Feb. 26, 2025

From Asteroid Alerts to Lunar Innovations: Exploring Space’s Latest Wonders: S04E49

From Asteroid Alerts to Lunar Innovations: Exploring Space’s Latest Wonders: S04E49
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From Asteroid Alerts to Lunar Innovations: Exploring Space’s Latest Wonders: S04E49

Astronomy Daily - The Podcast: S04E49

In this episode of Astronomy Daily, host Anna takes you on a captivating exploration of the latest news in space and astronomy. From reassuring updates on a potentially hazardous asteroid to the thrill of a planetary parade in the night sky, this episode is filled with intriguing stories that will spark your curiosity about the universe.

Highlights:

- Asteroid 2024 YR4 Update: We start with the latest on asteroid 2024 YR4, which had previously raised concerns about a potential impact with Earth. Thanks to new observations, the risk has been dramatically reduced to just 0.001%, reminding us of the importance of monitoring near-Earth objects and our planetary defense systems.

- Blue Origin's 10th Crewed Mission: Join us as we celebrate Blue Origin's successful 10th crewed mission with the New Shepard vehicle. We discuss the launch's significance, the passengers on board, and how these flights are paving the way for the future of commercial space travel.

- Seven Planet Parade: Get ready to gaze at the night sky! We explore the rare celestial event featuring a planetary parade with seven visible planets. Learn how to spot them and what makes this astronomical occurrence so special.

- Titan's Mysterious Orbit: Discover the intriguing findings about Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and the recent research suggesting a dramatic event disrupted its orbit. This revelation opens a new chapter in understanding Titan's history and its relationship with Saturn.

- NASA's Lunar Trailblazer Mission: Dive into NASA's innovative Lunar Trailblazer mission, which will utilize gravitational forces for a fuel-efficient journey to the Moon. This small satellite aims to map lunar water in unprecedented detail, revealing potential resources for future explorers.

- New Insights into Mars's Color: Finally, we challenge the long-held belief about Mars's red hue, uncovering that it may be linked to a mineral called ferrihydrite, suggesting a wetter past for the Red Planet. This exciting discovery could reshape our understanding of Mars's geological history.

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, and TikTok. 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 back to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - Asteroid 2024 YR4 risk assessment

07:30 - Blue Origin's 10th crewed mission

12:15 - Seven planet parade viewing tips

18:00 - Titan's orbital mystery

22:30 - NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission

27:00 - New discoveries about Mars's color

32:00 - Conclusion and upcoming content

✍️ Episode References

Asteroid Update

[European Space Agency]( https://www.esa.int (https://www.esa.int/) )

Blue Origin Mission Details

[Blue Origin]( https://www.blueorigin.com (https://www.blueorigin.com/) )

Planetary Parade Information

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

Titan Research Insights

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

Lunar Trailblazer Mission

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

Mars Color Research

[Brown University]( https://www.brown.edu (https://www.brown.edu/) )

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-space-news--5648921/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news--5648921/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss) .

Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/25788260?utm_source=youtube

00:00 - Welcome back to Astronomy Daily

01:05 - Asteroid 2024 YR4 risk assessment

07:30 - Blue Origin’s 10th crewed mission

12:15 - Seven planet parade viewing tips

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:02.430
welcome to astronomy daily I'm thrilled


00:00:02.440 --> 00:00:03.869
to share with you another fascinating


00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:06.030
day in space and astronomy news we have


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a busy show for you today with stories


00:00:07.720 --> 00:00:10.310
that span our solar system and beyond


00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:11.789
we'll start with some reassuring news


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about that asteroid that has briefly


00:00:13.440 --> 00:00:15.629
caused concern we'll settle that one for


00:00:15.639 --> 00:00:17.670
once in for all then Journey to the edge


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of space with blue Origins latest crude


00:00:19.880 --> 00:00:21.990
Mission if you're a stargazer you won't


00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.349
want to miss our coverage of an


00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.750
incredible seven Planet parade visible


00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:28.349
in the night sky this month we'll also


