NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

April 24, 2025

NGC 6164: A Dragon's Egg

Beautiful emission nebula NGC 6164 was created by a rare, hot, luminous O-type star, some 40 times as massive as the Sun. Seen at the center of the cosmic cloud, the star is a mere 3 to 4 million years old. In another three to four million years the massive star will end its life in a supernova explosion. Spanning around 4 light-years, the nebula itself has a bipolar symmetry. That makes it similar in appearance to more common and familiar planetary nebulae - the gaseous shrouds surrounding dying sun-like stars. Also like many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164 has been found to have an extensive, faint halo, revealed in this deep image of the region. Expanding into the surrounding interstellar medium, the material in the halo is likely from an earlier active phase of the O star. This gorgeous telescopic view is a composite of extensive narrow-band image data, highlighting glowing atomic hydrogen gas in red and oxygen in greenish hues, with broad-band data for the surrounding starfield. Also known as the Dragon's Egg nebula, NGC 6164 is 4,200 light-years away in the right-angled southern constellation of Norma.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/169194/body-jesus-christ-found-under-great-pyramid

'Body of Jesus Christ' found in hidden chamber under Great Pyramid of Egypt'

09:00 ET, Apr 18, 2025

The 'Cave of the Patriarchs' may hold the body of Jesus Christ and the Ark of the Covenant, according to groundbreaking research by a British anthropologist.

This could potentially revolutionize our understanding of what happened to Jesus' body after his death. Dr. Warner presented his findings from extensive research to the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

He believes that the sarcophagus of Jesus Christ and the Ark of the Covenant have been hidden for centuries in a double-cave, sealed off by a stone block in the southern passageway of the subterranean chamber beneath the Great Pyramid in Giza.

In Christmas 2021, Warner first shared his decade-long research project with the Director of the Science Office. The director responded enthusiastically, hailing his research as "a scientific revolution […] for the benefit of all humanity."

Warner's hypothesis was further supported by comprehensive fieldwork in Egypt and deep surveys inside the pyramid using cutting-edge technology. These surveys revealed manmade structures beyond the last remaining stone block in the southern passageway, confirming his theory.

The video and photographic records captured by Warner are the first to emerge from the deepest and most remote part of the original pyramid structure, which is carved out of bedrock, reports the Daily Star.

Warner was appointed as a consultant to the Scan Pyramids Mission, an international consortium of scientists and engineers from France, Canada, Japan, and Egypt, following the delivery of his research data to Egyptian officials.

This team is directing muon radiation particles through stone to examine the interior of the pyramids.

"After meeting at the office of Ahmed Issa (Minister for Tourism and Antiquities Egypt) on October 20th, 2022, Egypt agreed to receive my research data free of charge in return for a commitment that the Scan Pyramids Mission would radiate beyond the block in the subterranean chamber," Warner stated.

However, the muon radiation scan has not been completed, putting Egypt in violation of its agreement.

As a result, Warner has sought the assistance of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam of Lebanon, who also serves as President of the United Nations International Court of Justice, in hopes of avoiding an international dispute due to opposition from Zahi Hawass, who is known for his grandiose ego and self-proclaimed title as "the guardian of the pyramids."

Warner asserts: "Although the project has received support from the very highest authorities in Egypt (including the office of the President himself), Hawass remains an obstacle to progress.

New scientific ideas often attract violent opposition from the old guard – as evidenced throughout history – we have Copernicus, Galileo and Giordano Bruno to testify to this."

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>>22947533

These renaissance men were vilified for thinking that stars were distant suns with their own solar systems. Once thought too heretical to be spoken out loud, ideas such as these are now accepted as inescapable truths.

Warner, who confirms his secular stance, approached the project from a purely scientific perspective. He pinpointed the exact location using the "scientific method" and triangulated data from the texts of all three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In addition to this, he supplemented the data with written records from the ancient cuneiform clay tablets of Mesopotamia.

Using the scientific discipline of Etymology, Warner was able to prove his hypothesis: that 'Mount Sinai,' the 'Mountain of Israel,' the 'Mount of Olives,' 'Mount Zion' and the Quran's 'Mountain of Light,' were all one-and-the-same mountain – the Great Pyramid of Egypt.

Therefore, Jesus gave his 'Sermon on the Mount' at the Great Pyramid, the birthplace of all Abrahamic religions and the 'mountain land' which the biblical Abraham journeyed to from Ur.

G.A.R.P. has unveiled its full research dossier and a detailed collection of government correspondences at www.garp.space, where Warner presents his binary star theory in relation to ancient Egyptian art and the winged disc symbols of Lower Egypt.

