TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
January 19, 2025
Titan Touchdown: Huygens Descent Movie
What would it look like to land on Saturn's moon Titan? The European Space Agency's Huygens probe set down on the Solar System's cloudiest moon in 2005, and a time-lapse video of its descent images was created. Huygens separated from the robotic Cassini spacecraft soon after it achieved orbit around Saturn in late 2004 and began approaching Titan. For two hours after arriving, Huygens plummeted toward Titan's surface, recording at first only the shrouded moon's opaque atmosphere. The computerized truck-tire sized probe soon deployed a parachute to slow its descent, pierced the thick clouds, and began transmitting images of a strange surface far below never before seen in visible light. Landing in a dried sea and surviving for 90 minutes, Huygen's returned unique images of a strange plain of dark sandy soil strewn with smooth, bright, fist-sized rocks of ice.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
SpaceX Starlink Mission
January 19, 2025 7:35 a.m. PT
SpaceX is targeting Sunday, January 19 for a Falcon 9 launch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:35 a.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:14 a.m. PT.
If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available Monday, January 20 starting at 7:13 a.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Oneweb 4, USSF-62, and seven Starlink missions.
Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There is the possibility that residents of and visitors to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-11-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5P865SvIRA
People are mind-blown after learning why you can sometimes see the Moon during the day
14:27 19 Jan 2025 GMT
People have been left mind-blown after leaning why the Moon can be seen in the sky during the day.
It doesn't happen every day, but you may have spotted from time to time the Moon dwelling up above in the middle of the day, sometimes against a clear blue sky.
Most of us associate the Moon as a clear telltale sign it's bedtime, so it can be a bit disconcerting when it pops up before the Sun has even gone in for the night.
But there's actually a scientific explanation as to why the Moon sometimes lingers in the day time, which is blowing some people's minds.
In November 2023, 'post-apocalyptic warlord', Stew Peters, shared an image of the Moon in the sky on Twitter, writing: "This full Moon is out in the middle of the day. That's not supposed to happen."
However, that's not entirely true and is a phenomenon that has occurred since… well, forever.
Planetary geologist and NASA scientist Sarah Noble explained that most people hold a misconception that the Moon is only visible at night because of the way it's portrayed in movies and books.
In a video on YouTube, the scientist added: "Even the weatherman uses the Sun as a symbol for day and the Moon for night."
Why do we sometimes see the Moon during the day?
In actuality, the Moon spends 'almost as much as time in the daytime sky' as it does the night.
What changes is how we're able to see it as the Moon has to be in the 'right' part of the sky.
This boils down to how close the Moon is to our home, Earth, and how it orbits around us.
The phase of the Moon itself is also a factor, not forgetting the season and how clear the sky is on one particular day to the next.
After all, it's difficult to see even the Sun when it's blowing a gale and stormy clouds roll in.
Noble continued: "During a full Moon, the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky. That's why we can see the full face of the Moon reflecting sunlight."
However, 'as the Earth rotates,' the Moon rises 'just as the Sun sets' on 'one day of the month'.
Noble added: "In the days before a full Moon, if you look in the eastern sky, you can find the almost full Moon rising before the sun sets.
And the days after a full Moon, you can look in the western sky and find the Moon setting after the Sun has come up."
But if you want to catch a glimpse of the Moon chilling in the daytime sky, Noble says you'll have to be fast.
The scientist said she has even made a 'game' of daytime Moon-spotting by timing her daily bike rides to try and spot it, but has to adjust her times by around 50 minutes per day as the Moon 'marches through its phases'.
She concluded: "So keep your eyes peeled."
https://www.unilad.com/news/why-see-moon-sky-during-day-827799-20250117
https://x.com/realstewpeters/status/1729855872958964118
Subaru Telescope’s Insect-Like Compound Eye to Debut in February
January 18, 2025
The Subaru Telescope in Hawai‘i is adding a new instrument to its arsenal, one that will observe the cosmos through a compound eye.
The compound eye will allow Subaru to observe about 2,400 objects in space, offering an extremely wide field of view and permitting simultaneous spectroscopic observation of the thousands of objects.
Subaru’s new instrument will clear researchers into longstanding questions in astrophysics, chief among them the formation and evolution of galaxies and the universe in which they reside.
