TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
December 9, 2024
Pleiades: The Seven Sisters Star Cluster
Have you ever seen the Pleiades star cluster? Even if you have, you probably have never seen it as large and clear as this. Perhaps the most famous star cluster on the sky, the bright stars of the Pleiades can be seen with the unaided eye even from the depths of a light-polluted city. With a long exposure from a dark location, though, the dust cloud surrounding the Pleiades star cluster becomes very evident. The featured 23-hour exposure, taken from Fagagna, Italy covers a sky area several times the size of the full moon. Also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, the Pleiades lies about 400 light years away toward the constellation of the Bull (Taurus). A common legend with a modern twist is that one of the brighter stars faded since the cluster was named, leaving only six of the sister stars visible to the unaided eye. The actual number of Pleiades stars visible, however, may be more or less than seven, depending on the darkness of the surrounding sky and the clarity of the observer's eyesight.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-is-on-a-mission-to-map-americas-mineral-wealth/
NASA is on a mission to map America’s mineral wealth
12-08-2024
High above the sunlit, arid landscapes of the American West, a NASA aircraft soared on a mission to map the minerals hidden below.
This wasn’t a journey to explore distant galaxies but a critical quest to uncover the resources essential for America’s renewable energy future.
From lithium for electric vehicles to rare earth elements crucial for wind turbines, these hidden treasures hold the potential to drive the nation’s clean energy ambitions.
With every pass of its hyperspecteal sensors, the aircraft revealed a vibrant tapestry of mineral deposits once invisible to the naked eye.
Hunting minerals: An aerial exploration
Soaring majestically in the sky was NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft, its underbelly armed with optical sensors that perceived the earth in hundreds of shades.
To the naked eye, the desert looked a barren brown, but through the lens of these sophisticated sensors, it seemed to burst with colors, each representing a hidden mineral treasure.
This flight was part of an ambitious venture known as the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx), led by NASA in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey.
Creating mineral maps
The goal was to map minerals vital to American national security, the tech industry, and clean energy. The survey was focused on an area almost the size of Spain, including the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Oregon.
High above the sunlit, arid landscapes of the American West, a NASA aircraft soared on a mission to map the minerals hidden below.
This wasn’t a journey to explore distant galaxies but a critical quest to uncover the resources essential for America’s renewable energy future.
From lithium for electric vehicles to rare earth elements crucial for wind turbines, these hidden treasures hold the potential to drive the nation’s clean energy ambitions.
With every pass of its hyperspectral sensors, the aircraft revealed a vibrant tapestry of mineral deposits once invisible to the naked eye.
The ground beneath these lands was about to reveal secrets that could contribute to the country’s self-sufficiency in obtaining mineral commodities.
“We’ve been exploring the earth beneath our feet for hundreds of years, and we’re discovering that we’ve only just begun,” said Kevin Reath, NASA’s associate project manager for GEMx.
Spectrometer: The new lens
In addition to traditional tools like lidar and magnetic-radiometric sensors, this mineral exploration effort harnesses the power of imaging spectrometers.
These high-tech optical tools detect various wavelengths of light reflected off planetary surfaces. They will now aid in mapping surface minerals across the treeless expanses of the Western United States.
By reflecting a unique light pattern, each molecule acts like a fingerprint. Through a spectroscopic lens, therefore, a barren desert can transform into a canvas of colors, each revealing a different mineral presence including mica, kaolinite, and gypsum.
“We’re not digging for gold. We’re revealing what’s hidden in plain sight,” said Robert Green, a scientist involved in the GEMx project.
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The great lithium hunt
A mineral that is of particular interest to the researchers is lithium. Found in various forms, this silvery metal is critical to the proliferation of clean energy, notably in powering electric vehicle batteries.
As demand for lithium-based batteries grows, legacy mines such as Hector Mine near Barstow, California, are being revisited for potential lithium deposits.
“Mine wastes are also potential sources of lithium, and many other byproduct commodities,” said Bernard Hubbard, a remote sensing geologist at USGS. “What has been a pollution source for communities could now be a resource.”
Broader focus of the research
As the GEMx flights prepare to resume in the spring of 2025, scientists anticipate a treasure trove of data, paving the way for the first-ever complete hyperspectral map of California.
Besides identifying mineral deposits, the research is expected to yield insight into invasive plant species, mine waste that can contaminate surrounding environments, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires.
“We are just beginning to scratch the surface in applying these measurements to help the nation’s economy, security, and health,” shared Raymond Kokaly, the GEMx survey lead from USGS.
