April 12, 2025

Cosmic Chronicles: Mars’ Rock Samples, Easter’s Unique Date, and the Alpha Centauri Enigma

Cosmic Chronicles: Mars’ Rock Samples, Easter’s Unique Date, and the Alpha Centauri Enigma
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Cosmic Chronicles: Mars’ Rock Samples, Easter’s Unique Date, and the Alpha Centauri Enigma

Astronomy Daily | Space News: S04E88

In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on an enthralling expedition across the cosmos, unveiling the latest discoveries and intriguing phenomena that are expanding our understanding of the universe. From the surface of Mars to the depths of black holes, this episode is a treasure trove of astronomical insights that will captivate your imagination.

Highlights:

- Perseverance Rover's Discoveries on Mars: Join us as we delve into the latest findings from NASA's Perseverance rover, which has uncovered a variety of rocky outcrops on the rim of Jezero Crater. These samples are providing critical insights into Mars's geological history and the potential for past life on the Red Planet.

- The Astronomical Origins of Easter: Explore the fascinating intersection of astronomy and tradition as we explain why Easter 2025 will occur unusually late. Learn about the Paschal Moon and how ecclesiastical rules influence the celebration of this ancient holiday.

- Interstellar Objects from Alpha Centauri: Discover groundbreaking research suggesting that millions of interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri may be residing in our solar system. This study reshapes our understanding of cosmic interactions and the interconnectedness of star systems.

- Citizen Science Month: April is Citizen Science Month, and we discuss NASA's ambitious goal of achieving one million acts of science. Find out how you can contribute to real astronomical discoveries and become part of a global scientific community. To find out more visit: https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/ (https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/)

- Supermassive Black Hole Eruptions: Witness the dramatic awakening of a supermassive black hole, which has produced the most powerful X-ray eruptions ever recorded. This extraordinary event is challenging existing scientific models and providing new insights into black hole dynamics.

For more cosmic updates, visit our website at astronomydaily.io (http://www.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.

00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - Perseverance rover's discoveries on Jezero Crater

10:30 - The astronomical origins of Easter 2025

17:00 - Interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri

22:15 - Citizen Science Month initiatives

27:30 - Supermassive black hole eruptions

✍️ Episode References

Mars Perseverance Rover

[NASA]( https://www.nasa.gov (https://www.nasa.gov/) )

Easter and Astronomy

[The Church of England]( https://www.churchofengland.org/ (https://www.churchofengland.org/) )

Interstellar Research

[Planetary Science Journal]( https://www.planetarysciencejournal.com/ (https://www.planetarysciencejournal.com/) )

Citizen Science Projects

[NASA Citizen Science]( https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science (https://science.nasa.gov/citizen-science/) )

Black Hole Observations

[Nature Astronomy]( https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/ (https://www.nature.com/natureastronomy/) )

Astronomy Daily

[Astronomy Daily]( http://www.astronomydaily.io/ (http://www.astronomydaily.io/) )


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-exciting-space-discoveries-and-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .

Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/26576857?utm_source=youtube

00:00 - Welcome to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - Perseverance rover’s discoveries on Jezero Crater

10:30 - The astronomical origins of Easter 2025

17:00 - Interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.149
hello and welcome to Astronomy Daily


00:00:02.159 --> 00:00:05.269
your gateway to the cosmos i'm Anna and


00:00:05.279 --> 00:00:07.190
today we're exploring some fascinating


00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:09.350
developments across our universe from


00:00:09.360 --> 00:00:11.390
our neighboring planets to distant


00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:14.070
galaxies coming up on today's episode


00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:15.669
we'll venture to Mars where the


00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:17.750
Perseverance rover has discovered


00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.070
diverse rocky outcrops on the rim of


00:00:20.080 --> 00:00:22.630
Jezero Crater providing new insights


00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.349
into the red planet's ancient history


00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:27.269
we'll also dive into some celestial


00:00:27.279 --> 00:00:29.349
mathematics to explain why Easter will


00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:32.310
come unusually late this year despite


00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:34.630
the timing of the full moon it's a


00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:36.630
fascinating intersection of astronomy


00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.830
and tradition then we'll explore