Additionally, Warner applies quantum theory to argue that "religious prophecy" is scientifically based, as seen in current government-backed projects.

Researchers like Stephen A. Schwartz have written about 'non-local consciousness' or 'channeling,' which Warner equates to "prophecy by another name," or in other words: "the ability to experience future spacetime events while rooted in the present."

Warner suggests that this phenomenon is similar to what physicists now refer to as 'quantum entanglement,' a concept central to the design of cutting-edge quantum supercomputers.

Warner is convinced that this discovery could pave the way for peace in the Middle East and is advocating for the removal of the last stone block this year to showcase the Ark as the 'Jewel of the Nile' during the grand opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum adjacent to the Pyramids in Giza.

Eli Escusido, Director General of the Israeli Antiquities Authority, has extended his best wishes to Warner for his endeavor.

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Crew Unloads Dragon and Kicks Off New Space Experiments

April 23, 2025

The Expedition 73 crew is beginning its first full week together unpacking the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft and activating new science experiments.

The International Space Station residents are also gearing up for next week’s spacewalk while ensuring the ongoing operations of the orbiting laboratory.

The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft delivered 6,700 pounds of science and supplies to the orbital residents after docking to the Harmony module’s space-facing port at 8:40 a.m. EDT on Tuesday.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim opened Dragon’s hatch shortly afterward and entered to begin unloading critical science experiments for installation and activation.

Commander Takuya Onishi of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) kicked off the new Cell Gravisensing 3 experiment on Wednesday after removing the research gear from Dragon.

He set up the hardware inside the Kibo laboratory module and began treating cell samples in Kibo’s Cell Biology Experiment Facility.

The investigation will observe the cells’ molecular mechanisms and measure how the cells respond to microgravity.

Results may lead to treatments for space-caused muscle and bone issues as well as similar conditions on Earth.

Kim began his day with NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers removing research samples from inside Dragon’s science freezers and loading them inside space station science freezers.

Kim then installed the Biofilms experiment containers in a pair of Kubik incubators in the Columbus laboratory module to begin studying antimicrobial surfaces that may keep spacecraft safe.

Next, Kim photographed genetically modified tomato plants for a new space agriculture experiment studying if crops can grow without photosynthesis in space.

Ayers later joined NASA astronaut Anne McClain and configured the cables they will use when they go on a spacewalk planned for May 1.

The cables will be used to install a modification kit on the station’s port side truss structure preparing it for a new rollout solar array that will be installed on a future date.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky partnered together on Wednesday wearing virtual reality glasses displaying imagery while electrodes measured how their vision, balance, and spatial orientation is adjusting to microgravity.

Flight Engineer Kirill Peskov wrapped up a 24-hour session wearing biomedical hardware that measured his heart rate and blood pressure wile he worked and exercised aboard the orbital outpost.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/04/23/crew-unloads-dragon-and-kicks-off-new-space-experiments/

https://science.nasa.gov/blog/sols-4518-4519-thumbs-up-from-mars/

Sols 4518-4519: Thumbs up from Mars

Apr 23, 2025

Earth planning date: Monday, 21st April 2025

It is Easter Monday, a bank holiday here in the United Kingdom. I am Science Operations Working Group Chair today, a role that is mainly focused on coordinating all the different planning activities on a given day, and ensuring all the numbers are communicated to everyone.

And with that I mean making sure that everyone knows how much power we have and other housekeeping details.

It’s a fun role, but on the more technical side of the mission, which means I don’t get to look at the rocks in the workspace as closely as my colleagues who are planning the activities of the instruments directly investigating the rocks.

It’s a lot of fun to see how planning day after planning day things come together. But why am I doing this on a bank holiday, when I could well be on my sofa?

I just was reminded in the hours before planning how much fun it actually is to spend a little more time looking at all the images – and not the usual hectic rush coming out of an almost complete work day (we start at 8 am PDT, which is 4 pm here in the UK!).

So, I enjoyed the views of Mars, and I think Mars gave me a thumbs up for it, or better to say a little pointy ‘rock up’ in the middle of a sandy area, as you can see in the image above!

I am sure you noticed that our team has a lot to celebrate! Less than a month after the publication about alkanes made headlines in many news outlets, we have another big discovery from our rover, now 4518 sols on Mars: in three drill holes, the rover instruments detected the mineral siderite, a carbonate.

That allowed a group of scientists from our team to piece together the carbon cycle of Mars. If you want to know more, the full story is here.

I am looking forward to our next big discovery. Who knows that that is? Well, it would not be exploration, if we knew!