Sustainable resource extraction
The GEMx mission isn’t just about identifying existing mineral deposits; it’s also paving the way for more sustainable resource extraction.
By providing detailed hyperspectral maps, scientists can pinpoint precise locations of mineral-rich zones, reducing the environmental footprint of mining operations.
This approach minimizes unnecessary excavation, helping to preserve ecosystems while maximizing resource efficiency.
Critical minerals like cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements – vital for technologies ranging from renewable energy systems to advanced electronics – are also on the radar.
These maps may hold the key to unlocking untapped resources, giving the U.S. a competitive edge in the global race for clean energy solutions
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NASA Nighttime Images Reveal Arctic Industrial Activity
Updated Dec 09, 2024 at 7:25 AM EST
The Arctic, once defined by its frozen, inhospitable climate and long winter nights, is experiencing dramatic transformations as the region warms almost four times faster than the global average.
This rapid warming has spurred increased industrial activity and development, changes now illuminated in striking detail by nighttime satellite observations.
An international team of researchers, leveraging data from the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, has discovered that artificial lighting in the Arctic increased by 5 percent annually between 1992 and 2013.
Over this 21-year span, 234,000 square miles of the Arctic landscape transitioned from dark to lit.
"Only 15 percent of the lit-up areas of the Arctic during the study period contained human settlements like homes or apartment buildings, which tells us that most of the artificial light is due to industrial activities rather than urban or residential development," Zhuosen Wang, a member of the research team and a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement.
Key drivers of this illumination include oil and gas extraction and mining operations.
The study found stark contrasts across the Arctic. The Russian Arctic experienced the largest growth in artificial light, with lit areas expanding by almost 170,000 square miles—an area larger than the footprint of California.
Regions such as Khanty-Mansi and Yamal-Nenets led this surge, fueled by oil field expansions—such as the Samotlor, one of the world's largest oil fields.
By 2013, oil and gas extraction zones in Russia's Arctic—including Khanty-Mansi, Yamal-Nenets and Nenets—spanned a lit area of 131,000 square miles, almost the size of Germany.
Extractive industries showed patterns of both growth and regression. Wang said, "Extractive industries follow lifecycle phases of expansion and contraction, which is why we see reductions in artificial lights in some places reliant on oil, gas, or mining, without significant human settlement and economic diversification."
The European Arctic accounted for a total of 61,000 square miles of illuminated area, significantly surpassing the 19,000 square miles observed in the North American Arctic.
Among notable industrial sites, the research team identified key mineral extraction operations, including Alaska's remote Red Dog Mine, which was recognized as the world's second-largest zinc producer as of 2018.
While data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program provided the foundation for this analysis, NASA's Black Marble team, led by Wang, is working with newer, higher-resolution data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite instrument aboard NASA-NOAA satellites.
While this data can detect dimmer light sources, the team faces challenges such as filtering out natural light from auroras and moonlit snow.
"By providing real-time, high-resolution insights, we will be able to better identify changes in industrial activity," Miguel Román, the deputy director for atmospheres at Goddard, said in a statement.
He added, "These analyses can help ensure responsible resource management and protect the ecosystems vital to both local and global stability."
https://www.newsweek.com/nasa-nighttime-lights-reveal-arctic-industrial-activity-1997537
Nasa astronauts celebrate Christmas at Sirru Fen Fushi
09 Dec 2024
This Christmas, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort in the pristine Shaviyani Atoll – will host a celestial celebration like no other.
Partnering with SpaceCat Astrotourism, the resort welcomes retired NASA astronaut Dominic A.
Antonelli and Analog Astronaut Anisa Qureshi for exclusive events under some of the clearest, most unspoiled night skies in the Maldives.
Known for its remote location and light-pollution-free skies, Sirru Fen Fushi offers guests a rare opportunity to witness the stars in unparalleled brilliance.
This festive season, the resort combines its luxurious offerings with unique astronomy experiences, bringing the magic of the cosmos to life through the stories and expertise of astronauts who have ventured beyond our planet.
The festivities kick off on December 24th with a Meet & Greet during the Christmas Cocktail Party, where guests can mingle with Dominic "Tony" Antonelli, a veteran NASA Space Shuttle pilot, and Anisa Qureshi, who shares her inspiring experiences as an Analog Astronaut.
On Christmas Day, Antonelli will present "Seeing Home from Space," offering a breathtaking perspective of Earth from orbit and insights into how viewing our planet from space redefines one’s understanding of home and humanity.