The instrument is the Prime Focus Spectrograph, and it is one of the flagship instruments in the next era of the Subaru Telescope.
The spectrograph will collect light across the visible and some of the near-infrared ranges.
The telescope will improve the telescope’s ability to observe spectra from distant light sources.
“This is just a stepping stone towards ultimate goals such as continuing the operation for a long term, producing unprecedented scientific outputs, and sharing exciting news from Maunakea with the local community to the fullest,” said Naoyuki Tamura, a professor at the Subaru Telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, in an observatory release.
“The discoveries that will be made with this cutting-edge instrument are something all of the people of Hawai’i can be proud of; to be at the center of such a meaningful international collaboration and human endeavor,” Tamura added.
The spectrograph team will launch a large-sky survey that will take place over approximately the next five years.
In total, 360 nights of telescope time will be used to collect data on millions of galaxies and hundreds of thousands of stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and our nearest galactic neighbor, Andromeda.
The Subaru Telescope keeps busy. It reveals aspects of the universe from the amount of gases in distant galaxies to the eerie ephemera of rocket launches above our own planet.
Last year, Subaru data (specifically observations by the telescope’s Hyper Suprime-Cam) revealed two very large merging quasars in the early universe, but the telescope also showed that the Kuiper Belt may be larger than previously thought.
In other words, the Subaru telescope is multi-talented, and balances its deep space duties with those much closer to home.
Subaru’s new compound eye will build on the telescope’s legacy and give it runway to create more history.
As for exactly how the spectrograph will change our understanding of the universe?
For that, you’ll have to check out Gizmodo in five years’ time, when the telescope’s sky survey is complete.
https://gizmodo.com/subaru-telescopes-insect-like-compound-eye-to-debut-in-february-2000551368
Space Mountain Lit Up in Gold for 50th Anniversary
January 15, 2025
Space Mountain at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary today, and to celebrate the occasion, Disney bathed it in gold light.
Guests claim the effect looks more golden in person than in photographs, but the photos are stunning.
Earlier this morning, Walt Disney World marked 50 years of Space Mountain, with a private ceremony, fireworks launch, and celebrity memories.
They saved a special look for the evening hours, with this golden touch.
On most nights, Space Mountain is shades of blue or purple. Occasionally you will see different colors for an event or special occasion.
Space Mountain made its debut in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom on January 15, 1975.
Built by Arrow Dynamics, this groundbreaking indoor roller coaster includes two tracks named Alpha and Omega.
Its distinctive white cone-shaped structure has become a symbol of Disney Parks.
Following the success of the original in Florida, Space Mountain was added to nearly every other Disney castle park: Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
The sole exception is Shanghai Disneyland, which chose to feature TRON Lightcycle Power Run instead.
While each iteration of Space Mountain varies slightly, all share the thrilling experience of propelling guests through the dark expanse of space.
WDWNT is celebrating 50 years of Space Mountain and 30 years of “New” Tomorrowland with our “Promising Tomorrows” event.
Current and former Disney Imagineers, including some who worked on Space Mountain, will be speaking and signing at the event this weekend.
Find the full list of participants, schedule, and ticketing information at SpaceMountain50.com.
https://wdwnt.com/2025/01/space-mountain-lit-up-in-gold-for-50th-anniversary/
https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/space-mountain-celebrates-50-years-from-first-coasters-to-forever-memories/
https://spacemountain50.com/
Scientists discover 'sunken worlds' hidden deep within Earth's mantle that shouldn't be there
January 19, 2025
Potential patches of Earth's ancient crust, sometimes called "sunken worlds," may have just been discovered deep within the mantle, thanks to a new way of mapping the inside of our planet.
However, these mysterious blobs appear in places they should not, leaving researchers scratching their heads.
For decades, scientists have been building up a better picture of Earth's interior by using seismographs — 3D images created by measuring how seismic waves from earthquakes reverberate deep within our planet.
This method has helped scientists identify ancient sections of the planet's crust, known as subducted slabs, that have been pulled into the mantle through subduction zones where tectonic plates meet.
For example, in October 2024, researchers announced the discovery of a section of seafloor that had sunk deep into the mantle below Easter Island.
In a study published Nov. 4, 2024, in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers revealed that they had discovered "numerous" potential subducted slabs throughout Earth's mantle, using a new type of seismographic imaging.