But today’s workspace looks intriguing with all its little laminae (the very fine layers) and its weathering patterns that look like a layered cake that little fingers have picked the icing off! (Maybe I had too many treats of the season this weekend?

That’s for you to decide!) But then Mars did what it did so many times lately: we did not pass our slip risk assessment and therefore had to keep the arm stowed.

I think there is a direct link between geologists getting exciting about all the many rocks, and a wheel ending up on one of them, making it unsafe to unstow the arm.

There was a collective sigh of disappointment – and then we moved on to what we actually can do.

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And that is a lot of imaging. As exciting as getting an APXS measurement and MAHLI images would be, Mastcam images, ChemCam chemistry and RMI images are exciting, too.

The plan starts with three Mastcam activities to document the small troughs that form around some of the rocks.

Those amount to 15 frames already, then we have a ten-frame mosaic on a target called “West Fork,” which is looking at rocks in the middle ground of the scenery and display interesting layering.

Finally, a 84 frame mosaic will image Texoli, one of the large buttes in our neighbourhood, in all its beauty.

It shows a series of interesting layers and structures, including some that might be akin to what we expect the boxwork structures to look like.

Now, did you keep count? Yes, that’s 109 frames from Mastcam – and add the one for the documentation of the LIBS target, too, and Mastcam takes exactly 110 frames!

ChemCam is busy with a target called “Lake Poway,” which represents the bedrock around us. Also in the ChemCam activities is a long distance RMI upwards Mt Sharp to the Yardang unit.

After the drive – more of that later – ChemCam as an automated observation, we call it AEGIS, where ChemCam uses a clever algorithm to pick its own target.

The drive will be very special today. As you may have seen, we are imaging our wheels in regular intervals to make sure that we are keeping track of the wear and tear that over 34 km of offroad driving on Mars have caused.

For that, we need a very flat area and our rover drivers did locate one due West of the current rover positions. So, that’s where we will drive first, do the full MAHLI wheel imaging and then return to the originally planned path.

That’s where we’ll do a MARDI image, post drive imaging to prepare the planning for the next sols, and the above mentioned AEGIS.

In addition to all the geologic investigations, there is continuous environmental monitoring ongoing.

Curiosity will look at opacity and dust devils, and REMS will switch on regularly to measure wind speeds, humidity, temperature, ultraviolet radiation and pressure throughout the plan.

Let’s not forget DAN, which monitors water and chlorine in the subsurface as we are driving along. It’s so easy to forget the ones that sit quietly in the back – but in this case, they have important data to contribute!

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https://www.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/nasa-airborne-sensors-wildfire-data-helps-firefighters-take-action/

NASA Airborne Sensor’s Wildfire Data Helps Firefighters Take Action

Apr 23, 2025

Data from the AVIRIS-3 sensor was recently used to create detailed fire maps in minutes, enabling firefighters in Alabama to limit the spread of wildfires and save buildings.

A NASA sensor recently brought a new approach to battling wildfire, providing real-time data that helped firefighters in the field contain a blaze in Alabama.

Called AVIRIS-3, which is short for Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer 3, the instrument detected a 120-acre fire on March 19 that had not yet been reported to officials.

As AVIRIS-3 flew aboard a King Air B200 research plane over the fire about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of Castleberry, Alabama, a scientist on the plane analyzed the data in real time and identified where the blaze was burning most intensely.

The information was then sent via satellite internet to fire officials and researchers on the ground, who distributed images showing the fire’s perimeter to firefighters’ phones in the field.

All told, the process from detection during the flyover to alert on handheld devices took a few minutes.

In addition to pinpointing the location and extent of the fire, the data showed firefighters its perimeter, helping them gauge whether it was likely to spread and decide where to add personnel and equipment.

“This is very agile science,” said Robert Green, the AVIRIS program’s principal investigator and a senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, noting AVIRIS-3 mapped the burn scar left near JPL by the Eaton Fire in January.

Observing the ground from about 9,000 feet (3,000 meters) in altitude, AVIRIS-3 flew aboard several test flights over Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas for a NASA 2025 FireSense Airborne Campaign.

Researchers flew in the second half of March to prepare for prescribed burn experiments that took place in the Geneva State Forest in Alabama on March 28 and at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia from April 14 to 20.

During the March span, the AVIRIS-3 team mapped at least 13 wildfires and prescribed burns, as well as dozens of small hot spots (places where heat is especially intense) — all in real time.

Data from imaging spectrometers like AVIRIS-3 typically takes days or weeks to be processed into highly detailed, multilayer image products used for research.