On December 26th, Qureshi will deliver her talk, "My Analog Astronaut Mission Experience," detailing her preparation for the challenges of space exploration.
That evening, she will lead "Beyond Exploration," a stargazing experience guiding guests through constellations and reflecting on humanity’s endless quest to explore the unknown.
The celebration concludes on December 27th with Antonelli’s talk, "Journey of a Space Shuttle Pilot," sharing an insider’s account of piloting the Space Shuttle and the marvels of human spaceflight.
This collaboration underscores Sirru Fen Fushi’s commitment to offering extraordinary experiences that connect guests with nature and the cosmos.
With awe-inspiring night skies and unique storytelling, this Christmas promises to be a truly unforgettable journey beyond the stars.
https://www.ttgmedia.com/noticeboard/nasa-astronauts-celebrate-christmas-at-sirru-fen-fushi-49540
There is something unexpected happening in the universe, Nasa’s most powerful ever telescope shows
Monday 09 December 2024 15:06 GMT
There appears to be some unknown feature of the universe that is affecting its expansion, scientists have said.
New measurements from the Webb telescope – Nasa’s most powerful space observatory – could help explain one of the deepest mysteries of the cosmos, according to the researchers behind them.
For years, scientists have been troubled by an unusual feature of our universe. It appears to be expanding faster today than it did in the past – and researchers are not sure why.
Now the Webb telescope has confirmed those unexpected measurements, which were previously shown by Nasa’s Hubble Space Telescope.
That suggests there is something unknown happening in the universe, rather than an error in that telescope’s measurements.
“The discrepancy between the observed expansion rate of the universe and the predictions of the standard model suggests that our understanding of the universe may be incomplete,” said Adam Riess, the lead author of a new paper on the findings.
“With two Nasa flagship telescopes now confirming each other’s findings, we must take this [Hubble tension] problem very seriously—it’s a challenge but also an incredible opportunity to learn more about our universe.”
A paper reporting the findings, ‘JWST Validates HST Distance Measurements: Selection of Supernova Subsample Explains Differences in JWST Estimates of Local H0’, is published in The Astrophysical Journal.
https://www.independent.co.uk/space/nasa-webb-hubble-measurement-universe-expansion-b2661299.html
https://dailygalaxy.com/2024/12/10000-prize-to-grab-for-designing-the-next-generation-ship-for-deep-space-enter-the-hyperion-challenge-now/
https://www.projecthyperion.org/
$10,000 Prize to Grab for Designing the Next Generation Ship for Deep Space – Enter the Hyperion Challenge Now!
December 8, 2024
Imagine a world where humanity can travel to distant exoplanets, not in years or decades, but centuries.
Welcome to the Hyperion competition, where you could win $10,000 by presenting the most groundbreaking idea for a self-sustaining generation ship.
Think you have what it takes to design the future of space travel?
What is a Generation Ship and Why Does It Matter?
A generation ship is not just a spaceship—it’s a city in space. These massive structures are designed to house hundreds of people for centuries, allowing them to travel to distant stars or potentially habitable exoplanets.
The Hyperion competition challenges participants to design these autonomous habitats capable of supporting human life for up to 250 years while in deep space.
The challenge of creating such a ship lies not just in engineering, but also in sociology and biology. Here are some of the fundamental questions and challenges involved:
How do you create a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports human life for generations?
How do you manage limited resources like food, water, and oxygen over a long-duration mission?
How do you ensure social cohesion and cultural continuity in a confined space for centuries?
Designing such a vessel requires addressing not only the engineering challenges but also the social, biological, and psychological aspects of long-term space travel.
The Challenges: Technology, Society, and Genetics
The technological hurdles for building a generation ship are enormous. Current propulsion technologies, including chemical rockets, are too slow to make interstellar travel feasible within a human lifetime.
Even advanced alternatives like fusion propulsion or laser sail technology, which can theoretically reach speeds up to 20% of the speed of light, still face significant economic and engineering challenges.
Additionally, participants in the Hyperion competition are asked to consider the social dynamics of life aboard a long-term space mission. Some of the key social and genetic considerations include:
Cultural Preservation: How will the crew preserve their cultural identity across many generations?
Genetic Diversity: How do you avoid the dangers of inbreeding over multiple generations in a closed system?
Psychological Well-being: How can we ensure that the crew remains mentally healthy and productive over the centuries?
Given these challenges, the competition calls for innovative ideas that merge cutting-edge technology with psychosocial strategies to create a viable society in space.
