SEASON PREMIERE: Catching up on news and rockets!
As we return from our summer hiatus, we are back with a rundown of some of the stories that came out during the break. On the planetary front, JWST has been taking amazing images and learning about exoplanets. On the astrophysics front, we’ve got stories on dark matter and Betelgeuse. And there were thirty orbital launches, including a whole lot of Starlinks… but not including Artemis.
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The Curious Case of the Brown Dwarfs at 14 Herculis
A dynamical analysis of the 14 Herculis system has revealed the existence of two brown dwarf planets orbiting in completely misaligned, eccentric orbits. Plus, weird ice in Chicago, the ongoing debate about liquid water on Mars, one rocket goes up while a capsule comes down, and we interview Dr. Knicole Colon from the JWST mission.
Gemini South Observes Young, Meandering Stellar Jets
The Gemini South Observatory, using adaptive optics, has captured stunning new images of meandering stellar jets. The sidewinding appearance is likely caused by the gravitational influences of nearby companion stars. Plus, exoplanet news and a review of a Canon lens.
An In-Depth Look at the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai Eruption
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga erupted on January 15, and despite communications being cut off, government officials and scientists have gathered a wealth of information about the event and its outcome so far. Plus, urban heat islands, volcanic lightning, and What’s Up.
Carbon Molecules on Mars Open New Mystery
NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered carbon isotopes on Mars which are usually caused by the degradation of biological methane, leading scientists to examine other potential reasons for the molecules. Plus, more Starlink satellites, their impact on observing, and This Week in Rocket History.
Milky Way’s Stellar Streams Highlight Dark Matter
Recent observations of twelve different stellar streams around the Milky Way have revealed the effects of dark matter, similar to how lights on a Christmas tree reveal the shape of the tree in dark. Plus, globular clusters, volcanoes, and an interview with Dr. Cathy Olkin from the Southwest Research Institute’s Lucy mission.
Another Possible Exomoon Discovered
Researchers have potentially found a Neptune-sized exomoon orbiting a Jupiter-sized planet in a system with a Sun-like star, making it the second such potential exomoon discovered to date. Plus, rocket launches, This Week in Rocket History, and What’s Up.