By simplifying the calibration algorithms, researchers were able to process data on a computer aboard the plane in a fraction of the time it otherwise would have taken.

Airborne satellite internet connectivity enabled the images to be distributed almost immediately, while the plane was still in flight, rather than after it landed.

The AVIRIS team generated its first real-time products during a February campaign covering parts of Panama and Costa Rica, and they have continued to improve the process, automating the mapping steps aboard the plane.

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>>22947745

‘Fan Favorite’

The AVIRIS-3 sensor belongs to a line of imaging spectrometers built at JPL since 1986.

The instruments have been used to study a wide range of phenomena — including fire — by measuring sunlight reflecting from the planet’s surface.

During the March flights, researchers created three types of maps. One, called the Fire Quicklook, combines brightness measurements at three wavelengths of infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, to identify the relative intensity of burning.

Orange and red areas on the Fire Quicklook map show cooler-burning areas, while yellow indicates the most intense flames. Previously burned areas show up as dark red or brown.

Another map type, the Fire 2400 nm Quicklook, looks solely at infrared light at a wavelength of 2,400 nanometers.

The images are particularly useful for seeing hot spots and the perimeters of fires, which show brightly against a red background.

A third type of map, called just Quicklook, shows burned areas and smoke.

The Fire 2400 nm Quicklook was the “fan favorite” among the fire crews, said Ethan Barrett, fire analyst for the Forest Protection Division of the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Seeing the outline of a wildfire from above helped Alabama Forestry Commission firefighters determine where to send bulldozers to stop the spread.

Additionally, FireSense personnel analyzed the AVIRIS-3 imagery to create digitized perimeters of the fires. This provided firefighters fast, comprehensive intelligence of the situation on the ground.

That’s what happened with the Castleberry Fire. Having a clear picture of where it was burning most intensely enabled firefighters to focus on where they could make a difference — on the northeastern edge.

Then, two days after identifying Castleberry Fire hot spots, the sensor spotted a fire about 4 miles (2.5 kilometers) southwest of Perdido, Alabama.

As forestry officials worked to prevent flames from reaching six nearby buildings, they noticed that the fire’s main hot spot was inside the perimeter and contained.

With that intelligence, they decided to shift some resources to fires 25 miles (40 kilometers) away near Mount Vernon, Alabama.

To combat one of the Mount Vernon fires, crews used AVIRIS-3 maps to determine where to establish fire breaks beyond the northwestern end of the fire. They ultimately cut the blaze off within about 100 feet (30 meters) of four buildings.

“Fire moves a lot faster than a bulldozer, so we have to try to get around it before it overtakes us. These maps show us the hot spots,” Barrett said. “When I get out of the truck, I can say, ‘OK, here’s the perimeter.’ That puts me light-years ahead.”

AVIRIS and the Firesense Airborne Campaign are part of NASA’s work to leverage its expertise to combat wildfires using solutions including airborne technologies.

The agency also recently demonstrated a prototype from its Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project that will provide reliable airspace management for drones and other aircraft operating in the air above wildfires.

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NASA Engineering Sparks Innovative New Battery

Apr 24, 2025

Battery technology that has powered the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, and numerous satellites is now storing energy on Earth, enabling intermittent renewable energy sources to provide steady power.

These extremely durable batteries were made more affordable for the average consumer by California-based EnerVenue Inc., which was able to bring down the cost of the technology by removing the need for expensive platinum, making terrestrial applications more feasible.

With the cost-saving innovations, the batteries could be used for power plants, businesses, and homes.

NASA first used nickel-hydrogen batteries in 1990 for the Hubble Space Telescope — the technology’s debut in low-Earth orbit on a major project.

It was the primary power system for the International Space Station for more than 18 years before eventually being replaced by lithium-ion batteries.

Each nickel-hydrogen cell consists of a nickel cathode — the positive electrode — and a hydrogen-catalyzed anode, which typically uses expensive platinum.

Charging the battery generates hydrogen inside the highly pressurized vessel, which then gets reabsorbed on discharge.

Dr. Yi Cui , EnerVenue Chief Technology Advisor, developed a technique to remove platinum from these batteries, dramatically reducing costs of technology that had grown more sophisticated over decades of NASA adapting it to high-level missions.

Much of the groundwork for EnerVenue’s batteries was laid by NASA. Having laid the foundation and tested it in space, NASA paved the way for a durable power source that is now available for several applications on Earth.

https://www.nasa.gov/technology/tech-transfer-spinoffs/nasa-engineering-sparks-innovative-new-battery/

NASA Scientific Balloon on Track to Cross South America

April 22, 2025

After five days in flight, NASA’s super pressure balloon test flight carrying the HIWIND payload has nearly crossed the Pacific Ocean and is on track to reach South America Wednesday, April 23 at approximately 2 p.m. EDT (April 23, 6:00 p.m. UTC).