00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:41.750
research suggesting that millions of


00:00:41.760 --> 00:00:44.470
interstellar objects from Alpha Centauri


00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:46.790
might be hiding in our own solar system


00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:48.310
creating connections between star


00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:51.110
systems we never imagined april is


00:00:51.120 --> 00:00:53.270
Citizen Science Month and I'll tell you


00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.750
how you can join NASA's ambitious goal


00:00:55.760 --> 00:00:58.630
of achieving 1 million acts of science


00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:01.229
and become part of real astronomical


00:01:01.239 --> 00:01:03.910
discoveries finally we'll witness the


00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.630
dramatic awakening of a super massive


00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:08.630
black hole erupting with the most


00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.190
powerful X-ray blasts ever recorded


00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:13.109
challenging scientists understanding of


00:01:13.119 --> 00:01:15.670
these cosmic behemoths so buckle up for


00:01:15.680 --> 00:01:17.510
a journey across the cosmos as we


00:01:17.520 --> 00:01:19.030
explore the latest discoveries and


00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.030
wonders of our universe let's get


00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:22.910
started with our favorite red


00:01:22.920 --> 00:01:25.590
planet nasa's Perseverance rover has


00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:27.510
made a remarkable discovery on the rim


00:01:27.520 --> 00:01:30.390
of Mars' Jazerero Crater stumbling upon


00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:32.230
a treasure trove of diverse rocky


00:01:32.240 --> 00:01:34.390
outcrops that have scientists buzzing


00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:36.870
with excitement since January this


00:01:36.880 --> 00:01:38.630
plucky little rover has been analyzing


00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:41.190
what scientists describe as a hodgepodge


00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.429
of rocks on the crater rim and the


00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.630
findings are proving more valuable than


00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.749
anticipated perseverance has been


00:01:47.759 --> 00:01:50.469
working at an impressive pace cing five


00:01:50.479 --> 00:01:52.550
rocks and successfully sealing samples


00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:54.950
from three of them in collection tubes


00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:56.789
it has conducted detailed close-up


00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:59.270
analysis of seven rocks while assessing


00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:01.350
another 83 from a distance using its


00:02:01.360 --> 00:02:03.590
laser technology while this might not


00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:05.190
sound like a substantial workload over


00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.749
several months NASA reports this has


00:02:07.759 --> 00:02:09.350
actually been the rover's fastest


00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.589
science mission since landing on the red


00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:12.750
planet in


00:02:12.760 --> 00:02:15.750
2021 the rover reached the crater rim in


00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:19.030
December 2024 and has been exploring a


00:02:19.040 --> 00:02:21.910
135 m tall slope that scientists have


00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:25.190
nicknamed Witch Hazel Hill what makes


00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:26.949
this location so special is the


00:02:26.959 --> 00:02:29.030
remarkable variety of rock types found


00:02:29.040 --> 00:02:31.910
in close proximity to each other project


00:02:31.920 --> 00:02:33.910
scientist Katie Stack Morgan from NASA's


00:02:33.920 --> 00:02:36.270
Jet Propulsion Laboratory explains the


00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:38.390
significance during previous science


00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:40.229
campaigns in Jezero it could take


00:02:40.239 --> 00:02:41.830
several months to find a rock that was


00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:43.190
significantly different from the last


00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:45.190
rock we sampled and scientifically


00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:47.270
unique enough for sampling but up here


00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.190
on the Crater Rim there are new and


00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:50.790
intriguing rocks everywhere the rover


00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:53.030
turns it has been all we had hoped for


00:02:53.040 --> 00:02:55.830
and more the western rim of Jazer Crater


00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:57.670
features numerous fragmented rocks that


00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:00.229
were once molten scientists believe


00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:01.830
these rocks were brought to the surface


00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.710
by meteor impacts billions of years ago


00:03:04.720 --> 00:03:06.869
possibly including the very impact that


00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.910
created Jezero crater itself one


00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:11.589
particularly exciting sample was


00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:14.229
collected on January 28th from a rock