(Little information about the size, shape and exact locations of the blobs has been revealed so far.)
However, unlike previously identified subducted slabs, which are found in areas where tectonic plates currently collide or have previously smashed together, some of the new anomalies are located in places where no known tectonic activity has ever occurred, such as below the western Pacific Ocean. As a result, it is unclear how they ended up there.
"That's our dilemma," Thomas Schouten, a doctoral candidate at the ETH Zurich Geological Institute in Switzerland, said in a statement released Jan. 7.
"With the new high-resolution model, we can see such anomalies everywhere in the Earth's mantle. But we don't know exactly what they are."
There are other potential explanations for the newly mapped blobs. For example, they may be made of crust-like material left over from the mantle's creation 4 billion years ago.
Or they may consist of some other similarly dense material that has grown within the mantle over the past few hundred million years.
However, these are just alternative theories. At the moment, the identity of these blobs remains a "major mystery," ETH Zurich representatives wrote in the statement.
Finding "sunken worlds"
Until now, everything we know about Earth's innards has come from stitching together different seismographs created from different individual earthquakes across the globe.
But in the new study, researchers used a new method, known as full-waveform inversion, which uses computer models to combine these seismographs into a single clear image.
This is a computationally intensive method, and to pull it off, researchers had to run the model on the Piz Daint supercomputer at the Swiss National Supercomputer Center in Lugano — formerly Europe's most powerful computer — to crunch the numbers.
Study co-author Andreas Fichtner, a seismologist at ETH Zurich who created the full-waveform model used in the new research, compared the use of full-waveform inversion to medical imaging advancements.
Imagine a doctor has been studying the circulatory system for decades, Fichtner said. "Then, if you give [them] a new, better examination tool, [they] suddenly see an artery in the buttock that doesn't really belong there," Fichtner explained.
"That's exactly how we feel about the new findings."
Researchers think the newly discovered blobs may be subducted slabs, largely because seismic waves travel through them both at the same speed.
But this does not guarantee that they are the same thing, and more research is needed to assess whether they are actually alike.
"We have to calculate the different material parameters that could generate the observed speeds of the different wave types," Schouten said.
"Essentially, we have to dive deeper into the material properties behind the wave speed."
https://www.space.com/the-universe/earth/scientists-discover-sunken-worlds-hidden-deep-within-earths-mantle-that-shouldnt-be-there
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-77399-2
https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2025/01/sunken-worlds-under-the-pacific.html
FAA requires mishap investigation for failed New Glenn landing
January 18, 2025
While Blue Origin considers the first flight of its New Glenn rocket a success, the company will have to complete a mishap investigation before its next launch.
New Glenn lifted off on its inaugural launch, called NG-1, Jan. 16 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The second stage reached orbit, although the first stage failed to make a landing on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean as planned.
The payload for the NG-1 mission was Blue Ring Pathfinder, a technology demonstrator for the company’s planned Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle.
The payload remained attached to the upper stage, testing communications, power and other systems.
The company says those tests were successful.
“Our Blue Ring Pathfinder hit all our mission objectives within the planned six-hour journey after being inserted into the desired orbit by New Glenn with an apogee of 19,300 km and a perigee of 2,400 km at a 30-degree inclination,” Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, said in a social media post Jan. 17.
Limp added that the upper stage “nailed insertion with a less than 1% deviation from our exact orbital injection target.”
Data from the U.S. Space Force’s Space-Track.org service show the upper stage in an orbit of 2,426 by 19,251 kilometers at an inclination of 29.99 degrees.
Blue Origin has not released any other details about the mission beyond Limp’s post since a press release shortly after the launch.
That includes no information about the fate of the first stage, which was headed towards a landing on the company’s landing platform ship, Jacklyn, after stage separation.
Telemetry from the first stage, as displayed on the launch webcast, froze at about T+7:55, around the scheduled end of a three-engine reentry burn.
The stage was at an altitude of 25,672 meters and traveling at 6,896 kilometers per hour at that point.
The failed landing attempt will require the company to perform a mishap investigation.
“The FAA is aware an anomaly occurred during the Blue Origin NG-1 mission that launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on Jan. 16,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement, referring to the booster landing failure.
