Mornin, yo
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
September 27, 2025
A Rocket in the Sun
On the morning of September 24 a rocket crosses the bright solar disk in this long range telescopic snapshot captured from Orlando, Florida. That's about 50 miles north of its Kennedy Space Center launch site. This rocket carried three new space weather missions to space. Signals have now been successfully acquired from all three - NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, NASA’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) - as they begin their journey to L1, an Earth-Sun lagrange point. L1 is about 1.5 million kilometers in the sunward direction from planet Earth. Appropriately, major space weather influencers, aka dark sunspots in active regions across the Sun, are posing with the transiting rocket. In fact, large active region AR4225 is just right of the rocket's nose.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Solar Flares Return, Tons of New Micronovae | S0 News
Sep.27.2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVpvjCQb77E
https://spaceweathernews.com/
JPLers Get Layoff Update Letter
September 26, 2025
JPLers got this email this morning from JPL Human Resources about the “Phase Two reorganization and upcoming layoff in October”.
People are being warned that as many as 4,000 of the 5,500 JPL employees could be gone by 15 October 2025 and that there will be a mandatory return to the office for teleworkers who are still employed by 31 October 2025. Full note below.
From: Human Resources
Subject: Update Your Personal Contact Information in Workday
Following the recent announcement about the Phase Two reorganization and upcoming layoff in October, we want to ensure we have the most accurate contact information for all employees to stay connected and provide the best possible support during this time.
As part of this effort, we reviewed the personal contact information in Workday for everyone at JPL and found that either a personal email and/or phone number is missing from your file, or your JPL contact details are currently listed as your personal information.
At your earliest convenience, we kindly ask that you please take a few minutes to update your personal information in Workday using the step-by-step instructions available in the Workday One-Stop-Shop – simply scroll down and click on “Adding / Updating Personal Contact Information” to access the job aid.
Keep in mind:
JPL policy does not support using your work phone or work email as your personal contact information.
For your privacy and convenience, we recommend maintaining a separate personal device. Per the Acceptable use of Electronic Resources policy, personal use should be limited to reasonable and incidental use only.
In addition, as a reminder, if you have personal information or items (such as personal Qles, pictures, etc.) stored on a JPL device, please move them to your personal devices as soon as possible. Please do not remove any JPL proprietary or work-related data.
Thank you for taking the time to keep your information up to date. If you have any questions or need further assistance with updating your personal information, please contact AskHR or Your HR Business Partner (HRBP).
https://nasawatch.com/personnel-news/jplers-get-layoff-update-letter/
Crew Studies Space Orientation, DNA Data Storage as Dragon Reboosts Station
September 26, 2025
The Expedition 73 crew ended the work week exploring how living and working in space affects the sensory system and DNA. The International Space Station residents also continued researching how digestion is impacted by microgravity and unpacking a U.S. cargo craft.
A pair of experiments taking place simultaneously aboard the orbital outpost on Friday used two different sets of virtual reality goggles to examine how astronauts adjust to the lack of an up-and-down reference in microgravity.
The vestibular system helps humans on Earth stand upright, keep their balance, and maintain a sense of motion. Those signals change in space as an astronaut’s brain adjusts to weightlessness and begins relying on visual tracking and muscle memory to figure out balance and spatial orientation.
NASA Flight Engineers Zena Cardman and Jonny Kim joined each other in Columbus laboratory module and explored what happens to the structure of the vestibular system, such as the inner ear, fluid, and tiny hairs, that detects gravity and movement when living off the Earth.
Cardman operated computer software that sent visual stimuli to a virtual reality headset that Kim was wearing as doctors on the ground monitored his eye movements and other responses for the CIPHER human research study.
The data will inform countermeasures to space dizziness, help crews train for longer missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, and prepare astronauts for the return to Earth after months or years in space.
Afterward, Kim sequenced DNA samples in the Harmony module for a biotechnology study investigating using DNA as a way to store and encrypt digital data to reduce reliance on traditional and heavier storage methods in space.