The Science and Sociology of Interstellar Travel
It’s not just about building a ship—it’s about building a society. The design must incorporate solutions for vital issues such as resource recycling (air, water, food), radiation protection, and artificial gravity.
But the societal challenges are just as important. A generation ship is a community unto itself, where people must maintain psychological well-being and societal cohesion over generations.
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Here are a few of the crucial systems that must be considered for such long-term space missions:
Closed-loop life support systems that recycle everything from water and air to food and waste.
Radiation shielding to protect passengers from harmful cosmic rays and solar radiation.
Artificial gravity to simulate Earth-like conditions, preventing muscle atrophy and bone loss.
Social and educational frameworks to ensure that each new generation remains connected to the mission and their heritage.
For example, maintaining a sense of purpose and connection to Earth is critical to prevent psychological degradation over time.
Some experts suggest that educational protocols and digital archives could play a key role in ensuring that each generation is aware of its origins, mission, and the larger purpose of the journey.
What’s at Stake? The Prize and the Future of Space Exploration
The Hyperion competition isn’t just an intellectual exercise—it’s a gateway to the future of interstellar travel. Hosted by the Initiative for Interstellar Studies (i4is), the competition seeks ideas that could form the basis for real-world generation ships.
With $10,000 on the line, the winning project will gain recognition from space industry leaders and experts, and will contribute to the first steps in humanity’s attempt to conquer the stars.
The competition isn’t just about building a ship—it’s about laying the groundwork for humanity’s future in space. The prizes for the winners are as follows:
First place: $5,000
Second place: $3,000
Third place: $2,000
These rewards provide not only financial support but also exposure for the most visionary ideas in space exploration.
The winners will be announced in June 2025, marking a significant milestone in the quest for interstellar exploration.
Enter the Competition: Deadline Approaching!
The clock is ticking! To participate in this exciting challenge, submit your designs and concepts by December 15th, 2024.
The Hyperion competition offers an incredible opportunity for individuals, teams, or organizations to make their mark in the world of space engineering and sociology.
The winners will help pave the way for the next chapter in humanity’s journey to the stars.
Do you have the vision to contribute to interstellar colonization? Will your ideas be the foundation for future generations living in space?
The deadline is fast approaching, so don’t miss your chance to be a part of this historic endeavor.
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Sun unleashes surprise X-class solar flare triggering radio blackout over southern Africa
December 9, 2024
The sun appears to have woken from its slumber with an impulsive X-class solar flare, the most powerful class of solar flare.
The dramatic eruption originated from sunspot region 3912, reaching its peak at 4:06 a.m. EST (0906 GMT) on Dec. 8, and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a large plume of magnetic field and plasma from the sun.
When CMEs (also known as solar storms) hit Earth's magnetosphere they can trigger active geomagnetic storm conditions resulting in impressive auroras.
Earth may receive a glancing blow from the CME released yesterday (Dec. 8) but only mild impacts are predicted, according to Space Weather Physicist Tamitha Skov.
"The #solarstorm launched will graze Earth to the west. Sadly, the coming fast solar wind streams might deflect the structure even further to the west.
Expect only mild impacts by midday December 11," Space Weather Physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X.
What are solar flares?
Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy originating from the sun's surface that release strong bursts of electromagnetic radiation.
Solar flares are categorized into five classes: A, B, C, M, and X. Each step up represents a tenfold increase in strength.
A-class flares are the weakest and generally go unnoticed on Earth, while X-class flares are the most intense and can have significant impacts, such as disrupting satellites and causing radio blackouts.
Within each class, a numerical scale (e.g., X1, X2, X10, etc.) provides more detail about the flare's energy level.
Following the eruption of an X-class solar flare, shortwave radio blackouts were observed over southern Africa, the area illuminated by the sun at the time of the outburst.
These radio disruptions, which are typical during powerful solar events, are caused by the intense release of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation accompanying the flare.
Radiation from solar flares travels to Earth at the speed of light, ionizing the upper atmosphere when it arrives.
This ionization increases the density of the atmosphere, affecting high-frequency shortwave radio signals used for long-distance communication.
As these radio waves pass through the electrically charged, ionized layers, they experience energy loss due to more frequent collisions with electrons, which can weaken or even fully absorb the radio signals.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/sun/sun-unleashes-impulsive-x-class-solar-flare-triggering-radio-blackout-over-southern-africa-video
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/r3-strong-hf-radio-blackout-event-08-dec-2024
Congressmen push FAA to accelerate licensing process
December 9, 2024
As the Federal Aviation Administration kicks off a committee to study ways to refine launch and reentry regulations, two members of Congress are asking the agency to move even faster to reform those rules.
