Lunar Ambitions: China’s Nuclear Plans, Exoplanet Breakthroughs, and Hubble’s 35-Year Legacy

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Welcome to Astronomy Daily. I'm your


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host, Anna. Thanks for joining me today


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as we explore the fascinating world


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beyond our atmosphere. Today's cosmic


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journey takes us from the moon to the


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far reaches of space as we dive into


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some truly remarkable developments in


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astronomy and space exploration. We'll


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be starting close to home with China's


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ambitious plans to construct a nuclear


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power plant on the lunar surface in


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collaboration with Russia, a bold step


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toward establishing a permanent human


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presence on our celestial neighbor. Then


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we'll examine a groundbreaking new


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technology from researchers at the


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University of Arizona that could


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revolutionize our ability to detect


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exoplanets by effectively dimming the


00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:41.430
overwhelming light of their parent


00:00:41.440 --> 00:00:43.830
stars. This coronagraph breakthrough


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might just help us find Earthlike


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planets in habitable zones and


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potentially signs of life. If you're an


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early riser, you're in for a treat this


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week. We'll tell you about a mini planet


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parade happening on April 24th when


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Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and our


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moon will cluster together in the


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pre-dawn sky, creating a spectacular


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viewing opportunity for amateur


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astronomers and stargazers. We have


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exciting news about asteroid Vesta,


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which reaches opposition on May 2nd.


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hand. This ancient protolanet will be


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visible even to the naked eye under the


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right conditions with a special viewing


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opportunity coming up when it forms a


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temporary double star with another


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celestial object. Finally, we'll


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celebrate a major milestone as the


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Hubble Space Telescope marks its 35th


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year in orbit. We'll look back at how


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this remarkable instrument has


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transformed our understanding of the


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universe and continues to make


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groundbreaking discoveries after more


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than three decades. So settle in as we


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journey through these cosmic wonders and


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explore the latest developments in our


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ongoing quest to understand the


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universe. In what can only be described


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as one of the most ambitious lunar


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projects since the Apollo era, China has


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revealed plans to develop a nuclear


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power plant on the moon. This


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extraordinary undertaking would support


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the International Lunar Research


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Station, a collaborative effort between


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China and Russia aimed at establishing a


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sustained human presence on our nearest


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celestial neighbor. The announcement


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came during a presentation by a senior


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Chinese space official just last week,


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highlighting the serious intentions


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behind what might otherwise sound like


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science fiction. This nuclear facility


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would provide the consistent power


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needed for long-term lunar operations,


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addressing one of the fundamental


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challenges of maintaining a permanent


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outpost so far from Earth. The timeline


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for this lunar endeavor centers around


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the Changi 8 mission scheduled for 2028.


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This mission will serve as the


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foundation for what China hopes will


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become a permanent manned lunar base by


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2035. The preliminary plans also include


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implementing large-scale solar arrays


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alongside an intricate network of


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pipelines and cables built across the


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lunar surface to distribute heat and


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electricity to the various components of


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the research station. What makes this


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particularly interesting is how China's


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lunar ambitions mirror the timeline of


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NASA's own Aremis program, which aims to


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return American astronauts to the moon


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by 2027.


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We appear to be entering a new era of


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lunar exploration and possibly


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settlement, reminiscent of the space


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race of the 1960s, but with more


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emphasis on establishing long-term


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infrastructure rather than simply


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planting flags. The China Russia


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collaboration is especially notable


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given the current geopolitical


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landscape. Recent Western sanctions have


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significantly limited Russia's access to


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space technology, making this


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partnership strategically valuable for


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both nations. For Russia, it provides


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continued involvement in cuttingedge


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space exploration, while China gains


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access to Russia's decades of experience


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in space operations and technology.


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Building a nuclear power plant on the


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moon presents enormous engineering


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challenges.


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The facility would need to withstand


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extreme temperature variations,


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radiation exposure, and the


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complications of lunar dust, not to


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mention the logistical hurdles of


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transporting construction materials and


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equipment 238,000 m from Earth. Yet, the


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advantages are equally significant.