The stadium-sized, heavy-lift scientific balloon, which launched from Wānaka, New Zealand, April 16 (U.S. Eastern Time) will pass over Chile and Argentina as it continues its globetrotting journey around the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-latitudes.

Throughout all stages of flight, safety is a top priority. Before any land overflight occurs, the balloon’s health and performance of the command-and-control electronics are thoroughly assessed. The forecasted trajectory is also carefully reviewed to identify any potential risks.

https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/wallops/2025/04/22/nasa-scientific-balloon-on-track-to-cross-south-america/

https://www.csbf.nasa.gov/map/balloon0/flight750nt.htm

https://6abc.com/post/mandatory-evacuations-ocean-township-county-nj-due-wildfire-greenwood-forest-wildlife-management-area/16224202/

Ocean County wildfire consumes more than 15,000 acres, could be largest in nearly 20 years

Thursday, April 24, 2025 1:51PM

OCEAN TWP., N.J. (WPVI) – A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey's Pine Barrens in Ocean County has not resulted in any injuries, officials said, though it's expected to grow before forecast rain later this week.

Officials announced Thursday morning that an Ocean Township man has been arrested for arson in connection to the massive blaze.

He has been identified as 19-year-old Joseph Kling, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the blaze has grown to 15,000 acres and is 50% contained as of Thursday morning.

Acting New Jersey Governor Tahesha Way declared a State of Emergency in response to the blaze.

Based on the weather forecast, the fire is expected to continue until we get rain, which should move into the area Friday night into Saturday.

"These fires will persist for a long time until we get soaking rainfall.

The Forest Fire Service will obviously stay on them and work the spots and work the edges and keep it in box, but to fully suppress it and keep it from spreading through the ground that it's going to consume … you need a soaking rainfall for that," said John Cecil, the assistant commissioner for state parks, forests, and historic sites.

Officials said this could end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years. Investigators say they were able to pinpoint the origin of the fire by using GPS and that the cause of the fire was an improperly extinguished bonfire.

Kling is accused of setting wooden pallets on fire before leaving the area without the fire being fully extinguished.

He was taken into custody at the Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Headquarters and has since been taken to the Ocean County Jail where he is waiting for a detention hearing.

What we know about the fire

The "Jones Road Wildfire" was detected by the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower around 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday at the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in Barnegat Township. By the evening, the flames spread into both Ocean and Lacey townships in the county.

The fire has burned more than 13 square miles (34 square kilometers) of land, fire officials said.

The smoke from the wildfire is so heavy that it is being picked up by radar.

Chopper 6 was overhead Tuesday night as crews fought the inferno, as the smoky haze brought a stretch of the Garden State Parkway, one of New Jersey's busiest highways, to a halt.

Officials noted that dry conditions in the southern part of the state have influenced the fire.

Video released by the state agency overseeing the fire service showed billowing white and black clouds of smoke, intense flames engulfing pines and firefighters dousing a charred structure.

During a 7:30 p.m. update on Wednesday, officials said 12 structures were still being threatened along Route 532. During the height of the firefight, 1,320 structures were threatened, but officials later said no homes had been lost.

However, one commercial building, as well as multiple outbuildings and vehicles, were destroyed by the fire.

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>>22947895

Evacuations lifted

According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, 5,000 residents were forced to evacuate Tuesday night.

As of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, all evacuation orders have been lifted, and the Garden State Parkway and Route 9 have reopened in both directions as of Wednesday morning.

Residents were advised to use caution when traveling as heavy smoke remains in the area.

Debbie Schaffer, of Waretown, was one of those who had to leave.

"It's a little scary… like I didn't have an emergency bag packed, so I was kind of walking in circles knowing I had to get out of there, but trying to think, 'What do I need?'" she recalled.

Power restored

JCP&L said just after 5 p.m. Wednesday that power has been restored to all customers.

Barnegat Township police say Jersey Central Power & Light had de-energized all lines in and out of our Oyster Creek substation at the request of the Forest Fire Service.

"This is for the safety of crews battling the fire," the company said. Approximately 25,000 JCP&L customers were affected by this forced outage, JCP&L said in a statement.

Road Closures

Some road closures remain in place until further notice, including the following:

Bryant Road is closed between Wells Mills Road (Rt. 532) and Rt. 539

Jones Road is closed between Rt. 532 and Bryant Road

Get real-time traffic updates at 6abc.com/traffic.