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explore a compelling mystery surr in


00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:33.150
Saturn's largest moon Titan and get the


00:00:33.160 --> 00:00:34.910
details on NASA's Innovative new


00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:37.790
approach to reaching lunar orbit finally


00:00:37.800 --> 00:00:39.110
we'll challenge everything you thought


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you knew about why Mars appears red the


00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.029
answer might surprise you so settle in


00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:45.750
as we embark on this Cosmic Journey


00:00:45.760 --> 00:00:47.549
Through the latest developments in space


00:00:47.559 --> 00:00:50.310
exploration and astronomical discoveries


00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:51.590
let's get


00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:55.349
started remember that asteroid 20124 yr4


00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.110
that made headlines back in December and


00:00:57.120 --> 00:01:00.150
again in January and February well I've


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got some good news to share about this


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so-called City killer initially NASA


00:01:05.199 --> 00:01:07.950
scientists calculated a concerning 1.3%


00:01:07.960 --> 00:01:10.270
chance of this asteroid hitting Earth in


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2032 that probability actually increased


00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:15.789
to about 3% earlier this month as more


00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:18.109
observations came in causing quite a


00:01:18.119 --> 00:01:20.670
stir in the astronomical Community but


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thanks to new data from the European


00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:24.190
Southern observatories very large


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telescope and other facilities worldwide


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we can all breathe a little easier the


00:01:29.360 --> 00:01:31.270
latest an analysis from the European


00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:33.550
space agency has dramatically reduced


00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.710
the risk placing the probability of an


00:01:35.720 --> 00:01:40.270
Earth impact in 2032 at just


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0.001% to put this in perspective we're


00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:45.270
talking about a space Rock between 40


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and 90 M across roughly the size of a


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building that's millions of kilometers


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away as ESO astronomer Olivier heut


00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:56.469
explains tracking these objects is like


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following the beam of a flashlight it


00:01:58.759 --> 00:02:00.749
gets broader and fuzzi the further out


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you look but with each new observation


00:02:03.960 --> 00:02:06.310
that beam becomes sharper and narrower


00:02:06.320 --> 00:02:08.309
and in this case that narrowing beam is


00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.630
clearly moving away from Earth while


00:02:10.640 --> 00:02:12.390
this particular threat has been largely


00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:14.869
dismissed the situation serves as an


00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:16.910
important reminder of why we need to


00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:19.030
stay vigilant in monitoring near Earth


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objects it's a perfect example of how


00:02:21.519 --> 00:02:23.990
our planetary defense systems work from


00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:25.470
initial detection through careful


00:02:25.480 --> 00:02:27.830
tracking and Analysis to ultimately


00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.910
determining the true level of risk the


00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:31.830
these Cosmic visitors might pose to our


00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:35.030
planet so please relax and sleep well


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tonight blue origin has just marked a


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significant milestone in their


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commercial space flight program


00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.869
completing their 10th crude Mission with


00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:45.550
the new Shephard vehicle the launch took


00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:47.790
place from their West Texas facility on


00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.830
February 25th carrying six passengers to


00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:52.830
the edge of space in what was designated


00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:54.710
as mission


00:02:54.720 --> 00:02:57.470
ns30 after a brief 19-minute hold for


00:02:57.480 --> 00:02:59.589
technical checks the new Shephard rocket


00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:02.070
lift it off carrying its crew capsule to


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an impressive altitude of 107 km above


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Earth's surface the entire flight lasted


00:03:08.040 --> 00:03:10.070
just over 10 minutes with both the


00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:11.949
booster and capsule making perfect


00:03:11.959 --> 00:03:14.550
Landings back on Earth among the


00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.390
passengers were some fascinating


00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.350
individuals Lane Bess who was actually


00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:21.110
making his second trip to space after


00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.830
flying on a previous new Shepard Mission


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Jesus Kalesa a Spanish television host


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known for his Adventure programming


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elain chahi


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who owns a media company working on AI


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technology Dr Richard Scott a physician


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and medical company executive and tusher


