Mission updates! NASA’s New Horizons seeking another target; Emirates Hope orbiter set to launch for Mars; NASA and ESA release first Solar Orbiter images

Mission updates! NASA’s New Horizons seeking another target; Emirates Hope orbiter set to launch for Mars; NASA and ESA release first Solar Orbiter images

Join us today as we look at all the spacecraft mission updates. First up, NASA’s New Horizons mission is searching for another Kuiper Belt Object to pass. Next, the Emirates Hope orbiter is set to launch to Mars this month. Finally, we get to share brand new images from the NASA/ESA Solar Orbiter, fresh off the press this morning.

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Rocket Roundup for July 15, 2020

Rocket Roundup for July 15, 2020

Join us for this week’s Rocket Roundup with host Annie Wilson as we look back at the launches that did and didn’t happen, including FOUR successful Chinese launches and one not-so-successful Rocket Lab launch, plus an Israeli MOD launch.

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Short gamma-ray burst’s afterglow detected; young star found with spiral disk; red giants with starspots rotate quickly; machine learning helps predict survivability of planetary systems

Short gamma-ray burst’s afterglow detected; young star found with spiral disk; red giants with starspots rotate quickly; machine learning helps predict survivability of planetary systems

First, we look at how researchers detected the afterglow of a short gamma ray burst a mere 3.8 billion years after the Big Bang. Then we examine the discoveries of a spiral structure in the disk of a young, heavy star and how red giant stars with large starspots spin faster than those without. And finally, we see how machine learning can be used to predict what planetary systems are most likely to survive.

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Asymmetric neutron binary star system discovered; Planet 9 could be a black hole (really); Mars Curiosity and InSight catchup; Comet NEOWISE

Asymmetric neutron binary star system discovered; Planet 9 could be a black hole (really); Mars Curiosity and InSight catchup; Comet NEOWISE

Today’s news comes from all over and starts with a pair of pulsars headed toward merger in 500 million years. This system will help us understand August 2017 observations of a neutron star merger. From one high mass object to another, we turn to look at Avi Loeb’s new idea that Planet Nine might actually be a primordial black hole, what to look for if it is. We also catch up on Mars and its current robot explorers: InSight and Curiosity. Finally, we discuss how to see naked eye comet NEOWISE in the evening sky.

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Cosmic reionization caught in the act; Exoplanet pair found using ground-based telescope; Celebrate the Fourth of July with two images of cosmic fireworks

Cosmic reionization caught in the act; Exoplanet pair found using ground-based telescope; Celebrate the Fourth of July with two images of cosmic fireworks

Join us today as we talk some more about cosmic reionization and the mounting evidence it occurred very early in the Universe. We also look at two exoplanets, found using a ground-based telescope, that are gravitationally interacting. And we celebrate the Fourth of July here in the United States with some newly released images of cosmic fireworks.

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Exposed planetary core discovered; neutrinos may come from SMBHs; filaments around galaxy cluster Abell 2255; LIGO reveals “spooky popcorn”

Exposed planetary core discovered; neutrinos may come from SMBHs; filaments around galaxy cluster Abell 2255; LIGO reveals “spooky popcorn”

Join us today as we talk about the first exposed planetary core ever discovered. We examine research that neutrinos may come from supermassive black holes. We look at the filaments found in the halo of galaxy cluster Abell 2255. And we find out that LIGO’s mirrors can vibrate due to quantum noise. Plus an interview with Dr. Matthew Graham of Caltech.

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