Fire officials are also reminding residents to not fly recreational drones near the fire zones.

"If YOU fly, WE can't!" the New Jersey Fire Service posted on Facebook.

The FAA often implements Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) around wildfires to protect aircraft that are involved in the firefighting operation.

Officials say flying a drone near a wildfire can be dangerous and cost lives by delaying their response.

"During a wildfire, our aircraft fly low to the ground, often at the same altitude that a drone would fly.

If a drone is detected flying over or near a wildfire, all Forest Fire Service air support will be grounded - hampering suppression and observation efforts," the post said.

"Please do your part and prevent interfering with wildfire suppression by staying grounded."

Forest fires are a common occurrence in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre (445,000-hectare) state and federally protected reserve about the size of the Grand Canyon lying halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east.

The area had been under a severe drought until recently, when early spring rains helped dampen the region.

So far in 2025, New Jersey is at 662 wildfires with 16,572 acres burned.

The site of the fire is near an alpaca farm. The farm said in a Facebook post that the property wasn't threatened and all of the animals were safe.

The blaze is the second major forest fire in the region in less than a week. The Vineland Wildfire in Cumberland County stands at 1,327 acres burned and is 80% contained, fire officials said during Wednesday's 11 a.m. update.

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https://www.ucf.edu/news/ucf-scientists-use-james-webb-space-telescope-to-better-understand-solar-systems-origins/

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adb977

UCF Scientists Use James Webb Space Telescope to Better Understand Solar System’s Origins

April 24, 2025

UCF scientists and their collaborators discovered new insights into the formation of distant icy objects in space beyond Neptune, offering a deeper understanding of our solar system’s formation and growth.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists analyzed far-away bodies — known as Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) — and found varying traces of methanol.

The discoveries are helping them better classify different TNOs and understand the complex chemical reactions in space that may relate to the formation of our solar system and the origin of life.

The findings, recently published in The Astronomical Journal Letters by the American Astronomical Society, reveal two distinct groups of TNOs with surface ice methanol presence:

one with a depleted amount of surface methanol and a large reservoir beneath the surface, and another — furthest from the Sun — with an overall weaker methanol presence.

The study suggests that cosmic irradiation over billions of years may have played a role in the first group’s varying methanol distribution, while raising new questions about the second group’s muted signatures.

Reaching Back in Time and Space

TNOs are important to our understanding of our solar system’s origins because they are incredibly well-preserved remnants of the protoplanetary disk — or disk of gas and dust surrounding a young star such as the Sun — and can give scientists a thorough glimpse into the past.

UCF Department of Physics Research Professor Noemí Pinilla-Alonso, who now works at the University of Oviedo in Spain, co-led the research as part of the UCF-led Discovering the Surface Compositions of Trans-Neptunian Objects (DiSCo) program which includes UCF Florida Space Institute (FSI) Associate Professor Ana Carolina de Souza-Feliciano.

Pinilla-Alonso says the research helps piece together the history of the solar system’s chemistry and gain insights into exoplanets, where methanol and methane play a crucial role in shaping atmospheres and hinting at the conditions of potentially habitable worlds.

“Methanol, a simple alcohol, has been found on comets and distant TNOs, hinting that it may be a primitive ingredient inherited from the early days of our solar system — or even from interstellar space,” Pinilla-Alonso says.

“But methanol is more than just a leftover from the past. When exposed to radiation, it transforms into new compounds, acting as a chemical time capsule that reveals how these icy worlds have evolved over billions of years.”

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>>22947925

Methanol ice is a key precursor that may lead to organic molecules such as sugars, and its discovery in TNOs paves the way for so much more, she says.

These spectral differences reveal that not all TNOs formed from the same molecular ingredients, Pinilla-Alonso says. Instead, their compositions reflect their origins — where and how they formed — and their transformations over time.

“What excited me the most was realizing that these differences were linked to the behavior of methanol — a key ingredient that had long been elusive on TNOs from earth-based observations,” she says.

“Our findings suggest that methanol is being destroyed on the surface of TNOs by irradiation, but remains more abundant in the subsurface, protected from this exposure.”

Pinilla-Alonso worked alongside UCF FSI researchers, including de Souza-Feliciano, who synthesized the laboratory data with modeling to better explain the behavior of methanol.

De Souza-Feliciano helped to better visualize the findings by reproducing some of the spectral features the scientists were seeing and therefore could give mathematical support for the data in the study.

“One of the biggest surprises came from the methanol behavior,” de Souza-Feliciano says. “From laboratory data, its signatures at shorter wavelengths differ from the fundamental ones in longer wavelengths.”