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Shaw a hedge fund partner interestingly


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the sixth passenger added a bit of


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mystery to the mission in an unusual


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departure from standard practice blue


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origin honored this individual's request


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for privacy identifying them only by the


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name R Wilson on their flight suit and


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Mission patch this successful flight


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isn't just about tourism it represents


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something bigger for blue origin as


00:04:02.400 --> 00:04:04.949
their CEO Dave limp recently explained


00:04:04.959 --> 00:04:06.830
these new Shephard flights serve two


00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.589
crucial purposes they act as a test bed


00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:11.990
for developing new space Technologies


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and they're proving there's genuine


00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:15.949
demand for the profound experience of


00:04:15.959 --> 00:04:18.310
suborbital space flight even with the


00:04:18.320 --> 00:04:20.830
substantial ticket prices for the space


00:04:20.840 --> 00:04:23.749
tourism industry this 10th crude flight


00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:25.550
demonstrates that we're moving steadily


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toward a future where space travel while


00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:29.990
still exclusive is Bec becoming


00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.749
increasingly routine and


00:04:32.759 --> 00:04:35.230
reliable each successful Mission brings


00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:38.029
us one step closer to making space more


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accessible to more


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people time to get your telescope out


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and ready though you will be able to


00:04:43.880 --> 00:04:45.189
take part in this event with just your


00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.070
Naked Eyes if you wish in an exciting


00:04:48.080 --> 00:04:49.950
astronomical event the night sky is


00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:51.710
currently hosting what astronomers call


00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.110
a planetary parade with seven planets


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gracing our view at once while these


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celestial bodies aren't lined up like


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players on a marching field they're all


00:05:00.440 --> 00:05:02.790
clustered on the same side of the sun


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creating a rare viewing opportunity for


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Sky Watchers Venus Mars and Jupiter are


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leading the show being the easiest to


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spot with the naked eye Saturn and


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Mercury are playing a bit harder to get


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hovering close to the Horizon where


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they're trickier to find for those with


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some basic equipment Uranus and Neptune


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can be spotted through binoculars or a


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small


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telescope if you're hoping to catch the


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celestial Gathering here's what you need


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to do find a spot with a clear view of


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the sky away from City Lights if


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possible and wait until after Sunset the


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planets will stand out from the


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surrounding Stars by shining more


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steadily and brightly Mars will be


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particularly distinctive with its


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reddish orange glow if you're having


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trouble identifying the planets there


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are several stargazing apps that can


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help point you in the right direction


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while these planetary alignments aren't


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extremely rare they happen at least


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yearly with varying numbers of planets


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having seven planets visible at once is


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still a special occurrence four or five


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planets visible to the naked eye only


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happens every few years making this


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current alignment particularly


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noteworthy just keep in mind that this


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Cosmic performance won't last forever


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the planets will gradually drift apart


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as we move into the northern hemisphere


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spring while we're mentioning Saturn


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scientists have made a fascinating


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discovery about Saturn's moon Titan


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that's shaking up our understanding of


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this Mysterious World new research


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suggests that something dramatic


00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:31.309
happened to Titan relatively recently in


00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:33.950
astronomical terms within the last 350


00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:35.950
million years that significantly


00:06:35.960 --> 00:06:38.670
Disturbed its orbit around Saturn The


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Story begins with Scientists studying


00:06:40.440 --> 00:06:42.390
how Titan loses energy as it orbits


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Saturn a process known as tidal


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dissipation think of it like Earth's


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ocean tides but on a much grander scale


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Saturn's immense gravitational pull


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actually causes subtle changes in Titan


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shape and motion as it orbits similar to


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how our moon creates tides on Earth


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what's particularly intriguing is that


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Titan's current orbit isn't what


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scientists would expect if it had been


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peacefully circling Saturn for billions


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of years based on their calculations


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Titan should settle into a perfectly


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circular orbit within about 350 million


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years the fact that its orbit is still


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elliptical suggests something must have


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knocked it off course relatively


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recently the culprit behind this orbital