00:03:14.239 --> 00:03:17.430
dubbed Shallow Bay this rock likely


00:03:17.440 --> 00:03:20.229
formed around 3.9 billion years ago


00:03:20.239 --> 00:03:22.229
potentially making it the oldest sample


00:03:22.239 --> 00:03:25.910
collected by the rover so far about 110


00:03:25.920 --> 00:03:28.149
m away from Shallow Bay another


00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.589
intriguing rock caught scientists


00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:31.190
attention because it contains minerals


00:03:31.200 --> 00:03:33.670
that crystallized from magma deep within


00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.309
the Martian crust these diverse mineral


00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:38.869
compositions are crucial for scientists


00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:40.630
attempting to piece together Mars'


00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:43.750
geological history by analyzing these


00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:45.750
rocks researchers hope to better


00:03:45.760 --> 00:03:47.670
understand how the planet formed and


00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:50.470
evolved over billions of years including


00:03:50.480 --> 00:03:51.990
whether conditions were ever suitable


00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:53.910
for life to exist


00:03:53.920 --> 00:03:55.910
the abundance and diversity of these


00:03:55.920 --> 00:03:57.990
rocks will help scientists determine if


00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.550
Mars was once habitable and if it might


00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.229
still harbor environments that could


00:04:02.239 --> 00:04:05.030
support life today each sample provides


00:04:05.040 --> 00:04:06.630
a window into different periods of


00:04:06.640 --> 00:04:08.149
Martian history and different


00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:10.789
environmental conditions as Stack Morgan


00:04:10.799 --> 00:04:13.110
enthusiastically puts it the last four


00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:14.710
months have been a whirlwind for the


00:04:14.720 --> 00:04:16.469
science team and we still feel that


00:04:16.479 --> 00:04:18.310
which Hazel Hill has more to tell us


00:04:18.320 --> 00:04:20.469
we'll use all the rover data gathered


00:04:20.479 --> 00:04:22.230
recently to decide if and where to


00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:23.870
collect the next sample from the crater


00:04:23.880 --> 00:04:27.070
rim crater rims you got to love


00:04:27.080 --> 00:04:29.350
them if you've ever wondered why the


00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.110
date of Easter seems to jump around the


00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.550
calendar from year to year you're not


00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:37.110
alone easter 2025 is coming particularly


00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:40.070
late falling on April 20th and there's a


00:04:40.080 --> 00:04:42.070
fascinating astronomical reason behind


00:04:42.080 --> 00:04:44.550
this mobile holiday easter's date is


00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:46.629
determined by what's known as the Pascal


00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:49.270
moon the first full moon that occurs on


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or after the spring equinox in theory


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Easter should fall on the Sunday


00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:57.030
immediately following this full moon


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this connection between Easter and lunar


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cycles has ancient origins linking the


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Christian celebration to the Hebrew


00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:07.430
calendar and Passover in 2025 the April


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full moon traditionally known as the


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pink full moon will occur on April 12th


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despite its name this moon won't


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actually appear pink the name comes from


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the blooming of moss pink flocks flowers


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that typically coincide with this lunar


00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:24.230
event since this full moon happens after


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the spring equinox it's also the Pascal


00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:27.629
moon for


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2025 given this timing you might expect


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Easter to fall on April 13th the Sunday


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immediately following the Pascal moon


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however Easter 2025 will actually be


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celebrated a full week later on April


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20th this discrepancy highlights the


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complex relationship between


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astronomical observations and


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ecclesiastical rules the explanation


00:05:49.440 --> 00:05:50.870
involves the difference between


00:05:50.880 --> 00:05:52.790
astronomical reality and church


00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.110
tradition while astronomers calculate


00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:57.270
the exact moment of a full moon based on


00:05:57.280 --> 00:05:58.950
the moon's position relative to Earth


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and the sun the church follows


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ecclesiastical tables that don't always


00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.309
align perfectly with astronomical


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events additionally there's a


00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:09.749
geographical factor at play in North


00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:11.830
America the Pascal full moon occurs on


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Saturday April 12th but in European


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longitudes including the Vatican this


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same full moon happens after midnight


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technically placing it on Sunday April


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13th since the first Sunday after the


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Pascal moon in the Old World would be


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April 20th that's when Easter will be


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celebrated globally the rules for