In a Dec. 6 letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, Reps. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chair of the House Transportation Committee, and Rob Wittman (R-Va.) called for the FAA to pursue “all actions short of rulemaking” to expedite the licensing process under regulations known as Part 450.
Those regulations have been a source of frustration for many companies in the industry, who have complained about the difficulty in getting licenses under those regulations, which went into effect in 2021.
While many companies operate under older regulations, they must shift to Part 450 by March 2026.
In their letter, Graves and Wittman focused on a process known as pre-application consultation, where companies meet with the FAA to discuss their launch or reentry vehicle prior to submitting a formal license application.
The submission of a completed license starts a 180-day clock for the FAA to either issue a license or reject the application.
“However, this timeframe does not include the months, and oftentimes years, of pre–application review that create extensive delays for companies seeking a launch and reentry license,” the congressmen wrote.
“These delays have a direct impact on the United States’ standing in space exploration and our strategic competition with a growing number of adversarial nations seeking to disrupt our space capabilities and support their own.”
The letter came a day after the FAA announced it held the first meeting of a space-related aerospace rulemaking committee, or SpARC, that will look at ways to reform Part 450.
The FAA said in November it had established the SpARC after announcing early this year its intent to charter a committee to find ways to improve the regulations.
“The FAA is seeking to foster more clarity, flexibility, efficiency and innovation while ensuring timely licensing determinations without compromising public safety,” the agency stated.
It will focus on nine topics, including flight safety analyses, system safety and means of compliance, and plans to release recommendations by late summer of 2025.
Graves and Wittman said in their letter that they welcomed the establishment of the SpARC but called on the FAA to do more.
“We, however, urge the FAA to act now and ensure that all actions short of rulemaking that can help mitigate the deficiencies of the part 450 regulation are taken in advance of any necessary regulatory changes to ensure that the commercial space industry does not have to wait years for relief.”
That sentiment is shared by the Commercial Space Federation (CSF), an industry group that represents many companies seeking Part 450 licenses.
“That’s a great step in the right direction. The SpARCs are great for long-term fixes,” said Dave Cavossa, president of CSF, in a recent interview.
“But there’s stuff that the FAA can do right now within its own power, and I think with some guidance from Congress and the new administration, there’s a lot of things the FAA can do themselves in the next 120 days to make launch licensing flow more smoothly.”
The SpARC includes 24 members, which the FAA said includes “current and prospective” licensees with experience with Part 450.
The FAA did not disclose the names of specific individuals but listed companies that include major launch operators like Blue Origin, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Virgin Galactic.
Also on the list is Varda Space Industries, which struggled to get a Part 450 reentry license for its first mission.
The company launched that mission without a reentry license, and the lengthy process to get a license extended its mission by several months. The FAA now requires companies that need a reentry license to obtain it before launch.
During a panel discussion at the SpaceNews Icon Awards Dec. 6, Eric Lasker, chief revenue officer of Varda, called for increasing the staffing of the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation to handle the higher volume of license applications.
“There’s ways to streamline it even further,” he said, such as getting a license for multiple missions.
One challenge the company faces outside of the Part 450 process is a lack of reentry locations in the United States.
The company landed its first mission at the Utah Test and Training Range, but that was a complicated effort. The company will use a range in Australia for its second mission.
“Some kind of reentry range that’s unique from launch ranges,” he said, “would probably be the biggest enabler for a company like ours.”
https://spacenews.com/congressmen-push-faa-to-accelerate-licensing-process/
https://wittman.house.gov/uploadedfiles/wittman_graves_faa_letter.pdf
Ukraine Develops Jamming-Resistant Fiber-Optic Combat Drone
December 9, 2024
Ukrainian engineers have achieved a significant breakthrough in military Drone Technology with the development of a fiber-optic Tethered drone that operates beyond the reach of electronic warfare systems.
The innovation, reported initially by Kyiv Post, represents a potential solution to the growing challenge of electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures that have increasingly limited drone operations in combat zones.
The system’s defining feature is its 12.5-mile fiber-optic tether that replaces traditional radio control links, effectively eliminating its radio frequency signature.
“This drone is completely invisible in the radio spectrum. No EW system can locate its launch site or operator,” explains Anton Mogolivets, the chief engineer behind the project.