Cardman worked in the Kibo laboratory module servicing scientific samples stowed inside combustion research hardware.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov wore virtual reality glasses for another sensory system study that took place in the Nauka science module. Platonov responded to computer-generated visual stimuli as his eye movements and other physiological reactions were monitored.
Once again, results from the experiment may improve crew training techniques, help with the readaptation to Earth’s gravity, as well as advance treatments for balance disorders on Earth.
Flight Engineers Mike Fincke of NASA and Kimiya Yui of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) partnered together on Friday continuing to unload new science and supplies delivered aboard the Cygnus XL cargo craft on Sept. 18.
Fincke earlier installed a CubeSat on the NanoRacks external platform that will soon be placed outside the space station.
Yui configured a pressure management device in the Tranquility module then downloaded station air quality data collected from atmospheric monitors in the Destiny laboratory module.
Station Commander Sergey Ryzhikov and Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritsky, both Roscosmos cosmonauts, continued their gastrointestinal study scanning each other’s bellies with an ultrasound device after breakfast on Friday.
Results from the experiment will help doctors understand how a crew member’s digestion, metabolism, and nutrient delivery adapt to weightlessness.
The duo then split up to work on a variety of life support maintenance tasks throughout the station’s Roscosmos segment.
The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft fired its Draco thrusters, located in the vehicle’s trunk, for 15 minutes on Friday reboosting the International Space Station’s orbit for the third time this month.
The reboost maneuvers lifted the orbital outpost’s altitude to prepare for Soyuz crew swap operations later this year.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2025/09/26/crew-studies-space-orientation-dna-data-storage-as-dragon-reboosts-station/
Join NASA on Oct. 4 in Looking Up, Celebrating Moon
Sep 26, 2025
Join observers from around the world on Saturday, Oct. 4, for NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night.
This annual event offers an opportunity for earthlings to celebrate the inspiring bond between Earth and the Moon, and, this year, to share in the excitement of NASA’s preparations for Artemis II.
Launching in early 2026, the mission will send four astronauts on a nearly 10-day flight past the Moon and back.
On Saturday, the Moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase, with most of its face lit up by the Sun. Given these lighting conditions, viewers will be able to see many interesting sites with the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes — depending on local weather.
Moon observers will see large, dark patches on the Moon called “maria,” or “seas” in Latin. Thought to be seas of water for much of recorded human history, maria are large, flat plains of solidified ancient lava.
This lava erupted from now-inactive volcanoes possibly for billions of years, starting about 4.4 billion years ago when the Moon formed.
Depending on the type of viewing equipment used, some observers will be able to see geologic features such as craters, volcanic domes, and bright swirls on the surface thought to have formed in areas of local magnetic fields.
This interactive map, designed specifically for the Moon’s phase on Oct. 4, highlights areas of interest and offers tips for viewing.
From backyard viewing, to lunar art projects, to touching your way around the Moon’s surface through 3D prints, there are many ways to participate in International Observe the Moon Night, which drew an estimated 1.3 million participants from 127 countries in 2024.
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/join-nasa-on-oct-4-in-looking-up-celebrating-moon/
https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/resources/moon-map/
https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/
British Columbia School holds first NASA Day
Saturday, 27 September, 2025 at 4:52 PM
British Columbia School in Dhaka on Friday held its first-ever Space Leadership Program – NASA Day, in collaboration with NASA and the Himalayan Space Centre, giving students from grades 9 to 12 a hands-on experience in space science.
Under the theme “Build and Blast-Off Your Space Rocket,” students participated in rocket-building and launching, parachute system simulations, rover construction, and virtual reality space exploration. Teamwork-focused challenges were also conducted to foster problem-solving skills, resilience, and leadership.
Facilitated by Afroz Al Mamun, Space Camp Ambassador (NASA & ESA) and Master Tutor at ISRO-India, the program aimed to spark scientific curiosity and encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, and space.
The day culminated in a grand rocket launch, where student-designed models soared into the sky, leaving participants inspired.