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determining Easter's date have other


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interesting quirks for instance the


00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.870
church fixes the vernal equinox on March


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21st even though astronomically it now


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falls no later than March 20th this can


00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:46.230
lead to some peculiar situations in 2038


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for example the equinox will fall on


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March 20th with a full moon the very


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next day but Easter won't be celebrated


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until April 25th the latest possible


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date it can occur easter can fall as


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early as March 22nd which last happened


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in 1818 and won't happen again until


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2285 and as late as April 25th


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interestingly when Easter occurs in


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March it's always preceded and followed


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by April eers in adjacent years between


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2 and


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7,999 Easter will fall most frequently


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on April 19th occurring on that date 231


00:07:19.400 --> 00:07:22.070
times however if we narrow our focus to


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just this millennium April 16th becomes


00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:26.950
the most common Easter date so when you


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mark Easter 2025 on your calendar for


00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.510
April 20th remember you're participating


00:07:31.520 --> 00:07:33.510
in a tradition that blends ancient


00:07:33.520 --> 00:07:35.270
astronomical observations with


00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:37.510
ecclesiastical calculations a


00:07:37.520 --> 00:07:39.350
fascinating intersection of science and


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faith that continues to evolve through


00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:42.430
the


00:07:42.440 --> 00:07:45.189
centuries next up today have you ever


00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:46.710
wondered if objects from other star


00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:48.390
systems might be passing through our


00:07:48.400 --> 00:07:51.110
cosmic neighborhood a fascinating new


00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.870
study from Western University suggests


00:07:52.880 --> 00:07:54.869
that our solar system could be home to


00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:56.950
millions of interstellar visitors


00:07:56.960 --> 00:07:58.550
primarily from our nearest stellar


00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:01.589
neighbor Alpha Centuri astrophysicists


00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:03.909
Cole Greg and Paul Wagert have developed


00:08:03.919 --> 00:08:05.830
a groundbreaking computer model that


00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:07.670
simulates interstellar activity between


00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:11.029
our solar system and Alpha Centuri their


00:08:11.039 --> 00:08:13.189
research published in the planetary


00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:15.510
science journal this March points to


00:08:15.520 --> 00:08:17.510
Alpha Centtory as a likely source of


00:08:17.520 --> 00:08:19.430
interstellar material found within our


00:08:19.440 --> 00:08:21.909
solar system alpha Centuri is


00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:24.150
particularly interesting because it's a


00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.869
triple star system unlike our single sun


00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.189
arrangement yet the researchers believe


00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:31.430
it might behave similarly to our own


00:08:31.440 --> 00:08:33.750
solar system when it comes to ejecting


00:08:33.760 --> 00:08:37.190
material into space as Greg explains


00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.110
giant planets introduce a degree of


00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.430
chaos perturbing orbits and giving


00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:43.430
objects the velocity boost they need to


00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:46.389
escape their stars gravitational pole


00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.750
the model suggests something truly


00:08:48.760 --> 00:08:51.350
remarkable approximately 1 million


00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.310
interstellar objects larger than 100 m


00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.230
in diameter originating from Alpha


00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.630
Centuri may currently be within our


00:08:58.640 --> 00:09:01.670
solar systems or cloud that vast shell


00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:04.070
of icy objects surrounding our planetary


00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.389
neighborhood and this number is expected


00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:08.389
to increase as Alpha Centuri moves


00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.790
closer to us with its closest approach


00:09:10.800 --> 00:09:13.070
predicted in about 28,000


00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:15.350
years assuming Alpha Centtory is


00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:17.509
ejecting material which it should be


00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:19.110
there are plenty of reasons to expect


00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:20.949
some of that material is making its way


00:09:20.959 --> 00:09:23.750
to us notes Professor Wagert who has


00:09:23.760 --> 00:09:25.670
discovered more than 80 minor planets


00:09:25.680 --> 00:09:28.310
during his career this research builds


00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:30.150
on our understanding of interstellar


00:09:30.160 --> 00:09:32.870
objects that began with the 2017


00:09:32.880 --> 00:09:35.269
discovery of Umuam Mua the first


00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.509
confirmed interstellar visitor spotted