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Nuclear power offers the high energy


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density and reliability needed for a


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permanent lunar base without the


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limitations of solar power during the


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twoe lunar nights. If successful, this


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endeavor could fundamentally alter


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humanity's relationship with our nearest


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celestial neighbor, transforming the


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moon from a destination for brief visits


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to a place where people may one day live


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and work for extended periods. It also


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raises fascinating questions about


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international cooperation, competition,


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and the potential commercialization of


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lunar resources in the decades ahead.


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Next up today, imagine being able to see


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a planet a billion times dimmer than its


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star. It sounds impossible, right? Well,


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researchers at the University of Arizona


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have developed a breakthrough technology


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that might just make this seemingly


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impossible feat a reality. Their


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innovative coronagraph design could


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revolutionize how we detect exoplanets


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by effectively turning down the


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overwhelming brightness of their parent


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stars. Lead researcher Nico Dashler


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explained the fundamental challenge.


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Earthlike planets in the habitable zone


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can easily be up to a billion times


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dimmer than their host


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star. This extreme brightness difference


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has been a persistent obstacle in our


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quest to directly observe potentially


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habitable worlds. When a planet is so


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drastically outshined, it's like trying


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to spot a firefly next to a stadium


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flood light. The team's solution


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published in the journal Optica is


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remarkably elegant. Their coronagraph


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essentially siphons away the starlight


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that would normally overwhelm the faint


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light from nearby exoplanets. What makes


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this approach particularly exciting is


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that it can reach what scientists call


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quantum optical limits for exoplanet


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detection, pushing the boundaries of


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what we previously thought possible. In


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laboratory testing, the team


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demonstrated that their system could


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identify the positions of synthetic


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exoplanets much closer to their


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artificial host stars than standard


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resolution limits would normally allow.


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This capability is critical because the


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most interesting planets, those


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potentially capable of supporting life,


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tend to orbit in close proximity to


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their stars. The technology relies on


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what scientists call spatial mode


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sorting. Think of light from different


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sources in space as creating distinct


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patterns similar to different notes on a


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piano. The coronagraph uses a mode


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sorter to filter out the overwhelming


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starlight, followed by an inverse mode


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sorter to reconstruct the image,


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allowing the exoplanet's light to emerge


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with remarkable clarity. What separates


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this approach from other detection


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methods is that it captures direct


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images rather than inferring a planet's


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existence through indirect means. Our


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coronagraph directly captures an image


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of the exoplanet. Desler noted images


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can provide context and composition


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information that can be used to


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determine exoplanet orbits and identify


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other objects that scatter light from a


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star. To validate their concept, the


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researchers constructed a laboratory


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setup mimicking a star exoplanet system


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with a 1,00 to1 brightness contrast. By


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simulating the planet's orbit and


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capturing images frame by frame, they


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were able to pinpoint its position at


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separations previously considered


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impossible to resolve. The implications


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of this technology extend far beyond


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just finding planets. If this


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coronagraph can be refined and scaled up


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for astronomical observatories, it could


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potentially allow scientists to analyze


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the atmospheres of Earthlike exoplanets,


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for bio signatures, chemical indicators


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that might reveal the presence of life


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beyond our solar system. The timing


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couldn't be better as NASA has


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prioritized exoplanet discovery with its


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planned habitable worlds observatory.


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This next generation space telescope


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will specifically target potentially


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habitable exoplanets and technologies


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like this advanced coronagraph could be


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instrumental to its success. The


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research team is now working to refine


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their spatial mode sorter to reduce what


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they call optical cross talk essentially


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light leakage between channels that can


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contaminate the results. While


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manageable in moderate contrast


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scenarios, the extreme brightness


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differences in exoplanet studies demand


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exceptional light isolation. Beyond


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astronomy, the techniques developed for


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this coronagraph could have applications


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in other fields like quantum sensing,


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communications, and advanced imaging.


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It's yet another example of how the


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quest to explore other worlds drives


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innovation that benefits multiple


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scientific disciplines.