De Souza-Feliciano collaborated on prior DiSCo research projects using JWST that characterized binary objects and other distant TNOs.

“The main DiSCo paper addressed the main characteristics of the three groups of TNOs,” she says.

“This paper goes into detail about one of them, known as the cliff group, which is the nickname for the spectral group where the reflectance did not increase after approximately 3.3 microns.”

Not only are these cliff group TNOs time capsules for our solar system, but the group houses cold-classical TNOs which have largely stayed in place since their formation, de Souza-Feliciano says.

“One of the reasons why this group is a key for the outer solar system understanding is [because] it contains all the cold-classical TNOs,” she says.

“The cold-classical TNOs are the only dynamic group that probably stayed in the place where they formed from the formation of the solar system to today.”

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China launches Shenzhou-20 mission to Chinese space station, state media reports

April 24, 2025

BEIJING: China sent three astronauts to its permanently inhabited space station on Thursday, in its 15th crewed spaceflight and the 20th overall in the Shenzhou program that started over three decades ago.

The spacecraft Shenzhou-20 and the crew lifted off atop a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 5:17pm (0917 GMT), according to state broadcaster CCTV.

State news agency Xinhua reported soon afterwards that the launch was successful. The launch comes as China's advances in lunar and space exploration are drawing in more countries.

Pakistan is carrying out a preliminary selection of astronauts, one of whom will eventually be sent to space on a future Shenzhou spaceflight and become the first foreign astronaut to enter China's Tiangong space station.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/601604-china-launches-shenzhou-20-mission-to-chinese-space-station-state-media-reports

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi-QtIs9e-s

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel-1_captures_ground_shift_from_Myanmar_earthquake

Sentinel-1 captures ground shift from Myanmar earthquake

24/04/2025

On 28 March 2025, a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, sending shockwaves through the region.

While the country is still dealing with the devasting aftermath, scientists have used radar images from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites to reveal a detailed picture of how the ground shifted as a result of the quake – offering new insights into the mechanics of the tectonic Sagaing Fault and the scale of the seismic rupture.

Just one day before the earthquake struck, the Sentinel-1A satellite, as part of its routine global monitoring plan, captured a radar image of Myanmar.

Then a few days after the quake, Sentinel-1C revisited the site, and was tasked to acquire an additional image. Both images were combined to form an interferogram of the Sagaing Fault.

The Sentinel-1 mission comprises two satellites that orbit 180 degrees apart so that together they cover the globe every six days.

The mission provides high-resolution radar imagery of Earth, regardless of weather conditions or if it is day or night to support a wide range of Copernicus services and applications.

These include Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking and routine sea-ice mapping, as well as the detection of ground deformation caused by subsidence, uplift, landslides, and, as in this case, earthquakes.

Sentinel-1A has been in service since 2014, but Sentinel-1C has only been in orbit since December 2024 and is still in its commissioning phase – nevertheless it is already delivering on its promise.

While the immediate priority is to support recovery efforts and mourn the lives lost in this devastating disaster, understanding how the ground shifted is also crucial. Using satellite radar images, scientists can map the extent of ruptures and identify areas of increased seismic risk.

This information is vital for improving earthquake models and for developing effective disaster response strategies, including guiding safe and informed reconstruction, helping communities rebuild with greater resilience.

Thanks to the Sentinel-1 mission, the changing shape of Earth’s land surface can be mapped with millimetre precision, but it relies on a complex data processing method called synthetic aperture radar interferometry.

This involves combining two radar images, one from just before and one from just after the quake to produce an interferogram.

By using tiny differences in the radar signal phase to detect ground shifts with incredible precision, the result is a colourful fringed pattern that reveals how the land moved during the earthquake.

What's more, the Sentinel-1 satellites’ advanced radar imaging mode, known as Terrain Observation with Progressive Scans, allows scientists to measure ground motion in both east–west and north–south directions – a unique capability.

Most satellite imaging radars can only see across their flight path, but thanks to a technique called ‘burst overlap interferometry’, the Sentinel-1 mission offers a full view of the ground deformation.

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The first set of images, featured above, compares a radar image with an interferogram.

The image on the left is a radar image captured by Sentinel-1C on 2 April, while the image on the right is an interferogram – a composite created by combining a Sentinel-1A image from 27 March with the Sentinel-1C image from 2 April, after the earthquake.

These images effectively zoom-in to an area around Pyawbwe, but the closer fringes indicate very clearly the notorious Sagaing Fault, which runs north–south as well as the ground shifts caused by the earthquake.