The development comes as a direct response to the intensifying electronic warfare environment, where traditional RF-controlled drones face mounting challenges from sophisticated jamming systems.
Technical specifications of the platform include a 12-pound payload capacity and operational speeds reaching 37.5 mph. Recent testing has extended the drone’s flight endurance from 20 to 46 minutes, significantly expanding its mission capabilities.
The system is specifically designed for precision strikes against hardened targets, including enemy electronic warfare installations and armored vehicles equipped with active protection systems.
The Ukrainian-developed system offers compelling economic advantages over existing alternatives. While comparable Chinese-made fiber-optic drones cost approximately $2,500 plus $1,000 for the tether, the Ukrainian variant comes in at $1,800 complete.
This cost efficiency becomes particularly significant when considering the high-volume deployment requirements, with individual brigades reportedly requiring thousands of units monthly.
Manufacturing challenges persist, however, as domestic production currently accounts for only 40% of components.
The remaining elements, particularly microelectronics, must be sourced internationally, primarily from China, highlighting ongoing industrial capacity constraints in Ukraine‘s defense sector.
Intelligence officer “Tundra” contextualizes the rapid evolution of drone warfare: “With fiber-optic drones, even the most advanced interception systems lose their effectiveness.”
However, he also notes the constant technological race, observing that countermeasures typically emerge within three months of any new capability’s deployment.
The system is scheduled for operational deployment with Ukrainian forces in 2025, following successful military trials.
This development represents a significant advancement in drone technology, particularly in environments where data security and resistance to electronic warfare are paramount.
The trajectory of this innovation underscores the broader transformation of commercial drone technology into sophisticated military tools. As Mogolivets notes, “Before the war, such drones were merely toys.
Now, they are formidable weapons.” This evolution reflects the wider trend in modern warfare where adaptability and technological edge increasingly determine battlefield outcomes.
https://dronexl.co/2024/12/09/ukraine-jamming-resistant-fiber-optic-combat-drone/
r/aliens
Fiber Optics
I work for a telecommunications service provider as a splicer. I just recently caught wind of a conspiracy regarding the connection between an extraterrestrial crash recovery and fiber optics.
Would be super interested in any directions to proof or really any stories in general. I can say fiber optics is absolutely nuts and I wouldn’t think this conspiracy is out of pocket.
https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/165z3w8/fiber_optics/
https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/zikkfv/if_the_government_truly_made_a_deal_with_aliens/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y9P8pq4aMg
Unexplained Drone Sightings Reach Philly Area
Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 11:05 am ET
Large drones, or unidentified flying objects that bear a resemblance to drones, have been spotted in the skies over the greater Philadelphia area, according to numerous social media reports and media sources.
It's the latest in a string of similar sightings that have occurred in New Jersey in recent days and sparked rumors and conspiracy theories across the Internet.
The drones, some of them as large as cars, appeared throughout the night Sunday night and into Monday morning.
Accounts on X shared footage from Yardley, Lower Merion, northern Bucks County, and more, while 6ABC reports sightings in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia and Broomall in Delaware County.
The FBI is investigating the New Jersey sightings. Authorities have not yet confirmed a separate investigation in the greater Philadelphia area.
The unidentified aerial vehicles have been spotted flying over different parts of New Jersey since mid-November.
The drones have made nightly flights in some areas, and sometimes travel in clusters.
It is unclear who is operating them and for what purpose. Sightings had not been widely reported in southeastern Pennsylvania until Sunday night.
The incidents have spurred countless conspiracy theories across social media, ranging from government experiments and extraterrestrial technology to errant helicopters and jets.
Authorities are asking the public to report sightings by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/across-pa/unexplained-drone-sightings-reach-philly-area
https://6abc.com/post/large-drones-spotted-philadelphia-area-fbi-investigates-mysterious-drone-sightings-new-jersey/15630194/
https://www.ufonews.co/post/uap-and-mystery-drones-more-serious-than-being-told
UAP and Mystery Drones More Serious Than Being Told
Dec, 7, 2024
In recent weeks, a wave of unusual aerial phenomena has captured global attention, challenging both official explanations and conventional understanding of drone capabilities.
From military installations to civilian airports, these incidents have raised significant questions about airspace security and the nature of these unidentified objects.
The Langley Air Force Base Drone Mystery
According to the Wall Street Journal, for 17 consecutive days, Virginia’s Langley Air Force Base witnessed peculiar aerial activity that defied easy explanation.