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Early birds, mark your calendars. An


00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:57.110
exceptional celestial event is about to


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grace our pre-dawn skies on April 24th


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when a striking mini planetary parade


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will unfold, featuring Mercury, Venus,


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Saturn, Neptune, and Earth's moon, all


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clustering in the same region of the


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sky. This cosmic alignment offers a rare


00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.550
and beautiful photo opportunity for


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astronomy enthusiasts and early risers


00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:16.790
alike. What makes these planetary


00:09:16.800 --> 00:09:18.710
alignments so fascinating is the


00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.870
illusion they create, though separated


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by hundreds of millions of miles in


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space, their orbital positions will


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temporarily align from our earthly


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perspective, making them appear


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remarkably close together in our sky. To


00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:34.230
witness this celestial gathering, you'll


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need to set your alarm clock early. Look


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toward the eastern horizon around 5:15


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a.m. local time, where you'll first spot


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the moon as a thin, waning crescent,


00:09:44.880 --> 00:09:47.030
approaching its new moon phase that will


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arrive on April 27th. Its delicate,


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slender form will be hovering low on the


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horizon, creating a stunning visual


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anchor for the planetary


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procession. Directly to the left of the


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moon, you'll find Venus shining


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brilliantly as our current morning star.


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Venus has recently transitioned to


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morning visibility following its


00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.310
inferior solar conjunction on March 23rd


00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:09.990
when it passed between Earth and the


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Sun, ending its appearance in our


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evening skies. Saturn can be located by


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looking slightly down and to the right


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of Venus. The ringed planet will appear


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as a steady yellowish point of light.


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Mercury will be the last of the easily


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visible planets to rise, requiring a


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clear, unobstructed eastern horizon to


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be spotted before sunrise. swallows it


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in growing daylight. Neptune, the most


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distant world in this cosmic lineup,


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will be nestled in the center of this


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planetary triangle. However, at


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magnitude 7.9, this ice giant will


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remain invisible to the naked eye. Those


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hoping to glimpse Neptune's pale blue


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green disc will need a telescope or


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powerful binoculars.


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This April alignment follows February's


00:10:56.959 --> 00:10:59.269
more expansive planetary parade, which


00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.190
featured all five of our solar systems


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brightest planets, Venus, Jupiter, Mars,


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Saturn, and Mercury, plus the ice giants


00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.670
Neptune and Uranus. While this week's


00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:12.069
gathering is more modest in scale, the


00:11:12.079 --> 00:11:13.750
addition of the waning crescent moon


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adds a particularly photogenic element


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that photographers won't want to miss.


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If you're planning to capture this


00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:21.750
celestial event, be sure to scout a


00:11:21.760 --> 00:11:24.310
location with a clear eastern horizon,


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free from obstructions and light


00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.230
pollution. Remember that observing


00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.949
objects near the horizon often requires


00:11:30.959 --> 00:11:33.269
patience as atmospheric conditions can


00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:36.310
affect visibility. And always exercise


00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.630
caution when viewing celestial objects


00:11:38.640 --> 00:11:41.350
near sunrise. Never look directly at the


00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.150
sun without proper solar filters.


00:11:44.160 --> 00:11:46.310
This mini planetary parade is just one


00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.630
of many astronomical treats visible this


00:11:48.640 --> 00:11:51.110
northern spring, offering a perfect


00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:52.949
opportunity to connect with our cosmic


00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:55.190
neighborhood before dawn breaks on an


00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:57.190
ordinary Wednesday that will briefly


00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.949
become extraordinary for those who know


00:11:58.959 --> 00:11:59.870
where to


00:11:59.880 --> 00:12:02.310
look. And while you're in the mood to be


00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:04.550
looking up, here's another treat for


00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:07.269
you. While most asteroids remain dim


00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:09.590
specs visible only through telescopes,


00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:12.030
Asteroid Vesta is quite the celestial


00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:14.470
standout. Reaching opposition on May


00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:17.430
2nd, Vesta will achieve peak brightness,


00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.670
becoming visible even to the naked eye


00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:21.710
if you're observing from a dark sky


00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:24.150
location. This remarkable visibility


00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:27.110
isn't just a coincidence. Vesta occupies


00:12:27.120 --> 00:12:29.269
a unique position in our solar system as


00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:31.990
both asteroid and protolanet. NASA's