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disruption remains a mystery it could


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have been an impact from another


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Celestial body the loss of an ancient


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satellite or some other cause Cosmic


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event we haven't yet considered whatever


00:07:32.840 --> 00:07:34.869
it was it was significant enough to


00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.909
leave its mark on Titan's orbital path


00:07:37.919 --> 00:07:39.790
and the Moon is still in the process of


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settling back into a stable orbit this


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discovery is particularly exciting


00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.550
because it gives us a new window into


00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.189
Titan's recent history it's like finding


00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:51.550
unexpected footprints in the snow we


00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.270
know something happened and now


00:07:53.280 --> 00:07:55.230
scientists are working to piece together


00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:57.670
exactly what that might have been the


00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:59.510
research not only helps us understand


00:07:59.520 --> 00:08:01.909
and tighten better but also provides


00:08:01.919 --> 00:08:03.710
insights into how similar moons


00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:05.790
throughout our solar system might be


00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:07.589
affected by the gravitational forces of


00:08:07.599 --> 00:08:09.110
their parent


00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.710
planets NASA's latest lunar Mission the


00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.189
lunar Trailblazer is preparing for an


00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:15.990
Innovative Journey To The Moon that


00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.309
showcases the clever use of Nature's Own


00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.869
forces this small But Mighty satellite


00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:22.909
about the size of a dishwasher will


00:08:22.919 --> 00:08:25.790
hitch a ride on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket


00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.589
as part of the im2 mission but its path


00:08:28.599 --> 00:08:30.990
to lunar orbit is what makes it truly


00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.269
fascinating instead of taking a direct


00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:35.589
route to the moon the Trailblazer will


00:08:35.599 --> 00:08:38.709
embark on an elegant Cosmic dance using


00:08:38.719 --> 00:08:41.509
the combined gravitational pull of the


00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:45.470
sun earth and moon to gradually maneuver


00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.030
into position this fuele efficient


00:08:48.040 --> 00:08:50.829
approach known as a low energy transfer


00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:53.470
will take between 4 to 7 months but will


00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:55.630
save precious propellant making it


00:08:55.640 --> 00:08:57.509
possible for such a small spacecraft to


00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:00.230
accomplish its ambitious goals once in


00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.509
its final orbit just 60 Mi above the


00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:04.990
lunar surface the Trailblazer will begin


00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:07.389
its primary Mission creating the most


00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:10.230
detailed maps ever of water on the moon


00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.430
the spacecraft carries two sophisticated


00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:14.870
instruments an infrared spectrometer and


00:09:14.880 --> 00:09:17.069
a thermal mapper that will work together


00:09:17.079 --> 00:09:19.430
to reveal where water exists what form


00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:21.430
it takes and how it moves across the


00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:24.230
lunar surface particularly exciting is


00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:26.389
the Trailblazer ability to peer into


00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:28.509
permanently shadowed craters at the Moon


00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.069
South Pole


00:09:30.079 --> 00:09:32.590
these mysterious regions never touched


00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:34.470
by direct sunlight could Harbor


00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:37.150
significant deposits of ice potential


00:09:37.160 --> 00:09:40.230
resources for future lunar explorers the


00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:43.110
spacecraft will make 12 orbits each day


00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:44.949
observing these areas under different


00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:46.389
conditions to build a comprehensive


00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.110
picture of lunar water


00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:50.150
distribution this Mission represents a


00:09:50.160 --> 00:09:52.150
new approach to space exploration


00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:54.069
proving that sometimes smaller can be


00:09:54.079 --> 00:09:56.630
better despite its compact size and


00:09:56.640 --> 00:09:58.630
relatively modest budget the lunar


00:09:58.640 --> 00:10:00.710
Trailblazer aims to answer fundamental


00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:02.389
questions about our nearest Celestial


00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.750
neighbor while demonstrating how smart


00:10:04.760 --> 00:10:06.910
engineering and natural forces can work


00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:09.470
together to achieve ambitious scientific


00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:12.030
goals to wrap things up today here's