“The FAA is requiring Blue Origin to perform a mishap investigation.”
Blue Origin will lead the mishap investigation, standard procedure for such reviews, with involvement by the FAA.
The agency must approve the final report and any corrective actions before allowing launches to resume.
It’s unclear if that investigation will affect the schedule for upcoming launches of New Glenn.
Limp said in a statement immediately after the launch that the company was planning its next launch for the spring, but did not provide a more specific schedule or identify the payload for that launch.
Despite the missed landing, the company won praise for reaching orbit on its first attempt.
“Today’s New Glenn test flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station marks a pivotal moment in heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle development,” said Clay Mowry, chief executive of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a former Blue Origin executive, in a Jan. 16 statement.
“As the newest heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn is introducing competition to the launch market, helping accelerate the growing space economy by reducing costs, expanding access to space and helping return us to the moon and on to Mars.
“It’s great to see Blue making solid progress toward offering competition to SpaceX and providing customers with additional reusable vehicles capable of carrying large payloads into space,” said Dale Skran, chief operating officer and senior vice president of the National Space Society, a space advocacy group.
However, some have privately criticized the company for choosing to place the upper stage into a high transfer orbit that does not comply with orbital debris mitigation guidelines.
While that orbit avoids highly populated regions of low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit, a breakup could create debris that migrates into those orbits.
https://spacenews.com/faa-requires-mishap-investigation-for-failed-new-glenn-landing/
Air defenses activated amid drone alert in Kyiv region
19.01.2025 13:18
Several kamikaze drones have been spotted over Kyiv region, which prompted the air defense to engage targets.
The Kyiv Regional State Administration reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform saw.
"UAVs have been recorded in the airspace. Air Defense forces are engaging air targets. Remain in shelters until the air raid alert is over," the statement reads.
The administration also urged residents to not to record or post on social media the air defense capabilities in action to maintain operation security.
As Ukrinform reported, an air raid alert was declared around Kyiv and a number of other regions due to a drone threat.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3950257-air-defenses-activated-amid-drone-alert-in-kyiv-region.html
https://t.me/kyivoda/24537
Russia launches 61 drones over Ukraine, 43 of which downed - Air Force
19 January 2025, Sunday, 15:27
On the night of January 19, the troops of the aggressor country of russia used 61 drones to strike Ukraine, including Shahed attack drones and UAV simulators of various types, 43 of which were shot down.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Telegram.
The drones were launched from the directions of the russian settlements of Millerovo, Bryansk and Oryol.
Aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, radar combat units, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine shot down 43 drones in the Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv Regions, the Air Force reported.
15 enemy simulator drones were lost in location. At the time of publication of the material, another UAV, according to the military, was in the country's airspace.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the wreckage of an enemy drone fell in the Solomyanskyi district of Kyiv on January 16. As a result, a car was damaged.
Meanwhile, on the night of January 16, the aggressor state of russia attacked Ukraine with 55 Shaheds and drone simulators of various types. Air defense forces destroyed 34 UAVs, another 18 did not reach their targets.
https://ukranews.com/en/news/1059452-russia-launches-61-drones-over-ukraine-43-of-which-downed-air-force
Indian army unveils Black Hornet Nano drone to keep evil eye on neighbors
Updated: January 19, 2025
Srinagar: In what is believed to be an escalating attempt to keep in an evil eye on its neighbors, the Indian Army has introduced the Black Hornet Nano drone.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the miniature drone was unveiled during the 9th Veterans Day event at the Tanda Artillery Division in Akhnoor, Jammu.
Weighing just 18 grams and measuring 16 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width, the Black Hornet Nano is one of the smallest drones currently in military use.
Its compact design and quiet operation make it nearly undetectable, providing a covert method for intelligence gathering.
Equipped with dual cameras, the drone can enter tight spaces and transmit crucial surveillance footage.
The drone is designed for rapid deployment and can be easily carried in a soldier’s utility belt, requiring minimal training.
Developed by Norway’s Prox Dynamics AS, the Black Hornet Nano has already been adopted by several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom,
France, Germany, and India.