00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.389
Dawn mission, which orbited Vesta for 14


00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:37.430
months between 2011 and 2012, revealed


00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:39.430
fascinating details about this enigmatic


00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.590
world. Its surface contains highly


00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.509
reflective basaltic rock alongside


00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:45.509
darker carbonatous material delivered by


00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:48.310
meteorite impacts. What makes Vesta


00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:50.949
truly special is its unusual brightness,


00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:53.110
which scientists now believe stems from


00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.750
its early planetary


00:12:54.760 --> 00:12:57.670
development. A 2012 study of a Vesta


00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:59.910
meteorite discovered evidence of an


00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:02.790
ancient magnetic field that existed 3.7


00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:05.590
billion years ago. This confirms that


00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.509
Vesta is one of the few confirmed


00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.990
protolanets in our solar system. During


00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.230
its embionic planetary phase more than 4


00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.629
billion years ago, Vesta's interior was


00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.629
hot enough to melt and differentiate


00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:19.350
into distinct layers, a metallic iron


00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:22.710
core, dense mantle, and outer crust. The


00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.790
molten metal within its core generated


00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:27.350
an asteroidwide magnetic field that


00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:29.430
likely shielded Vesta's surface from the


00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:31.190
solar wind and cosmic rays that


00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.870
typically darken surface minerals


00:13:32.880 --> 00:13:34.389
through a process called space


00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:37.030
weathering. This protective magnetic


00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:38.949
field may explain why Vesta maintains


00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:41.190
its radiant appearance today, making it


00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:43.230
an accessible target for amateur


00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:45.350
astronomers. Currently shining at a


00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:48.470
robust magnitude 5.7, Vesta is tracking


00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:50.550
from northern Libra into Virgo this


00:13:50.560 --> 00:13:53.030
month and next. Even modest pocket


00:13:53.040 --> 00:13:55.590
binoculars will reveal its presence. For


00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.350
those hoping to spot Vesta without


00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:00.550
optical aid, try this technique. First,


00:14:00.560 --> 00:14:02.629
confirm its position with binoculars.


00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:04.629
Then use nearby stars to create a


00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:06.310
distinctive pattern that includes the


00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:09.350
asteroid. By employing averted vision,


00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.870
looking slightly to the side of your


00:14:10.880 --> 00:14:13.110
target rather than directly at it, you


00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.750
can gradually coax Vesta into view. The


00:14:15.760 --> 00:14:19.350
2.6 magnitude star Beta Libé, also known


00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.910
as Zubaneshali, and fourth magnitude


00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:23.829
Mujanice provide useful reference


00:14:23.839 --> 00:14:25.189
points.


00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:27.030
Stargazers have a special opportunity


00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:30.389
from April 23rd through 27th when Vesta


00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.030
will lie within just 35 arc minutes of


00:14:33.040 --> 00:14:37.430
the 4.5 magnitude star 16 library. As


00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.590
Vesta slides northwest in retrograde


00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:42.310
motion, it will form a temporary double


00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.430
star with its stellar companion. This


00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:47.269
alignment makes locating the asteroid


00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.269
particularly easy while also


00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.990
highlighting its nightto-ightight


00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.790
movement. On April 25th and 26th, the


00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:57.030
pair will be separated by a mere 10 ark


00:14:57.040 --> 00:14:59.030
minutes. The night before this close


00:14:59.040 --> 00:15:01.910
approach, Vesta forms a compact nearly


00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:05.870
linear trio with 16 Libri and HD13


00:15:05.880 --> 00:15:09.750
23rd75, a magnitude 6.1 star located 45


00:15:09.760 --> 00:15:12.230
ark minutes to its southeast. These


00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:14.310
alignments offer perfect opportunities


00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:16.949
to track this ancient protolanet as it


00:15:16.959 --> 00:15:19.509
continues its journey around our sun,


00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:21.269
carrying with it the secrets of our


00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.990
solar systems early


00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.189
formation. And let's wrap up today's


00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:27.829
episode with a celebration. This April


00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:29.829
marks a truly remarkable milestone in


00:15:29.839 --> 00:15:32.470
space exploration as NASA celebrates the


00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.710
Hubble Space Telescope's 35th year in


00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.949
Earth orbit. To commemorate this


00:15:36.959 --> 00:15:38.949
incredible achievement, NASA is


00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:40.870
releasing a collection of stunning new


00:15:40.880 --> 00:15:43.110
images capturing everything from our


00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.990
planetary neighbor Mars to distant star


00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.949
forming regions and neighboring


00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:50.389
galaxies. After more than three decades


00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:52.629
of peering into the cosmos, Hubble


00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:55.590
remains not just relevant but iconic.