00:10:12.040 --> 00:10:13.670
something that might shake up everything


00:10:13.680 --> 00:10:15.670
you thought you knew about Mars's famous


00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:17.590
red color scientists have just


00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.710
challenged a long-held belief about why


00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:22.190
the red planet looks the way it does


00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.949
while we've all been taught that Mars


00:10:23.959 --> 00:10:25.949
gets its distinctive Hue from the same


00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:28.430
process that creates rust here on Earth


00:10:28.440 --> 00:10:29.910
new research suggest suggests we might


00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:32.829
have been wrong all along a team led by


00:10:32.839 --> 00:10:34.670
Dr adamus valentinas from Brown


00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:36.870
University has discovered that the real


00:10:36.880 --> 00:10:39.509
source of Mars's coloration is likely a


00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:42.069
mineral called fairy hydrite an iron


00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:44.509
oxide that contains water this isn't


00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.710
just a minor correction to our textbooks


00:10:46.720 --> 00:10:48.389
it's a finding that tells us something


00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:51.069
fascinating about Mars's history using


00:10:51.079 --> 00:10:52.910
data from multiple Mars missions


00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:54.870
including NASA's reconnaissance Orbiter


00:10:54.880 --> 00:10:57.110
and esa's Mars Express along with


00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:58.870
groundbased observations from various


00:10:58.880 --> 00:10:59.790
Rovers


00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:01.629
the researchers found that ferah hydrate


00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:04.030
isn't just present in small amounts it's


00:11:04.040 --> 00:11:06.110
widespread across the entire Martian


00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:08.310
landscape what makes this particularly


00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:10.150
exciting is that ferah hydrate can only


00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:12.389
form under specific conditions namely


00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.430
when there's plenty of water around this


00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.110
discovery adds to the growing body of


00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:19.110
evidence that Mars once had a much


00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.550
wetter environment meaning our Beach's


00:11:21.560 --> 00:11:23.629
story from yesterday's episode gets even


00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:26.430
more credible the red color we see today


00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:28.389
isn't just a random Quirk of planetary


00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.590
chemistry it's actually a signature Left


00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.269
Behind from a time when Mars might have


00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.910
been a much more hospitable world with


00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:37.470
conditions potentially suitable for Life


00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:38.990
the research team is now eagerly


00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.829
awaiting samples being collected by the


00:11:40.839 --> 00:11:43.710
perseverance Rover in the jezero crater


00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:45.710
these samples which will eventually be


00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:47.629
returned to Earth could provide


00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.990
definitive proof of their Theory and


00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:51.949
help us better understand Mars's


00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:54.790
fascinating geological history it's


00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:56.910
remarkable how something as simple as


00:11:56.920 --> 00:11:58.590
the planet's color could hold such


00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:01.310
important Clues about its


00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:03.949
past well that brings us to the end of


00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:05.910
another fascinating Journey Through the


00:12:05.920 --> 00:12:08.750
cosmos I'm Anna and I've been thrilled


00:12:08.760 --> 00:12:10.470
to share these incredible developments


00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.470
in space science and astronomy with you


00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.910
today if you're hungry for more space


00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.790
news and want to stay up toate with the


00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:18.910
latest discoveries head over to


00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:20.269
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00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.949
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00:12:29.760 --> 00:12:31.550
while you're there you'll also find all


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our past episodes available to stream


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anytime along with additional content


00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:37.030
that dives deeper into the stories we've


00:12:37.040 --> 00:12:39.870
covered today from asteroid near misses


00:12:39.880 --> 00:12:42.350
to the mysteries of Mars's red surface


00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.870
there's always something new to discover


00:12:43.880 --> 00:12:46.310
in the world of astronomy thank you for


00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.710
joining me on astronomy daily until next


00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.310
time keep looking up especially this


00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:52.189
week and wondering about the Magnificent


00:12:52.199 --> 00:13:04.670
Universe we call home


00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:07.200
the St


00:13:07.210 --> 00:13:14.809
[Music]