U.S. Air Force General Mark Kelly reported observing what he described as “drone-like objects appearing as constellations,” moving at approximately 100 miles per hour at altitudes between 3,000 to 4,000 feet.
The persistence and pattern of these sightings over one of America’s most sensitive military installations has raised serious security concerns. No explanation has been given enough though this took place in December of 2023.
New Jersey’s Mysterious Drones UPDATES
The situation in New Jersey has taken a particularly concerning turn since Thanksgiving weekend.
On the evening of December 2nd , what might have been merely another unusual sighting became a serious public safety concern when emergency responders were forced to abandon their helicopter landing plans due to multiple unidentified objects hovering in the designated landing zone.
At Raritan Valley Community College, according to the New York Post security personnel had already initiated emergency protocols and closed roads to create a secure landing site for a medical helicopter responding to a crash victim.
However, according to Brian Serge, one of the college’s security supervisors, the local fire captain was compelled to cancel the landing operation just before 7 PM due to the hazardous presence of these unidentified aerial objects.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s response seemed to downplay the incidents while simultaneously escalating them — stating that the objects posed “no threat” while also confirming that the FBI was conducting a “full investigation” into the matter.
Witnesses describe the objects as appearing similar to conventional aircraft but with incorrect light configurations, with some reports indicating shape-shifting characteristics — a detail that seems to contradict the official “drone” classification.
These sightings have been occurring nightly for hours at a time, far exceeding the typical flight duration capabilities of commercial drones. The objects have been reported at altitudes considered too low for normal aircraft operation, creating a puzzling scenario that defies simple explanation.
This pattern of incidents in New Jersey exemplifies a broader issue where official responses appear to minimize potential security concerns while evidence suggests a more complex and potentially serious situation.
The contradiction between the governor’s reassurance of safety and the FBI’s involvement, coupled with the direct impact on emergency services, highlights the growing tension between official narratives and observed reality in these cases.
The Manchester Airport Incident UPDATES
The recent viral spread of photographs and video showing a luminous blue orb at Manchester Airport has sparked intense debate, despite the incident occurring back in June 2024.
The images were shared by an anonymous account claiming to represent a veteran UK airline pilot with decades of experience.
In their Reddit statement on November 28th, the pilot explained that while they didn’t personally capture the footage, it was taken by a colleague and had been “a hot topic of conversation” in their aviation community.
They emphatically rejected conventional explanations, stating “This is not a balloon or a drone,” and emphasized that with their extensive experience, they “know what we are looking at in the skies.”
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Manchester Airport’s official response, issued just days ago, firmly contests these claims. Speaking to The Independent, airport officials dismissed the incident, stating they believe the images to be fake.
Their response, however, contained notable contradictions — while asserting the images were fabricated, they simultaneously suggested the object “could be a balloon or something similar.”
A spokesperson further told the Express that their detection systems would have identified any potential aviation threats, emphasizing that “anything that gives off a signal we would know about.”
They also pointed out that an object on the airfield, as depicted in the imagery, would have been treated as a major incident, and no such disruption was recorded.
Yet this response, coming months after the alleged incident and only after the images went viral, has raised questions about the timing and consistency of the official narrative, particularly given the aviation expertise of those who initially reported it.
Washington DC’s Protected Airspace Breach
The recent series of sightings over Washington DC’s restricted airspace has drawn striking parallels to one of ufology’s most famous cases while generating its own complex web of evidence and contradictions.
The current incident centers on two key pieces of documentation: a still image captured by Dennis Diggins, a U.S. Air Force veteran and licensed tour guide, showing four lights positioned above the Capitol building’s Statue of Freedom, and corroborating video footage from a different vantage point showing similar lights transitioning from a square formation to a straight line.
These sightings, particularly notable for occurring in heavily restricted airspace over both the Capitol building and Pentagon.
The initial still image by Diggins has faced significant skepticism, with debunkers suggesting the lights could be reflections from ground-level parking or street lights.
However, the supporting video evidence from a different location appears to validate the original sighting, showing the objects performing maneuvers that would be difficult to explain as mere reflections — specifically, their transformation from a square formation into a straight line.
This modern incident bears striking similarities to the events of July 12 and 29, 1952, when a wave of UFO sightings over Washington DC prompted military intervention.
The key difference between these cases lies in the response: while the 1952 incidents saw military jets scrambling to intercept the objects (unsuccessfully), the current sightings have generated no apparent military response despite occurring in what should be some of the most closely monitored airspace in the world.
The lack of official response or intervention, especially in contrast to the 1952 events, raises significant questions about either current security protocols or the nature of these objects.