00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.910
The most recognized and scientifically


00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:01.030
productive telescope in human history.


00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:03.110
The Hubble mission stands as a glowing


00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.030
testament to American technological


00:16:05.040 --> 00:16:07.829
prowess, scientific curiosity, and


00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:11.310
pioneering spirit. Launched on April 24,


00:16:11.320 --> 00:16:14.870
1990, the 24,000lb observatory was


00:16:14.880 --> 00:16:16.710
delivered to orbit tucked inside the


00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:19.670
space shuttle Discovery's cargo bay. At


00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:21.990
the time, NASA commentators described


00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.030
Hubble as a new window on the universe,


00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:26.870
a promise the telescope has fulfilled


00:16:26.880 --> 00:16:30.069
beyond anyone's wildest expectations.


00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:31.670
The telescope's journey hasn't been


00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.509
without


00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:34.629
challenges. Shortly after launch,


00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:36.790
engineers discovered an unexpected flaw


00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:39.269
in Hubble's nearly 8ft diameter primary


00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:41.430
mirror. This early setback was


00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:43.430
dramatically overcome when astronauts


00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:45.189
performed the first shuttle servicing


00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:48.069
mission in December 1993, installing


00:16:48.079 --> 00:16:50.069
corrective optics that restored Hubble's


00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:52.150
intended sharpness.


00:16:52.160 --> 00:16:54.389
Over the years, astronauts returned to


00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:57.030
Hubble four more times, upgrading its


00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:59.030
cameras, computers, and support systems


00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:00.949
during servicing missions that continued


00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:01.949
until


00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:04.630
2009. The numbers behind Hubble's legacy


00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:07.270
are staggering. To date, the telescope


00:17:07.280 --> 00:17:10.309
has made nearly 1.7 million observations


00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.630
targeting approximately 55,000


00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:15.510
astronomical objects. These observations


00:17:15.520 --> 00:17:17.909
have resulted in over 22,000 scientific


00:17:17.919 --> 00:17:19.990
papers and more than 1.3 million


00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:22.710
citations. The data collected by Hubble


00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.829
currently totals over 400 terabytes, the


00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.669
largest data set for any NASA


00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:29.430
astrophysics mission aside from the


00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:30.909
James Web Space


00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:33.350
Telescope. Hubble's long operational


00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:35.029
life has given astronomers the


00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.430
unprecedented ability to observe cosmic


00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:39.590
changes occurring over decades. From


00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:41.510
seasonal variations on planets in our


00:17:41.520 --> 00:17:43.510
solar system to black hole jets


00:17:43.520 --> 00:17:45.990
traveling at nearly light speed, stellar


00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:48.710
convulsions, asteroid collisions, and


00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.950
expanding supernova remnants. The


00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.789
telescope's impact on our understanding


00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:55.669
of the universe cannot be overstated.


00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:57.909
Before Hubble, powerful groundbased


00:17:57.919 --> 00:17:59.830
telescopes could see only halfway across


00:17:59.840 --> 00:18:01.990
the cosmos, and estimates for the


00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.110
universe's age varied widely. super


00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.710
massive black holes were merely


00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:09.350
suspected to exist and no planets had


00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:12.150
been detected around other stars. Among


00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:14.390
Hubble's groundbreaking achievements,


00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.710
its deep field images revealed countless


00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.470
galaxies dating back to the early


00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:20.710
universe. It allowed scientists to


00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.390
precisely measure the universe's


00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:24.870
expansion rate. It confirmed that super


00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:26.909
massive black holes are common among


00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:29.270
galaxies, and it enabled the first


00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:32.230
measurements of exoplanet atmospheres.


