S03E167: New Sun Discovery, Orion's Progress, and Falcon Fleet Grounded

Astronomy AstroDailyPod - The Podcast: S03E167
Welcome to Astronomy AstroDailyPod, your source for the latest Space and Astronomy news. I'm your host, Steve Dunkley, and we've got a fascinating episode for you today. Let's dive into some of the most intriguing stories from the cosmos.
Highlights:
- Upcoming Annular Solar Eclipse: On October 2, an annular solar eclipse will sweep across the southern hemisphere, including iconic destinations like Rapa Nui (Easter Island), southern Chile, and southern Argentina. Learn about the "ring of fire" effect and where you can best view this celestial event.
- Earth's Temporary Mini Moon: A small asteroid, about the size of a school bus, will become a temporary mini moon for Earth, orbiting our planet for about two months. This rare event offers a unique opportunity for astronomers to study near-Earth objects.
- Hera Mission Returns: An all-volunteer crew on a simulated trip to Mars has returned to Earth after 45 days in isolation at NASA's Johnson Space Centre. Discover how their mission contributes to our understanding of human behaviour and performance in confined, remote environments.
- SpaceX Falcon Fleet Grounded: SpaceX has grounded its Falcon rocket fleet following a second stage problem during a recent launch. This suspension could impact upcoming missions, including NASA's Europa Clipper and ESA's Hera mission.
- Planet Formation Study: New research reveals that planets larger than Earth struggle to form around stars with low metallicity. This study provides insights into the conditions necessary for planet formation and has implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.
Short Takes:
- An all-volunteer crew on a simulated Mars mission returned to Earth, providing valuable insights for future Space exploration.
- SpaceX's Falcon rocket fleet is grounded due to a second stage problem, impacting upcoming missions.
- A new study explores why planets larger than Earth struggle to form around low metallicity stars.
For more Space news, be sure to visit our website at astronomydaily.io. There you can sign up for our free AstroDailyPod newsletter, catch up on all the latest Space and Astronomy news with our constantly updating newsfeed, and listen to all our back episodes.
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Thank you for tuning in. This is Steve signing off. Until next time, keep looking up and stay curious about the wonders of our universe.
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