Each full cycle of colour, from cyan to yellow to red to blue and back to cyan, represents ground displacement of about 160 cm along the fault line.

Across the fault line, each colour cycle represents ground displacement of about 28 mm. These impressive fringes show how different parts of the ground moved, with each side of the fault shifting in opposite directions – clear evidence of a tectonic slip.

Then, this second set of images offers a wider view of the interferogram (left), where the tight fringes on the right cut through Mandalay and extend southwards, making the extent of the rupture clearly evident.

The image on the right uses data from Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1C to reveal a ‘coherence map’, where the fault appears as a dark fracture slicing through the land.

This coherence map shows areas that have changed between the two acquisition dates as dark tones while stable areas appear bright.

“We’re thrilled with the clarity of the results,” said the team from the DLR German Aerospace Center’s Microwave & Radar Institute, who processed and analysed the data.

These high-resolution radar images are not just impressive visuals, they're critical tools for earthquake science.

By studying the fringes and phase jumps in the interferogram, geoscientists can create detailed ground deformation maps, helping to unravel how and where quakes change the surface.

This information is vital for understanding seismic activity and preparing for future events.

“These data are a game-changer,” said ESA’s Sentinel-1 System Manager, Dirk Geudtner.

“They enable faster, more accurate assessments after disasters, and helps us to improve earthquake models globally. This is a textbook example of how space technology helps us understand seismic hazards.”

ESA’s Sentinel-1 Project Manager, Ramón Torres, said, “These results demonstrate that the new Sentinel-1C satellite is working perfectly and its data can be used with confidence alongside its older Sentinel-1A sibling.”

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World's largest solar telescope gains powerful new 'eye' to study the sun's secrets

April 24, 2025

The world's largest solar telescope has gained a powerful new "eye" that promises deeper views into the workings of our sun than ever before, scientists announced on Thursday (April 24).

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, which eyes the sun from its perch atop a mountain on the Hawaiian island of Maui, has been sending home stunningly detailed views of the surface of our star.

The observatory, which is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, is designed to scrutinize the solar atmosphere and the sun's magnetic field for tiny features that might reveal answers to some of the fundamental solar mysteries.

The telescope's already-sharp vision has now been boosted significantly thanks to a new instrument designed to maximize the information gleaned from the sun's light, scientists said on Thursday.

"The instrument is, so to speak, the heart of the solar telescope, which is now finally beating at its final destination," Matthias Schubert, who is the project scientist for the instrument at the Institute for Solar Physics in Germany, said in a statement.

The instrument, known as the Visible Tunable Filtergraph, or VTF, is the fifth and most powerful instrument to be added to the Inouye Solar Telescope.

It is designed to study the regions of the sun where eruptions ignite — the visible surface, or photosphere, and the invisible layer above, known as chromosphere — with the highest level of precision of any solar observatory.

The newly-installed VTF recently looked at the sun for the first time and, even in its ongoing technical test phase, is already delivering on its promise to resolve and image very fine details on the sun, scientists say.

The image above features a sunspot on the sun's surface spanning a whopping 241 million square miles (625 million square kilometers), yet each pixel covers 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) on the sun's surface, according to the statement.

Sophisticated computer processing during forthcoming science operations from VTF will sharpen the images even more and resolve even smaller structures on the sun, scientists say.

Researchers at the Institute for Solar Physics in Germany have been developing VTF for the past 15 years, nearly the same duration as the Inouye Solar Telescope's own development.

What makes the instrument so special is its ability to analyze sunlight in exceptional detail. VTF hosts two devices called interferometers that dissect sunlight into its fundamental components.

Functioning as a sophisticated color and polarization filter, they select narrow slices of the sun's light spectrum to create hundreds of sharp images per second.

The collected data helps scientists unravel the complex interplay between the hot plasma and magnetic fields that drive solar eruptions, according to the statement.

"VTF enables images of unprecedented quality and thus heralds a new era in ground-based solar observation," Sami Solanki, director of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany, which is a partner in the project, said in the statement.

The Inouye Solar Telescope is designed to operate for 44 years, which should cover four of the sun's roughly 11-year solar cycles. And in that time, its suite of instruments will likely change.

"The real power in the Inouye Solar Telescope is its flexibility, its upgradability," David Boboltz, the associate director for the Daniel Inouye Solar Telescope, previously said. "It's like having a Swiss Army Knife to study the sun."

https://www.space.com/the-universe/sun/worlds-largest-solar-telescope-gains-powerful-new-eye-to-study-the-suns-secrets

https://www.mps.mpg.de/the-heart-of-world-s-largest-solar-telescope-begins-to-beat