While the initial photograph might be explainable through conventional means, the corroborating video evidence of structured movement patterns suggests something more complex than simple light reflections or misidentifications.
Local witnesses have reported seeing similar lights in the area for weeks, adding temporal depth to the incident beyond the viral photographs and video.
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The Security Paradox
The stark contrast in how authorities handle different types of aerial incursions reveals a puzzling inconsistency in modern airspace security.
This disparity is perfectly illustrated by the case of Fengyun Shi reported by the Star Tribune, a University of Minnesota student and Chinese national, who was swiftly apprehended after flying a drone near sensitive naval installations.
When questioned by FBI agents, Shi claimed to be merely a “ship enthusiast” who didn’t realize his drone had entered restricted airspace.
The resolution was swift and decisive — authorities quickly identified the drone, tracked its origin, apprehended the operator, and resolved the situation within days.
Yet this same efficiency appears absent in numerous other cases: at Langley Air Force Base, objects described by U.S. Air Force General Mark Kelly as “drone-like constellations” operated freely for 17 consecutive days;
over Washington DC’s heavily restricted airspace, multiple objects performed coordinated maneuvers near the Capitol Building and Pentagon without intervention; and in New Jersey, unidentified drones have disrupted emergency medical services for weeks while authorities simultaneously claim “no threat” and involve the FBI.
This inconsistency becomes even more perplexing given the sophisticated detection systems in place around sensitive installations — including radar, infrared detection, electronic surveillance, and signal monitoring — which proved so effective in Shi’s case yet seem ineffective against these other phenomena. As a Manchester Airport spokesperson noted regarding their own security, “We have systems that pick up anything that could be a threat to aviation. Anything that gives off a signal we would know about.”
The stark contrast between the rapid resolution of confirmed drone incidents and the ongoing mystery surrounding these other cases suggests either a significant gap in current detection capabilities, a failure in response protocols, or the possibility that these objects possess characteristics that place them beyond conventional detection methods.
As these sightings continue to accumulate, the pattern of increased activity during the latter months of the year (particularly November and December) has become noteworthy.
The global nature of these incidents, combined with their similar characteristics across different locations, suggests a phenomenon that warrants serious investigation beyond simple drone classification.
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Did Mystery Drone Crash in New Jersey? What We Know
Updated Dec 09, 2024 at 6:24 AM EST
Aseries of mysterious drones have been spotted in New Jersey in recent weeks, and an unverified video posted on social media allegedly shows the aftermath of a drone crash.
The FBI and local police are investigating the drone sightings, which have been reported nightly in several New Jersey counties since November 18—with the exception of Thanksgiving Day.
The recent video, filmed in a car at night, appears to show flames and smoke emerging from the side of a road.
"There was like a craft that crashed out of the sky. It was crazy. I don't know what's going on," someone said in the recording.
It is not clear who originally posted the video, but it has been reshared across YouTube, TikTok and X, formerly Twitter.
One X user wrote on the platform that the original video had been deleted from YouTube.
Newsweek contacted the Pine Beach Police Department, where the incident is reported to have happened, and the New Jersey State Police for comment via email.
While authorities have acknowledged the drones' recent presence, there has been no official confirmation that one crashed.
Some social media accounts also shared a Facebook post by the satirical site Jersey Coast Emergency News, which said state police was searching for a drone that had crashed in the Pine Barrens.
On social media, the site describes itself as "New Jersey's #1 Source For News, Laughs, Satire," and it shares satirical posts along with legitimate news updates.
Drones have reportedly been spotted above Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility in Rockaway, and President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster.
The brightly lit and low-flying drones have been described by eyewitnesses to be significantly larger than those flown by hobbyists, The New York Times reported.
Joseph Orlando, the chief of the Florham Park Police Department in Morris County, said in a statement on Wednesday that drones had been spotted above critical infrastructure, such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, police departments and military installations.
"While we currently have no evidence or information to indicate these drones pose an imminent threat at this time, their presence appears nefarious in nature," he wrote.
In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drones from flying over the military base in Morris County and Trump's golf club.
One family told Fox News that while a drone hovered above them, their car's clock changed time and only changed back as they drove off. Some eyewitnesses have compared the size of the drones to that of small cars.
https://www.newsweek.com/mystery-drone-crash-new-jersey-social-media-video-1997497
https://youtu.be/B8DMRUyOlHw?si=8g83-0DYEHyEn5yM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9DBMPUOVOM