00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:40.949
by Western scientist Robert Werick um


00:09:40.959 --> 00:09:43.350
Mua a reddish object estimated to be


00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:46.870
between 100 and 1,000 m long was just


00:09:46.880 --> 00:09:48.790
the first glimpse of what could be a


00:09:48.800 --> 00:09:51.509
much larger population of interstellar


00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:53.430
wanderers before you worry about


00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:55.670
interstellar impacts the researchers


00:09:55.680 --> 00:09:58.550
offer reassurance their model projects


00:09:58.560 --> 00:10:00.470
that while as many as 10 meteors from


00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.150
Alpha Centuri might enter Earth's


00:10:02.160 --> 00:10:04.509
atmosphere annually these would be


00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.790
microscopic no larger than 100


00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:09.829
micrometers in size in fact only about


00:10:09.839 --> 00:10:11.829
one in a trillion meteors striking Earth


00:10:11.839 --> 00:10:14.470
might originate from Alpha Centtory the


00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:16.310
real significance of this research lies


00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:18.150
in how it transforms our understanding


00:10:18.160 --> 00:10:21.030
of cosmic systems as Greg eloquently


00:10:21.040 --> 00:10:22.710
puts it throughout the history of


00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:25.110
astronomy every time we look at a system


00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:27.509
we think of it as a closed system the


00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:29.350
galaxy isn't a collection of all these


00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:32.069
individual star systems rather they


00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:33.990
should be studied as an interconnected


00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:36.230
system one that shares all of this


00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:38.590
interstellar material among the


00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.190
stars this interconnected view of our


00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:43.670
galaxy challenges the traditional notion


00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:47.030
of star systems as isolated entities


00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:49.910
instead it suggests a cosmic ecosystem


00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:52.069
where matter regularly travels between


00:10:52.079 --> 00:10:54.790
neighboring stars creating a complex web


00:10:54.800 --> 00:10:56.870
of interstellar exchange that has been


00:10:56.880 --> 00:10:58.990
ongoing for billions of


00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.430
years next something you may like to


00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:04.230
take part in april marks a special time


00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:06.710
for science enthusiasts around the world


00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.190
it's citizen science month and NASA is


00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:10.710
embarking on an ambitious mission


00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.389
they're calling 1 million acts of


00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.110
science this initiative aims to harness


00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.870
the collective power of volunteers


00:11:16.880 --> 00:11:18.710
everywhere to help solve some of


00:11:18.720 --> 00:11:21.190
astronomy's greatest mysteries citizen


00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.710
science represents a beautiful


00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.310
intersection of professional research


00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.790
and public participation through these


00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:29.030
programs ordinary people like you and me


00:11:29.040 --> 00:11:30.550
can contribute meaningfully to


00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:32.710
scientific discovery without specialized


00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.430
degrees or equipment nasa's citizen


00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.430
science projects are designed to address


00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:40.069
real world problems protect our planet


00:11:40.079 --> 00:11:42.550
and unravel the secrets of the universe


00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:45.670
the concept is simple yet powerful by


00:11:45.680 --> 00:11:47.750
distributing scientific tasks across


00:11:47.760 --> 00:11:50.470
thousands of volunteers researchers can


00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.310
accomplish what would be impossible for


00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:55.030
even the largest professional teams your


00:11:55.040 --> 00:11:56.790
contribution combined with others around


00:11:56.800 --> 00:11:59.190
the globe creates a formidable force for


00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:01.910
scientific advancement so what exactly


00:12:01.920 --> 00:12:04.389
counts as an act of science it could be


00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.910
as straightforward as categorizing


00:12:05.920 --> 00:12:07.910
galaxies based on their shapes


00:12:07.920 --> 00:12:10.230
identifying features on Mars tracking


00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.230
changes in cloud patterns or monitoring


00:12:12.240 --> 00:12:14.949
light pollution in your local area many


00:12:14.959 --> 00:12:16.629
projects require nothing more than a


00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:19.110
smartphone and a curious mind what makes


00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.030
these initiatives particularly valuable


00:12:21.040 --> 00:12:23.430
is that they're not just busy work the


00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:25.269
data collected through citizen science