Principal Lisa Saha and Chairman Quazi Rafquat Hossain called the event a milestone, highlighting the school’s commitment to global-standard education and nurturing the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.
https://www.observerbd.com/news/546080
“I mapped the invisible” : teen discovers 1.5 million lost space objects
September 27, 2025
Imagine turning a simple summer project into a discovery that stuns professional scientists.
That’s exactly what happened when a California high schooler uncovered over 1.5 million unidentified space objects hidden in NASA’s abandoned data.
What began as curiosity and a love for astronomy has now made its way into a respected scientific journal.
Matteo Paz, a teen from Pasadena, didn’t just stumble upon this cosmic treasure.
Using artificial intelligence, he opened a new window into the universe, showing how young minds can push the boundaries of space exploration.
Building an AI pipeline from scratch
In the summer of 2022, Paz joined the Planet Finder Academy at Caltech, a program designed to expose high school students to real-world astronomy challenges.
Under the mentorship of Davy Kirkpatrick from Caltech’s Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), Paz dove into NEOWISE, a NASA telescope archive.
Originally launched in 2009 to track near-Earth asteroids, NEOWISE ended up collecting over a decade of infrared data on the entire sky.
This included not just nearby objects, but distant and often overlooked cosmic phenomena. The problem ? The archive contained nearly 200 billion lines of observations, far too massive for a small team to analyze manually.
Drawing on his background in theoretical mathematics, programming, and temporal analysis, Paz developed an AI model to automate the search.
In just six weeks, he built a machine learning pipeline capable of detecting faint and variable light sources—objects whose brightness changes over time and which typically escape human or conventional tools.
Discovering cosmic patterns
“The model showed promise almost immediately,” Kirkpatrick told Phys.org. As Paz refined it, the results became increasingly fascinating.
The AI identified objects that flickered, pulsed, or dimmed—behaviors often linked to quasars, eclipsing binary stars, or supernovae.
What makes Paz’s work remarkable is how it combines Big Data with deep space observation.
By applying Fourier transforms and wavelet analysis—mathematical techniques ideal for studying evolving signals—the AI detected subtle variations in the infrared spectrum that were previously invisible due to NEOWISE’s temporal sampling limitations.
Some of these variable objects change so slowly or so briefly that they had gone unnoticed until now. This is critical for understanding slow transients and cataclysmic variables, which do not follow predictable patterns.
The impact on modern astronomy
Paz’s achievement demonstrates that even decades-old data can reveal new cosmic insights when paired with innovative AI.
It’s a powerful reminder that breakthroughs don’t always require the latest technology—sometimes they just need fresh eyes and creative approaches.
For me personally, it recalls a lesson from high school : curiosity and persistence can turn ordinary projects into extraordinary discoveries.
I remember staying up late analyzing simple datasets for a science fair project, thinking it was just a hobby. Who knew that persistence and creative thinking could lead to something groundbreaking ?
Paz’s work proves that the same principle applies on a cosmic scale.
Inspiring the next generation
Paz’s success is more than just an astronomical feat—it’s an inspiration. It shows that young scientists equipped with AI can make real contributions to global research.
Beyond the thrill of discovery, this project emphasizes the importance of mentorship, access to data, and the courage to experiment.
As the astronomical community continues to explore NEOWISE data, Matteo’s AI pipeline could uncover even more hidden treasures in the cosmos.
Who knows what other secrets lie quietly in archives, waiting for curious minds to bring them to light ?
https://www.leravi.org/i-mapped-the-invisible-teen-discovers-1-5-million-lost-space-objects-14972/
NASA Scales Back Dream Chaser Cargo Contract as Sierra Space Shifts Strategy
26 September 2025
NASA has modified its agreement with Sierra Space for cargo deliveries to the International Space Station, changing the role of the Dream Chaser spaceplane in the Commercial Resupply Services-2 programme.
The adjustment reflects both delays in the spacecraft’s schedule and a new strategic direction for the company.
Under the revised arrangement, NASA is no longer obliged to order a fixed number of Dream Chaser missions.