00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:34.470
Perhaps most significantly, Hubble


00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.230
contributed to the discovery of dark


00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:38.470
energy, the mysterious force


00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.470
accelerating the universe's expansion


00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:43.870
work that led to the 2011 Nobel Prize in


00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:46.510
physics. The telescope's continued


00:18:46.520 --> 00:18:49.270
productivity has inspired and paved the


00:18:49.280 --> 00:18:51.789
way for a new generation of space


00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.070
observatories. Hubble provided the first


00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:56.150
evidence of the distant galaxies that


00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.150
the James Web Space Telescope now


00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:00.789
studies in infrared wavelengths.


00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:03.190
Today, the two observatories often work


00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:05.350
in tandem, complementing each other's


00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:07.350
capabilities to study everything from


00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:10.310
exoplanets to galaxy evolution. Looking


00:19:10.320 --> 00:19:12.870
ahead, Hubble's planned successor, the


00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.950
Habitable World's Observatory, will


00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.270
feature a significantly larger mirror


00:19:17.280 --> 00:19:19.669
for observing invisible and ultraviolet


00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:21.990
light. It will be notably sharper than


00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.390
Hubble and up to 100 times more


00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:26.710
sensitive to starlight with a major goal


00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.630
of identifying potentially habitable


00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:30.990
terrestrial planets around neighboring


00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.430
stars. As Hubble continues making


00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.110
groundbreaking discoveries that shape


00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.870
our fundamental understanding of the


00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.750
universe, its legacy as humanity's most


00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:41.909
successful space telescope remains


00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:44.150
secure. A remarkable scientific


00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:46.310
instrument that has truly changed how we


00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:49.510
see our place in the cosmos.


00:19:49.520 --> 00:19:51.190
And that brings us to the end of today's


00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.830
cosmic journey on Astronomy Daily. What


00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:55.909
an incredible array of discoveries and


00:19:55.919 --> 00:19:57.909
celestial events we've covered. From


00:19:57.919 --> 00:20:00.390
China's ambitious lunar nuclear plans to


00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:02.510
revolutionary exoplanet detection


00:20:02.520 --> 00:20:05.430
technology, April's mini planet parade,


00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:07.990
asteroid Vesta's visibility, and of


00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.270
course, Hubble's remarkable 35-year


00:20:10.280 --> 00:20:12.950
legacy. I'm Anna, and I want to thank


00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.710
you for joining me today as we explored


00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:16.710
these fascinating developments in space


00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:19.270
and astronomy. The universe never ceases


00:20:19.280 --> 00:20:21.669
to amaze us with its wonders, and I'm


00:20:21.679 --> 00:20:23.110
grateful to share these stories with


00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:25.669
you. If you're hungry for more astronomy


00:20:25.679 --> 00:20:28.070
news, I invite you to visit our website


00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:29.230
at


00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:31.029
astronomydaily.io, where you can catch


00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:33.270
up on all the latest space and astronomy


00:20:33.280 --> 00:20:35.190
happenings through our constantly


00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:38.230
updating news feed. You'll also find our


00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:40.950
complete archive of past episodes there,


00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.870
perfect for diving deeper into the


00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:46.070
cosmic topics that interest you most.


00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:47.510
Don't forget to subscribe to Astronomy


00:20:47.520 --> 00:20:49.350
Daily on all good podcast platforms,


00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:51.830
including Apple Podcasts, Spotify,


00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:54.070
YouTube, YouTube Music, or wherever you


00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:56.070
get your podcasts. That way, you'll


00:20:56.080 --> 00:20:57.830
never miss an episode as we continue our


00:20:57.840 --> 00:20:59.909
journey through the cosmos together.


00:20:59.919 --> 00:21:01.590
Until next time, keep looking up and


00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:03.270
wondering about the magnificent universe


00:21:03.280 --> 00:21:06.070
we call home. This is Anna for Astronomy


00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:18.230
Daily, signing off.


00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.760
The stories


00:21:20.770 --> 00:21:25.390
[Music]


00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:29.120
told stories