This deployment highlights India’s malicious intentions, especially against Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
https://kmsnews.org/kms/2025/01/19/indian-army-unveils-black-hornet-nano-drone-to-keep-evil-eye-on-neighbors.html
2,025 drones light up Hanoi sky in a breathtaking celebration
Sunday, January 19, 2025, 12:08 GMT+7
Hanoi’s Ho Tay (West Lake) was the backdrop for an awe-inspiring event on Saturday evening, marking Vietnam’s Lunar New Year (Tet) with a dazzling 2,025-drone light show synchronized with traditional Vietnamese music.
The event drew thousands of attendees, making it an unforgettable highlight of the New Year festivities.
The show served as the opening event for the Hanoi International Light Festival 2025.
Organized by the Hanoi administration, Tay Ho District People’s Committee, and Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, the show was aimed at promoting joy, unity, and hope for a prosperous new year while celebrating Hanoi’s cultural heritage.
The event featured a groundbreaking combination of cutting-edge drone light technology and traditional Vietnamese symphonic music, creating a mesmerizing artistic spectacle.
Dang Le Minh Tri, the program's chief director, described this event as an unprecedented fusion of a drone light show and a modern symphony orchestra set against the backdrop of West Lake, bringing a new, fascinating, and exciting experience to the audience, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The program brought together top artists from Vietnam, representing a blend of tradition and modernity.
Alongside other performers, they delivered outstanding musical and dance performances, guiding the audience through a wide range of emotions throughout the show.
Crowds began gathering early in the evening, with tens of thousands of residents and tourists converging at the intersection of Nguyen Hoang Ton and Lac Long Quan Streets in Tay Ho District to secure prime viewing spots.
At approximately 8:40 pm, following an array of captivating musical and artistic performances, the much-anticipated drone show began.
Against a musical backdrop, 2,025 drones ascended into the sky, forming intricate images and vibrant text that illuminated Hanoi’s night sky.
The display narrated stories of Hanoi’s millennia-old history and rich cultural heritage, evoking profound emotions among the spectators.
One audience member, Thanh Huyen from Ba Dinh District, expressed her amazement at witnessing the drone show live for the first time.
“Compared to videos I’ve seen before, experiencing it in person was far more emotional and impactful,” she shared.
Another attendee, Pham Dao from Bac Tu Liem District, praised the event as a visually stunning experience for her family.
She noted the increasing number of artistic events held at West Lake in recent years, adding vibrancy to the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations.
Le Quoc Minh, editor-in-chief of Nhan Dan, described the event as more than just a “feast of music and lights,” highlighting its role in fostering pride in Hanoi’s cultural heritage and enhancing the city’s status as a leading cultural and creative hub in the region, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
“The event is also meant to boost tourism and contribute to the development of Hanoi’s night-time economy,” he added.
With free admission, the ‘Light Concert – Welcoming New Year 2025’ ensured accessibility for all, inviting everyone to immerse themselves in an artistic celebration of the Lunar New Year vibes.
The show’s resounding success and widespread appeal have fueled hopes that it will become an annual tradition eagerly anticipated by the public.
https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/ttnewsstyle/20250119/2025-drones-light-up-hanoi-sky-in-a-breathtaking-celebration/84029.html
Drone spots Portland street drifting, 2 arrested
Updated: Jan 18, 2025 / 05:49 PM PST
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The drivers of an Infiniti and a BMW were arrested Friday night and their cars were towed after allegedly drifting their cars around a security officer’s vehicle in North Portland.
The drifting, also called street sliding, was reported around 9:30 p.m. in a parking lot near 15900 N. Columbia Boulevard, police said.
A drone was used to spot the drifting and also caught a private security officer approach the drivers to put an end to it.
But, authorities said. the drivers then drifted around the security officer, which was caught on the drone footage.
After getting the evidence, police pulled the cars over in traffic stops.
The drivers of the 2005 Infiniti G35, Sergio Jimenez of Springfield, and a 2000 BMW 323 Series, Miguel A. Olmos-Gonzales of Portland, were arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Jail.
Their cars were towed and may be subject to forfeiture under a new reckless driving law.
Authorities also said they found a loaded gun in the Infiniti. Jimenez, 30, will likely face charges of unlawful street takeover, possession of a loaded gun and unlawful possession of a gun.
The 33-year-old Olmos-Gonzales faces unlawful street takeover. The investigation is ongoing.
https://www.koin.com/news/portland/drone-spots-portland-street-drifting-2-arrested/