Instead, the agency may request flights after a planned free-flight demonstration, now scheduled for late 2026.
Until that point, Sierra Space will continue to provide technical updates, but NASA’s involvement will be limited.
Contract Restructuring and Company Focus
Dream Chaser was originally contracted to carry out at least six cargo flights to the ISS. The new terms remove that minimum commitment, leaving any future missions dependent on the success of the demonstration flight.
NASA officials described the change as a mutual decision that allows the agency to retain flexibility while Sierra Space refines the vehicle.
The company has faced delays bringing Dream Chaser to flight readiness. The first cargo vehicle, named Tenacity, has yet to complete its testing campaign, pushing back its debut launch.
Sierra Space now states that it will direct more resources towards defence and national security projects alongside the ongoing spaceplane work.
This change in focus aligns with recent announcements that the firm will expand its efforts in orbital defence systems and crewed station modules.
Executives have emphasised that Dream Chaser remains part of the portfolio but will no longer dominate the business.
Looking to 2026
The demonstration flight targeted for late 2026 will be critical in determining whether Dream Chaser secures a continuing role in ISS logistics.
NASA’s current supply needs are already met by existing SpaceX and Northrop Grumman vehicles, reducing pressure on the agency to commit to another provider.
If successful, Dream Chaser could still join that roster, but the programme’s trajectory has shifted from a guaranteed service contract to a conditional prospect.
Sierra Space maintains that the spacecraft’s lifting-body design offers advantages for runway landings and rapid cargo return, though these features have yet to be proven in orbit.
NASA officials confirmed that no further commitments will be made until the demonstration is complete. The change marks a significant recalibration for a programme once billed as a cornerstone of commercial station supply.
https://orbitaltoday.com/2025/09/26/nasa-scales-back-dream-chaser-cargo-contract-as-sierra-space-shifts-strategy/
https://www.space.com/stargazing/6-night-sky-targets-astronomy-day-sept-27-2025
https://www.astroleague.org/
Happy Astronomy Day 2025! Celebrate by hunting these 6 spectacular night sky targets
September 27, 2025
Astronomy day 2025 is upon us! To celebrate, we've picked six targets to emphasize the variety and scale of objects visible in the night sky that will make for a beautiful and rewarding sight, whether you're observing with the naked eye or a telescope.
The American Astronomical League picks one night each spring and fall for enthusiasts and experts to bring astronomy "to the people," by holding stargazing events to engage the public in the post-sunset realm.
This year, the autumnal Astronomy Day falls on Sept. 27. Be sure to check out the Astronomical League's website to find your local astronomy clubs and get in contact to see if they're holding an event to mark the occasion!
Alternatively, you can simply turn your eyes, telescope or binoculars skyward to hunt down the following six spectacular targets that can be found brightening the night sky in late September.
1) The moon — diameter: 2,159 miles (3,475 kilometers)
Where better to start our tour than with Earth's moon, the rising and setting of which has been a constant throughout our lives and the lives of every human being who has ever lived.
The 34%-lit lunar disk can be found 15 degrees above the southwestern horizon at sunset on Sept. 27, with the red supergiant star Antares shining close to its right amongst the stars of the constellation Scorpius.
The moon will provide a beautiful sight to the naked eye, just two days out from its first quarter phase, when its right side will be fully lit by direct sunlight.
A pair of 10x50 binoculars will reveal the sprawling dark expanse of Mare Tranquilitatis marring the lunar surface close to the equator.
Use a telescope with an aperture of 6 inches or more as the terminator sweeps west in the nights that follow to narrow in on the historic Apollo 11 landing site, by using the Ritter, Sabine and Moltke craters as landmarks on the southwestern shore of the Sea of Tranquility.
2) Saturn — diameter: 74,897 miles (120,500 km)
September is the perfect time to see Saturn shining high above the southeastern horizon in the hours following sunset, below the head of the Western Fish in the constellation Pisces.
The planet will appear as a bright "evening star" to the naked eye around this time, just a week or so out from opposition, while an 8-inch telescope will allow you to resolve the vast cloud bands marking the gas giant's surface.
