouding the immensely

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energetic phenomena of solar flares. Under
the leadership of Marshal and with Sabrina Savage

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at the Helm as principal investigator,
this campaign marked the first of its kind,

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leveraging sounding rockets specifically to capture the
fleeting but fierce dance of solar flares

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with a suite of state of the
art instruments including kool Aid, Caprice,

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Sun and Saxy. The hope was
to tease apart the mysteries of the Sun's

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tantrums, the meticulous integration of the
payload, and the intense observational planning in

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New Mexico crescendoed in Alaska, where
a strict launch window demanded near perfection in

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timing and conditions. Every morning of
the two week window, a five hour

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marathon ensued to prepare the rocket.
Hours more were spent with eagle eyes on

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solar data for that ideal flare,
a C five class or higher. The

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dedication of the team was palpable.
The tension that gripped them as they awaited

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the Sun's display was nearly as electric
as the flares they sought to study,

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and finally, the Sun complied,
gifting a gorgeous M class flare. As

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the campaign neared its conclusion, launched
one minute shy of a tandem mission.

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The high High See Flare rockets soared, stabilizing its sensors and cameras as it

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carved through the atmosphere with precision.
Five minutes of unparalleled data were collected before

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the journey back to Earth, the
rocket resting in the Alaskan tundra awaiting retrieval

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and the subsequent awe inspiring analysis.
The success of High Sea Flare is nothing

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short of monumental. The raw,
unfiltered data brought forth are indeed beautiful,

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but the methodology that brought us here
is worth its own spot in sunlight.

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A new algorithm predicting solar flare behavior
ensured the rocket launched at just the right

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moment. It was a gamble against
nature's unpredictability, warranting a strategy no one

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had dared to attempt prior. But
as history smiles upon, the bold High

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Sea Flare now proudly fortifies that adage. The critical insights gleaned from this mission

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will undoubtedly reverberate throughout solar research,
as the data from kool Aid and other

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instruments already seemed to exceed all expectations, and it's with bated breath that we

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the cosmic community, wait for the
full unveiling of knowledge from this extraordinary mission.

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It's a testament to the ingenuity at
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and an

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inspiration sparking curiosity about what remains beyond
our grasp in the boundless expanse above yes

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RNY Daily Podcast. In today's episode, we're delving into the celestial drama hidden

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deep within the Dragon's egg nebula,
a name as evocative as the mystery it

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harbors. At the heart of this
nebula lies a binary star known as HD

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one four eight nine three seven,
an astronomical duo surrounded by a cloud of

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enigmas challenging our understanding of stellar evolution. The twins nestled inside this stellar cocoon

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are young, hot blue giants,
their combined radiance visible through even modest telescopes.

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But take a closer look and things
start to unravel in the most peculiar

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ways. To unwrap the mystery,
let's consider the nebula that enfolds these stars,

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typically nebulaly born from stellar nurseries are
rich in molecular hydrogen, but the

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dragon's egg nebula presents us with a
conundrum. It's laced with heavier elements such

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as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon
elements usually forged in the crucible of ancient

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dying stars, which our two characters
most certainly are not. Doctor Abigail Frost

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of the European Southern Observatory has been
examining the physics of this binary pair and

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the nebula that embraces them, and
she has noticed some stark irregularities. One

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puzzling anomaly is the magnetic field in
shrouding the larger of the two stars.

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You see, a powerful magnetic field
in a massive star like this is quite

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the cosmic outlaw. Our current understanding
says there shouldn't be enough chaotic roiling within

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these stellar titans to generate such a
field, and yet it unmistakably exists.

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This magnetic star also spins at a
pace that defies the slowing effects of its

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own magnetic grip, an unexpected and
thrilling twist to our stellar tail. In

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a profound twist, evidence points to
the larger star being significantly younger than its

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companion by about one point five million
years, which throws a wrench into the

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gears of astrophysics. Both should have
emerged at the same time from the same

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interstellar womb. Such inconsistencies hint at
a remarkable history, seemingly inscribed within the

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very fabric of the nebula itself.
So how does one reconcile these contradictions,

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these breaches against the laws of stellar
physics. Doctor Frost and her team believe

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the answer lies in a cataclysmic event, an event so extreme it stretches the

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imagination. They propose that the system
was originally not a duo, but a

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trio of stars. In a twist
of fate, aligning gravity, velocity,

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and sheer chance, two stars gravitated
towards each other, colliding with stupendous force.