00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.430
efforts has led to genuine discoveries


00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.509
and appears in peer-reviewed scientific


00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.150
publications your contributions help


00:12:32.160 --> 00:12:34.790
NASA scientists understand our changing


00:12:34.800 --> 00:12:37.670
planet identify new asteroids study


00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:39.990
distant galaxies and monitor space


00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:42.710
weather the beauty of citizen science is


00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.350
its accessibility projects are designed


00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.069
to accommodate various interests time


00:12:48.079 --> 00:12:50.550
commitments and skill levels whether you


00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:52.230
have 5 minutes while waiting for your


00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.790
coffee or want to dedicate several hours


00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:57.190
each week there's a project perfectly


00:12:57.200 --> 00:12:59.990
suited to your availability if you're


00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.069
interested in participating NASA's


00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:03.990
citizen science website offers a


00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.629
comprehensive directory of active


00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:07.829
projects from helping classify


00:13:07.839 --> 00:13:09.670
exoplanets to tracking wildlife


00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:11.910
responses to solar eclipses the


00:13:11.920 --> 00:13:13.670
diversity of opportunities means you're


00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:15.269
bound to find something that captures


00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:17.670
your imagination by joining this


00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:19.230
worldwide community of citizen


00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.430
scientists you become part of something


00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.590
much larger than yourself a global


00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.509
effort to expand human knowledge and


00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.030
address some of our most pressing


00:13:27.040 --> 00:13:29.590
challenges and during this special month


00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.269
celebrating citizen science your


00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:33.350
participation helps NASA reach that


00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.910
ambitious goal of 1 million scientific


00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:38.949
contributions remember science isn't


00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:40.629
just for professional researchers in


00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:43.750
labs it belongs to all of us and through


00:13:43.760 --> 00:13:45.910
citizen science we all have the


00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:47.750
opportunity to push the boundaries of


00:13:47.760 --> 00:13:50.269
human understanding just a little bit


00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:52.629
further if you're interested in finding


00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.710
out more I'll leave a link in the show


00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:56.710
notes for you


00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:58.389
we've all experienced grumpy mornings


00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.230
but nothing compares to the cosmic


00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.150
tantrum recently thrown by a super


00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:04.590
massive black hole in a galaxy far far


00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:07.269
away astronomers have observed something


00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:10.150
truly extraordinary a monster black hole


00:14:10.160 --> 00:14:12.150
unleashing the longest and most powerful


00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:14.150
X-ray eruptions ever recorded from such


00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:16.870
an object the black hole in question


00:14:16.880 --> 00:14:20.590
sits at the center of galaxy SDSS


00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:22.590
1,335


00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:25.189
+0728 approximately 300 million


00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:27.750
lightyears from Earth after decades of


00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:30.069
inactivity this cosmic giant has


00:14:30.079 --> 00:14:32.069
suddenly awakened with a vengeance


00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:33.910
beginning to devour surrounding matter


00:14:33.920 --> 00:14:35.990
and producing what scientists call quasi


00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.910
periodic eruptions or QPEs this active


00:14:39.920 --> 00:14:41.910
region at the galaxy's heart nicknamed


00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:44.629
ANSKY by researchers first showed signs


00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:47.990
of awakening in late 2019 by February of


00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:50.710
this year astronomers using NASA's Swift


00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.269
X-ray Space Telescope observed the black


00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.949
hole erupting with flares at


00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:57.509
surprisingly regular intervals providing


00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.750
a rare opportunity to monitor a feeding


00:14:59.760 --> 00:15:02.790
black hole in real time what makes these


00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:05.110
observations particularly remarkable is


00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:08.150
their unprecedented scale as MIT


00:15:08.160 --> 00:15:11.269
researcher Yohin Chakraorti explains the


00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:14.069
bursts of X-rays from Ansky are 10 times


00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:16.470
longer and 10 times more luminous than


00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:18.430
what we see from a typical


00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:21.590
QPE each eruption releases 100 times


00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:23.350
more energy than previously observed


00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:25.430
elsewhere with eruptions occurring


00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:28.310
roughly every 4 and 1/2 days the longest


00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:30.389
interval ever seen


00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:32.470
these extreme behaviors are challenging