Ordinarily, a telescope of this size would give you a good chance of spotting the nearly 3,000 mile-wide (4,800 km) gap in Saturn's iconic ring system called the Cassini Division.
However, the gas giant's rings are currently oriented almost edge-on to Earth following the ring-plane crossing in March, making them look like a bright line piercing Saturn's cloud disk through the eyepiece.
Be sure to check back with Saturn on Oct. 6 for a chance to see Saturn's largest moon Titan cast its shadow over the gas giant, though you'll need a fairly large (8-inch) scope to be able to see it firsthand!
3) Polaris — size: 46 suns
The supergiant star Polaris is among the most famous of the myriad twinkling points of light that inhabit the night sky.
Polaris, along with its smaller stellar companion, are located 430 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as the "Little Bear.".
It can be found by locating the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major using a smartphone stargazing app and identifying the bright stars Dubhe and Merak, which form the "pouring edge" of the pan section of the famous asterism.
Simply follow an imaginary line outward from Merak through Dubhe, and the next bright star you find will be Polaris.
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The entire Northern Hemisphere night sky appears to revolve around Polaris, but this won't always be the case.
A slow wobble in Earth's rotational axis — called axial precession — has and will see the mantle of North Star handed to several other bright stellar bodies over a 26,000-year cyclical period.
Read our guide to past, present and future North Stars to discover how to find them in the night sky.
4) Orion Nebula — diameter: 30 light-years
The Orion nebula, also known as Messier 42 (M42), is a glorious stellar nursery located 1,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Orion, the Hunter.
The nebula is easy to pick out with the unaided eye under dark skies and can be found by looking below the Orion's Belt formation of three stars — Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka — which rise high above the southern horizon in the hours preceding dawn in late September.
As one of the closest star-forming regions to Earth, the Orion Nebula has come under intense observation from the astronomical community, along with flagship space telescopes like Hubble and James Webb.
Protoplanetary disks have been imaged coalescing around newborn stars in the nebula, observations that haveallowed us to gain insights into the formation of alien solar systems.
5) Pleiades star cluster — diameter: 43 light-years
The Pleiades is a colossal stellar city comprised of over 1,000 bright blue-white stars that is easily visible to the naked eye from a dark-sky location as a milky patch of light.
The open cluster can be found in the eastern sky around midnight in late September, glowing above the red star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus.
Observing the Pleiades through a pair of binoculars or a 6-inch telescope will reveal dozens of energetic young stars, including the seven most prominent stellar bodies from which the cluster got its nickname of the Seven Sisters: Asterope, Celaeno, Alcyone, Electra, Merope, Taygete and Maia.
Our sun was likely born in a star cluster billions of years ago, though its stellar siblings have since dispersed throughout our local galactic neighborhood.
6) The Milky Way
Our final target is our galaxy, the Milky Way. Earth is embedded in the Orion arm, or spur of the Milky Way, which makes it impossible to view its shape from without, as we can with the neighboring Andromeda galaxy.
However, astronomers have been able to deduce that we likely live inside a majestic barred spiral galaxy, based partly on the concentration of stars found along a flat region known as the galactic disk.
Head away from artificial lights in the hours following sunset in September to see the dense ribbon of stars, dust and gas representing the galactic plane of the Milky Way streaming down toward the southwestern horizon.
The glowing ribbon runs directly through the bright stars of the Summer Triangle asterism — Altair, Vega and Deneb — and numerous star clusters can be seen shining in and around its nebulous expanse.
Photographers should read our guide to photographing the Milky Way, while those looking to upgrade their gear should check out our roundups of the best lenses and cameras for astrophotography.
Stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of the planets of our solar system or the host of deep sky objects beyond should also read up on our picks of the top telescope and binocular deals available in 2025.
This has been just a tiny sampling of the treasure trove of astronomical targets that will be visible as the shifting seasons transform the night sky over the coming months.
Be sure to check out our monthly sky maps to stay up to date with everything happening in the post-sunset realm.
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