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This cosmic clash not only forged the
magnetic field and sent the large star

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into a rapid spin, but it
also expelled the heavier, fused elements,

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casting them out to fabricate the nebula
we observe today In the aftermath. The

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collision and subsequent merger of the two
stars would result in the apparition of youth

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seen in the larger star, a
deception of astronomical proportions, and the third

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star, previously a more distant spectator, now finds itself locked in an orbital

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dance with the newly unified pair,
creating the binary system central to the Dragon's

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egg nebula. Each of these observations, alluding to a stellar story of destruction

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and rebirth, offers support for the
hypothesis of a triple star system reduced to

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a binary through a violent merging.
The magnitude of their discovery is monumental,

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as it affords us a rare glimpse
into the chaotic yet inherently beautiful life cycles

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of the stars, inviting us to
reconsider what we thought we knew about the

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heavens, turning our sites now to
a celestial pair in the vastness of space.

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Let's recount a tale of a recent
paradisiac discovery by NASA's intrepid Lucy mission.

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In the deep cosmic sea, where
astral bodies dance, a near Earth

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asteroid named Dinkinesh has revealed itself to
not be a lone traveler, but rather

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accompanied by a diminutive moonlight an affectionate
partner dubbed Selam, the exhale of Awe

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that followed this revelation was countered by
a collective inhale of curiosity. Just how

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old might this pairing be. Scientists
wielding a blend of astute observation and meticulous

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computation have deduced that Salam's genesis from
its larger companion occurred a mere two to

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three million years ago. In the
time worn clockwork of the Solar System,

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Salaam is but an infant, its
cradle still swirling from the dusts of its

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creation. This asteroid's tender years stand
in stark contrast to the grand age of

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the Solar system we call home.
Colby Merril, a doctoral candidate dancing with

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the shadows of these rocky bodies,
led the charge in this cosmic detective story.

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His technique was innovative, ischeeing the
well trodden path of crater, counting

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for a dynamic simulation of orbital mechanics, encapsulating a myriad of scenarios within a

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digital crucible. The figure sustained the
youth of this cosmic child, Salaam,

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possibly younger than the skeletal echoes of
our own ancestry, embodied by the renowned

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Austrolopithecus Afphorensis. As Sealam's narrative unfolds, we are reminded that within the asteroid

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belt's cacophony lies a symphony of binary
systems, Sealam and Dinkinesh being just one

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of the estimated fifteen percent of such
duos. Each celestial dance tells a story,

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and in Selam's tender beginnings, we
see a narrative that deepens our grasp

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of asteroidal kinship and concoction. The
Lucy Mission presses onward in its grand voyage,

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a carousel ride through our solar system's
recesses. This journey of exploration continues

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not just for the craft, but
for us all. Each revelation of verse

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added to the grand chronicle of our
universe. As the cosmos whispers its secrets,

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we listen, etching new understanding into
the annals of our collective knowledge.

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And that wraps up today's journey across
the universe. With Astronomy Daily, the

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podcast, thank you for tuning in
and indulging your curiosity with the latest celestial

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findings and space explorations. We've traversed
from the recovery of NASA's venerable Hubble space

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telescope to the youthful dance of asteroids
in our own solar neighborhood testament to the

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boundless wonders above us. To continue
the adventure and keep your stargazing spirit alight,

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I invite you to visit our website
at Astronomy Daily dot io. There

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you'll not only find more riveting space
news, but you can also listen to

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past episodes and most crucially, become
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button to join our constellation of followers eager

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for their daily dose of astronomy.
Until next time, keep looking up and

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questioning the stars. This has been
Astronomy Daily, the podcast, and I'm

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anna your host, signing off with
a reminder that the universe is always just

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a podcast away, clear skies and
cosmic dreams. Everyone, Sunday, Star

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is Star is Star.