00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.870
existing scientific models and forcing


00:15:34.880 --> 00:15:36.629
astronomers to reconsider their


00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.350
understanding of such events typically


00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:41.430
QPEs have been associated with super


00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.269
massive black holes capturing and


00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.509
shredding stars then consuming the


00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:47.910
stellar remnants however this doesn't


00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:49.829
appear to be happening with Ansky


00:15:49.839 --> 00:15:51.590
leaving scientists puzzled about what's


00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:53.990
triggering these massive outbursts the


00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:55.590
observations were made possible through


00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.430
an international collaborative effort


00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:59.749
utilizing multiple space telescopes


00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:02.629
including the European Space Ay's XMM


00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.670
Newton NASA's NICE and Chandra missions


00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:08.550
and archived data from Aerosa these


00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:10.550
repetitive bursts may also be generating


00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:13.110
gravitational waves ripples in spaceime


00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.790
that could potentially be detected by


00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:16.069
future missions like the laser


00:16:16.079 --> 00:16:19.350
interferometer space antenna a joint ESA


00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.509
NASA space-based detector scheduled for


00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.670
launch in 2037


00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:25.910
having complimentary X-ray observations


00:16:25.920 --> 00:16:28.470
alongside gravitational wave data could


00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.550
prove crucial in solving the mysteries


00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:33.430
of massive black hole behavior the


00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.509
research on this extraordinary cosmic


00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.189
event was published in the journal


00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:39.829
Nature Astronomy just last month marking


00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:41.509
an important step forward in our


00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.069
understanding of black hole dynamics as


00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:46.150
astronomers continue monitoring Ansky's


00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:48.470
volatile behavior we may gain valuable


00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:50.310
insights into the extreme physics


00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.389
governing these cosmic behemoths that


00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.790
lurk at the centers of most galaxies


00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:56.829
including our own Milky


00:16:56.839 --> 00:16:59.350
Way and that brings us to the end of


00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.389
another fascinating journey through the


00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:03.749
cosmos today we've explored everything


00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:06.150
from Martian geology to the mysteries of


00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.150
black holes with some interesting


00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:10.710
astronomical calendar facts and citizen


00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.110
science opportunities along the way


00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:14.630
we've seen how Perseverance is


00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.630
uncovering Mars' geological history


00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:18.150
through diverse rock samples on the


00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.870
Jezero crater rim potentially revealing


00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.270
clues about the planet's habitability


00:17:23.280 --> 00:17:25.429
we've demystified why Easter will arrive


00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:27.909
later than expected this year thanks to


00:17:27.919 --> 00:17:29.430
the complex interplay between


00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:32.190
astronomical events and ecclesiastical


00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:34.549
rules we've learned that millions of


00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.150
interstellar visitors from Alpha


00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.150
Centauri might be hiding in our solar


00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.230
system challenging our view of star


00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:42.789
systems as isolated entities


00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:44.549
we've discovered how you can participate


00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:47.029
in NASA's Citizen Science Month and


00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.430
contribute to their ambitious goal of 1


00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.549
million acts of science and finally


00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.230
we've witnessed the dramatic awakening


00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.830
of a monster black hole producing


00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:57.830
unprecedented X-ray eruptions that are


00:17:57.840 --> 00:17:59.669
forcing scientists to rethink their


00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:01.549
understanding of these cosmic


00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:04.549
giants i'm Anna your host for Astronomy


00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.470
Daily and I hope you've enjoyed today's


00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:09.190
cosmic exploration if you'd like to stay


00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:11.350
updated on all things astronomy please


00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:13.230
visit our website at


00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:15.029
astronomydaily.io where you can sign up


00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.270
for our free daily newsletter and access


00:18:17.280 --> 00:18:19.830
all our previous episodes if you're


00:18:19.840 --> 00:18:21.909
enjoying the podcast we'd be thrilled if


00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:23.990
you'd share it with your family friends


00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.990
or anyone else who gazes up at the night


00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:28.630
sky with wonder until next time keep


00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:30.630
looking up and stay curious about our


00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:35.110
magnificent universe


00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:37.590
stories we told


00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:51.959
[Music]